What Lan A3esh Fi Gelbab Abi Teaches Us About Success, Parenting, Generational Traumas, and Father-Son Communications

First: Abdel Ghaffor’s Humble Beginnings to Great Success.

 

The show starts with Abdel Ghaffor as a young man who is yearning for success. As he works his way up to become a self-made merchant, he faces many enemies, ups and downs but through resilience and sheer hard work, he achieves his goals, thanks to his mentor, Haj Sardina, and his support system of friends and love interest, Fatma. What makes his character memorable has many factors to it, one is the genuine performance by the late Nour El Sherif, and the other is how Abdelghaffor’s rise to glory and riches hasn’t changed his beliefs or morals. He’s a man who is not ruined by money or greed, he keeps himself humble, treats everyone with respect, and is not tempted to remarry or change his lifestyle. In many shows and movies that depict how money and success can change a person, Abdel Ghaffor is the exception. Making the show take on becoming successful and keeping it humble is special and somewhat subversive.  

 

Third: Father-son Relationships 

 

Mind you, this show was made in the 90s and Abdelghaffor’s character might be subversive, but he still holds to old ideologies when it comes to parenting. 

He doesn’t seem to understand his son or try to voice his concerns in a proper way, which makes Abdelwahab more distant and cold towards his father. What makes the series so influential and relatable is that no matter the age, gender, or class you’re in, the miscommunication cycle between parents and kids still reigns, with both ends failing to articulate speak their truth, and positively express their feelings. Abdel Ghaffor loves his son and would do anything for him but the way he shows emotions or expresses himself has made Abdelwahab feel as if he is inferior and his father's work will haunt him. That’s why Abdelwahab goes through multiple identity crises and no matter how much his father gives him what he wants, it’s not enough. Abdelwahab is constantly trying to avoid becoming like his father because he sees him as a bit old-fashioned, cold, and distant, while Abdel Ghaffor doesn't understand the real reason for his son’s behavior.

 

In the final couple of episodes, we see both of them talk it out, as each party demonstrates their cases against the other, and by the end of it, they come to terms that all they have is each other. Father-son relationships are complicated and in the show, all they had to do was talk it out and resolve their issues.

 

Abdelwahab’s arc ended embracing his inner Abdel Ghaffor's side, gaining so much admiration and respect for his father, and finally accepting his father’s proposal to be a part of his business. As for Abdel Ghaffor, seeing his son becoming responsible and finding his true self, to him this is the best gift he could ever receive. 

We haven’t even discussed the father-daughter relationship that is between Abdel Ghaffor and his youngest daughter, Nazira,  a strong-willed, educated, young woman who refuses to take 'no' for an answer and is a bit of a rebel compared to her other sisters. She is the female version of Abdel Ghaffor when it comes to determination and strength. 

 

Another thing that we can take away from the show is that Abdel Ghaffor is supportive of his daughter’s decisions when it comes to marriage, even if he objects to Sanya’s choice of husband, which eventually ends up leaving her, Abdel Ghaffor never blames her or called her an idiot for her decision. Instead, he told her to keep her head high and move on. That this isn’t the end of the world and that she can find someone who truly loves her for who she is, not her father’s money and status. 

 

For a character with little to no education and who started from scratch without a family, he became the family man he wished he had growing up, constantly loving his wife and giving her what she needed, to being a supportive dad to his daughters when they need him and finally, embracing his son and helping him find his way in life.