University of Heidelberg

The fin-de-siècle period in Egyptian history was marked by the growing influence of European powers on domestic policies. On the one hand, the geopolitical ambitions of the European powers, who had been obsessed with the Oriental question more or less during the whole XIX century, had increased enormously after the opening of the Suez Channel in 1869. On the other hand, the Khedive Ismail’s economic mismanagement and repeated loans taken from English and French banks peaked with the sale of the majority of the Suez Channel shares to the English in 1875. Seven years later, the English physically occupied Egypt. Another kind of foreign intervention came from the Ottoman Sultan who reserved important positions in the army and within civil service to Turco-Circassians and Albanians. This ongoing intrusion from outside upset Egypt’s educated middle and upper class youth.

National conscience started to grow and made its voice heard through a multiplicity of means such as newspapers and brief handouts, short-story writing, poetry, theatre performances, caricatures and philosophical-theological treatises. One among the intellectual agitators who made use of almost all of these types of political expression in order to work for a free and modern Egypt was James Sanua. Some scholars even consider him the founding father of modern Arabic theatre and Egyptian journalism. James Sanua made an extensive use of all tools, which could help him to get through to people’s minds and hearts while avoiding censorship coming from the hand of the powerful he criticised. This is the reason why satire is the common element which can be found in all the different literary and artistic forms of expression he used. During a brief period, the Khedive himself was amused by Sanua’s plays and therefore solemnly named him “Egypt’s Molière” and hosted him at court. Until now, Egyptian theatre and cinematographic production is markedly coloured by a satirical style especially when it deals with delicate political or even religious matters. A somewhat cathartic effect for a politically un-free or oppressed people is produced by the laughter about the powerful.

This thesis therefore aims to analyze the political content of James Sanua’s writings by especially focusing on satire, which, as mentioned above, is an important tool for political expression within a hostile context.