Women In Literature

Rowaida Elbatrawy 55736

ENG 215

Spring 2016

Final Exam

Sat. May 21, 2016 Arab Women in Literature

Women in the Arab world are struggling to demand equality by facing negative consequences of their decision against their culture norms and tradition. Furthermore, any story that illustrates the struggle of a woman gave in their characteristic and identity in literature. In our stories, “The Answer is No” and three small stories written by different writers under the name of “the Picture” illustrates the female protagonist as she searches for emancipation, equality and liberation from patriarchal domination. Their identity is defined by their own choices and their beliefs. These stories have several similarities as well as differences in female’s

They are willing to make their own decisions, expressing their decision-making and ready to face the consequences of their choices, actions and decisions. A feminist literature doesn’t only illustrate women in relationship, but discusses the stereotypes designed by society towards women, especially in the Arab world. My thesis will mainly analyze the stories; “the Answer is No” and “the Picture” by how they embrace the feminist literature and which story represent more positive representation of women by discussing each women protagonist.

A noble prize winner in Literature; Naguib Mahfouz wrote “The Answer is No”. The story begin with a beautiful teacher with severe past experience as she struggles with the culture’s norms and tradition. This teacher knew a headmaster was hired and was shocked to see who he was.

The first story by al-Sadaawi talks about a teenage girl Narjis and her struggle with her sexuality as she is bewildered by her body change and feels uncomfortable with it. As she sees herself in the mirror she noticed the reflection of her father’s picture and she recalls how her father was well reputable and respected by the people. According to al-Saadawi, “She wanted to look at him without bowing her head, to fix her eyes on his eyes and see them, know them, get acquainted with them. But she couldn’t. There was always a distance separating his eyes from hers” (1993, p.62). She always shows respect and obedience towards her father, but suddenly when she sees her father with another woman; the maid. She is paralyzed by his behavior that she manages to return to her room and remove her father’s picture that it fell from fingers into small pieces. This story mainly is about how society observe and not criticize men’s behavior that leaves them act freely and not caring about others’ criticize, that leave their women oppressed and constraints their liberty and emancipation. Also, we can relate this story with “The Answer is No”, as both protagonists face severe repercussions that both got deceived by the male dominant character. In the story “the Answer is No” the protagonist trusted and respected her tutor as her father, but he misused this trust and raped her. While the