Ms. Kabul
~Blog Post #2~
Topic G
April 29, 2015
Madison Edwards
After analyzing the significance of the setting of Kabul in my first blog post and relating it to that of Crime and Punishment, I have been noticing the frequent descriptions of Kabul. Khadra places a lot of emphasis on the condition of Kabul and how it effects the people who live in it. In these detailed descriptions of Kabul, Kabul is often personified as a woman. Kabul is described as being "huddled amid the wreckage of her avenues, she seems at best a tragic joke" (110). Kabul exists in a dilapidated condition just as the women of Afghanistan do. Kabul symbolizes the condition of women in Afghanistan, and each main character symbolizes an opinion on that condition.
In this novel, Atiq is the classic bystander who does what he is told without questioning the morals of his actions. He is told that women are the reason for his unhappiness and distress. He believes faithfully what the Taliban preach, to the point of hating his own wife. While his wife was sleeping, Atiq "stared at the body stretched out at his feet as if he were trying to pierce it with his eyes, through and through (122). Mohsen represents someone who sympathizes with the women but does not do anything to fight for their rights. Musarrat represents a woman who has given up: "She has fought against the evil thing that's gnawing her life away...but now the time has come...to resign herself to her fate" (119). Finally, Zunaira is the feminist of the novel. She is "outraged at herself for being there, sitting like a forgotten sack on the threshold of ruin." Zunaira feels like she is "suffocating" while wearing the burqa (98). After realizing the significance of each character, I am excited to see how each one's story concludes. The end result of each character will reveal Khadra's opinion on the state of women in Afghanistan.
This is a good observation, and I agree with the reasoning for this symbol. This symbolism is supported when the author uses the pronoun her instead of him when describing the town. It is an obvious language choice that leads me to notice the town as a woman representation. Having the characters represent the people’s feelings is a good catch. I agree with the characters emotions and opinions towards women of the time. This time in Kabul was a big moment of change. The Taliban has come into the town and destroyed all the townspeople had. It wiped away the dignity of women and changed that opinion of men towards the women. Kabul is changing and in a period of confusion and the wreckage of the town resembles the wreckage of the people. The Taliban are brainwashing the men into changing the women into property. The women are being changed and destroyed just as the Taliban did it to the village. I believe that with this symbolism, the story will end in a sad way.
ReplyDeleteI agree with both of you! I also think it's interesting to note how women and the town seem to be portrayed as helpless in the novel. Women's role significantly changed with the take over of the Taliban. There were greater restrictions that women had to follow in risk of being killed or thrown into jail. The same is true for the town. From character's descriptions, the town seemed to be a free, beautiful, and peaceful place before the Taliban came in. However, that group forever changed the element of the tow. They created restrictions and brought fear to the town itself. This was similar to how women felt. Both the town and women were oppressed.
ReplyDeleteI agree with both of you! I also think it's interesting to note how women and the town seem to be portrayed as helpless in the novel. Women's role significantly changed with the take over of the Taliban. There were greater restrictions that women had to follow in risk of being killed or thrown into jail. The same is true for the town. From character's descriptions, the town seemed to be a free, beautiful, and peaceful place before the Taliban came in. However, that group forever changed the element of the tow. They created restrictions and brought fear to the town itself. This was similar to how women felt. Both the town and women were oppressed.
ReplyDelete