Woman at Point Zero discussion questions (5 September 2012)
Brittney, Casey, Keenan: (In re:p. 110—“want nothing, hope for nothing, fear
nothing”:) Is that “freedom”? And if so, is it a kind of freedom worth pursuing?
Katie, Amanda, Megan: Form, structure, voice, genre. Well?
Jillian, Olivia, Chloe: Do we have any reason to suspect that Firdaus’s story has
been shaped or embellished by the frame narrator?
Ethan, Laurel, Morgan: What’s the purpose of the first and third chapters?
Would our perception of Firdaus’s story be different without that frame narrative?
Taylor, Courtney, Justin: Is prostitution empowering or merely an escape? (Not
the only options?)
Mary, Travis, Alyson: How does Firdaus’s sexuality and marriage contribute to her
arrival at “point zero”? (Are they necessary stages?)
Taryn, Saul, Callie: What is the common denominator of all the recurring scenes
with the “eyes” (e.g., her mother, her first escape, Miss Iqbal, Ibrahim)? [Jillian:
under emotional strain or in intense or vulnerable emotional situations.]
Brooks, Morgan, Chelsea: Firdaus’s decision to speak to the doctor: does it
strengthen or weaken her character? (Does it raise her above “point zero,” e.g.?)
Deborah, Jamie, Mary: How did the political climate of the time in Egypt affect
the institution of marriage and the public sentiment towards it?
Johanna, Kristl, Joshua: Is Firdaus a “woman-identified” woman (one who relates
primarily to/takes comfort primarily from women)? (Remember her stated
hatred for all men, her blanket pronouncements about men & women, etc.)
(Bonus Q: fate/free will: do women have any other choices here?)