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Ahmad Abd al-Jawad

This person is the novel's central character who runs his family as an old-style patriarchal tyrant.

Amina (Umm Fahmy)

This person prides herself on doing her wifely duty and believes superstitiously that the big house is haunted.

Yasin Ahmad Abd al-Jawad

This person is sexually promiscuous and cheats on his wife resulting in a divorce.

Khadija Shawkat (née Abd al-Jawad)

This person is sharp-tongued, opinionated, and jealous of her beautiful younger sister.

Fahmy Ahmad Abd al-Jawad

This person is a serious, intelligent student attending the Cairo University Law School in Giza.

Aisha Shawkat (née Abd al-Jawad)

This person is a daydreamer and a blond.

Kamal Ahmad Abd al-Jawad

This person is an intellectual, who likes school despite its tyrannical atmosphere, and is particularly fond of religion class.

Amina's Mother

This person has struggled to remain independent despite her blindness, refusing to move in...

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This section contains 364 words (approx. 2 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample