Saadawi accurately illustrates the ability of literature to discuss social and psychological issues prevalent in society. In this novel, the author delves into the injustices of patriarchal society through her main character Firdaus. She commences by describing the barbaric act of clitoridectomy that Firdaus went through and the persistent abuse of her mother by her father (Saadawi, p. 23). Later on, in life she was betrayed by her uncle and eventually other male figures that entered her life; especially the male pimps that continually exploited her (Saadawi, p. 35). All the hurt and pain that she went through in the latter situations were either perpetrated by men or occurred solely because Firdaus was female (Saadawi, p. 56). In other words, the book is filled with instances of objectification, abuse, neglect, and exploitation of women by men who are often backed by Islamic fundamentalist principles. These are all depictions of male patriarchy.
Social stratification and marginalization of oppressed groups is a common theme in the book and the author communicates this through the main character’s life. Firdaus remained in the lower classes even after earning a lot of money. To the rest of society, she remained nothing more than a dreg. Furthermore, she was driven into prostitution itself out of desperation. Her upbringing had ill-prepared her for the challenges of adulthood and this caused her to use a morally incorrect pathway to earn a living. Her lack of access to education and economic opportunities, therefore, put her in the lower social classes (Saadawi, p. 100).
Another important psychological issue that was addressed in the book was self-identity. Most of Firdaus’ life was marked by a struggle for knowledge of self. She could not identify with a dysfunctional and abusive family in childhood and neither could she relate to her oppressive Muslim upbringing. This is probably the reason why she did not feel inclined to act morally when she killed her pimp. However, after her arrest, readers are introduced to a strong and intelligent woman who appears quite resilient despite her adversities and who has found dignity irrespective of her trials (Saadawi, p. 90).
How victimage runs through different works
In “Woman at point zero”, victimage is seen as a justification for the crimes committed by the protagonist Firdaus. It provides a context against which one can fully understand the thought patterns and the driving force being such a serious crime. After completion of the novel, readers can soon realize that Firdaus was not a hardcore criminal or an evil person; she was a casualty of her experiences. Firdaus was victimized by almost every man she met including her kinsmen (Saadawi, p. 67). However, Saadawi also illustrates that victimage could also be analyzed through the societal lens. The main character in the book went through female circumcision and marginalization because her society propagated it. Another interesting way in which Saadawi handles victimage is through the triumphant attitude of Firdaus at the end of the book. This protagonist exemplifies resilience and quiet strength which are all signs of rebellion against her past experiences of victimage which would otherwise dictate that she gives up. Although she has been sentenced to death, she embraces the happiness that awaits her in eternal life because there is no room for victimization there (Saadawi, p.111).
Chopin, in her short story “The story of an hour” handles this issue in a different light. She talks about a woman who had been victimized by her husband and the very institution of marriage. She could not exercise her free will because her husband frequently imposed his will upon her. Her kind of victimage prevented her from forging her own identity as she solely depended on her husband for strength. Quite similarly to Firdaus in “Woman at point zero”, she embarks on a journey of self discovery where she seeks to break the chains of socially imposed victimization. This protagonist i.e. Mrs. Mallard had lost control of her own life and even asserted that she had ‘abandoned herself’ before her husband’s death. She could not get out of this situation because it is what society expected of her. However, a twist of fate changes all that when her husband passes on because this is when she is allowed to be free. However, the author Chopin uniquely conveys victims because she does not present issues in black and white. The protagonist perceived life in a complicated way and imposing one’s will was not just something that men could do because women were equally guilty (Chopin, p. 17).
In the play “Top Girls”, Playwright Churchill portrays victimage in the reverse during certain instances. For example, his main character Marlene is depicted as a strong and headstrong woman who is making it in the corporate arena (Churchill, p. 24). However, she easily exploits the people around her to secure this position. In other words, this woman is the one who is victimizing others. Although it may not have been her intention to dominate others, her feminist ideals have placed her in such circumstances. In other words, through individuation, such a woman has become a problem to the rest of society and this is how she dominated and victimized others. On the other hand, it can also be argued that victimage in this play was also portrayed in a similar way to all the latter works mentioned; women were victimized by societal rules. For instance, the character Pope Joan was killed after her community realized that she had been a man and was forced to bear her child publically before her death (Churchill, p. 15). She wanted to access a better life for herself hence the reason why she took on a male identity. Her patriarchal society therefore oppressed and victimized her thus forcing her to result to drastic measures to survive.
In the autobiography “Desert flower”, author Waris Dirie’s victimage is seen strictly through the societal lens as described by female experiences (Dirie, p. 30). Waris was the victim of several repressive acts such as female genital mutilation at the tender of age of five and forced marriage at the age of twelve (Dirie, p. 45). This was seen as more of an opportunity for her father to acquire more property rather than a case of fulfillment of societal obligations. However, the book does not just end there i.e. with the depiction of a helpless female in an oppressive society. Waris chose to defy these oppressive traditions by running away from home and making a success of her life by being an international model and later on a spokeswoman for anti-circumcision amongst women (Dirie, p. 103). This depiction of victimage closely parallels the protagonists in “Story of an Hour” and “Woman at point zero” since these individuals both emerge out of victimage by tapping into their inner strengths.
In “Daddy”, author Plath looks at the victim through the relationship of the speaker in her poem and her deceased father. In the first stanza of the poem, the author uses shoe imagery where she likens her father to a black shoe and herself as afoot. (Plath, 1)This indicates that she feels bound and stuck to the memories of her past or her father. Therefore, the protagonist in this poem was victimized by her memories and resentment of her father who left her in complete darkness and disarray. She had no control over what had occurred to her and therefore was victimized by that scenario.