Analysis of Woman at Point Zeroby Nawal El Saadawi - Book Report/Review Example

THE EMPTY HANDED WOMAN Egyptian Nawal El Saadawi’s “Woman at Point Zero” is a sensational story about female revolt by an Egyptian prostitute on death row. ‘Point Zero’ represents the lowest point. In the context of the book, it represents the nadir in life. When a person reaches this point, he or she acknowledges that nothing can be done to alleviate the current situation {The Egyptian prostitute Firdaus declares: “I did not want to go back to it [previous life] at any price” [Saadawi, 73]}. The only way out is death. Firdaus explains about Point Zero very eloquently: “I have triumphed over both life and death because I no longer desire to live, nor do I any longer fear to die” (Saadawi, 101). Firdaus’ slide towards Point Zero is totally influenced by her freedom of choice. Having originated from a poor family {“By birth I was lower class” [Saadawi, 12]}, she did not get the opportunity to exercise her freedom of choice. She was put to hard labor by her merciless step-parents (Allaway). She had no choice but to submit to brutal female circumcision during childhood {“Using a small knife or razor blade they cut off a piece of flesh from between my thighs” [Saadawi, 13]}, thereby severing any chance of experiencing pleasure in sexual acts for the rest of her life. She had no choice when she was sold in marriage to an ugly and cruel husband (Allaway). The first time she was called upon to exercise her freedom of choice is when Bayomi asks her if she would like to eat oranges or tangerines. Her shocked reaction, “I tried to reply by my voice failed me” (Saadawi, 47) makes her realize two things. First of all, the occasion marked the first time anyone invited her to exercise her freedom of choice. Secondly, she does not know how to go about exercising her freedom of choice simply because she was never involved in a situation that warranted it; as all her life there was always someone present who made the choice for her. This incident serves to create freedom of choice a gigantic craving in Firdaus, making her wish to attain it at any cost. This craving turns out to be a huge influence on her actions in later life (Weinberg). Firdaus relishes the chance to exercise freedom of choice during her life as a prostitute {“I was like a woman walking through an enchanted world [where] she is free to do what she wants” [Saadawi, 87]}. She is able to choose not only her own living quarters and her own clothes, but also the customers who come to her for sex. Prostitution comes to represent her avenue of freedom of choice, self expression and independence where sex commands a price (Allaway). The freedom of choice is so powerfully exciting that it makes Firdaus believe she can live a comfortable life independently {“I know what I wanted. Now there was no room for illusions” [Saadawi, 86]}. She continues to exercise her freedom of choice to earn larger and larger sums of money while giving sexual service to more and more prestigious men. At this point, Firdaus has reached the zenith of her life, all on account of successfully attaining freedom of choice {“I have become another woman. My previous life was behind me” [Saadawi, 73]}. The sudden plummet from zenith to nadir takes place when the pimp {“a dangerous man who controlled a number of prostitutes” {Saadawi, 94]} forces his way into her life and shatters her cocoon of independence by demanding control over her prostitution activities. She is forced to acknowledge that she cannot continue to live independently and exercise her freedom of choice {“There isn’t a woman on each who can protect herself” [Saadawi, 92]}. This feeling represents her Point Zero. Finding she has no alternative, she blindly lashes out at the pimp and kills him. By attacking and killing the pimp she is in fact lashing out at the male domination in society. Men have always sought to dominate her life, right from her cruel step father, her brutal husband Sheikh Mahmoud, coffee shop owner Bayoumi who prostituted her to his friends, Ibrahim who betrays her love by marrying his boss’ daughter, the Arab prince who offers her a large sum for sex to the powerful pimp who tries to covet her prostitution activities (Weinberg). By killing the pimp, Firdaus acknowledges she has no way of overcoming Point Zero except to indulge in the extreme – court death (Allaway). Point Zero is not a desirable place to occupy because it is a point of no return, a desperate situation where an individual feels hemmed in from all sides and acknowledges there is no way of escape except by death. Persons placed in such a situation are capable of perpetrating unbelievable acts {such as the author’s wondering remark about Firdaus: “[No-one] will ever believe that so gentle a woman can commit murder” [Saadawi, 2]}. Point Zero is not a desirable place to occupy simply because there is always something that can be done to confront the factors leading to the situation, fighting against those factors and conquering them, thereby severing the foundation of Point Zero. Life is full of ups and downs. Individuals confront and overcome problems in life by self help or with the help of families, friends and society. If an individual is unable to do this, then the blame lies not with the individual but in the society in which he or she lives. It is the responsibility of the individual to oppose societal restrictions and create a situation where people are not forced into Point Zero situations. History has records of two powerful movements that have served humanity in such situations. The first is the Civil Rights movement that took place in the 1950s in the United States. It was a massive protest by African Americans against denial of civil rights and status equal to whites. The movement, lead by Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. culminated in December 1963 when Dr. King delivered his famous “I Have a Dream” speech. The Civil Rights Act was eventually passed the following year. The second movement is the Feminist movement that really took off in the 19th century, fighting against male patriarchy and demanding women have equal rights and status as men in every walk of life. While the Civil Rights movement has successfully achieved its targets, the Feminist movement has still not impacted many parts of the world, most notably the Middle East. Countries like Egypt and Sudan have male dominated societies that consider women sexual objects totally under the control of men (Allaway) and persist in discriminating against women in a variety of ways, not the least being subjecting them to female circumcision against their will. They are objects supposed to blindly cater to the whims of men {“A woman was not supposed to complain about her husband. Her duty is perfect obedience” [Saadawi, 44]}. It is very disquieting that while women are liberated and have freedom of choice in almost all parts of the world, women in the Middle East have to still endure discrimination. They cannot even appreciate their own value {As Sharifa tells Firdaus: “A man does not know a woman’s value. She is the one who determines her value” [Saadawi, 55]}. There is a great need to change this situation as early as possible. Efforts from scholars (like Nawal El Saadawi} and pressure from international organizations are the only methods that can influence Middle Eastern countries to radically change their ways. It is only then that women in these countries need not endure the continuous downward spiral that could cause some of them, like Firdaus, to reach Point Zero. In “Woman at Point Zero” Nawal El Saadawi, a prominent Feminist not afraid of airing her views has provided an eye-opener that powerfully focuses on gender discrimination which unfortunately still exists today. It is hoped that others like her take up cudgels for this good cause to influence society to conform to feminist ideas. References: Allaway, Tannaz. “Woman at Point Zero, by Nawal El Saadawi.” Marie Claire magazine. 2007. 8 Dec. 2007. Saadawi, Nawal El. “Woman at Point Zero.” U.K: Zed Books. 1991. Weinberg, Anna. “Sparknote on Woman at Point Zero.” Sparknotes.com. 2007. 8 Dec. 2007. Read More