[2] Saadawi describes Firdaus as a martyr and says she admires her because, "Few people are ready to face death for a principle.

"[3] Later, when Saadawi was imprisoned in Qanatir in 1981 for political offenses, she reflected that she would find herself looking for Firdaus among the prison population, unable to believe that the woman who had inspired her so much was truly dead.

She recalls that she was confused by the disparity between her father's actions, such as beating her mother, and his dedication to the Islamic faith.

She enjoys the friendship of a boy named Mohammadain, with whom she plays "bride and bridegroom", and describes her first encounters with clitoral stimulation.

Firdaus' uncle begins to take a sexual interest in her and she describes her new lack of clitoral sensitivity, noting, "He was doing to me what Mohammadain had done to me before.

In fact, he was doing even more, but I no longer felt the strong sensation of pleasure that radiated from an unknown and yet familiar part of my body.

Upon graduation, Firdaus' aunt convinces her uncle to arrange her marriage with Sheikh Mahmoud, a "virtuous man" who needs an obedient wife.

Eventually, Firdaus is able to enlist the aid of a female neighbor, who calls a carpenter to open the door, allowing her to escape.

While on the run, Firdaus meets the madame Sharifa Salah el Dine, who takes her into her brothel as a high-class prostitute.

In exchange for working in Sharifa's brothel Firdaus is given beautiful clothes and delicious food, but she has no pleasure in life.

Firdaus takes a job at a local office and refuses to offer her body to the higher officials for promotions or raises.

Although she believes that her new job will bring respect, she makes significantly less money than when working as a prostitute, and lives in squalid conditions.

She eventually falls in love with Ibrahim, a coworker and revolutionary chairman, with whom she develops a deep emotional connection.

But when Ibrahim announces his engagement to the chairman's daughter, which has clearly been engineered to help his career, Firdaus realizes he does not reciprocate her feelings and only used her for sex.

Her success attracts the attention of the pimp Marzouk, who has many political connections and threatens her with police action.

High with the sense of her new freedom, Firdaus walks the streets until she is picked up by a high-profile Arabian prince, who she refuses until he agrees to her price of 3,000 pounds.