The Dramatic Literature of Nawal El Saadawi: God Resigns and IsisNawal El Saadawi's most recent play, God Resigns at the Summit Meeting, created an uproar in her native Egypt. On the basis of the title alone, officials declared the work heretical and charged El Saadawi with insulting the "Almighty God", not just Islam. Her prosecutors requested that all her books be destroyed, that she be arrested on return to Egypt and her Egyptian nationality be revoked. In the play, the prophets and great women gather for a meeting with God. Satan arrives to tender his resignation but neither Jesus, nor Mohammad, nor Moses are willing to replace him. Finally, God himself resigns. The second play in this collection is Isis, a critique of the discriminatory rules that control women, the daughters of Isis. Both God Resigns and Isis incorporate key themes to El Saadawi's work: that all religions are inimical to women and the poor, that the oppression of women is reprehensible and not uniquely characteristic of the Middle East or the ''Third World'', and that free speech is fundamental to any society. "El Saadawi writes with directness and passion" New York Times Book Review 'A poignant and brave writer' Marie Claire 'The leading spokeswoman on the status of women in the Arab World' Guardian 'More than any other woman, El Saadawi has come to embody the trials of Arab feminism.' San Francisco Chronicle |
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Common terms and phrases
almighty god Ra almighty Ra ancient ancient Egypt angry Arabic ARMY CHIEF MAAT ARMY CHIEF SETH believe Benjamin Netanyahu Bint Allah body brother castration corrupt court leader dagger daughter death deities earth Egypt Egyptian face father forgive girl God’s goddess hand head HIGH PRIEST SETH honor Horus human husband imagination ISIS MAAT ISIS ISIS SETH ISIS Islam Israel Jesus Christ kill King Seth land live looks lord MAAT ISIS MAAT MAAT THE ARMY MAAT THE SAILOR Master Radwan mercy mother Nut Muslims Nawal El Saadawi Nile Osiris peasants people’s play Prophet Abraham Prophet Moses Prophet Muhammad Qur’an RA SETH RA Rabia al-Adaweya Resigns rulers sacred Satan SETH ISIS SETH SETH RA SETH SETH SETH SETH THE ARMY SETH THE HIGH silent slaves Summit Meeting sword Tawfiq al-Hakim Torah translation voice woman women words worship writer