The book Midaq Alley was written by author Naguib Mahfouz and then translated into English from Arabic by Trevor Le Gassick. The book was first published in 1966. The themes of Midaq Alley run through the heart of Arab culture. It mainly shows how a group of people living in a slum neighborhood in Egypt respond to change, a change that is both a promise and a threat of Western-influenced modernization. Although the book is set in the 1940s, the reader gets a sense of timelessness as they watch as each character struggles through changes in tradition, ethics, and morality in their own painful but limited way. All this is expressed through the eternal alley, seen with total indifference. Several residents of the alley attempt to escape and climb the social ladder with the hopes of never returning to the alley and gaining wealth, but sadly their dreams never come true and all they are left with is heartbreak. The opening sentences of Midaq Alley highlight a world that has escaped its history: "Many things combine to demonstrate that Midaq Alley is one of the gems of times gone by and that it once shone like a flashing star in the history of Cairo. Which Cairo that of Fatimids, Mamluks or Sultans?" (Mahfouz 1). Midaq Alley does not describe Cairo, nor does it attempt to do so, but it offers a glimpse into its culture and the sweeping changes that occurred in the first half of the 20th century. Mahfouz first presents his theme of change by connecting the events of Midaq Alley with the political world outside Egypt. This is demonstrated by the Jewish working girls, who lit the flame of change and modernization. The theme is best presented in Hamida, where... in the middle of the paper... in the alley, at the end of the book there is nothing left but fear in the heart; When Abbas finally overcomes his hesitation, he overreacts and ends up dying for the love of his life, Hamida. This is what makes Midaq so attractive, especially today; deals with themes that are not only timeless but also universal. We see the insignificance of an old poet grow along with the growth of technology. We see a beautiful and ambitious young woman, Hamida; desperately trying to break the stereotypical role that society expects you to occupy. We also see young men following their desires for wealth and marrying beautiful women. After reading Mahfouz's Midaq Alley many times, I can conclude that his intentions were to focus on how to survive, especially through inevitable change, and how to continue pursuing one's ambitions and dreams, even when they collapse right in front of them..