Many of the novel’s characters focus on the power and privilege that comes from wealth. What does Midaq Alley tell us about the role of wealth in this society?

[Jen]

8. Many of the novel’s characters focus on the power and privilege that comes from wealth. What does Midaq Alley tell us about the role of wealth in this society?

[Pip]

Wealth is necessary to achieve success. Even Abbas, the goodnatured, hard-working hairdressing apprentice, realises he will need money to be attractive to Hamida, so he leaves the job he likes to go and work for the British. Ibrahim Faraj makes money from being a pimp, but his wealth makes him attractive to Hamida anyway. Salim Alwan, however, is wealthy, but his money does not help him when he has a heart attack. Perhaps Egyptians are more pragmatic about marriage as a monetary transaction than some other societies, but it seems to me that attitudes to wealth are quite universal.

[Eadie]

Here are a few examples which show wealth's importance:

Hussain encourages his lovelorn friend to pursue a job with the British Army, so that he too can afford a good life. Though Abbas loves the Alley, he is affected when Hussain points out that the ambitious Hamida seeks a more ambitious man.

As she walks, Hamida thinks about a poor girl from Sanadiqiya Street who fell in love with a rich contractor and was whisked away to a life of wealth. Though she does think him handsome and kind, Hamida wants a richer husband than Abbas.

We are introduced to the war through the character of Hussain Kirsha, who is making a good living working for the British Army. This perspective on the war is quite rare. It explores how poor people are attracted to war because of the financial incentive.

[[deleted user]]

Agree with you both, all the characters either want money and are willing to give up something for money or are using money to get what they want

[Kristel]

Money and wealth and the privilege of is a main part of this book but it also shows how money is never enough. The women with the coffin full of money wants a husband. The barber wants the beautiful woman even though he doesn't want to leave the alley, The Hashish addict wants the "boys". Hamida wants the independence and she buys it with sex. The company man wants the young woman and is willing to risk his family's well being for what he wants.

[Gina]

I agree with Pip and Eadie. On this street, money talks and gets you noticed.

[Wolf]

I think Kristel makes a very good point. Money and power ARE everything to the characters in this novel. But it's part of the author's slightly satirical writing, that even where they achieve it, it is not quite how they imagined it.