Najmah Character Analysis

(MIP-1) When Najmah loses her family, her personality very much develops and changes. (SIP-A) When Najmah loses Baba-Jan and Nur, Najmah becomes much more mature and develops more realistic fears, rather than her silly and childish fears she had once had. (STEWE-1) Before Najmah lost her family, she was very afraid of leopards, although she knows they don't live where she is. “My heart hammers, and I want to run back to the house, but I know Mada-jan will be angry. I turn and run as fast as I can, all the way to the woodpile. There I spread my shawl on the ground and pile several different armloads of wood on top. I feel a tingling along my spine the whole time. I think I see yellow eyes gleaming in the dark to the side of the woodpile. I’m
(STEWE-2) When the Taliban raid Najmah’s house it is the start of Najmah developing from a little kid to a more adult like role, and she realizes the harsh reality: the real monsters aren’t the ones hiding under the bed. “”No!' I shout, and Mada-jan holds me against her, keeping me from running after him. The bukri cries out in a bleating that sounds like a human baby, and I want to snatch her away from this human leopard," (17). When the author uses the term “human leopard” to describe the person who is taking away the goat, it is also a metaphor for the child in her being taken away as well, as she begins to fear the Taliban. This shows that she is now realizing that the Taliban are the equivalent to the leopard she has always feared, but in human form. This realization is the start of Najmah’s maturing to become more adult and helpful. (STEWE-3) Once the Taliban have taken away her brother and father, and the uncle comes to take the land from Najmah, it becomes all too clear that Najmah had spent her time fearing childish fears, not realizing the true dangers. This showed that she had been immature and
(STEWE-1) After Mada-Jan and Habib died, she didn't care if she died, everything she had once lived for was gone. “I do not run or try to hide. I don't care if the Taliban find and kill me” (83). Najmah was in a state of pure shock and had an extremely hard time realizing that they had actually died. She lost her motivation to continue on with her life, which left her numb and emotionless, and the shock had eliminated her ability to take care of herself. Najmah had been doing really well, she was working for her family and showing that she could be relied on, as well as take care of herself independently. But now, she has developed from a mature person into someone who is numb and helpless. (STEWE-2) Najmah is also showing that she is being majorly affected by the flashbacks that she is experiencing after her family's deaths. “I am afraid if I close my eyes I'll see my mother's outstretched arm and the blood spreading around her and Habib's perfect small body, both of them covered with dust"