Literature review #5

 

Citation: Said, Edward W. Orientalism. Knopf Doubleday Publishing Group, 2014.

Summary: In this book, Edward Said talks about the concept of orientalism, and how this concept is used and can be seen in many western thoughts and actions. More specifically relating to my topic, said goes deeper into the idea of western superiority in Egyptian lands, and explains the effect and the cause of orientalism and the orientalist view regarding Egypt.

Author: Edward Said was a literature professor at the University of Columbia. He is also well known for this book, making him a good source on the topic of orientalism

Key Terms: Orientalism, Imperialism

Quotes:

"It does not occur to Balfour, however, to let the Egyptian speak for himself, since presumably any Egyptian who would speak out is more likely to be “the agitator [who] wishes to raise difficulties” than the good native who overlooks the “difficulties” of foreign domination." (chapter 1)

"England knows Egypt; Egypt is what England knows; England knows that Egypt cannot have self-government; England confirms that by occupying Egypt; for the Egyptians, Egypt is what England has occupied and now governs; foreign occupation therefore becomes “the very basis” of contemporary Egyptian civilization; Egypt requires, indeed insists upon, British occupation."(chapter 1)

"For Egypt was not just another colony: it was the vindication of Western imperialism; it was, until its annexation by England, an almost academic example of Oriental backwardness; it was to become the triumph of English knowledge and power."(chapter 1)

Value: This source is valuable to me because I allows me to draw ideas about orientalism and relate it to how this orientalism lead to altered ideas of Egyptian culture.