The Echo of the Egyptian Countryside in the Stories of Yusuf Idris

Abstract

Yusuf Idris, born in 1927, was greatly influenced by the countryside. In his first story from "Arkhass Layali", he tells of a poor farmer struggling to survive while still fathering children. In "Al-Murjihat", he describes a farmer, who tries to make money, but falls ill, is imprisoned, and dies. In "Al-Omniya", Idris blends humor to depict rural life, telling the story of a farmer who sees a telephone for the first time. In "Tabeliya Min Al-Sama", a farmer burdened by life refuses to ask for help from the villagers. In "Fi Al-Layl", the author comments on societal flaws through a group of farmers who enjoy jokes from Furfour, the poorest among them. In "Al-Haram", he addresses marginalized laborers in rural society. In "Al-Maatim", he humorously portrays a scene between a village undertaker and a cleric about the price of funeral prayers. Idris uses straightforward language and colloquial speech to make his stories more relatable, while highlighting class divisions. Research questions: How does Yusuf Idris portray the reality of Egyptian rural life and its people? What are the author's goals in focusing on the Egyptian countryside?