Perspective

In Woman at Point Zero, there are two perspectives. The first one appears in the Author's Preface, Chapter 1 and Chapter 3, and this is the perspective of Nawal El Saadawi, the author. Saadawi is a psychiatrist who specializes in researching neuroses in Egyptian women. As such, she receives the opportunity to interview Firdaus, a woman sentenced to death for killing a man and the main character of this story. When Saadawi interviews Firdaus at Qanatir Prison before her execution, Saadawi is awed by Firdaus' lack of fear, and Firdaus' story inspires in Saadawi the need to "challenge and to overcome those forces that deprive human beings of their right to live, to love, and to real freedom" (p. iv).

The second perspective utilized in this story is that of Firdaus in the second chapter as she shares her tragic life story with Saadawi. Firdaus is qualified to take over...