Female existence in Naguib Mahfouz’s Tahwida: A Beauvoirian perspective

Audi, Moch. Julian Rizqy and Rohman, Abdul ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4420-3868 (2025) Female existence in Naguib Mahfouz’s Tahwida: A Beauvoirian perspective. JBSI: Jurnal Bahasa dan Sastra Indonesia, 5 (2). pp. 458-469. ISSN 2809238X

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Abstract

This study examines the representation of women's existence through the character of Tawhida in Naguib Mahfouz's short story Tahwida using Simone de Beauvoir's existential feminism perspective. This perspective views women not as objects of patriarchal culture, but as subjects who have awareness, freedom, and authenticity in determining their existence. Using a descriptive qualitative method and a literature review approach, this study focuses on collecting data and information from various written sources, such as books, scientific journals, articles, and documents relevant to this research. This study explores how the body, subjectivity, spirituality, and social relations of the character Tawhida represent women's struggles in facing social constructs that limit their freedom of movement. The results of the study show that Tawhida is not merely a symbol of beauty or domestication, but rather an autonomous, spiritual, and intellectual woman. She transcends the social boundaries that constrain her and demonstrates the ability to consciously interpret her life. In the context of modern Arabic literature, the representation of Tawhida marks a paradigm shift from passive women to active, critical, and empowered subjects. Thus, this study confirms that female characters in literary works can be a means of articulating women's authentic existence, as well as a form of resistance against the objectification and subordination attached to women's bodies and social roles.

Item Type:	Journal Article
Keywords:	Existential feminism; female existence; Modern Arabic literature; Naguib Mahfouz; Simone de Beauvoir; Mahfouz’ Tawhida
Subjects:	20 LANGUAGE, COMMUNICATION AND CULTURE > 2005 Literary Studies > 200527 Arabic Literature (al-Adab al-‘Arabī) > 20052706 Naqd al-Adab (Arabic Literary Criticism) - al-Natsr (Prose, Novel)
Divisions:	Faculty of Humanities > Department of Arabic Language and Letters
Depositing User:	Abdul Abdul Rohman
Date Deposited:	20 Nov 2025 11:30

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