الأدب في خدمة المؤرّخ/ة: قصَّةٌ قصيرة لمحمود تيمور والعلاقات بين الآباء وبناتهم في مُجتمعات الشَّرق الأوسط

Abstract

“Najiyya, the Teacher’s Daughter” by Maḥmūd Taymūr is a touching short story that serves as an illustration of father-daughter relationship patterns in Middle Eastern societies.

The merits of this story must be evaluated mainly in accordance with artistic standards, as no historian should regard it, or other works of belles-lettres, as a totally accurate and trustworthy source. Yet, texts of this sort sometimes shed light on hidden aspects of the socio-cultural reality at the time of their composition. Even without adopting the regressive approach in Middle Eastern studies (based on the postulate that Arab civilization is frozen by its respect for traditional values), we should not reject the cautious and critical use of literary texts, in general, and modern ones, in particular. Neither should we reject the fruits of anthropological research, as a means, amongst other, in our efforts to reconstruct historical reality.

Taymūr’s story touches on an underlying tension within the “Middle-Eastern family”, past and present (while exposing the emotional burden involved), between a. parental instincts, including the father’s tendency to protect his offspring and help raising them, b. social norms rooted in patrilineal-patriarchal societies, and c. Islamic values, which generally play a moderating, bridging role