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Logan Beatty

Mrs. Damalos

Pre-IB Inquiry Skills

16 March 2017

ATSS Characterization Essay

In ATSS, Babi is Lailas father. Although he and his wife, Fariba, were once happy, she

began to loath Babi once her sons went to war. Therefore, Lailas mother was a major stress on

Babis life. However, Babi wanted to be a positive role model in Lailas life; he promoted her

education and happiness despite his setbacks. As stated in the book, You can be anything you

want, Laila. I know this about you. And I also know that when this war is over, Afghanistan is

going to need you as much as its men, maybe even more. Because a society has no chance of

success if its women are uneducated, Laila. No chance. (Hosseini 103). This quote reflects

upon Babis beliefs of educating women and how he treats his daughter. Babis lifestyle is a

good representation of westernization in Afghan society because he allows the women in his life

to express themselves as he does not require them to wear a burqa or similar symbol of

patriarchy. Interestingly, the women in Babis life have power over him. He essentially bends to

the will of his wife and Laila acts like the mother of her household.

Nana is Mariams mother in ATSS, and her personality is quite different from Babis.

While he is docile and suppressed, Nana radiates anger and acts as a victim. In her outrages and

moods, Nana sculpted Mariam to be an insecure, guilty person who doesnt feel like she deserves

to live. Nana often made Mariam feel worthless by her impulsive fits and outbursts. As stated in

the book, You are a clumsy little harami. This is my reward for everything I have endured. An
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heirloom-breaking, clumsy little harami. (Hosseini 10). In Farsi, a harami is a bastard child,

and they are often unwanted and uncared for. In the case of Mariam, she first heard the word

harami as a five-year-old because she broke a piece of Nanas cherished china tea set. In reality,

Mariam was a harami because Nana was raped by Mariams father, Jalil. Nana represented

victimization as a character because Afghan patriarchy really threw her away as a person and

ruined her life. Nana had suffered during her years caring for Mariam, but her purpose in the

book was to provide background for Mariam in the story. Similarly, Babis purpose in the book

was to provide a background for Laila in the story.

Nana and Babi are similar because of their purpose in the book and their lifestyles. Each

of them served as the motivation for many of the actions of their daughters. Moreover, their

opposite personalities contrast to emphasize the differences between Laila and Mariam.

However, Nana and Babi had similar lifestyles because they were sympathetic of their daughters

situations. Each of them did not have much power to improve the quality of their daughters

lives, but they wanted to make a difference. Society had handicapped both Babi and Nana in

different ways. They are each an outcast of society. In Nanas past, she was a housekeeper for

Jalil until he impregnated her against her will resulting in Mariams birth. To hold up his

reputation, Jalil kept them away from Herat in a small kolba. Similarly, Babi was a teacher until

he was fired. After that, Babi lived at home with an oppressive wife and his daughter. Both of

them were stuck in situations that they could not escape. In the end, they both died in an act of

leaving. In Nanas case, Mariam left the kolba to look for Jalil. Since Mariam left, Nana felt

empty and committed suicide. Babi and his family were going to seek refuge in Pakistan when a

rocket killed him and his wife.