Burqa or Nah
~Blog Post #2~
Topic A
May 14, 2015
Elizabeth Erickson
The first in-depth discussion about the Burqa that takes place in The Swallows of Kabul, mainly consists of Zunaira's insight as to why wearing one is degrading. She says, "I refuse to wear a Burqa...It cancels my face and takes away my identity and turns me into an object... If I put that damned veil on, I'm neither a human being nor an animal, I'm just an affront, a disgrace, a blemish that has to be hidden" (77-78).
I think Zunaira's resentment of the mandatory apparel tells a lot about her character; both her passionate belief in the significance of individuality, and her discontent at the Taliban are revealed through her ranting. It is clear by this point in the novel that Zunaira is a headstrong woman, and her emphasis on the pain that comes from the taking away of her individuality really shows how she feels about herself. She is confident in who she is as a person, and when the Taliban takes it away from her, she makes her disapproval evident. The Burqa as a new requirement also becomes a symbol for the changes that the Taliban made in Zunaira's life. Just like the other characters in the book, she misses the way life was before the Taliban, and one of the significant changes was the Burqa requirement for women. Her refusal to wear it, similar to the little actions of rebellion that Mohsen does, is a way for her to indirectly fight back at the Taliban.
I completely agree! Zunaira is also an extremely interesting character. Arguably, she is the strongest and most independent character in the novel. While others had tribulations about themselves, Zunaira always new what she had wanted. Her strong will power to be her own person helped her reject the burqa and the constraint it put on her. Her marriage with Mohsen seemed to be almost too perfect. A blowout between the two was sure to come. Zunaira would not crap from anyone, especially not her husband.
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