Woman at Point Zero

Fiction | Novella | Adult | Published in 1975

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Summary

Background

Chapter Summaries & Analyses

Preface-Chapter 1

Chapter 2, Pages 11-50

Chapter 2, Pages 51-103

Chapter 3

Character Analysis

Themes

Symbols & Motifs

Important Quotes

Essay Topics

Tools

Beta

Discussion Questions

Chapter 3Chapter Summaries & Analyses

Chapter 3 Summary

Saadawi feels as if she’s waking from a dream as Firdaus falls silent, and moments later, the police storm in to take Firdaus away. Saadawi leaves the prison knowing that the truth Firdaus exposed—and that she killed with—is as pervasive and powerful as the wind. Saadawi reflects on the world and its lies—and on how these lies cost Firdaus her life. She realizes that Firdaus possesses more courage than herself or than anyone she has ever met.

Chapter 3 Analysis

The Subjectiveness of Guilt and Innocence emerges as a major theme in the brief final chapter of Woman at Point Zero as Firdaus asserts her innocence and notes that men are the guilty ones, continually committing crimes against women, so women can’t possibly be criminals for fighting back. In addition, this chapter illustrates the aftereffects for Saadawi of meeting Firdaus and hearing her story of enslavement and resilience. Saadawi chose to write Firdaus’s story as a novella, avoiding the common drawing-out of facts and stories and including only as much as she was given. The author felt as if she was in a dream while listening to Firdaus, as if she had been transported elsewhere, because Firdaus showed courage unlike anyone else.