Point of View

An impersonal narrator tells the stories of Midaq Alley as a simple narrative of events. This narrator is privy to character's thoughts and reveals them, particularly when they conflict with what that character is saying out loud. A great deal of the novel is given over to dialog. The narrator shows tenderness towards run-down, shabby, backward Midaq Alley and for most of its inhabitants. Two inhabitants leave to seek their fortune. The narrator sides with the one who is sad to leave and makes it difficult for the one who hates it to return as a prodigal son. The narrator shows no compassion for Zaita, the filthy, recluse peeping tom who creates cripples, extorts money, and robs tombs. Mrs. Afify's pretend qualms about remarrying are handled tongue-in-cheek, but despite her miserliness, she is not portrayed unkindly. The minor characters are there to provide color and are...