Symbolism In Under The Persimmon Tree

(AGG) The author of “Under The Persimmon Tree” often uses symbolism throughout the book. (BS-1) The author of UTPT uses the stars to give Najmah a superstitious belief, and give her hope and guidance to drive her towards her goals. (BS-2) The stars are used to help Nusrat accept loss, she looks to them for hope and guidance, and they have a religious meaning to her. (BS-3) The author uses changes in the stars to convey events and changes in Najmah’s life. (TS) The stars are used to portray changes in the characters lives, and the author uses them to give the characters hope, guidance, and an important meaning, as well as the ability to deal with loss.

(MIP) Najmah associated a specific type of “star” with a bad omen, and they provide
(SIP-A) The stars connect Nusrat to her family, in a way. (STEWE-1) She believes she can communicate to Faiz through the stars. “Faiz will be under those same stars,” (46). Nusrat thinks that since both she and Faiz are under the stars, they can send each other messages, in a way. (SIP-B) The author uses the stars to help Nusrat deal with loss, and part of this is because of Nusrat’s religious belief in the stars and universe.(STEWE-1) When Nusrat was a child, her sister Margaret had died. Nusrat had become very closed, and tried to block herself away from people. She eventually opened up to Faiz, and upon meeting him she converted to Islam. In her teachings, she had learned that Margaret was still out there in the universe somewhere. She has not quite learned to deal with Margaret’s death, but she has stopped worrying about it. (STEWE-2) Then, the stars appear again. Nusrat is looking up at the sky, and trying to find a message or sign that Faiz is alive. But, nothing is there. “But this night the stars and planets send back to her nothing but cold, brilliant light and silence...In that second she knows Faiz will not come back,” (220-221). The author had built Nusrat’s faith in the stars, and now reversed that faith to show that Faiz had died. The author has sent a sign that the stars do not always bring good news. They can convey messages that
(SIP-A) "Phantom stars” appear whenever Najmah is in danger. (STEWE-1) There are two references to phantoms in UTPT, both from Najmah’s perspective. These “phantoms” are stars in a way, because a phantom is a ghost, and the phantoms appear in daylight. The phantoms are the equivalent to a ghost star, because they appear in daylight, when the stars are not visible. These phantoms are actually missiles, but the author has made them appear as “ghost stars.” “where in the distance a white trail is visible behind an arrow shaped phantom,” (65). This phantom appears right before Najmah’s family is killed. The author has put this “ghost star” to appear when Najmah is in danger. (STEWE-2) Later, the phantoms appear again. “together we look for an arrow shaped phantom...a few minutes later we feel dull thumping underneath our feet,” (102). The phantoms have been put here by the author once again, at the same time while Najmah is in danger. Of course, this time Najmah is not harmed at all, she was too far from the explosions to be harmed. (SIP-B) The stars are mentioned more often at important times in Najmah’s life. (STEWE-1) Before Mada-jan and Habib were killed, the stars are mentioned. “I lie awake the rest of the night in terror, with the stars exploding in a heaven that seems close enough to touch,” (64). Here, the author is mentioning the stars. They are being used to foreshadow that a big change in