Mohamed Salmawy is an Egyptian prolific writer and president of the Egyptian Writers' Union. His novel, Wings of the Butterfly was published shortly before the Egyptian Revolution began. It is considered one of the rare novels that foresee the Revolution of the 25th of January. Salmawy’s aspiration towards revolution arises not in empty space, but in the very thick atmosphere of the current reality. In Wings of the Butterfly, Salmawy’s protagonists are the youth who are protesting against an authority they are estranged from. They express their rejection of their current reality with its gloominess, tyranny and oppression; looking forward to achieve their dream of freedom and dignity. Although Wings of the Butterfly is considered a critique of the current political and social climate, it is an expression of hope for sociopolitical change. It is a utopian aspiration which cannot be fully realized or presented; a yearning towards a better way of life. |
