There are many aspects that separate the people of every society. While differences in some societies are subtle, in others, they are great. Wealth and social class have always been the greatest aspects that created differences in societies such as the Islamic Middle Eastern ones. However, as technology flourished and people began seeing and comparing their lives to other societies around them, the dichotomy present in Middle Eastern societies, such as Egypt, began to evolve and widen over time. In the book The Yacoubian Building, the author Alaa al-Aswany shows readers how the there are many differences that exist and separate the Egyptian society today. By analyzing and examining The Yacoubian Building, one can gain insight into how the Egyptian society has been divided into three major divisions; the rich versus the poor, the religious extremists versus the non-religious or non-extremists, and the westernized versus the non-westernized.
Wealth and social class have always played a big role in the divisions among society, and they still continue to do so. The poor struggle to make a living for themselves while the rich have it a little easier. In The Yaccobian Building, this societal difference can be clearly seen between Busayna and Zaki Bey. Zaki Bey was one of Egypt’s former wealthiest elites and the oldest inhabitant of the Yaccobian building during its glory days. He often spends his days dining in the finest restaurants, attending clubs, and sleeping with women of every type; ” the engineering office quickly failed and was transformed into the place where Zaki Bey spends his free time each day reading newspapers, drinking coffee, meeting with friends and lovers…” (5). Despite his failed career, Zaki Bey still enjoyed his life because he was relatively wealthy and could afford to do that. Although often pestered by the greedy ambitions of his sister, who is constantly scheming to get him permanently out of his apartment, he nevertheless still manages to live a relatively comfortable and carefree life. On the other hand, Busayna is a poor girl who lives on the roof of the building and struggles to keep her job in order to make enough money to support her family. From the day she graduated high school, she has been jumping from job to job because her bosses always took advantage of her. For example, her bosses would “insist on kissing her by force in the empty office, or press up against her or start opening their fly to comfort her with some ‘facts on the ground'” (42). Therefore, it can be seen that those who are poor often see the evils of their country and of society, while the rich get a less taste of it. Moreover, the book shows how the rich often take advantage and rip the poor of their rights. For instance, Hagg Azzam, who is a rich and powerful business man, was able to buy Saud, a poor widow, for marriage, even though she did not want to be with him. Hagg Azam ripped Saud of her right to see her child and her family. He also forced her to have an abortion; “you made an agreement and you went back on it…from the start we said no pregnancy” (170). Therefore, it can be seen how the poor often suffer from the exploitation and influence of the rich.
Like money, the degree of religious conformity has always segregated the Egyptian society; however one would think that religious differences would not exist or be that influential in a predominantly Sunni Muslim country as Egypt. The Yacoubian Building shows readers how religion is playing a big role in the differences that exist among society today. For instance, it shows readers how there are Islamic extremist groups that are thriving in society. These Islamic groups want to overthrow the government with its corruption and malice: “We want it Islamic- Islamic and we will struggle and give up our lives and all we hold dear till Egypt is Islamic once more” (96). In pursuit of their political goals they do not mind deceiving and using innocent young men to do their dirty work for them. Moreover, the author uses the characters of Malak and Abaskharon to show that religious conformity exists even among the non-Muslim, non extremist members of society. Malak and Abaskharon are Christians, who do not noticeably stand out from society because they are still conservative men; they just attend a church instead of a mosque. On the other hand, there are other non-extremists, and may be even the non-religious, who live in Egypt, like Hatim a homosexual man. Although Hatim believes that homosexuality is okay, it indeed goes against the basic notions of any religion which makes him extremely non-religious. Ironically, Hatim does not see himself committing a crime against God’s commands. In fact he tries to convince his partners, like Abduh, of his belief on homosexuality. For instance he tells Abduh that, “our Lord is big and He has true mercy, nothing to do with what the sheiks in your village say…Our Lord will forgive us because we don’t do harm. We just love each other,” (134). Therefore, in this part of the book, one can see how there exists a dichotomy in religion in society.
Moreover, another factor that separates society in The Yacoubian Building is the degree of westernization. The books shows how some people are westernized in the Middle Eastern society, while others are completely sheltered and know nothing of the West. In the book, Zaki Bey practices many western traditions by drinking wine and attending clubs. Christine is another character that does so, even though she is originally an Egyptianized foreigner. Christine is a wealthy woman who is part of the old Greek community, has traveled outside the country and is extremely westernized because she sings at foreign clubs and practices western traditions at restaurants; “Christine tasted the wine as the traditions of the table require, then made a sign to the ancient Nubian waiter and he poured out two full glasses,” (108). One would not think that such traditions are practiced in Egypt. On the other hand, there are the non-westernized people in Egypt like Abduh and Busayna. They lack the opportunity to practice western traditions due to their place and role in society; their place has led them to resort to more conservative practical Egyptian traditions. For instance, a woman in Busayna’s social class is looked down upon if she were to wear short and skimpy clothing, which is a western asset.
The Yacoubian Building is a great book that shows the dichotomy of the Egyptian society today. In the book, people like Zaki Bey and Busayna show readers how the dichotomy that exists between social classes still exists and is becoming worse. Moreover, characters like Hatim, Malak, Abaskharon, and the members of the Islamic groups show readers how religion itself has become a dichotomy that separates society. Also, characters such as Christine, Busayna, and Abduh show readers how a dichotomy exists between people regarding the degree of their westernization and their perception of Western values. All these divisions allow readers to fully understand how complex and complicated the Egyptian society has become.