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Rasheed - Coggle Diagram
Rasheed
physical description
'crowded teeth' - links to Motive of teeth, Juxtapopses Jalil and Tariq
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semantic field of imperfections and an underlined evilness connotes/forebodes to Rasheeds violent actions and anger towards his wives.
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'crinkled his eyes against the smoke' - blind by the smoke? Representative of his power complex as the 'smoke' has implications that there is a barrier between Mariam and him making him deemed as untouchable. The use of 'eyes' connotes to the idea of watching, echos Mariams trapped position.
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hunger made him curt, irritated, impatient'
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' watery bloodshot eyes' - water = facade of emotional depth bloodshot = contrasts 'watery' bloodshot connotes to his thirst for power and cut throat demeanour. he take out on Mariam and Laila.
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RADIO
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Initially, Rasheed appears courteous to Mariam, but as their relationship deteriorates due to her inability to bear him a son, he grows increasingly abusive. During this time, Rasheed uses the radio to share grim statistics, such as one in four Afghan children dying before age five. This serves as a manipulative tactic to discourage emotional attachment to children and normalize suffering in their household.
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Rasheed becomes an ardent supporter of the Taliban when they rise to power. He listens to the Taliban's "Voice of Shari'a" radio broadcasts every Wednesday, where names of those condemned are announced. He eagerly attends public punishments at Ghazi Stadium, showcasing his alignment with the Taliban's brutal regime and his enjoyment of violence.
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Throughout the novel, Rasheed uses the radio to stay informed about Afghanistan's shifting political landscape. For example, during the Soviet invasion and later civil war, he follows updates about coups and regime changes. These broadcasts reinforce his patriarchal worldview and provide justification for his oppressive behavior towards Mariam and Laila.
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On child mortality: "One night, Rasheed says that he's heard on the radio that one in four Afghan children will die before the age of five, so Laila shouldn't get so attached".
On Taliban broadcasts: "Every Wednesday he listens to the names of the condemned on the Voice of Shari'a radio, and then watches the spectacle of punishments at Ghazi Stadium while drinking a Pepsi".
These instances illustrate how Rasheed uses information from the radio not only as a way to stay informed but also as a tool for manipulation and justification of his behavior. His engagement with these broadcasts reflects his alignment with Afghanistan's patriarchal and violent societal norms during times of political turmoil.
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