In her novel, Woman at Point Zero, Nawal El Saadawi criticizes the unequal treatment of woman in Egypt through the oppression Firdaus faces. The item that most accurately symbolizes this is prostitution. There are multiple instances throughout where prostitution subjugates Firdaus and causes her much pain. The author utilizes irony to show how sex is used to oppress females but females like Firdaus attempt to use sex/prostitution to empower themselves and resist society. The scene where Sharifa recruits Firdaus to work for her is key in understanding the irony and inequality that woman face in Egypt. Ultimately, the author makes the point that prostitution is an illusion of power. Women like Firdaus, obtain this sense of power but it doesn’t
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During their first encounter, Sharifa gives Firdaus a piece of advice as she tries to recruit her, “Life is a snake. They are the same, Firdaus. If the snake realizes you are not a snake, it will bite you. And if life knows you have no sting, it will devour you.” (Saadawi 72). El Saadawi uses this metaphor to compare life to a snake and explains that to survive one needs a weapon of sorts. Sharifa here is referring to Prostitution specifically and that for a woman to survive in society it is necessary. If life is the snake then prostitution is the weapon that women use in society to protect themselves. This demonstrates that all women must use prostitution as a tool to fight the oppression in society. Life in this society will consume a woman without this job. Firdaus learns from this and uses it to empower herself to resist society as much as possible. Later, Firdaus explains how Sharifa had enlightened her when she was recruited. “She probed with a …show more content…
“…my insistence on remaining a prostitute, proved to me this was my choice and that I had some freedom, at least the freedom to live in a situation better than that of women…” (Saadawi 121). The author uses the word “freedom” to show that Firdaus actually gets a sense of power and choice that she doesn’t get anywhere else in society. By using this word the author drives the tone of independence and liberty to show Firdaus’ feelings on her choice to remain in this field of work. This supports her point that women in Egypt are virtually trapped and furthers the idea that this is simply a mere illusion of power. After much experience with prostitution, Firdaus begins to truly understand society. “A man cannot stand being rejected by a woman, because deep down inside he feels a rejection of himself.” (Saadawi 121). The author draws on situational irony in this quote when she explains how a prostitute gets a sense of power because a man hates to be rejected. Firdaus uses this as a way of giving her a sense of power in society because she feels as though she can control men. After Sharifa took Firdaus under her wing, Firdaus began to feel a new sense of power and energy “…feel the power of life, of my body, and the hot blood in my veins….” The author uses very strong imagery and diction in the words like “power” and “hot”. This establishes a tone of strength and capability. Through her experiences with prostitution,
During their first encounter, Sharifa gives Firdaus a piece of advice as she tries to recruit her, “Life is a snake. They are the same, Firdaus. If the snake realizes you are not a snake, it will bite you. And if life knows you have no sting, it will devour you.” (Saadawi 72). El Saadawi uses this metaphor to compare life to a snake and explains that to survive one needs a weapon of sorts. Sharifa here is referring to Prostitution specifically and that for a woman to survive in society it is necessary. If life is the snake then prostitution is the weapon that women use in society to protect themselves. This demonstrates that all women must use prostitution as a tool to fight the oppression in society. Life in this society will consume a woman without this job. Firdaus learns from this and uses it to empower herself to resist society as much as possible. Later, Firdaus explains how Sharifa had enlightened her when she was recruited. “She probed with a …show more content…
“…my insistence on remaining a prostitute, proved to me this was my choice and that I had some freedom, at least the freedom to live in a situation better than that of women…” (Saadawi 121). The author uses the word “freedom” to show that Firdaus actually gets a sense of power and choice that she doesn’t get anywhere else in society. By using this word the author drives the tone of independence and liberty to show Firdaus’ feelings on her choice to remain in this field of work. This supports her point that women in Egypt are virtually trapped and furthers the idea that this is simply a mere illusion of power. After much experience with prostitution, Firdaus begins to truly understand society. “A man cannot stand being rejected by a woman, because deep down inside he feels a rejection of himself.” (Saadawi 121). The author draws on situational irony in this quote when she explains how a prostitute gets a sense of power because a man hates to be rejected. Firdaus uses this as a way of giving her a sense of power in society because she feels as though she can control men. After Sharifa took Firdaus under her wing, Firdaus began to feel a new sense of power and energy “…feel the power of life, of my body, and the hot blood in my veins….” The author uses very strong imagery and diction in the words like “power” and “hot”. This establishes a tone of strength and capability. Through her experiences with prostitution,