How Does Najmah Change Throughout The Novel

(AGG)This essay is about a young girl named Najmah and how she goes through experiences that change her.(BS-1)Najmah changed due to the arrival of the Taliban .(BS-2) When Najmah’s mother and baby brother died that changed her a lot in the novel (BS-3)The last major change in the novel is when Najmah meets Nusrat. (TS) Due to Najmah’s experiences, she changed in several ways throughout the novel. (MIP-1)Najmah changed due to the arrival of the Taliban.(SIP-A) She is less fearful as they show up. (STEWE-1) She thinks of “running down to warn the people of Golestan I half run half tumble down the hill to the village.”(13). Najmah’s running toward danger in this quote.

(STEWE-2) When one of the Pashtun grabs the little bukri(baby goat) which

“I sit in the dirt beside them quietly,not crying,not thinking,not even aware that I am breathing, and it occurs to me that I might be dead,too”(83). I thought she was going to sob but instead she just sits there with no emotion.(STEWE-2)After that she wakes up in Akhtar’s arms, and she just lies there not moving a muscle acting like a baby. “The next thing I am conscious of is being lifted in the arms of Bibi Usmani’s brother Akhtar,who carries me across what was the front of the house to the broken acacia tree. Akhtar’s wife, Khalida, cups my chin in her hand and pours water in my mouth from a ladle”(83). Najmah was independent because she was taking care of Mada-Jan but after she died Najmah became dependent and that is what the quote is showing.(SIP-B) She gets her hair cut by Khalida to protect her,so she looks like a boy.(STEWE-1)Akhtar and Khalida cut her hair showing she is becoming a new person.“It isn’t until the first tinge of light show on the horizon that I realize the hole where Akhtar has buried my hair also holds my mother and baby brother”(85). That is showing how she is changed and leaving behind her childhood with her mother and baby brother.(STEWE-2) Then she changes into this person called Shaheed because she

(STEWE-1) Najmah begins to trust again after telling her story to Nusrat because Nusrat cuts her hair again which is symbolizing Nusrat is helping Najmah be herself again. “Nusrat lays out the tunic and skirt and a blue scarf before collecting the cups and tea tray and leaving Najmah to dress. After breakfast Husna prepares the midday meal, and Nusrat is dragging the cots under the persimmon tree when Najmah emerges from her room with the scarf draped around her head. Nusrat hands her a wooden chair to take out into the courtyard and follows her with a comb and pair of scissors to even out the tufts and knobs of hair on Najmah’s head.”(206). Najmah still doesn't trust Nusrat but she lets her trims her hair ,and accepts the girls clothing that Nusrat gave her.(STEWE-2) Right after Nusrat trims her hair Najmah starts to tell her story. “It’s difficult to know who to trust. I don’t know that I can trust you. But I have no choice. If nobody knows my story, then my father and brother will not find me—if they’re still alive. So I had to let my tongue tell you this story”(208). Najmah still doesn't fully trust Nusrat ,but she knows she is trying to help her.(SIP-B) Najmah starts to fully trust Nusrat.(STEWE-1) Najmah trust Nusrat now because Nusrat lies to Najmah's uncle to protect her. “He wants to take her back to live in her