Do You Like Me? (Circle Yes or No)
~Blog Post #1~
Topic C
April 25, 2015
by Elizabeth Erickson
The first five chapters alone of The Swallows of Kabul prove the relationship between Atiq and his wife, Mussarat, is a very complicated one. It seems that in Atiq's eyes, Mussarat's illness has caused her to become more of an inconvenience and obligation than anything else; and yet, he spends a significant amount of time searching for a cure, and holds on to the relationship even when Mirza suggests he free himself from it. Explaining his attachment to the relationship, he says, "besides, I couldn't do that to her... she saved my life, remember?" (26-27). His explanation of her unfortunate situation and reluctance to divorce her is a hint that he still does care about Mussarat. He even reflects to himself after his conversation with Mirza, his guilt at even the thought of leaving her, because she has done a ridiculous amount of sacrificing herself for him.
But while at first glance it seems as though there is love left in him for her, it becomes clear that it is only the pressure of guilt that keeps him with her, because she has done so much for him. He wants to be freed from her AND this guilt, which is proved through his daily prayer for "Heaven to call back his wife," not so that her suffering would end, but so that his suffering because of her would be over (21). Later on she cleans the house and makes him food despite her weakness and rather than being grateful, he lashes out on her, proving that her selflessness adds to the guilt he feels for wanting her out of his life. She literally gives everything she has for him, and he responds with ungratefulness, neglect, and actual verbal abuse. The fifth chapter ends with a threat from Atiq, "if his wife persists in her role of sacrificial victim, he vows, he's going to stop treating her so gently" (70). He is not treating her gently in the first place, and she IS a sacrificial victim, it is not just a role she is playing. If anything, he is playing the role of sacrificial victim, and is reflecting his this onto her because his guilt has become unbearable. The love Mussarat shows for Atiq, the only person she has left, and the abuse that she gets from him in return, really indicates the kind of person Atiq is.
You have really interesting points. It is also interesting to compare the love Mussarat has or Atiq. It's clear from the very beginning of the novel that Mussarat is in love with Atiq. However, her love is more of caring and understanding rather than a liking or sexual love. Her love for him never seems to falter, even when he is being openly rude to her. Atiq, on the other hand, has no feeling of compassion toward his wife at all. It can even be argued that he never truly loved his wife.
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