responsible for the business Riyadh. Gamrah does not let such opportunity to be wasted. Gamrah works very hard even though she had to work until late at night.
Gamrah wouldn t get home before two or three in the morning, although during the final third of the month she would return an hour or two earlier,
in time to do the Qiyam prayers at the mosque with her mother and sisters Al-Sanea: 2005: 233.
Gamrah who lives in isolation after her divorce can finally prove to her mother that she can be independent by her hard work, and does not need to be
protected like a little child anymore. Her mother can finally let her daughter to go out of the house without the companion of her brothers. Gamrah also proves to her
mother that she works really hard by get her mother impressed with the profit she gets from the business.
At first, Gamrah s mother wouldn t let her go out on these work missions alone, but she began going easier on her daughter when she noticed how
seriously Gamrah took it all. What most impressed Um Gamrah was when she saw her daughter make her first profit for arranging a dinner party in
the home of one of Sadeem s professors at the university Al-Sanea: 2005: 233-234.
As a widow, Gamrah s hardworking characteristic can be a way for her to struggle and fight against the discrimination against women in order to get equality. She
proves that a woman can be independent and survive without the help of a man. She could break the rules in her family and show that being a widow is not a
disgrace.
b. Brave
Gamrah who is treated badly by her husband is actually a brave woman. It can be seen in her reaction when she found out that her husband was cheating on
her. Gamrah takes several risky actions in order to defend her marriage. Firstly, after
a long consideration, she decides to call Kari who is Rashid s affair and she asks her to meet up. Even though Gamrah s English speaking ability is very poor that she
might find difficulties in communicating with Kari, she still has the courage to call her and meet her.
Gamrah called Kari at the second number and asked to meet her. She introduced herself first. Kari answered calmly, saying she was willing and
ready to come to Chicago to see her at the next available opportunity Al- Sanea, 2005: 80
Gamrah, who had never expected an offensive such as this, found that the cat had gotten hold of her tongue. Even without understanding Kari s
speech completely, what Gamrah did absorb was enough to make her suddenly snap out of her stunned silence and explode in Kari s face,
cursing in weak English and in Arabic, too Al-Sanea, 2005: 83 Secondly, during the two months interval before Gamrah meets Kari, she
needs to make sure that she is pregnant, knowing that her husband forbids her to get pregnant by always asking her to take certain pills to avoid pregnancy.
Gamrah knows that it is just her husband trick because he is cheating on her, and that a child in their marriage will only get their bond stronger and make things
more difficult for her husband. During those two months, Gamrah stopped taking pills without consulting
her mother, whose opinion she knew anyway: All you ve got is your children, my dear. Children are the only way to tie a man. Al-Sanea,
2005: 80 Her husband got so angry when Gamrah told him about her pregnancy. It is a brave
action she takes in order to get her marriage continues even though she has to face the oppression toward her.
What? Pregnant? You are pregnant How did that happen? Who gave you permission to get pregnant? You mean you re not taking the pills? ...You
figured you could twist my arm with these filthy tricks Al-Sanea, 2005: 85
The second slap came and she fell to the floor, sobbing painfully. Rashid left the apartment to run into the arms of the unworthy one, leaving
Gamrah cursing and slapping her cheeks and spitting at him, in a state of hysteria, close to madness Al-Sanea, 2005: 85.
Gamrah realizes that she has the right of herself and her body, thus her brave characteristic helps her to get her rights as a women no matter what consequences
that she should face. Without her bravery she will not be able to resist her husband s oppression towards her.
2. Michelle a. Tough
