Visual imagery once more is employed to vividly show us the pain in which Firdaus was enduring because the knife was described as “sharp”. They cut off a piece of flesh from between my thighs”. “She brought a woman who was carrying a small knife. These words are also simple and this is important because it allows the readers to fully grasp the intentions of the writer. Through these descriptive words “sharp pleasure” the writer portrays sex as satisfying and enjoyable on Firdaus’s first sexual encounter with Mohammadian. This is very significant because, regardless of the fact that Firdaus doesn’t understand what sexual pleasure is, she is exposed to it a very tender age and she will therefore be able to notice differences later on in her life. “From some part of my body… sharp pleasure”, the writer here uses the words “sharp pleasure” to describe her feelings. Firdaus’ encounter with Mohammadian as a child initiates a starting point for her understanding of sexual pleasure. Nawal El Saadawi makes use of descriptive diction to describe the emotions and feelings of the protagonist Firdaus. The focus of this essay is to explore the means by which Nawal El Saadawi employs to present the significance of sex and sexuality in Woman at point zero. She finally becomes aware that her sexuality is no longer inferior but rather superior where sex is involved. Firdaus’s perception of empowerment develops alongside her changing views of sex and sexuality. Firdaus is able to have power and takes control of her life for the first time and uses what she has discovered to fight the circumstances that have dominated her life for a very long time. Additionally, sex and sexuality is very significant, because it demonstrates the advancement of Firdaus as a character, as her understanding of sex changes and becomes less about pleasure but more about power. Nawal El Saadawi presents sex as a burden but also as a sense of empowerment to women in this book.

Sex is commonly used as an abbreviation to refer to sexual intercourse and sexuality refers to being either male or female. Nawal El Saadawi’s Woman at Point Zero portrays an unsympathetic, patriarchal society and focuses on a pain-stricken prostitute who escapes a childhood full of oppression to find power in prostitution.

Firdaus nawal el saadawi