Zeina Character Analysis

Mahmoud calls this prostitute with a superficial resemblance to Nawal al-Wazir to his hotel room one night. There, despite her clear reluctance, he forces her to answer to the name “Nawal.” When Zeina continues to object, he behaves in a brutal way with her, aggressively putting his hand on her mouth to keep her from speaking while having sex. This episode highlights both Mahmoud’s desperate obsession with Nawal and his extreme lack of empathy for certain people—in particular, his tendency to aggressively impose his physical desire on women, regardless of their consent.