Patriarchal Society The Condition of Egyptian Society as Portrayed in the Novel

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CHAPTER 4 ANALYSIS

This part consists of the analysis of the story. It is aimed to answer the questions that are stated in the problem formulation. The analysis of the story is divided into three parts. The first part is the analysis of the society condition in Egypt as reflected in the novel Woman at Point Zero. The second part of this chapter presents the analysis of society treatment toward women in Egypt at that time. Then, the third part of this chapter analyzes how Firdaus gets her freedom. Going further, the analysis of Firdaus searching for freedom will be followed by the analysis of the causes behind Firdaus motivation of searching for freedom.

4.1 The Condition of Egyptian Society as Portrayed in the Novel

The novel Woman at Point Zero gives the description of Firdaus society in the twentieth century. Through the novel, we will have a brief view on the society condition in Egypt in the twentieth century. The core of the study is about women. Therefore, this part will mainly discuss about the twentieth century Egyptian societys point of view toward women.

4.1.1 Patriarchal Society

Patriarchal society means the superiority of men over women. In a patriarchal society, men are allowed to power while women have to be dependent on men’s power Pandergast and McGregor 3. From the novel it is known that society stated in the novel is a patriarchal society. In a patriarchal society, woman’s PLAGIAT MERUPAKAN TINDAKAN TIDAK TERPUJI PLAGIAT MERUPAKAN TINDAKAN TIDAK TERPUJI 36 parent will get dowry from their son in law when their daughter is proposed. The dowry system is only found in the patriarchal society. Dowry is the indication of a woman’s right to inherit a share of the patrimonial property Henrietta 68. In the novel, the dowry system is stated. Firdaus says that her father is only a poor farmer. Since he is poor, he is uneducated. He can neither read nor write. He only knows very few things in life including how to exchange his virgin daughter for a dowry when there is still time El-Saadawi 12. The text mentions that Firdaus father knows how to change his daughter for a dowry. Therefore, it is apparent that the society which mentioned in the novel is a patriarchal society. However, according to Pendergast and McGregor in a patriarchal society men are allowed to power while women have to be dependent on mens power 3. Therefore, in a patriarchal society man has more chance to power rather than woman. Mens position in the society is higher than women. The power of men upon women is found in the novel. I read about a ruler whose female servants and concubines were as numerous as his army, and about another whose only interests in life were wine, women, and whipping his slaves. A third cared little about for women, but enjoyed wars, killing, and torturing men. Another of these rulers loved food, money and hoarding riches without end. Still another was possessed with such an admiration for himself and his greatness that for him no one else in the land existed. There was also a ruler so obsessed with plots and conspiracies that he spent all of his time distorting the facts of history and trying to fool his people El-Saadawi 26-27. It is stated that all rulers are men. As rulers, men are powerful, strong, and great. Thus, men are able to power and control everything in the society. Womens position is weak. The participation of a woman is not more than a female servant or concubine even a slave for a man. It is common that in a patriarchal society the view of mens superiority is PLAGIAT MERUPAKAN TINDAKAN TIDAK TERPUJI PLAGIAT MERUPAKAN TINDAKAN TIDAK TERPUJI 37 being socialized and educated since their early age Haj-Yahia 3. Thus, the superiority of men upon women’s position in Egypt happens ever since they are born. Most Egyptians think that the birth of a son will bring more happiness and pride rather than the birth of a daughter. The belief of the less importance of women causes the negative sense toward women, that is women are less important and priceless. Therefore, being a women is not a great thing and somehow shameful. When one of his female children dead, my father would eat his supper, my mother would wash his legs, and then he would go to sleep, just as he did every night. When the child was died was a boy, he would beat my mother, then have a supper, and lie down to sleep El-Saadawi 18. It proves the Egyptians consider girls as unimportant and less valuable in a family. For them, it is better to have sons rather than daughters. When one of Firdaus sisters dies, her father is not angry and feels nothing wrong about it. On the other side, if one of Firdaus brothers dies, he will get angry and beat his wife. In Egypt, the death of a son means losing something worthy in life while the death of a daughter means nothing.

4.1.2 Egyptian Social Strata