Woman at Point Zero Lesson Plan

What do you think the title means?

Students will likely conclude that Woman at Point Zero describes how an unjust society pushed Firdaus to a breaking point. It speaks to the desperate state of women throughout the world that El Saadawi is highlighting. The title also puts women at the front of the story. Anyone opening the novel knows it is about at least one woman, who is likely in a desperate situation. Students may also point out that the book was not originally published in English, so the title they know is a translation likely chosen by publishers, rather than the author. This element, one of business and marketing, may also affect what they think the title means.