WAPZ Quote Analysis

When one of his female children died, 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 that died was a boy, he would beat my mother, then have his supper and lie down
to sleep, (17).
Analysis: This quote highlights the importance of males in Egyptian society. Firdaus
character portrays her feelings of anger towards men first in this quote, when she
emphasizes the lack of caring there is for the death of a daughter compared to the death
of a son. Also, the irrelevance of her mother throughout these stages of loss is
important. If a child died, the mother would either wash the fathers legs or get beaten.
And in comparison, the father would eat and sleep. The contrast between the parents
actions following a childs death dependent on their gender portrays the importance of
the male gender in this society.
Then he kissed her on the lips. I hid my face behind my hand and did not dare to look at
my uncle. Later, he told me that dancing was a sin, and that kissing a man, too, was a sin,
but now I could no longer look into his eyes. That night when we returned home I did not
sit beside him on the bed as I often used to do before, (21).
Analysis: I was so angered by this quote. Hypocrisy is a humungous theme in this novel.
In this quote, the hypocrisy of the uncle is clearly shown. But this can also represent the
hypocrisy of the entire male species. Firdaus uncle told her after a movie that kissing
and dancing was a sin, yet he kissed her later that night. This quote is important in that it
helps paint Firdaus childhood as confusing and sinful, due to the fact that she now puts
kissing and sinning together.
I discovered that all these rulers were men. What they had in common was an
avaricious and distorted personality, a never-ending appetite for money, sex, and
unlimited power. They were men who sowed corruption on the earth, and plundered
their peoples, men endowed with loud voices, a capacity for persuasion, for choosing
sweet words and shooting poisoned arrows, (26-27).
Analysis: This quote is completely true. I have never heard of a prominent female ruler,
like Hitler (bad/shouldnt be aspiring to) or Ghandi (good). Firdaus connection between
powerful men and their lust for money, sex and power made in this quote is used by her
throughout the novel, when she faces all kinds of different men during her prostitution.
In particular, the corruption sowed by men on the earth is shown towards the end of
the novel, when a policemen rapes her and doesnt pay her for her services. Even men in
power dont think they apply to the law (even though prostitution is illegal, the
employees get paid) and therefore control and corrupt the society in which women
across the world live.

I could see he was trying to deceive Allah in the same way as he deceived the people
When they pronounced the word patriotism I could tell at once that in their hearts of
hearts they feared not Allah, and in the back of their minds patriotism meant that the
poor should die to defend the land of the rich, their land, for I knew that the poor had no
land, (27).
Analysis: Firdaus starts questioning her religion here, and its important because she
recognizes the fact that men are deceiving and control people to make their own
personal vendettas possible. This is very relatable to people around the world, mainly
because it is uncommon for people to question their faith and religion when they are
witnessing wrongdoings done in the world. Patriotism is widely misconstrued from our
American belief of patriotism, for through Firdaus eyes, it means that the poor work for
the rich and the rich reap the benefits, which can definitely be seen throughout the novel
(when Firdaus prostitutes herself to men of higher stature who act differently than those
of lower social class).
Two eyes-two eyes alone fastened themselves upon mine. No matter far I shifted my
gaze, or how much I moved my head, they followed me closely, tightened their hold.
Everything was enveloped in a growing darkness in which I could no longer discern the
slightest glimmer of light, except for jet black eyes encircled by two rings of dazzling
white, (33).
Analysis: Eyes appear throughout the text, and in this particular quote, they represent
the dark and scary world Firdaus experiences. When she was outside her office alone,
she felt as if she was being enveloped in a growing darkness, as in giving up hope.
Ibrahim had just gotten engaged to another woman, and Firdaus felt that the world was
closing in on her and forcing her to find a different path. The symbol of eyes are
important because they are a mirror into the soul, and having jet black eyes
surrounded by white are not exactly happy and cheerful.
She replied that it was precisely men well versed in their religion who beat their wives.
The precepts of religion permitted such punishment. A virtuous woman was not
supposed to complain about her husband. Her duty was perfect obedience, (46-47).
Analysis: I hate the fact that men use religion as an excuse to beat women. And this
quote highlights the fact that Egyptian men (in this case Firdaus father/uncle/husband)
are permitted to hit their wives when they see fit. And women are expected to be
obedient. Firdaus is not obedient throughout the novel, and pushes against this
expectation. She plunges a knife into her pimp towards the end of the novel, in a final
act of desperation to escape the live of prostitution and depravity.
One phrase, one small phrase composed of two words, threw a glaring light on the
whole of my life, and made me see it as it really was. The veil was torn from my eyes. I
was opening them for the first time, seeing my life in a new way, (78).

Analysis: When Firdaus what told she was not respectable by a client, she became a
new person. This quotes is when Firdaus decides to become a respectable woman, and
wants to see the glaring light of respect
All women are victims of deception. Men impose deception on women and punish
them for being deceived, force them down to the lowest level and punish them for
falling so low, bind them marriage and then chastise them with menial service for life, or
insults, or blows, (94).
Analysis:
A human cannot stand up to a double defeat. That is the secret of their continuous
attempt to rise to power. They draw a feeling of supremacy from their power over
others. It makes them feel victorious rather than defeated. It hides how essentially
hollow they are inside, despite the impression of greatness they try to spread around
them, which is all they really care for, (98).
Analysis:
I am saying that you are all criminals, all of you: the fathers, the uncles, the husbands,
the pimps, the lawyers, the doctors, the journalists, and all men of all professions. They
said, You are a savage and dangerous woman. I am speaking the truth. The truth is
savage and dangerous, (110).
Analysis: