Representation of Women and Power Relations in the Novel Woman at Point Zero by Nawal El Saadawi: Sara Mills' Critical Discourse Analysis

Abstract

The study purpose was   to examine the representation of women and power relations in Woman at Point Zero by Nawal El Saadawi using Sara Mills’s Critical Discourse Analysis (CDA). The study focuses on how women are represented, how subject–object positions are constructed, and how reader positioning is established within the narrative..

Materials and methods. his study employed a qualitative approach with a critical discourse analysis framework. The data source was the novel Woman at Point Zero, while the data consisted of dialogues, narratives, and discourse units reflecting women’s representation, subject–object positioning, and reader positioning. Data were collected through documentation and close reading and analyzed using Sara Mills’s CDA model.

Results. The findings indicate that women are represented through patriarchal discourses that position them as subordinate actors within family, marriage, work, and other social institutions. Initially, Firdaus is constructed as an object of domination whose identity and choices are defined by male authority and social norms. However, she gradually develops critical awareness and agency, transforming into a subject capable of interpreting and challenging her experiences. The analysis also reveals a shift in narrative authority from patriarchal voices to the female protagonist. In addition, the text strategically positions readers to identify with Firdaus and critically question gender inequality.
Conclusions. The novel portrays women not only as victims of patriarchy but also as agents of resistance who negotiate and challenge dominant power structures. The study demonstrates the transformation of female subjectivity from an object of patriarchy into a subject of resistance through discursive practices embedded in the narrative.