Through learning more about the society and the culture in Egypt in the 1940’s the understanding of Midaq Alley was increased. The understanding was increased through learning about how family, as a whole, was viewed. For example, on page 106 of Midaq Alley, Umm Hamida had said “... My daughter shall be his and it will be as though she had never left me,” as stated in the interactive oral family was close knit, even after marriage. Also stated was how homosexuality was punished; examples being beatings, humility, and ultimately death. This helped the understanding of why Mrs. Kirsha was in the right for publicly humiliating her husband and the boy for homosexual acts or suspicion. The topic of marriage was brought up, reinstating that it is
