Characters and settings in the book Boy Overboard by Morris Gleitzman help the reader to understand the themes and issues in Afghanistan. The themes of war, freedom, oppression and hope are particularly show through the characters of Jamal and his mother and through the settings of Afghanistan and the boat. This book is written in first person point of view, which helps the reader to understand how war affects children and how women are treated in Afghanistan.
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The character Jamal shows the effect of war on children through his daily life in Afghanistan. This is show when Jamal says “ There’s no smoke or nerve gas or sandstorms. I can’t even hear any explosions. Which is really good.” Pg1 This quote highlights the effect of war on the children through the language Jamal uses which shows that it is a regular occurance. The boo shows the reader how war has effected children in Afghanistan and helps the reader to understand it more as it is from a child’s point of view. The book has shown the reader how tough life is for children and the conditions that they live in, in Afghanistan.
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The character of Jamal’s mother shows the effect of freedom and oppression through her daily life as a woman in Afghanistan. This is shown through the quote “Girls playing soccer is a crime. I say. Almost as big as mum and dad running an illegal school.” This quote shows how Jamal’s mother is running an illegal school as the government does not allow women to become teachers. This is shown through the restrictions she faces which the government have made rules. The book has shown the reader what life is like for the women living in Afghanistan and how harsh the government are towards women. It has also shown the reader how very little rites women have and how many rites men have compared to women.
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The setting of the boat shows the theme hope through the challenges Jamal, Bibi and their friends face. This can