Woman at Point Zero

Why did Nawal El Saadawi choose to write about Firdaus? What makes Firdaus a unique example, and “a woman apart” (iii)?

How does Firdaus’s story apply on an international level? Why is her story studied around the world, and how can women in other cultures relate to and empathize with it? Why might her story be important for young people, both men and women, to learn about?

What does Firdaus mean when she says, “No woman is a criminal” (100)? How does her statement relate to the theme of The Subjectiveness of Guilt and Innocence?

Why do so many of Firdaus’s descriptions of other people involve their eyes? What do eyes symbolize to her, and what do they indicate about each character she describes, as well as her feelings toward them?

How does Firdaus’s first experience earning money change her worldview? Why does it change her perspective in this way, and how does she live her life differently afterward?

Firdaus endures abuse of all forms at the hands of men who try to control and use her. How does she respond to these challenges, and how does she come to represent the theme of Resilience and Agency From a Feminist Perspective?

Why does Firdaus come to despise desire and lies? How do they relate to one another in this context, and how does she eventually rise above these burdens?

How does Woman at Point Zero illustrate the intersection of religion, politics, and social relationships?