Palace Walk

Content Warning: Both the source text and this guide include descriptions of misogyny, sexual assault, and sexual harassment.

Amina is a married woman who lives in Cairo in the early 20th century. As is her routine, she wakes up at midnight to prepare for the return of her husband, al-Sayyid Ahmad Abd al-Jawad, from his usual “evening’s entertainment” (1). Amina married before she turned 14, and until the birth of her children, she spent most of her time alone, as her husband forbids her from leaving the house. To deal with her anxiety, she quotes Qur’an verses at the empty rooms of the house. She is a very devout Muslim; her husband’s regular drunkenness and proclivity for parties bothers her, but she knows better than to question his authority. Tonight, as always, she greets al-Sayyid Ahmad in her “polite and deferential voice” (8). She undresses him and helps him to relax. He enjoys parties and drinks to the point of intoxication on most nights. Amina appreciates their nightly interactions because the alcohol makes him “more amiable” (10) in contrast to his stern, formal demeanor when sober. Tonight, he talks about household matters and curses the presence of the Australian soldiers that the British Army has stationed in Cairo due to the necessities of World War I; these soldiers are causing disruption for the locals.