Under The Persimmon Tree

1950 Words4 Pages

(AGG) Events in our lives shapes us in many ways, but loss is an especially can make an influence and cause us to make crazy and irrational decisions. (BS-1) In the book Under the Persimmon Tree, Najmah was affected by loss of Baba-jan and Nur, changing the impact of her storyline. (BS-2) Similarly, the loss of her mother, Mada-jan, and her baby brother, Habib, also changed the actions of Najmah. (BS-3) Moveover, she decided to leave her safety and comfort for a risky and dangerous life in Peshawar, Pakistan to find her brother. (BS-4) Finally, her last and most important decision was the consequence of her father’s death. (TS) As is evident, loss is a driving force for Najmah and impacts her choices, and ultimately, dictates her decision …show more content…

(SIP-A) Najmah trusted Akhtar and Khalida, she should have no reason to leave. (STEWE-1) Early on she expressed gratitude to the others, even though she couldn’t talk, “I try to show I’m grateful by helping with the little boys and animals,” (Staples, 88). It is obvious that the gratitude that she had can also translate to happiness towards Akhtar and Khalida, as well as trust. The gratitude also shows that they are doing something that is helping Najmah, they aren’t taking things away from her nor giving her something she doesn’t need. (STEWE-2) Moreover, she was at the border of Pakistan where she got food and a place to stay. When Khalida, Akhtar, Najmah, and the boys arrive at the Pakistani border they were given food, “Inside there are dried fruit bars, a brown paste, and flat, grayish-white disks,” (Staples 129). Before, she didn’t have the luxury of food, and when she left she must have known she wouldn’t have any food, or she wouldn’t know where her next meal would come from. (SIP-B) Even under these circumstances, Najmah still decides to leave to look for Baba-jan and Nur. (STEWE-1) She says this multiple times, and here’s the first time that she said she’s escape, “I have no intention of staying in Torkum… from Kunduz to the Pakistani border a plan has been forming in my head… I cannot travel to Peshawar alone to find my father and brother,” (Staples 131). She says it very …show more content…

(SIP-A) First off, Najmah had no logical reason to reject Nusrat’s offer to go to the United States of America with her, there must be some other type of factor that is playing a role in her decision. (STEWE-1) Najmah has shown with her thoughts that she has shared with us that she does trust Nusrat, “The moment Bibi Nusrat refuses to allow Uncle into her garden, I am sure I can trust her,” (Staples 221). So, it makes sense, provided with the knowledge that she trusts her, that Najmah feels safe and comfortable with Nusrat. She would need a reason to leave - one of which can’t be that she doesn’t like Nusrat. (STEWE-2) Also, Najmah would have many opportunities in America that she would have no chance obtaining on Golestan, “If you go to a good school in America, you could be a doctor or a teacher or a lawyer-you could be anything you want to be,” (Staples 239). Furthermore, she wouldn’t only have career opportunities, but she would also have better health, “If you go back to Kunduz, you won’t have enough to eat again and there will be no medicine, on doctors, and no schools,” (Staples 239). Additionally, even though it is not said in the book, my guess it is tacit that there is no war inside of America that Najmah would have to live through. (SIP-B) Yet with all of these logical, outstanding reasons to stay, she still leaves because the of her loss of her

Open Document