• Biography of Naguib Mahfouz:

Born in Cairo in 1911, Naguib Mahfouz began writing when he was seventeen. His first novel
was published in 1939 and ten more were written before the Egyptian Revolution of July 1952,
when he stopped writing for several years. One novel was republished in 1953, however, and the
appearance of the Cairo Triology, Bayn al Qasrayn, Qasr al Shawq, Sukkariya (Between-the-
Palaces, Palace of Longing, Sugarhouse) in 1957 made him famous throughout the Arab world as
a depictor of traditional urban life. With The Children of Gebelawi (1959), he began writing
again, in a new vein that frequently concealed political judgements under allegory and
symbolism. Works of this second period include the novels, The Thief and the Dogs (1961),
Autumn Quail (1962), Small Talk on the Nile (1966), and Miramar (1967), as well as several
collections of short stories.
Until 1972, Mahfouz was employed as a civil servant. He is now the author of no fewer than
thirty novels, more than a hundred short stories, and more than two hundred articles. Half of his
novels have been made into films which have circulated throughout the Arabic-speaking world.
In Egypt, each new publication is regarded as a major cultural event and his name is inevitably
among the first mentioned in any literary discussion from Gibraltar to the Gulf. Naguib Mahfouz
died on August 30, 2006.

• Key facts of the story:

Genre : Short story
Narrative technique : Narration into Narration
Setting (Place) : Egypt
Setting (Time) : Ancient time
First Published : 1939 in Arabic as “Yaqzai -al- Mumiya”
Translation into English : by Raymond Stock in 2001
 • Character analysis of the story “Mummy Awakens”:
This is the general character list of the story;
(I) Dr. Dorian (Professor of ancient archaeology and also narrator of the story)
(II) Mahmoud Pasha (Protagonist, a rich man and ruler)
(III) Mr. Saroux (School Headmaster & Friend to Pasha)
(IV) Dr. Pierre (Neurologist & Friend to Pasha)
(V) Professor Lampere (Friend to Pasha)
(VI) Sir Makenzie (Friend to Pasha & Professor of English language)
(VII) Shaykh Jadallah (Honest man and ancient cave digger)
(VIII) General Hur (Mummy of General Hur, Powerful figure and was once a ruler of
Egypt)

Mahmoud Pasha:
Mahmoud Pasha is the central character of the story and the whole story revolves around him.
He is Turk in origin, French in taste and Egyptian by nationality. According to Prof. Lampere he
is a “three persons in one”. He has a great collection of art, paintings and statues. He loves the
people of French origin and also he reads and writes French romantic poetry. He has
extraordinary love for French politics and culture. He is a Francophile person (the one who loves
French culture and tradition). But he hates Egyptians for some unknown reasons, he is stubborn
by nature and runs his own rod among people. Pasha is the class discriminator as he draws a line
between the rich and the poor, between the ruler and the ruled. Once he had beaten a poor person
who stole the dog meat of Pasha whom he loved more after his family. He is justly treated by the
Mummy that awakes. When Mummy of General Hur interrogates to him then Pasha dies due to
fear and embarrassment.
All Friends to Pasha:
Dr. Dorian, Prof. Lampere, Mr. Saroux and Dr. Pierre these are all good fellows to Mahmoud
Pasha. If we deeply explore their nature the all friends to Pasha are selfish. They are attached
with him only due to their personal benefits, none of them feel sense of humility when Pasha
badly treats that poor Egyptian, who stole dog's meat. Although they are also Egyptians but they
speak no word in front of Pasha. The reason is that they belong to Elite class and have no
feelings for the poor Egyptians.
 • Summary of the story “Mummy Awakens”:
The narrator starts the story with an air of uncertainty. In order to give certainty to his story, he
shifts its narration to professor Daryen who is a true witness to the event of Mummy being
awakened. They decide to visit the mansion of Mahmud Pasha who is an elite and a very famous
personality. When they were in, they were struck by the beauty of art in Pasha’s house. He was
multi-dimensional personality. He was a Turk in origin, Egyptian by nationality and a Frenchman
by tastes who didn’t have a good opinion of the Egyptians. The late Pasha was one of the richest
men in Egypt, and was highly cultured and conscientious as well. As far as he was concerned, the
time he spent beneath a French sky was the happiest in his life. Most cultured French people
knew him only as an amateur enthusiast for the fine arts or else as a poet who composed
beautiful romantic poetry in French. On that particular day I took my place beside the Pasha.
“Your Excellency”, he said to the Pasha, “this mansion of yours would need a little modification
to become a museum in its own right.” “I owe it all to my eclectic taste,” the Pasha commented.
Meanwhile a person was beaten by his servant and Pasha also ordered that the person should be
arrested by the police. He then took professor Daryen into his garden where diggings were taking
place. Daryen was also interested in archeological expeditions. They visited things around and a
huge stone was removed. After the stone was removed, there was a vast space which led to a
direction. It led to the tomb of the Egyptian king; Hur who was lying in the tomb as a mummy.
They saw that the mummy of Hur began to move. They were greatly terrified because there was
a mummy and a complete darkness. The mummy even began to talk as Daryen felt him behave
like that.
The mummy called Pasha his slave. His face resembled the person whom Pasha had beaten and
asked to be arrested by the police. He asked Pasha why he was cruelly treating his decadents
because the person whom Pasha had belonged to Hur’s decadence.
The mummy began to roar in terror. Pasha couldn’t bear that roaring accent of Mummy and died
of terror. The two servants there got mad but Daryen got saved for some miracle. What was the
poor man supposed to say? Life had been restored to the mummy, but it seemed to have
abandoned the Pasha even though he was still alive. Hur got the impression that the Pasha was
not prepared to say anything. “What’s the matter with you?” Have slaves become masters and
masters slaves? How is it, slave, that you can own such a large mansion, while my own
descendants work in it as your servants?
A curse upon you, slave!” Hur’s threats had spread a new sense of terror into the room which
finally put an end to whatever self-control people had left. Shaykh Jadallah soon fell to his face
on the floor, and the lamp fell with him. As my own good fortune would have it, I lost
consciousness at this point and I was no longer aware of either world. What about Hur’s tomb
and the now deserted mansion?
 • Themes of Mummy Awakens:
Themes of Oppression Hunger, Slavery/Poverty, Injustice and Unequal division of
Power/Discrimination are the Themes of story the mummy Awakens written by Naguib Mahfuz.
Oppression: The theme of oppression in "The Mummy Awakens" may be explored through the
portrayal of characters or societal structures that exert control or inflict suffering on others. This
could manifest in various forms, such as political oppression, social restrictions, or even personal
struggles faced by the characters.
Hunger: Hunger as a theme might represent both physical and metaphorical aspects. It could be
the literal hunger for sustenance, reflecting socio-economic challenges or scarcity.
Metaphorically, it may signify a deeper longing or unfulfilled desires of the characters, creating a
sense of yearning and emptiness.
Slavery/Poverty: This theme may involve the depiction of characters who are figuratively
enslaved by their circumstances or actual instances of societal poverty. It could explore how
economic disparities impact individuals, shaping their lives and opportunities.
Injustice: Injustice as a theme suggests the presence of unfairness or wrongdoing within the
narrative. This could be demonstrated through the treatment of certain characters, the legal
system, or broader societal structures that perpetuate injustice
 • Symbols and Motifs in the story:
1.The Mansion: Mahmud Pasha's mansion symbolizes wealth, cultural diversity, and the clash of
civilizations. Pasha's eclectic taste represents a mix of cultures, with the mansion itself holding
the potential to become a museum.
2. The Mummy (Hur ): As a mummy, Hur symbolizes ancient Egypt, its history, and the
consequences of mistreatment of the past. His awakening raises questions about the treatment of
descendants and the impact of historical injustices.
3.Darkness: The darkness in the tomb symbolizes the unknown and the fear associated with
confronting the past. It adds an element of mystery and tension to the story.
4.The Roaring Mummy : The mummy's roar represents the anger and frustration of the past,
seeking justice for the mistreatment of his descendants. It brings a sense of terror and retribution.
5.Pasha's Death : Mahmud Pasha's death symbolizes the consequences of his actions and the
inability to escape the past. It reflects the idea that the sins of the past can catch up with
individuals.
6.The Tomb: Hur's tomb represents the link between the present and the ancient past. Its
discovery and the events that follow disrupt the status quo, revealing a connection between the
characters and their historical roots.
7.The Curse : Hur's curse upon Pasha symbolizes the repercussions of historical wrongs. It
brings forth a sense of justice seeking retribution and serves as a warning about the consequences
of cruelty and oppression.
8: Shaykh Jadallah's Reaction: Shaykh Jadallah falling to the floor symbolizes the impact of the
supernatural events on human beliefs and convictions. It reflects the overwhelming nature of
confronting the mystical and the unknown

Motifs:
1.Curse and Consequences
2. Darkness and Light
3.Exploration
4.Tension between Classes:
5. Cultural Hybridity.
 • Conclusion:
Mummy Awakens" is a thrilling adventure where the ancient curse is finally broken, the mummy
finds peace, and the heroes triumph over the evil forces. With the restoration of balance and
justice, the story concludes on a note of resolution and hope for the future.