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 her

In a way, this is a bit like the placebo effect, because Najmah’s faith in the stars is guiding her, not the actual stars themselves, with the same positive result. She is being mentally tricked to literally believing that the stars are actually showing her where she needs to go, and what she needs to do. (SIP-B) Sometimes, Najmah sees the stars as omens of what is to come. (STEWE-1) Najmah has an experience which causes her to associate “exploding stars” with impending doom or death. “I have never seen such bursts of light...I lie awake the rest of the night in terror, with the stars exploding in a heaven that seems close enough to touch,” (64). Najmah is seeing stars “exploding” everywhere. This is actually a meteor shower, but Najmah is not aware of this fact. She somehwhat believed in a superstition that said meteors were omens of death, and the next day her mother and Habib are killed by American bombs. This superstition is an “old wives tale,” but Najmah has established it as a fact. The two events are unrelated, but Najmah has now associated meteors with death. (STEWE-2) The meteors return again, and Najmah is afraid again. “That sword...someone will die,” (224). Since Najmah has now made this association of meteors and

(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 have faded away. 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,she could have been harmed physically by the phantoms, as well as mentally. (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, but there was a possibility of her being injured, though it was unlikely. (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