them, have filled me with but one desire: to lift my hand and bring it smashing on his face. Saadawi, 1983:10
Her bravery toward man she showed with the real actions. She can
threaten, slap, even kill someone who tries to hurt her. It can be seen in this quotation :
“How can I convince you that what I say is true?” “I do not really know how you can do that.”
So I lifted my hand high up above my head and landed it violently on his face. “Now you can believe that I have slapped you. Burrying
a kinfe in your neck is just as easy and requires exactly the same movement.”Saadawi, 1983:109
In the end of the novel, she is sentenced to death for killing a pimp.
Firdaus accepts the death senetence and refuse the life. But she is not afraid to die. It can be seen in this quotation :
“When I killed I did it with truth not with a knife. That is why they are afraid and in hurry to execute me. They do not fear my knife. It
is my truth that frightens them. This fearful truth gives me great strength. It protects me from fearing death, or life, or hunger, or
nakedness, or destruction.” Saadawi, 1983:112
All of the speech above indicates that Firdaus is a brave woman. It can be seen from Firdaus speech and reaction toward every man which try
to hurt her.
c. Independent
Firdaus is an independent woman. She wants freedom in her life. Being a prostitute is the way she gets a freedom. According to her,
becoming a prostitute is better than of other women. This decision is her own choice, although the society does not agree with her decision. It proves
that she has used her freedom to choose which is good for herself.
A prostitute however, is a little better off. I was able to convince myself that I had choosen this life of my own free will. The fact that
I rejected their noble attempts to save me, my insistence on remaining a prostitute, proved to me this was my choice and that I
had some freedom, at least the freedom to live, in a situation better thatn of other women. Saadawi, 1983:97
What she experienced in her life from she was young until becoming adult, makes her must live independently. She does not want to be
controlled by other people. She free to do things without needing help from men.
He said, “Every prostitute has a pimp to protect her from other pimps and from the police. That’s what I’m going to do.”
“But I can protect myself”,I said. “There isn’t a woman on earth who can protect herself.”
“I don’t want your protection.”Saadawi, 1983:100 From the conversation above, it can be noticed that she does not
want to be anybody’s slave. Firdaus wants to show that she can stand on her own feet. From her speech, it can be concluded that Firdaus is an
independent woman.
2. The Characteristics of Emma in “Madame Bovary”
a. Assertive
Emma as the main female character is an assertive person. She wants to struggle to get what she wants in her life. She does not remain passive,
and just keep silent if there is a problem. The quotation below shows that Emma tries to reveal her feeling toward Charles that she feels suffer living
in the country.
She complained that she had been suffering from dizzy spells since the beginning of the season and asked if ocean bathing would help
her .......... She would adore living in the city even if only in the winter, although the country was possibly even more boring in the
summer because of the long days. Her voice reflected her various topics of conversation. Flaubert, 1964:44-45
When Charles does not give any attention to Emma about living in a city, she does not give up. She tries to keep asking her husband. She is brave
to voice what she wants in her life. Finally, after she constantly complains about Tostes, Charles responds to Emma. He thought seriously about
setting up his practice elsewhere. Flaubert, 1964: 83 From the evidence above, it can be concluded that Emma is an
assertive woman. She keeps trying to reveal her feeling by talking to Charles to get the solution. Emma is active to make Charles listen to her
words carefully.
b. Adventurous
Emma is a picture of an adventurous woman. Normally, a marriage always bring happiness toward both husband and wife, but it does not
happen to her. Her dissapointment toward her husband makes her looks for her true love. It can be seen when Emma is the right person whom she needs
in her life. “I’ve been patient for four years now and look how I’m suffering
We shpuld be ab;e to declare a love like ours to the world They’re torturing me. I can’t stand it anymore. Save me”
Flaubert,1964:190
