The Swallows of Kabul
~Blog Post #2~
Topic A
April 28,2015
By: Megan Teehan
So far, Atiq has been given two personalities. One, he is a
caring person. He does not like hurting the woman who was to be stoned, and
when he was talking to Mirza, he explained that he did not and could not
divorce his sick wife and throw her in the streets. These actions have
portrayed Atiq’s sensitive side. On the other hand, Atiq has been shown as
cruel and cold-hearted. This was prevalent especially when he was talking to
Nazeesh. Atiq not only doubted Nazeesh’s plans to disappear, but he made
comments about his character that hurt Nazeesh’s feelings. All of this was down
with no remorse, even when Atiq was apologizing, he made rude remarks to
Nazeesh. This is unlike Atiq’s
character. Atiq “wasn’t like this before. Without realizing it, he’s developed
a strange aggressiveness, imperious and unfathomable, which seems to fit his
moods” (86+87). He has become someone that is unlike his usual
self. He has changed into this soulless
individual because of the environment he now lives in. Before, when Atiq was
living in a lush, beautiful, thriving town, he was a happy and caring
individual. As the battles carried on and the town turned into dusty ruins,
Atiq’s soul and character was also turning into dusty ruins. Not only was his environment
a factor, but also the job choice Atiq now held. Being a jailer and having to
kill multiple people each day is not an easy task, and it takes a person with a
hard shell. Unfortunately, both of these examples have attributed to Atiq’s
change in character.
Atiq’s character is definitely interesting in the way you described. We haven’t quite been given the chance to understand him yet. All we know is that he wasn’t always this way: selfish and mad at everyone and everything. I have wondered why he is a main character in this book because his character is so flat and hopeless. After all, he is the first character we meet in the book. His full name is the couple of words in chapter one. The only important thing I have learned from him so far is how not to treat your wife. Maybe I am missing something, but I have definitely gotten more out of characters life Mohsen, Zunaira, and Musarrat. They seem to be more dynamic characters. I think that I can relate to those three characters more than Atiq.
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