For centuries, women in different cultures have been ill treated and given less importance. Men dictate the fate and future of women in most societies and they hardly care about women's feelings. This is evident in Sembene Ousman's short story " Her Three Days " that depicts the plight of a third wife waiting for her husband to return. Ousmane uses the dynamic character of Noumbe to highlight the status of women in a typical Muslim society. Noumbe, a victim to the Muslim polygamic rule that " every wife of a Muslim is entitled to three days of her husband's company each month " wishes she could have her husband all for herself. She is heart-broken when her husband doesn't show up during her three days, which is her right. Noumbe thinks about her three days in a thousand different ways at the beginning, but as time goes on, she realizes how unfairly she was being treated. Ousmane uses various symbols throughout the story to communicate his theme that women should stand up against the unequal and unfair treatment that they receive. .
As suggested by the title, the number three is extremely significant in this story. Firstly, according to the Muslim tradition, each wife is entitled to three days of her husband's company as stated by the Holy Koran. The three days bear great importance for the women who look forward to it and prepare themselves for the occasion. Secondly, Noumbe being the third wife and there being three wives other than her, is an unusual coincidence. Thirdly, when Noumbe's husband, Mustapha's actions worsen her health, she starts taking three teaspoons of medication rather than her prescribed two. In the end, Noumbe breaks three China plates, one for each day that Mustapha did not show up. Even while portraying Noumbe, the author describes her eyelashes to be in " little clusters of fives and threes. " Apart from this, the number five has been used in two other instances; Noumbe had five children and she asks her daughter to get five francs" worth of salt.
