Struggle against social norms in Nawal Al Saadawi’s Zeina (2009)‎

Abstract EN

Nawal Al Saadawi (1931-2021) is an Egyptian doctor, writer and novelist who advocates human rights in general and women's rights in particular.

She is one of the most important Egyptian and African female writers of all ages.

According to critics, her novel Zeina crossed the red lines and uncovered flaws and masks of an unfair society, it is a tragedy of a special kind telling the story of a girl who was born to an unknown father in the official government papers but known for his own actions.

The clearest evidence of him is an innocent and gifted child, referred to as a smart girl, whose fingers move to produce the most beautiful melodies, and the most fervent voices; But the world is not honest at all as she has to face a society that has the cheapest methods towards the unlawful children, a bureaucratic killer, along with sheiks living in the desert of thought and ignorance.

The culture theory will be adopted to highlight the battle fought against unfair society that has always been cruel towards girls who committed no crime and leaves the sinner enjoys his freedom only for being male.

Nawal alSaadawi seeks to present a new image of a girl who should be proud of her talent and freedom and not of her social status or family name.