The money’s symbolic meaning of power upholds the ability to demonstrate the free will and be honored by peers. El Saadawi's character Firdaus belongs to a poor family, which does not allow her to be respected. Never being born with the privilege of money, Firdaus would not know the power of money until she makes her own. The people around her had money and had power over Firdaus. Her father, uncle, husband, and Sharifa all had money choose not shared with Firdaus. They are aware of the fact that money controls over Firdaus. For most women in the Egyptian society, even around the world, money equals power and control, but with no money, women struggle to have a say in society. Later, Firdaus learns what the power of money’s capabilities for …show more content…
She donates money to charities and had a high clientele, such as princes and congressmen. She makes her money by selling her body. Prostitution, a way to gain respect in a dishonorable way, becomes Firdaus’s chosen way of life. For example, “now I learned that honor requires a large sum of money to protect it, but that large sums of money could not be obtained without losing one’s honor” (123-124). The quote from the novel shares the belief that Firdaus want to have this control and power to live a life of free will. She uses her body to obtain this honor and power. She values money and the power it provides her. Money becomes her everything. Nawal El Saadawi promotes this character to further her belief that people are controlled by money and women in the society aren't able to make money so they are controlled by the men who make it. The hunger of the men towards her body makes Firdaus loathe them. The tables turned once Firdaus killed her pimp. She found money to give power to the unworthy. To express this, “The movement of my hands as I tore the money to pieces, to reveal the whole enigma … ensuring that not a single vestige of these men would remain at all”