UPSI Digital Repository (UDRep)
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UPSI Digital Repository (UDRep)
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| Abstract : Perpustakaan Tuanku Bainun |
| The purpose of this study was to examine the existential predicaments of modern men in Naguib
Mahfouz's selected novels. According to Jean-Paul Sartre, existentialist predicament is a dilemma
of human existence in terms of despair, perplexity, crisis or moral chaos and its meanings The
study analysed four of Naguib Mahfouz's novels about Eygptian society faced with existential
predicaments which were The Cairo Trilogy, Midaq Alley, The Thief and the Dogs, and The Beggar
based on Jean-Paul Sartre's model. These novels were selected because they were related to
existential predicament issues that beset the moderm men. The study objectives included (a) to
examine the moral chaos in selected novels, (b) to analyse the modern men's predicaments, and (c) to
explain how existentialist philosophy is able to express the predicaments of the modern men. This
qualitative study has utilised literary criticism as its research design. The underpinning theory
was existentialism by Jean-Paul Sartre that focused on the ideas of freedom, existence, despair,
moral chaos and the predicament of modern men. The predicaments in the novels were analysed and the
key themes that emerged were compared. The findings of the study revealed that the predicaments of
modern men in The Cairo Trilogy indicated a generational clash among the old and young generations.
Midaq Alley captured the moral chaos in the shifting from traditionalism to modernity has led to
the existential predicament oflosing honour in order to survive in the colonial period. In The
relief and the Dogs, Naguib Mahfouz wrote about loneliness. Saeed was lonely after he was
ostracised by the society because he was a former inmate and was rejected by his daughter. The last
novel in this study, The Beggar, a character named Omer has been distressed due to his
psychological dissatisfaction and moral dilemma. The study also found that the moral chaos is part
of the modern men's predicaments in the novels. The modern men predicaments were portrayed in the
characters who were in a constant struggle to find the true meaning of life. In conclusion, the
main themes emerged from analyzing the selected novel of Naguib Mahfouz were moral chaos,
generational clash, loneliness, social decadence, and moral dilemma. The implication signifies that
existential predicaments can lead to meaning making within the context of perceived decadence of
the contemporary post modern era and the way to reaching the self-actualization and the purpose of
existence.
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