An assortment of monolithic and cultural presence gives Midaq Alley the well-deserved reputation as one of Cairo's lost treasures. The fine stone-paved surface looked directly onto Sandiqiya Street. However, time has rendered Midaq Alley, a poor and destitute neighborhood, into a back alley, where most residents strive for bigger and better things, but against a world opposed to them. World War II didn't start in Egypt, but just like the United States of America, it eventually came knocking on their door! Bombings occurred, but they were now rare. Midaq Alley is set in the 1940s, when the British army took up a defensive position against the Nazis in the city of Cairo. Throughout the novel, author Naguib Mahfouz brings the characters to life, even though the story only conspires with a few main characters. Kirsha, is a sweet owner of the cafe in Midaq Alley. Kirsha's wife, Mrs. Kirsha, beats him and a son, Hussain Kirsha, grew up with Abbas and they are friends but also rivals, Hussain Kirsha also shows signs of greed. Abbas is a bit heavy, of average height, and a long-time resident of Midaq Alley who loves Midaq Alley. He and Uncle Kamil share an apartment and Abbas is the local barber at his shop. Abbas is also a young man who wants to marry Hamida, she says yes but he can't afford it so he joins the British army. Hamida craves wealth and rich men. When Abbas left, she married Salim Alwan, a wealthy entrepreneur who owned a store on Midaq Alley. Salim Alwan's business is profitable even during wartime, as he is involved in black market transactions. His wife got older and no longer allowed him to have sex, so he started lashing out...... middle of paper ...... l, many Egyptians began to hate the British occupation and the Wafd party claimed a constitutional monarchy. Later, Hamida achieves great success and power that is unique for a woman, but power corrupts and absolute power corrupts absolutely, and eventually she will lose all the success and power to become a street prostitute working for Ibrahim Faraj. The novel Midaq Alley not only shows the changes that happened in society in Cairo during that time, it also shows the changes that happened to the people of Midaq Alley. One of the biggest things that seemed important to me was the fact that Hamida became a prostitute. In Arab society, women are normally more strict about their sexual activity outside of marriage. The book is an excellent book and shows drastic changes in all areas of life and the old world style clashes with the new world system..