She leaves Sharifa’s house and walks head high in the streets showing great self-confidence. Although to Sharifa the term “value” was based on the monetary perspective, Firdaus realizes that self-value goes beyond money. However, she allowed men to determine the value. On page 77 of the novel, Sharifa makes it clear that Firdaus did not value herself highly. Sharifa betrays her and her establish her self-esteem. She completes her education and earns a certificate most young women and girls were unable to achieve that. She struggles not to lose her self-worth. The theme is brought out by Firdaus in most instances. Women struggle to prove that they have power and safeguard their self-worth. In her love life, she meets Ibrahim, who betrays her again by marrying another woman since Firdaus had no power to contradict him.Īlso, the theme of power is manifested in the story “A Woman at Point Zero” in a way that the “powerful” men suppress the self-worth of women. Sharifa, who is also powerful, saves her but uses Firdaus’ body for her financial benefits. He beats her, rapes her, and allows his friends to rape her. While in the streets, Bayoumi saves her, but he turns against her. Sheikh Mahmoud, her husband, beats her making her escape eventually, she becomes a streetwalker.

For instance, she got molested and rejected by her uncle, who had been her childhood hero. In most cases, men misused their power, and inhumanly treated women. In the novel, A Woman at Point Zero Firdaus mindset of power is that men have control while women do not. This essay offers a more in-depth analysis of the subject of power in the book (Fwangyil & Ada, 2012).Įvidence of the theme of power in the text The theme of power is more dormant in the text the power suppresses women in the community.

A diversity of themes characterizes the novel. The text is set in a society whereby women are under the control of men and the fight against the dominance by men. The writing of the story “A Woman at Point Zero” was influenced by several factors like the personal experiences by the author and the societal context in which it was written. The theme of power in the novel “A Woman at Point Zero” by Nawal El-Saadawi

Woman at point zero book