Under The Persimmon Tree Najmah Quotes

In any era of mankind, from the earliest Homo sapiens to the people of the 21st century, human lives have been shaped and affected by the loss of others negatively or positively, whether it be a family member, a friend, or simply someone who is part of your everyday life. (BS-1) In the book Under The Persimmon Tree, Najmah loses her youth mainly because she lost family members. (BS-2) Besides losing her youth, she has also lost her voice after losing everyone she loved and cared about, both in terms of her literally losing her ability to speak, but also in terms of her say in the direction of her own life. (BS-3) The loss of her loved ones also motivates her to make risky and dangerous decisions, it also both forced and encouraged her to restitute

I have forgotten my childish quarrels with Nur.” (Staples 37). The loss of her father and brother cause her to recognize the dangerous situation her family is in with the Taliban around, her mind is now more focused on the dangers of the Taliban lurking around, not on trying to think of a way to beat Nur in a childish and unnecessary competition. (SIP-B) Beside Najmah’s mental development to maturity, Najmah is now also more protective of her family and her family’s property, Najmah is now doing the job of protecting her family and land, a job that was supposed to be for her father. (STEWE-1) Najmah is willing to defend her land and animals against any threats, she is willing to fight anyone that is unwelcome and is an intruder, even if she has to risk her own life, “I push aside the curtain and step outside, holding the curved knife in one hand, the blade pointing toward the ground. Uncle turns in surprise. I thought it was the Pashtun Talib, I say. I don’t want them to steal the animals.” (Staples 58). Najmah immediately took the curved knife and went to investigate, which was only after she noticed an intruder on their land, this should have been a job that her father should have done, but with both him and Nur gone, Najmah is forced to do the job. The Taliban could have easily killed her if she fought back, however, she still risked her life in order to defend her land

(SIP-A) Najmah has lost her actual voice after witnessing the horror of her mother and baby brother are killed in an American drone strike. (STEWE-1) With her mother and baby brother gone, Najmah’s body and mind are not agreeing with each other, leaving her completely silent, “I try to communicate, but although the words form inside my head, my tongue and lips will not cooperate” (Staples 88). The loss of her mother and brother causes her own body to turn against her own mind, even when her mind forms the words for her mouth, her voice refuses to come out, and her mouth stays shut, it comes to a point where even if she wants or intends to speak, she in unable to because her own body is not cooperating. (STEWE-2) Najmah is also unable to speak because she is in shock from losing her mother and baby brother. “But I feel as if my tongue has been locked inside my mouth since the moment I saw my mother airing the quilts just before the bombs fell” (Staples 88). The loss of her mother and baby brother traumatizes her and bring her into a state of shock, leaving her to be unable to speak, Najmah was only twelve years old when she witnessed the bombs falling toward her mother, brother, and their house, an event of such violence of such violence and