In Woman at Point Zero, Nawal El Saadawi explores the struggles women face in societies. The protagonist, Firdaus, faces years of discrimination from men throughout the text. The perceived dominance that men assume is shown through their oppressive behavior and the perceived subjugation of women is shown through their lack of power. The text follows Firdaus' journey to break every stereotype imposed on women and escape the hypocritical and patriarchal society. Saadawi uses rigid gender roles to highlight how discrimination fuels passion and anger. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an Original Essay The tyrannical role that men play in society demonstrates their ability to manipulate women. When Firdaus was younger, he played with a little boy in the fields. He made her lie down and touched her and when he did so, "from somewhere in her body, where she didn't know exactly, came a sensation of acute pleasure." She speaks in an ambiguous tone, revealing her inability to understand what is happening to her. She remains passive and allows him to touch “some part” of her body where he “doesn't know” without hesitation. This demonstrates the prescribed idea that men are allowed to do whatever they want with women and their bodies. He describes the sensation as a “sharp pleasure.” The juxtaposition of the word “strong” with “pleasure” demonstrates how the sensation of this boy's touch is unwanted and painful, yet Firdaus convinces herself that she enjoys it because she has been taught to let men use her at her disposal. The oppressive social role of men is continually established in Firdaus' life. After running away from her abusive husband, she turned to her aunt for help. The aunt told her that “it was precisely the men who were experts in their religion who beat their wives. The precepts of religion permitted such punishment.” The irony of this statement, as those who are devoted to their religion avoid sinful actions, demonstrates the extreme corruption of men. Even those men who dedicate their lives to promoting the Islamic faith use their power in society to manipulate women. They have altered the tenets of religion to their advantage. Because women are sensitive to male power, they believe that what men say about religion is true. This furthers the control that men impose on women in this society. During her career as a prostitute, Firdaus meets a man who questions the respectability of her work. These words have an immediate impact on Firdaus' mental state. He described the noises in his head as "the sound of a stormy sea... because everything had become just a series of bangs following each other like day and night, like the beats of his heart racing in a row like a hammer in his head." Head". The metaphor referring to the sea and the “blows” of the wind demonstrates her lack of control. The words this man addressed to her took over her mind like a storm, due to the incessant power and of the manipulation that men impose on women. However, her severe reaction to this statement brought her to a place of passion and anger. The “veil was torn from her eyes” and she began to see “her life in a way.” new.” The metaphor, which relates the removal of an object that obstructs clear vision with his new mentality, clearly highlights the change in Firdaus' perspective on his position in society life took her to a place of passion and anger, ultimately searchingof change. The helpless role that women play in society demonstrates their inability to establish power over men. Firdaus formed a relationship with Bayoumi in which she felt safe and strong. When she told him she was going to get a job because he didn't, everything changed. He slapped her forcefully and then "a cold shiver, like the shudder of death, passed through her body and her hands fell". Instinctively she covered the part on which her gaze was fixed, but his large, strong hands moved quickly to tear them away." The simile, comparing her sensation in the body to the sensation of death, reveals her instinctive fear of men and her lack of power. Women's prescribed role in society leads them to believe that they cannot defend themselves from men, which is demonstrated by Firdaus' reaction to Bayoumi's strength. The helpless tone he uses to describe Bayoumi's actions highlights his vulnerability. His descriptors, such as "big", "strong", "fast", and "jerk" describe the helpless position in which Firdaus finds himself. For Firdaus, he is bigger, stronger, and faster than her, leaving her with no choice but to succumb. its power. To further exert his dominance, Bayoumi began locking Firdaus in his apartment. He describes the feeling of being a "lifeless dead body, like a piece of wood, or an empty sock, or a shoe." The metaphor compares Firdaus to a variety of lifeless objects, which have no ability to choose or defend themselves. Before Bayoumi's shift from kindness to aggression, Firdaus felt powerful. Bayoumi, like every other man in the text, could not stand the idea of ​​female power and took it away mercilessly. Firdaus' inability to establish her own power makes her feel like a "corpse" or a "piece of wood" or whatever with no jurisdiction over herself. Once again, Firdaus meets a man who makes her feel powerful and confident. But once again he manipulates and mistreats her. In the midst of his anguish, he describes seeing a “low wall, as tall as an average man, built of bare bricks without plaster.” The image he provides of this “low” wall, compared to the size of an “average man” and built of “bare bricks” without plaster, conveys to Firdaus the discredit of male power. All her life she allowed men to use and abuse her, but suddenly she began to realize that men only have power because no one tries to take it away from them, like a brick wall without plaster. Her years of oppression have brought her to a place of frustration, resentment, and left her with an aspiration for change. Firdaus' futile efforts to establish her power push her to seek change. Firdaus' meeting with the pimp marks the transition from his passive lifestyle to an active one, determined to break his dictated role in society. After leaving her pimp for dead, she is chased by a prince. When he tried to pay her for her time, she “torn the money to pieces, tore the veil, the last remaining veil before her eyes, to reveal the whole enigma that had always perplexed her, the true enigma of his life. ”. The veil symbolizes modesty and obedience. The metaphor, which compares the snatching of the money to the removal of the veil, shows the aggressiveness with which she is giving up the obedience she once gave to men. Before her change in mindset, she would have eagerly accepted the money she was offered. Now she exercises her power by eliminating male domination in her life. Recounting the murder she committed, she recalls how “the movement of her hand upwards and then downwards destroyed her fear. He realized it was an easy move to perform, much easier than he ever had.