POVERTY AND CLASS CONFLICT EGYPTIAN SOCIETY IN NOVEL …

47 | J i l i d K e d u a

POVERTY AND CLASS CONFLICT EGYPTIAN SOCIETY IN NOVEL AL-LISH-SHU WAL-KILAB

HAS NAJIB MACHFUZH Hermeneutic Analysis by Hans Georg Gadamer

Imam Wicaksono [email protected]

Introduction

Literature not only reflects the reality, and it should idealy be

able to build the society and also it should serve as teacher. And not

only open shortage in the community. But it also might be the solution

of problems faced by the society. (Luxemburg : 1989:23).

Egypt is one country in the middle east that have a social

problem of poverty, in the year of 1952. Starting from problem families,

communities, and inter- personal relationships. The problems doesn’t

come about easily, however there are root causes that need to be

examined. And iterature is seen as a social indication. Its written in a

certain period, directly related to the norm of that era. The author

makes the creation as society as social actors and greet readers

(Luxemburg : 1989: 23).

This research uses theory of hermeneutic for expressing the

various messages of the facts in literary texts, which tells the story of a

social indication. In reflecting reality indication that occurs, the

important concept with respect to understanding sometimes

marginalized. The example of disclosure of meaning is the text of value

expressed in him. Using hermeneutica in researching literature, we

have resusciated that the literary creations it never be separated from

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48 | Peran Bahasa Arab dalam Pendidikan dan Peradaban

the product of culture and reality. How that literature creations which

also has a wealth of culture and traditions does not die as objects. But

its life becames the subject. Storytelling and dialogue with readers

about the facts of self-awareness within the texts, which is the value of

social indication (Hadi, 2008:105). It canbe seen that the literaty

creation is not a static reality isolated, but it is the part of the tradition

and the communication (Fokkema, 1998:29).

The problem in this research is poverty and conflicts in

Egyptian society after the revolution in the year 1952. In Arabic novel

by the chapter of Al lishu wa al kilab has Najib Mahfudz. The problem

that arises are: 1) poverty of Egyptian society. Which includes the

causes of poverty, the forms of poverty and the consequences of

poverty. In this novel are founded various problems of poverty. The

problems presented the experience of the social situation of outhors

who live and intersect with the events in the community. This

discussion is a step in the understanding of the pre-literary

interpretation methods using hermeneutic. Literary text placed as an

object under study as well as the subject or otonomous central bearer

of tradition. 2) Egyptian nation state shortly before and after the

revolution in the year of 1952. It is intended to reveal the social

conditions, society, and life in Egypt. This includes: the current social

situation when the novel was created, indication, the affair that

happened in Egypt shortly before and after the revolution in the year of

1952. This discussion is a step historical disclosures required as a

symbolic reference codes. 3) the conflicts between the lower economic

groups or disadvantaged people with high economic. This discussion is


a step application of theory of hermeneutics in the interpretation of the

facts cointained in the text are adjusted with history reference.

To answer the question in this research, then it can be used a

theoretical basis, are theory of hermeneutic as the blade analysis to

dissect the literature creations and analyzing the research data in

relation to poverty and conflicts in Egyptian society after the revolution

in the year of 1952.

Hans George Gadamer’s Hermeneutics

Hermeneutics derived from the verb of Yunani Language is

hermeneuin, the mean is interpret, while the noun is hermeneia, the

mean is interpretation. (Palmer, 1969:14). Gadamer's hermeneutics

consists of assessing the dialogue. Whether it's between the past

presented by the author in fact on the horizon along with contemporary

literary works, namely the horizon reader or researcher (Eagleton,

2007:101).

There are four concepts to explain this: bildung, census

communis, practical considerations, and tastes. Bildung is the

accumulative mode of learning, including learning tradition of

literature, aesthetics, culture, religion and thought. Bildung underlying

their horizons for literature. Perhaps seem strange to a researcher, as a

researcher living in an age and have different bildung. Bildung of the

German language, the original words that berartikan bild picture or

image in the mind of someone who is formed through a learning

process of cultural tradition or she determines the views and thoughts

of someone about something .. In Gadamer's hermeneutics, bildung

oriented build a wide and bright horizon. He is the result of an


encounter someone with the world and its various aspects. With

bildung someone formed into himself completely through everything

received and absorbed (Gadamer, 1975:9-10).

Poverty Egyptian society in the Text Novel al -Lish-shu wal-Kilab

Research related to poverty Egyptian society, made to the text

novel al -Lish- shu wal-Kilab. Al-Lish-shu is Arabic word which means a

thief and a group of dogs (Yunus, 2010: 381). Al-Lish-shu is a word

addressed to Said. He did not steal unless the person who assessed him

as greedy and full of wealth in society. Al-Kilab is a word addressed to

groups of people, namely Alish, Rouf, and Nabuya who has a conflict

contrary to Said. These communities doing bad things and hide behind

the wealth they have. The contradiction between Said dealing with

Rouf, Alish and Nabuya produce in order society damage caused by the

act of their (Machfuzh, 1963: 100-121).

Charles Zastrow suggests two approaches to the problem of

defining poverty, namely the approach of absolute and relative

approaches. The absolute approach holds that the quantity of goods

and services are most essential to the welfare of individuals and

families. It shows that income families who do not have or do not reach

the minimum amount regarded as poor. Relative approach, the essence

is that someone is poor when its income is substantially less than the

average income of the population. This emphasis on revenue

imbalance. With a relative approach, poverty will persist as long as the

income imbalances still exist (Kasim, 2006: 44-45).

Townsend added one more approach in addition to approach


absolute and relative approach, the basic needs approach. This

approach contains two key elements. First, the income is not sufficient

to meet the needs of food, shelter, clothing, and household items

specified. Secondly, it is not enough also to meet some specific services,

such as safe drinking water, sanitation, public transport, health and

education services (Kasim, 2006: 46).

The causes of poverty can be divided into two groups; First, the poverty

caused by natural factors, namely the environmental conditions of poor

family background and disaster. Second, the poverty caused by the non-

natural factors, namely the existence of errors of economic policy, the

unstable political conditions (Kasim, 2006: 61).

Internal factors or factors derived from the individual poor

people that can lead to poverty, among others:

1. Intellectual

Said after the father's death, he became the caretaker

replace his father's work. In the age of the kid, he hanrus leaving

his childhood working for money to

support his family:

ذى هو و ى ال ع ا س عد فيه ى ب

ن إل

حل أ

ان ت

ك بيك م

فى أ

ة ة خدم ار عم و . ال

ت أ

ن ك و أ م

ان فى أ

ك بيك م

هو و أ

ق، صد ت ال ض ه ن

ة ف سئولي

فى بال

ة سن ر ك حفوظ،) مب م

1963 :89.) "He (Rouf) are trying so that you can replace

the position of Said's father who had died, or rather you and your mother, who replaced it. At that time, his responsibilities increased at an early age (Machfuzh, 1963: 89). "


2. Emotional and Temperamental.

Said depicted in the novel of the emotional nature, lazy,

easy to give up and despair. When the conversation by Rouf at a

dinner held by Rouf, Said clearly says:

م " قن ل

تاتى فى أ ي ح

إل

ة حرف

ة احد ع . و رج

ت ى أ

إل

ة؟ صصي هى الل

ة ا مجزي حفوظ،) جد (.35: 1963 م

"In my life, I do not want to pursue a job of any kind. I can only leaning to one field. Said said, gazing at his interlocutor with a sharply. What you back to being a thief, pickpocket? Tanya Rouf to Said. Ah, as you know the job is very risky and dangerous. Answers Said (Machfuzh, 1963: 35). "

3. Poor Spiritual

Najib Machfuzh depict Said Mahran who repeatedly cheat

Nabuya when leaving Nabuya:

افى، ل

خ

جب ت ن ي

ك، أ م

ل كا أ

ن ، أ اهب

جد ذ

أ س

ل م ر ع

وف

أ

ا ا و ربح ن ك، أ حب

أ

سينى ل

ن ا ت د ب

حفوظ)أ (.82: 1963 ،م

"Dont be afraid! Now I have to tell you something. I will go from this village. I will find a job that can bring profits. I love you, do not you forget me forever "(Machfuzh, 1963: 82).

4. Social Psychological Pressure.

Vices that exist in Said Mahran make reckless attitude

when taking steps to deal with the reality that is not what he


expected. Stealing or taking the property ofanother, has become

his nature:

عود و - ى ت

فكير إل ؟ فى الت ذالك

ل - سهل ه يك ي ل يير ع

غ ؟ ت تك حفوظ) صنع (56: 1963، م

"- You still think to pursue the profession long (steal)? - Is it easy for you to change the ingrained nature? "(Machfuzh, 1963: 56).

5. Lack of Skills.

Said does not have the expertise to order him to work

requested him to Rouf to be a journalist in newspapers owned by

the company Rouf. The request was refused by Rouf, because

Rouf quite understand personality Said that a lazy, dishonest and

does not have expertise related to the world of work journalists:

سعدنى ن ي ل أ عم

ا أ في ح ، فى ص تك ريد ا ج

ن أ

قف

و مث

ميذ

ديم تل

، ق ك

ت ل

أ ر ق

ل

تب من تل

ك، ال ادك

ا و بإرش م

ل ط

دت ه ة لى ش اب ج حفوظ) بالن (35: 1963 ،م

"I'm glad if it could work in your newspaper as a journalist. I am a person who is knowledgeable, and has long been a disciple. I've read a lot of books with supervision and guidance from you. And for that you also already know my intellect "(Machfuzh, 1963: 35).”

6. Do not Have Assets.

Said Mahran not have any valuable asset to him, he also

did not have a vehicle, so as to murder and rob a man who used

the services of prostitutes Nur as he borrowed his car in the cafe


Tarzan:

دت ص ق

ة هو

ان ق رز

حصل ط

ى ل

ل س ع

د فق و مس ت إن ل

ن مك

ع أ ائق م س س

اك

ا من ت ئن

ل امى زم قد

حفوظ) ال ،م

1963 :56.) "I have come to coffeehouses Tarzan to get a gun, also approached the taxi drivers from our old friend, to borrow his car" (Machfuzh, 1963: 56).

External factors are factors that originate and are outside of

the individual or the population of poor families that cause poverty,

among others:

1. Lack of Formal Employment.

Said expressed his desire to work at the newspaper office

belonging Rouf, Rouf not accept the explanation of Said. He was so

knowledgeable that recognition can not be accepted Said flatly:

ت لق اح، و مز

ت لل

ن م أ

ارس ل م

ت

ة ان كت

، ال

ط

ت و ق

ن أ

جت ر مس خ

أ

ط

ق جن من ف

حفوظ،) الس (.36: 1963 م "Now is not the time for joking again. You are

not yet accustomed to and have never learned in the world of writing. You just got out of jail "(Machfuzh, 1963: 36)

2. Public Policy and State Fair Not Stable.

In the novel, the author illustrates that there is a difference

Najib received by the rights of poor communities and the

environment of the school campus there rich community groups.


Illustrated that the road environment where the general public is

to travel in the dark without light, while the campus is no learning

activities in the evenings remain bright:

رف عند شا ة م امع ج

تى ال

م ال

ا ل م

ل اظ ه

لدخ

ا و ت ه

ل خ د

ثير اء من ك ني

غ م و ال

ن ل

ك ريق فى ي

وء الط ض

ل فى و

اء م الس

ل إل

هل ليظ

ر غ

ق است

وق ق ف

ف حفوظ) ال ،م

1963 :82) "In the famous university campus environments, full of bright without darkness where it can not go to school in it unless the majority of rich people. The streets at that time there is no lighting, while in the sky there's only moon the only illumination at night "(Machfuzh, 1963: 82).

Consequences of Poverty

Said left by his wife remarried with Alish best friend, and his son

did not recognize that Said was his biological father:

، ي

ول ا م اذ نت م

ل ك فع

و ت

يت ل

ل ل ابت

تى بمث وج و و ز

ل

نىت ر

كن تى؟ أ حفوظ) ابن (69: 1963، م

"O Mr, how iif you tested as I tested with my wife and son who betrayed the deniers?" (Machfuzh, 1963: 69).

In the novel illustrated that the group of people who are poor are

not tells us they do not have the desire, they as well as other groups

who have pleasure in something, in this section mentioned Said who

desire to have a suit, he asked Nur and Nur meet the demand of Said he

loved with steal:


ت ب ر ا و ه اق ا س اب ن إعر ائه ع

ت رث

ال ق شير هي و ف

ى ت

إل

ة ف ى ل

ل كنبة ع

ر ى ال

خ :ال

ة - دل ب

اش ال م

حفوظ! )ق (.94: 1963، م

"Said stroked two arms Nur, was pitiful to see it in pain. The woman pointed toward the parcel on the couch and said softly:

-Setelan Coat "(Machfuzh, 1963: 94).

Said poor can not afford to fight over Alish deeds and Nabuya

and Rouf who have custody and care of their men, it has only one plan

is to kill all three of them for him, success is when it managed to kill all

three of them

: ة اح قم ج ن الن

أ

ل ا يقت ع ة م بوي

ليش و ن ا و . ع م

وق ف

الك صفى ذ اب ي حس

ع ال ءوف م ان، ر و

ل م غ

ث

ب ر ه حفوظ) ال (.60: 1963 ،م

"Success is when Nabuya and Alish have been killed, and more important than it was to avenge the Rouf, and fled" (Machfuzh, 1963: 60).

The State of Egyptian Society From 1950 until 1952 Revolution Post

Beginning in 1950 Egypt had a very burdensome economic

problems of people's lives, namely the high prices of various daily

needs of consumption staples and other necessities such as electricity,

schools and water thus resulting in higher public spending than the

average income they get. Small home appliances industry experienced

periods of lethargy, can not generate a lot of production. Many trading


businesses are experiencing bankruptcy. Difficult economic

circumstances resulted in many people who move to the cities in search

of work. The state of the teeming city and many hidden crimes

occurred. Occurred in the administration of unnecessary spending of

money from tax revenues. State takes decisions and innovations that

can provide jobs for the residents and supporting the production

process that benefits all elements of the country. The state of society is

in trouble, immortalized dated February 12, 1950, by al-Ahram print

media were issued written about various phenomena problems in

Egyptian society at that time (Al-Bashari, 2002: 382).

The government can not do much with the incidence rising

prices of goods on the market except by making an appeal on the radio

or written on the print media. As for the other business of the

government such as conducting unannounced inspections at markets,

it is less effective because the prices will remain elevated when there

are no checks (Al-Bashari, 2002: 406).

Various social ministry efforts to resolve the economic

problems and the feasibility of community life, always foundered in the

middle of the road without any results that can be enjoyed by the

general public. Even some favorable policies such as landowners who

have large land nor the owners of capital. (Al-Bashari, 2002: 407).

Attention centered on the notion of the state apparatus to

restore security after the second world war. The first task that wants to

be solved is how to expel British military from the land of the Nile. It

requires the full power of the military and the support of civil society.

Government in this period is also required to take care of the problems

dividing the concentration between the state and domestic issues


related to social life. Britain considers Egypt an important point in

monitoring the spread of the British military forces were still scattered

in the Middle East after the Second World War (Al-Bashari, 2002: 409).

In 1951 the government issued several recommendations

legislation that leads to the freedom of the press. That decision turned

out to be resisted by the majority of parlement (Al-Bashari, 2002: 431).

Gaps and Conflicts Class in Egyptian Society

Najib Mahfouz when describing the location where Rouf villa

stands, not in the slums and dark, but a river that became a symbol of

national pride of Egypt:

اد ى ع اطىء إل

يل ش هو و الن

ق ل

د ه يص ن ا أ ج

ن

(.44: 1963 محفوظ)"Said out of the stately home and immediately headed down the road on the banks of the Nile. He is like not believing that he saved "(Machfuzh, 1963: 44).

The place to stay is not worth inhabited by Ali al-Hanidi

repeatedly described by Najib. In the section that tells after the

assassination attempt to Alish, Said fled by car to the house of Ali al-

Hanidi:

د ج ه و فس وش فى ن ح

ير ال

سقوف غ

ت و ال ح

ل

الة لخ ن

ة ارع

ا ف ه ن

أ ك

ة د اء فى ممت ض ف

ى ال ت ح

جم الن ة اهر حفوظ) الس (.63: 1963 ،م

"He entered a room that has no roof, he


could see a row of cobwebs on the walls. Also stars manning the whole night "(Machfuzh, 1963: 63).

Gaps in obtaining clothing depicted in the novel, very clearly.

To get clothes, Said did not have enough money to buy it. When he asked

Nur, he also did not have the money to buy Said suit. For love on Said

Nur, he was willing to steal coats.

Said conditions that have to steal in order to get the proper

clothing, contrary to the state of his little daughter who has been treated

by Alish after marrying Nabuya, the little princess was dressed nice and

clean:

ت و د ب ان فى ت ست

ض ف ق أبي

ي ن ض شبشب و أ

بي أ

(.14: 1963 محفوظ)"He came out clad in white garments, clean, beautiful shiny. Her feet are barefoot white "(Machfuzh, 1963: 14).In the story which first met Said Rouf, he stared into the face Rouf full sign of prosperity:

ا و خير ر أ

ق ر است ص ب

ى ال

ل جه ع اذ و ست

لئ ال مت

ال

دير، ست جه ذلك ال و

ا الذى ال

ال ه ط

ق

ش و ع

ه فظ ن ح هر ع

ب ظ

ل (.30: 1963 محفوظ) ق

"Finally Said sight fixed on their round Rouf and unbiased. He had memorized the face of it, because in the past he often played with her. Long face he missed in his heart "(Machfuzh, 1963: 30).

After describing how the state body fat Alish and Rouf, Najib


described how state bodies Said:

ا د ابعه هو و عيدس ب يه يت ين ين بع ت

اق ر ب

و ال

حيل جسمه (.11: 1963 محفوظ) الن"Said he followed along as she looked at him with shining eyes and a thin frame" (Machfuzh, 1963: 11).

In the novel al-Lish-shu wal-Kilab, Said poor do not have any

power and strength he can rely on to solve the problem by Alish, except

by violence, which killed Alish:

ار ظر الن ت ن جرمين ت

و و . ال

ر ل

ى اضط

ام إل تح

اق

ة ق . الش

ن بد ل

ل أ عم ن و ي

ال فى يعمل أ ح

. ال

ح ام ف ن ر

س أ ف ن

ت ليش ي ة ع در ا س وم ي

امل

ك

(. 60: 1963 محفوظ)"Lead the heat from the gun has been waiting for those who are guilty perpetrators. Even if he could, he would destroy the building. Haram for Alish to live longer start tonight. He should not breathe the air for a full day "(Machfuzh, 1963: 60).

Conclusion

First, the majority of Egyptian society after the 1952 revolution

living in material poverty. Material wealth is only mastered by a few

groups of people only. Secondly, the material poverty experienced by

the majority of Egyptian society, giving birth moral poverty at various


levels of society. Immorality spread in the community as a contagious

disease that is difficult to stop. Third, the descriptions of contention

between class poor and the rich are presented in the novel al-Lish-shu

wal-Kilab, a symbol of the opposition between socialists and capitalists.

What is taught by Rouf told Said Mahran, in line with the principles held

by the socialists. When a human being in a poor state and demoralized,

then stealing, robbing, killing is permissible and does not constitute a

crime, especially when targeted is the capitalists or the rich. About a

time when someone becomes rich, then his judgment turned 180

degrees. At that time, steal rob and kill it was forbidden, against the law

and big mistake. It happened to Rouf who used to teach must steal, steal

now is a big mistake when he becomes rich. Changes in the way the vote

was not due to a change in the process of class strata of the poor to the

rich. The change was due to an attempt of self-protection, fear of the

poor later making it a target.


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POVERTY AND CLASS CONFLICT EGYPTIAN SOCIETY IN NOVEL …