Taha Hussein says, “I prefer to establish a sort of fellowship between me and the readers, so that we start the story together, proceed in it together, and conclude it together. Sometimes we agree, and sometimes we differ.”
With these words, Taha Hussein lays the foundation for the relationship between him and the readers of his novel, presenting a literary text characterized by interactivity, blending valuable philosophical elements, and offering a distinctive presentation of the social conflict beyond the river. This is a class struggle, manifested in the oppression of the rich over the poor and the forces that coerce the weak. Beyond the river, there are people who do not deny injustice; rather, they subjugate their weak counterparts, a matter rejected by our great writer who was always concerned with establishing the values of citizenship and social justice.
In this novel, he advocates for reform and holding onto the ray of hope despite the dark shadows. Moreover, he intentionally leaves the ending open, allowing the text to interact with its readers and enabling them to discover what lies beyond the river on their own.