Sociological Criticism of the Manifestations of Modernity in the Novel "The Day of the Assassination of the Leader" Based on Giddens' Theory

Document Type : Scientific research article

Authors

1 Associate Professor, Department of Arabic Language and Literature, University of Mohaghegh Ardabili, Ardabil, Iran

2 Department of Arabic Language and Literature, University of Mohaghegh Ardabili

Abstract

Modernity is a historical phenomenon whose effects and consequences have appeared in all aspects of human life. This emerging phenomenon was a contribution from Western civilization and society to the world, which in most societies affected traditional society with exemplary power and showed its real power. Sociological criticism is one of the methods of criticizing and studying literary works, in which the content of the work and its relationship with society are examined. This criticism uses the theories of thinkers such as Lukács, Goldman, Giddens, etc. Despite the fact that Giddens believes in the soft durability of traditional society against the onslaught of modernity, the famous Egyptian novelist Naguib Mahfouz, in his novel "The Day of the Assassination of the Leader", speaks of conditions in Egyptian society in which modernity has reached a significant degree of stability and durability in most institutions of society. The aim of this research is to examine the manifestations of modernity in the story in this novel by Naguib Mahfouz from a sociological perspective using a descriptive-analytical method. The results of this study show that the Egyptian society depicted in this novel has completely surrendered to modernity in terms of society, politics, and economics, and the only place where no visible effect of modernity can be seen is Egyptian culture (beliefs). In this novel, all the characters in the story, except for the father of the tyrant Suleiman Mubarak, believe in the religious and ideological concepts of traditional Egyptian society, and no character can be found in the story who systematically attacks traditional beliefs and beliefs, criticizes them, and replaces them with modern beliefs.

Keywords

Comparative Critical Studies in Arabic Literature
Volume 1, Issue 1 - Serial Number 1
February 2026
Pages 1-17

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