Motif: Nature Imagery Woman at Point Zero

WATER

Water “Like an object thrown into limitless sea, without shores and without a bed, slashed by the waters when it started to sink, and by the wind if it starts to float. Forever sinking and rising, sinking and rising between the sea and the sky...” (21). “I was sinking as I slept and dreamt, in which I was gradually sinking without getting wet, gradually dropping without getting drowned” (69). “Like the ebb and flow of the waves on a shore, seething and foaming and bubbling like boiling water. A sound like the roar of an angry sea went back and forth from my ears to the pillow and from the pillow to my ears” (97).

Significance of Water The water is a symbol of Firdaus’ relationship with her mother, where the sinking and floating symbolizes the unstableness of the relationship & mindset. Although there is a sense of support between the mother and Firdaus, there is also a distance shown through only the eyes holding Firdaus up. This support and distance is shown through the description of water. When Firdaus is with Sharifa, she finally feels like she is in peace and just got away from the harassment from the previous relationships. She starts to feel confident with herself. Sinking is significant of “finding steady ground” and having stable relationship that she wants with Sharifa. After being called unrespectable by Diaa which symbolizes hows mindset of being unstable represented in the sinking and floating of the water

AIR & CLIMATE

Air and Climate “It was still night and the air was bitterly cold. Now the rain had started to fall, turning the dusty ground under my feet to mud” (84). “Nothing in the streets was capable of scaring me any longer, and the coldest wind could no longer bite into my body” (82). “The cold night air penetrated my body” (114).

Significance of Air and Climate In significance of “Air” and “Sky” it is depicted that the environment Firdaus surrounds herself makes her feel a sense of coldness. The coldness that is repeated throughout the book is not very positively mentioned. Cold is often represented of how Firdaus is impacted by her relationships with cold being used when she has been taken advantage of or is not happy with her current state. Quick brainstorm 1 After leaving Sharifa 2 Leaving the policeman Feeling of invincibility, Independence 2) After Ibrahim betrays Feels betrayed / violated, Air penetrating significant of her

GREEN & BLUE

Colors: Green and Blue “The black pupils in the centre of her eyes seemed to have turned green, a powerful dark green, like the trees on the bank of the Nile”(69). “The sky over our heads was as blue as the bluest sky, but the colours mingled and everything around radiated this liquid green light”(69). “Can the Nile, and the sky, and the trees change? I had changed, so why not the Nile and the colour of the trees?”(74)

Significance of Green and Blue At these points, it is mostly the same emotion for all interactions. A few quotes are said by the researcher, but they are essential in demonstrating how they were influenced by Firdaus. Specifically looking at Firdaus, she gives off the idea of being very observant. She is constantly using colors and objects to describe her environment.Firdaus uses nature due to its sense of power which is a recurring idea within the story. Firdaus struggles with obtaining power and so she sees nature deteriorating at her lowest point. The trees and the Nile bring her a sense of comfort when she feels that she has nothing left. The green of Sharifa emphasizes the difference in her experience with her compared to other people. Sharifa was a character who was in the same physical state as Firdaus. However, Firdaus came to realize that Sharifa was nothing like her, hence, the green eyes. Therefore, the green eyes were used to show how Sharifa didn’t develop a relationship with Firdaus in a brutal and sexual way like the men did, but rather a more emotional and mental abuse that betrayed Firdaus in the end.

Connection to the Greater Purpose Nawal El Saadawi had the idea to retell Firdaus’ story in order to reveal the social corruption in Egypt in the year 1975. The nature takes great part in this goal by allowing for the reader to follow along with Firdaus’ progression. The variety of color and constant mention of the sky and water create a comparison towards Firdaus’ thoughts and evolving mindset. For instance, there are times when she is overcome with darkness and so she uses a “dark blue” or refers to the wind as “bitterly cold”. When she is filled with positive thoughts, she uses words such as “bluest sky” and “colours mingled”. At a certain point on page 74, she realizes that the nature has stopped changing along with her. Ultimately, the nature in turn, brings a sense of something to refer to throughout the steps of her progression.