The American University in Cairo A Reflection of Egypt in the 20th century · Major argument: Many critics view Naguib Mahfouz as simply a storyteller. However, by using the Trilogy, this paper will show that Naguib Mahfouz can actually be regarded as a historian who has documented the history of Egypt in a very unique way. The Trilogy is a reflection of the political history of Egypt and it reveals many aspects of daily life in Egypt prevalent in the 20th century such as the opposition of political rights, the loosening of social norms, degradation of faith, the lack of spirituality and the gradual liberation of women