Akhenaten, Dweller in Truth – Naguib Mafouz

Reminiscent more of Citizen Kane and Rashomon, rather than any of Mafouz’s earlier works (Cairo Trilogy), Akhenaten, Dweller in Truth, aims to convey to the reader how amorphous the concept of truth, especially historical truth is. Detailing the life of the pharaoh Akhenaten, and his beautiful and powerful wife Nefertiti through the memories of the people whose fortunes rose and fell with theirs, truth becomes a piece of clay that is molded by each who wields it to suit their notions of reality. Indeed, Akhenaten, who started as someone who almost ruined Egypt – the traitor, the heretic had by the end of the book outgrown these narrow character descriptions. We remain unsure to the end of what he was – a prophet, a fool, a poet or a warrior. Maybe, all of them together. But history cannot, and will not, tolerate together such conflicting adjectives; thus invariably leading to a notion of truth that is as twisted as it is false.

In literary terms, there is very little innovation in this novel. The book essentially consists of a series of interviews conducted by Meriamun, who enraptured by the fallen city of Akhenaten decides to pursue the truth. Every interview goes over the basic plot – Akhenaten rebellion against Amun (the presiding god), the announcement of his new religion, his marriage to Nefertiti, their rule and shifting of the capital and finally his fall from power followed by Akhenaten’s death. The plot itself remains static and the different narratives do not fulfill the purpose of filling up gaps in this plot. Rather each narrative changes the setting and the dramatis personae; thus the causality that is implied by a linear historical narrative is fundamentally challenged. This more than anything else is the greatest achievement of Mafouz in this work.

I would not say, this is a great work of fiction. Mafouz himself has written much better. For the sheer beauty of his prose one need not look beyond Arabian Nights and Days: A Novel, while the aforementioned Cairo trilogy is a testament to his deep understanding of the Arab society. However, Akhenaten, Dweller in Truth, is not only a novel. It is also a subtle (but not damning, for the seeker of truth does not judge) attack on an establishment that chooses to see truth as it defines it.

 

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