Heart Atiq
~Blog Post #3~
Topic B
May 6, 2015
By: Madison Edwards
Although many important events
occurred in chapters 10-12, one of the most significant was Atiq’s change in
character. So far, Atiq has been a mostly flat character in this book. His
daily actions are unchanging, and he lives constantly with a depressed
attitude. Before his epiphany, Atiq blamed all of his sorrows on the closest
living thing to him, and he often blamed his unhappiness on his sick wife. As a
reader, I heard about Atiq not always “being this way,” but I did not witness
it because the changing of his charcter occurred before the timeline of this
book.
Atiq’s major character development
occurs when Zunaira takes off her burqa in jail. He describes Zunaira as being “like
a dawn, gathering brightness in the heart of this poisonous, squalid, fatal
dungeon” (144). He is shocked and in awe solely by the appearance of her face.
Atiq hasn’t seen a woman’s face other than his wife’s in years, and he has
forgotten how beautiful and uplifting they are. He had forgotten that women
were humans too: that they were more than ghosts floating around without making
a sound.
Atiq’s entire attitude towards life changes
after this event. “His eyes are sparkling,” and “he doesn’t believe that
tranquility could reveal itself more plainly anywhere else than on that face”
(147, 149). Now, Atiq has a zest for life. His epiphany was so shocking to him
that he even tells Musarrat, his wife, about how wonderful Zunaira is. I
predict that Atiq will now understand the importance of women in his life. I
believe he will end up doing something courageous and possibly fatal in order
to save Zunaira’s life.
I agree with your idea of Atiq’s change. I wrote about the similar topic for my blog post. Atiq has been a man with no heart, or so it seems. He has been rude to his wife and Nazeesh and he has been wandering through town like a zombie. He has lost his mind and his heart. Like you said, as readers, we did not see the previous Atiq, but I’m assuming he changed because of the situation and environment that has surrounded Kabul. Although he has become a changed man, he has changed. Once he saw Zunairia in his jail, it almost seems as if he’s found a reason to live again. Atiq’s wife also comments on his change and explains to him that he has a sensitive side like a poet. This new man is completely different from the Atiq that was introduced in the beginning of the book.
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