Aidoo's Esi & El Saadawi's Firdaus

Paper Summary:

In this article, the writer discusses women as social objects within African society. The writer examines men's treatment of women, as portrayed in the books 'Changes, A Love Story' by Aidoo and 'Woman at Point Zero' by El Saadawi. The writer analyzes Chapter 20 of 'Changes: A Love Story', and an excerpt from 'Woman at Point Zero', in which Firdaus marries Sheikh Mahmoud but runs away from him (and then meets Bayomi), in order to shed light on each character's journey toward her "point zero". The writer concludes that what the two characters share most importantly in common, is the fact that their respective societies and most of those with whom they associate (with the exception of some of Esi's female friends and relatives), do not ever see them as full and separate human beings.

From the Paper:

"Esi spends the Christmas season feeling anxious, and taking tranquilizers to calm her nerves. That leads to her epiphany, in which she faces the fact that her marriage to Ali is no marriage at all. When Ali finally shows up on New Year's Day, driving his latest bribe to Esi, a new sports car, Esi by then knows for sure that the marriage is over. Together at breakfast, when both run out of conversation about the flashy new car, each realizes that they have nothing in common anymore. For Esi, spending Christmas alone led to "point zero". The material surprises that once pacified her will no longer substitute for chronic neglect.
Esi realizes in this chapter, that in marrying Ali she has merely exchanged her first claustrophobic marriage to Oko, for one of continuous neglect instead."

Sample of Sources Used:

• Aidoo, Ama Ata. Changes, a Love Story. New York: Feminist Press at the City University of New York, 1993.
• El Saadawi, Nawal. Woman at Point Zero. Sherif Hetata (Trans.). London: Zed Books Ltd., 1998.
• "Read an Extract from Woman at Point Zero (first published 1975). African Review of Books.com. Retrieved December 7, 2005, from: <http://www. africanreviewofbooks.com/100best/100bestsamples/saadawi.html>.

More papers on Aidoo's Esi & El Saadawi's Firdaus:

• Analytical Essay # 136669 : "Point Zero in Nawal El Saadawi's, 'Woman at Point-Zero'"
• Book Review # 136672 : "Point-Zero in Nawal El-Saadawi's Work"
• Book Review # 106982 : "Nawal Saadawi's "Woman at Point Zero"

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