ABSTRACT
This chapter illustrates how Nawal El Saadawi designs the world of Kafr El Teen to mirror a physical stage on which the Mayor exploits fundamentalist Islam to assign subjectivities, or roles, to those born into his production. It is no coincidence that Saadawi locates the Mayor's power as mayor of Kafr El Teen and the director of its theater within his home, often compared to the village mosque. Employing a subtle hand, Saadawi likens the world of Kafr El Teen to a dramatic stage in order to emphasize how the Mayor's political standing in it is commensurate with that of a director. This parallel resonates from Nile's opening scene, before the Mayor has even risen to oversee the town's affairs. Set in the remote village of Kafr El Teen, Nile captures how its principal figure, referred to only by his title, the Mayor, abuses the power he gains by aligning himself with the local mosque and comparing himself to Allah.
