Upload
vanduong
View
214
Download
0
Embed Size (px)
Citation preview
WOMEN’S OPPRESSION IN AFGHANISTAN DURING
TALIBAN REGIME IN DEBORAH ELLIS’ THE
BREADWINNER
A Sarjana Pendidikan Final Paper
Presented as Partial Fullfillment of the Requirements
to Obtain the Sarjana Pendidikan Degree
in English Language Education
By
Weni Lilis
Student Number: 101214057
ENGLISH LANGUAGE EDUCATION STUDY PROGRAM
DEPARTMENT OF LANGUAGE AND ARTS EDUCATION
FACULTY OF TEACHERS TRAINING AND EDUCATION
SANATA DHARMA UNIVERSITY
YOGYAKARTA
2015
PLAGIAT MERUPAKAN TINDAKAN TIDAK TERPUJIPLAGIAT MERUPAKAN TINDAKAN TIDAK TERPUJI
i
WOMEN’S OPPRESSION IN AFGHANISTAN DURING
TALIBAN REGIME IN DEBORAH ELLIS’ THE
BREADWINNER
A Sarjana Pendidikan Final Paper
Presented as Partial Fullfillment of the Requirements
to Obtain the Sarjana Pendidikan Degree
in English Language Education
By
Weni Lilis
Student Number: 101214057
ENGLISH LANGUAGE EDUCATION STUDY PROGRAM
DEPARTMENT OF LANGUAGE AND ARTS EDUCATION
FACULTY OF TEACHERS TRAINING AND EDUCATION
SANATA DHARMA UNIVERSITY
YOGYAKARTA
2015
PLAGIAT MERUPAKAN TINDAKAN TIDAK TERPUJIPLAGIAT MERUPAKAN TINDAKAN TIDAK TERPUJI
iv
STATEMENT OF WORK’S ORIGINALITY
I honestly declare that this final paper, which I have written, does not contain the
work or parts of the work of other people, except those cited in the quotations and
the references, as a scientific paper should.
Yogyakarta, 20 August 2015
The Writer
Weni Lilis
101214057
PLAGIAT MERUPAKAN TINDAKAN TIDAK TERPUJIPLAGIAT MERUPAKAN TINDAKAN TIDAK TERPUJI
v
LEMBAR PERNYATAAN PERSETUJUAN
PUBLIKASI KARYA ILIMIAH UNTUK KEPENTINGAN AKADEMIS
Yang bertanda tangan di bawah ini, saya mahasiswi Universitas Sanata Dharma:
Nama : Weni Lilis
Nomor Mahasiswa : 101214057
Demi pengembangan ilmu pengetahuan, saya memberikan kepada Perpustakaan
Universitas Sanata Dharma karya ilimiah saya yang berjudul:
WOMEN’S OPPRESSION IN AFGHANISTAN DURING TALIBAN
REGIME IN DEBORAH ELLIS’ THE BREADWINNER
Dengan demikian, saya memberikan kepada Perpustakaan Universitas Sanata
Dharma hak untuk menyimpan, mengalihkan dalam bentuk lain, mengelolanya
dalam bentuk pangkalan data, medistribusikannya secara terbatas, dan
mempublikasikannya di internet atau di media lain untuk kepentingan akademis
tanpa perlu ijin dari saya maupun memberikan royality kepada saya selama tetap
mencantumkan nama saya sebagai penulis.
Demikianlah pernyataan ini saya buat dengan sebenarnya
Dibuat di Yogyakarta
Pada tanggal: 20 Agustus 2015
Yang menyatakan
Weni Lilis
PLAGIAT MERUPAKAN TINDAKAN TIDAK TERPUJIPLAGIAT MERUPAKAN TINDAKAN TIDAK TERPUJI
vi
ABSTRACT
Lilis, Weni. (2015). Women’s Oppression in Afghanistan During Taliban
Regime in Deborah Ellis’ The Breadwinner. Yogyakarta: English Language
Education Study Program, Department of Language and Arts Education, Faculty
of Teachers Training and Education, Sanata Dharma University.
The Breadwinner is a novel about an eleven-year-old girl who becomes the
breadwinner for her family. The writer finds the story in the novel is interesting to
be discussed. In analyzing this study, the writer proposes two research questions.
Those are; first, how women’s oppression changed the major character’s
caharacteristic as seen in the novel and the second one is how women’s
oppression is exposed in the novel.
In order to answer the first research question, the writer employs the
theory of characterization and the theory of types of character, then in answering
the second research question, the writer employs the theory of setting, the theory
of women’s oppression, and a review on Afghanistan during Taliban regime.
The method of this study is a library research. There are two kinds of data
sources in this study. The primary data source is taken from the novel itself, The
Breadwinner, and the secondary data source is taken from the internet, and some
books related to the theories which are employed in this study. Besides that, this
study employs sociocultural-historical approach.
Parvana is an eleven-year-old girl who becomes the breadwinner for her
family. When she becomes the breadwinner, she does not show herself. She
disguises herself into a boy so she could go outside, go to work, and earn money
for her family. As she has disguised herself into a boy Parvana’s character is
changed. In the beginning of the story when she still has her father, Parvana is a
coward and an envious girl. Then, after her father’s arrest, Parvana’s character
changes into a brave and a mature girl. The situation in her family changes her.
Besides that, the situation in her living place also changes her character.
Women in Afghanistan receive different treatment from the Taliban. The
Taliban apply very strict rules to women. The researcher finds out women’s
oppression which is experienced by Afghan women are; women are not permitted
to get education, to work, to enter to a shop, to make noise while walking, and to
be outside alone without a companion. Besides that, women must cover
themselves by wearing burqa when they are outside.
Keywords: Women’s oppression, breadwinner, Taliban regime
PLAGIAT MERUPAKAN TINDAKAN TIDAK TERPUJIPLAGIAT MERUPAKAN TINDAKAN TIDAK TERPUJI
vii
ABSTRAK
Lilis, Weni. (2015). Women’s Oppression in Afghanistan During Taliban
Regime in Deborah Ellis’ The Breadwinner. Yogyakarta: Program Studi
Pendidikan Bahasa Inggris, Universitas Sanata Dharma.
The Breadwinner adalah sebuah novel yang menceritakan seorang anak
berumur sebelas tahun yang menjadi tulang punggung untuk keluarganya.
Penulis merasa bahwa novel ini menarik untuk didiskusikan. Dalam menganalisi
studi ini, penulis mengusulkan dua rumusan masalah. Rumusan masalah yang
pertama adalah, bagaimana penindasan wanita mengubah karakter utama seperti
yang terlihat dinovel, lalu yang kedua adalah bagaimana penindasan wanita
dibeberkan dinovel.
Dalam menjawab pertanyaan pertama yang terdapat dirumusan masalah,
penulis menggunakan teori characterization dan teori types of character. Lalu
dalam menjawab pertanyaan yang kedua penulis menggunakan teori setting, teori
women’s oppression, dan resensi pada Afghanistan selama masa pemerintahan
Taliban.
Metode penelitian ini adalah studi pustaka. Ada dua macam sumber data
di dalam penelitian ini. Sumber data primer diambil dari novel itu sendiri, dan
sumber data kedua diambil dari internet, dan beberapa buku yang berkaitan
dengan teori yang digunakan distudi ini. Selain itu, studi ini menggunakan
pendekatan sociocultural-historical.
Parvana adalah seorang gadis berumur sebelas tahun yang menjadi
tulang punggung untuk keluarganya. Ketika menjadi pencari nafkah, dia tidak
menunjukkan identitas aslinya. Parvana menyamar menjadi laki-laki sehingga
Parvana bisa pergi keluar, pergi bekerja, dan mencari uang untuk keluarganya.
Dengan menyamar menjadi laki-laki karakter Parvana berubah. Diawal cerita,
ketika Parvana masih memiliki ayahnya, Parvana adalah seorang yang penakut
dan iri hati. Lalu, setelah ayahnya ditangkap, karakter Parvana berubah menajdi
seorang yang berani dan dewasa. Situasi dikeluarga mengubah karakter
Parvana. Selain itu, situasi ditempat tinggal Parvana juga mengubah karakter
Parvana.
Perempuan di Afghanistan menerima perlakuan yang berbeda dari
Taliban. Taliban memberlakukan peraturan yang sangat ketat kepada perempuan.
Penulis menemukan penindasan perempuan yang dialami oleh perempuan
Afghanistan adalah sebagai berikut; perempuan Afghanistan tidak boleh
mendapatkan pendidikan, bekerja, masuk ke toko, mengeluarkan suara ketika
berjalan,dan berada di luar tanpa ada yang menemani. Selain itu, perempuan
harus menutup tubuh mereka dengan burqa ketika berada di luar.
Kata kunci: Women’s oppression, breadwinner, Taliban regime
PLAGIAT MERUPAKAN TINDAKAN TIDAK TERPUJIPLAGIAT MERUPAKAN TINDAKAN TIDAK TERPUJI
viii
This Undergraduate Final Paper is
dedicated to:
Myself
My beloved father and mother My beloved sister and brother
My beloved cousins My beloved Heindra Pradana
and My dear friends
PLAGIAT MERUPAKAN TINDAKAN TIDAK TERPUJIPLAGIAT MERUPAKAN TINDAKAN TIDAK TERPUJI
ix
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
First of all, I would like to express my deepest gratitude to my Lord,
Jesus Christ, for His blessings, love, and forgiveness so that I can do my very
best to finish my final paper. He always shows me the way to finish my final
paper when I am about to give up.
I am very grateful to my advisor, C. Sih Prabandari, S.Pd., M.Hum. for
her patience, advice, suggestion, guidance, and encouragement during the
completion of my final paper. I also would like to express my sincere gratitude to
all PBI Lecturers who always support me and remind me to finish my study as
soon as possible, especially Ibu Dr. Retno Muljani, M.Pd., Ibu Henny
Herawati, S.Pd., M.Hum., Ibu Caecelia Tutyandari, S.Pd., M.Pd., Bapak Drs.
Y. B. Gunawan, M.A., and Bapak Markus Budiraharjo, S.Pd., M.Ed., Ed.D. I
also thank all secretary staff of English Language Education Study Program
for being so helpful and friendly especially Mbak Dhanniek.
I would like also to express my deepest gratitude to my beloved parents,
Lim Nam Cua and Heng Ai Kun for all tender love, support, and prayer. In
addition, I would also thank my sister, Winda, my brother, Julianto, my cousins,
Amei, Bram, Tika, Wenas, Andi, Ani, Henny, Susan, Eko for all their support
and prayer they give to me. I also thank my nephews and nieces Giselle, Jesslyn,
Angel, Frederick, Claudia, Kayleen and Aurelia Kirana who cheer me up
with their cuteness and silly behavior.
PLAGIAT MERUPAKAN TINDAKAN TIDAK TERPUJIPLAGIAT MERUPAKAN TINDAKAN TIDAK TERPUJI
x
My special gratitude goes to my beloved Heindra Pradana, S.Pd. for his
support, prayer, encouragement, and never ending love he gives to me during my
time in finishing m final paper.
I will be forever thankful for having friends like Gitta, Martha, Clara,
Tika, Claudia, Mona, Wara, Dian, Disa, Ineke, Simon, Fendi, Daniel, Mas
Adit, Barry, Nata, Christy, Eryan, Wati and all English Language Education
Study Program 2010 students who have motivated, supported and encouraged
me to finish my final paper. They always remind me to finish my final paper and
never give up. I would also thank Mbak Sita. I thank her for helping me by being
a proof reader for my final paper and for her meaningful feedback.
Lastly, I would like to thank all people whom cannot be mentioned here
one by one for supporting and helping me to finish this paper, and for all the
memories they have shared in my life during my time in finishing this paper and
my study.
Weni Lilis
PLAGIAT MERUPAKAN TINDAKAN TIDAK TERPUJIPLAGIAT MERUPAKAN TINDAKAN TIDAK TERPUJI
xi
TABLE OF CONTENTS
TITLE ..........................................................................................................
Page
i
APPROVAL PAGES .............................................................................................. ii
STATEMENT OF WORK’S ORIGINALITY ..........................................
PERNYATAAN PERSETUJUAN PUBLIKASI .....................................................
ABSTRACT .............................................................................................................
iv
v
vi
ABSTRAK ................................................................................................................. vii
DEDICATION PAGE ............................................................................................. viii
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS ....................................................................................
TABLE OF CONTENTS ........................................................................................
CHAPTER I. INTRODUCTION
A. Background of the Study ..........................................................................
B. Approach of the Study ..............................................................................
ix
xi
1
5
CHAPTER II. DISCUSSION
A. The Characteristics of Parvana as seen in Deborah Ellis’ The
Breadwinner ..................................................................................................
1. Brave ...................................................................................................
2. Mature ................................................................................................. 8.) Thoughts
3. Reliable ...............................................................................................
B. Women’s Oppression in Afghanistan as Exposed in The
Breadwinner ..................................................................................................
1. Women Are Not Allowed to Get Education ......................................
2. Women Are Not Allowed to Work ....................................................
3. Women Must Wear Burqa..................................................................
4. Women Are Not Allowed to Enter to the Shop .................................
5. Women Are Not Allowed to be Outside Alone .................................
6. Women Must Walk Slowly ................................................................
8
12
15
19
21
23
24
24
26
26
27
CHAPTER III. CONCLUSIONS AND SUGGESTIONS
A. Conclusions ..............................................................................................
B. Suggestions ...............................................................................................
1. For Future Researchers.......................................................................
2. For Future Teacher/Lecturer ..............................................................
28
29
29
29
REFERENCES ........................................................................................................
APPENDICES
Summary of the novel ...............................................................................................
Biography of Deborah Ellis ......................................................................................
Lesson plan ...............................................................................................................
Teaching materials ....................................................................................................
Map pf Afghanistan...................................................................................................
31
32
37
40
42
47
PLAGIAT MERUPAKAN TINDAKAN TIDAK TERPUJIPLAGIAT MERUPAKAN TINDAKAN TIDAK TERPUJI
1
CHAPTER I
INTRODUCTION
This chapter consists of the background of the study and the approach of the
study. Background of the study provides the reason of choosing the story, benefits
of the study, the problems formulation, and the objectives of the study. Then,
approach of the study discusses the object of the study, the method and the
approach which are employed in the study.
A. Background of the Study
There are various kinds of works of literature; one of them is novel.
According to Bressler (1999),
Novel as a work of literature is a text with certain qualities, contains some
elements such as plot, character, tone, symbol, conflict that often represents
author’s life or experience and has major action to give values to the
readers, and also to entertain the readers (p.10).
It means that besides entertaining the readers, reading novel might also give
values to the readers. The author of the novel could create or write any story
which she would like to tell the readers. The stories could be a love story, a
history, a tragedy, etc. A novel might also enrich the readers’ knowledge through
the story which is told in it. Novel is divided into two types, there are fiction and
nonfiction.
Novel which is analyzed by the researcher is about women who are being
oppressed by a social group called Taliban. The author writes the story based on
PLAGIAT MERUPAKAN TINDAKAN TIDAK TERPUJIPLAGIAT MERUPAKAN TINDAKAN TIDAK TERPUJI
2
her inspiration when she visited refugees in Afghanistan. In writing the story, the
author describes the setting in the novel such as the place and the time, the
character in the novel; character’s feeling and situation. The purpose of describing
the setting in the novel is to tell the readers about the society which exists in the
novel. Langland, (1984) states, “society is a concept and a construct in fiction”
(p.4). It means that by describing the society it would help the readers understand
the concept in the novel. In other word, the author wants the readers to put
themselves into the situation in the novel. However, the situations in the novel are
just the same as the situations in our reality nowadays. Since the situation in the
novel still exists today, the researcher hopes the readers might understand the
story better.
Men and women have the same rights to live in this world. In some
countries, women and men get the same treatment in the surroundings. However,
in some other countries, women are treated differently as men. Afghanistan is one
of the countries which treats men and women differently. According to Wall
(2014), “The perpetration of men’s violence against women is understood to be a
manifestation of historically unequal power relations between men and women”
(p.1). Therefore, women in whose country has a history about men’s violence
against women would receive a different treatment in the society. In Afghanistan,
men have more power than women. Women are treated differently since
Afghanistan has history about it. Women’s oppression happens during the Taliban
regime. Women can only stay at home and cannot go to work. Women cannot also
go to school. Women are only allowed to stay at home. Since this case still
PLAGIAT MERUPAKAN TINDAKAN TIDAK TERPUJIPLAGIAT MERUPAKAN TINDAKAN TIDAK TERPUJI
3
happens nowadays, this case has already drawn big attention to people around the
world. It makes the researcher wants to analyze this case deeper.
The author of the novel is Deborah Ellis. She is one of feminist activists in
Canada. She writes a novel about Afghan women’s life based on her experience
when she visited Afghanistan. The novel is entitled The Breadwinner because the
novel tells about an eleven-year-old girl who becomes the breadwinner for her
family. She becomes the breadwinner because women are oppressed by the
Taliban. Therefore, she disguises herself into a boy so the Taliban would not
know her identity. Based on the novel, Taliban is a group of Muslim people who
rule the country (Ellis, 2000:11). The story in the novel takes place in
Afghanistan, where the Taliban controls the country. This novel also reveals the
social situation which happens to the major character and other women in
Afghanistan where women could not go outside of their house, they could not go
to work or school, and they must cover their body when they go outside.
In The Breadwinner, Parvana is the major character. Parvana is an eleven-
year-old girl who becomes breadwinner for her family in order to keep her family
alive. However, in her struggle to work for her family, Parvana does not show
herself, because she cannot go outside alone even if her mother accompanies her.
Her father is not around because her father is arrested. Therefore, in order to go
outside safely, she disguises herself into a boy since the Taliban only allows boy
and men go outside the house. Her father is arrested because the Taliban knows
that her father goes to school in the UK and her father could speak English.
According to the Taliban, her father betrays them so they arrest her father. Since
PLAGIAT MERUPAKAN TINDAKAN TIDAK TERPUJIPLAGIAT MERUPAKAN TINDAKAN TIDAK TERPUJI
4
then, Parvana is the only one who can help her family. Unfortunately, she has an
unwise sister. Her sister does not want to go to work for her family. Her sister just
stays at home and helps her mother. Hence, the family’s only hope is Parvana.
Besides Parvana’s story, the novel also reveals the social situation which happens
in Afghanistan. The author also tells about how the Taliban leads the country and
how they treat the women unfairly.
The benefits of this study are the readers might able to enhance their
knowledge about the women’s oppression that happens in Afghanistan. It
provides some information and knowledge for the readers to learn about women’s
oppression during the Taliban regime. It might also help the readers to have a
better understanding about Afghanistan’s social culture and also its history.
Another benefit is it will develop people’s awareness of women’s oppression. The
researcher expects by discussing it, women’s oppression in the surroundings
society, or even the world would decrease.
Based on the background of the study, the major character’s characteristics
and women’s oppression are the main object of this study. Therefore, the
researcher decides that, there are two formulated problems which are needed to be
analyzed in this study. Those formulated problems are; first, “How does women’s
oppression change the major character’s characteristics as seen in the novel?” and
“How is women’s oppression exposed in the novel?” By conducting this study,
the researcher intends to find out the changes of the major character’s
characteristics which is caused by women’s oppression, and expose the women’s
oppression which is experienced by Afghan women
PLAGIAT MERUPAKAN TINDAKAN TIDAK TERPUJIPLAGIAT MERUPAKAN TINDAKAN TIDAK TERPUJI
5
The objectives of this study are to find out the changes of the major
character’s characteristics and to show women’s oppression which is exposed in
the novel. By understanding the objectives of the study, the readers are hoped to
have high awareness of how to treat people around them. So, there will be no
oppression happened in the society. As the readers have known how is the feeling
of people who are being oppressed.
B. Approach of the Study
In conducting this research, the researcher employs sociocultural-historical
approach. According to Woods and Rohrberger (1971), sociocultural-historical
approach insists that the way to understand a literary work is to have better
understanding about the society (p.9). Besides, Woods and Rohrberger (1971)
also state, the only way to locate a real work is in reference to the civilization
which produced it (p.9). Then Woods and Rohrberger (1971) define “civilization
as the attitudes and actions of a specific group of people and point out that
literature takes these attitudes and actions as its subject matter” (p.9). This
approach is occupied to observe the society and the history in Afghanistan.
Therefore, the researcher needs to provide sufficient understanding on the society
in Afghanistan. By implementing this approach, the researcher expects the reader
would have a better understanding about the study through society in Afghanistan
which is provided.
The object of this study is a novel of Deborah Ellis entitled The
Breadwinner. This novel consists of fifteen chapters in 166 pages. In this novel,
PLAGIAT MERUPAKAN TINDAKAN TIDAK TERPUJIPLAGIAT MERUPAKAN TINDAKAN TIDAK TERPUJI
6
the author provides some notes about the real situation in Afghanistan at that
moment, and also some knowledge about the Taliban which are useful for the
readers. This novel tells about Parvana, an eleven-year-old girl who disguises
herself into a boy and becomes the breadwinner for her family because of
women’s oppression in Afghanistan. She has a younger sister, a younger brother,
and an older sister. In becoming the breadwinner for her family, she disguises
herself into a boy so she could go outside and earn money freely. She does her
Father’s work in the market in order to keep her and her family alive. Besides that,
the novel also reveals about women’s oppression which is done by Taliban during
their regime. Moreover, the novel also reveals how the Taliban treat people there,
not only women but also men. The Taliban would punish everyone who is
disobeying the rules. However, they are stricter to women. An-Na’im (1998)
states after taking control the capital city of Afghanistan, Taliban had forbidding
women to work outside the home, attend school, or to leave their home unless
accompanied by a husband, father, brother, or son (p.11). The characters in this
novel are fictional ones; however the situation is real because the story of the
novel is inspired by the author’s experience when she visited Afghan refugee
camps in Pakistan. She interviewed Afghan people there.
The method in this study was library research. The primary source was the
novel itself, while other sources and data were taken from books and internet. In
order to finish this study, there were some steps passed. First, the researcher
selected this novel as the main book, and the researcher read the book for several
PLAGIAT MERUPAKAN TINDAKAN TIDAK TERPUJIPLAGIAT MERUPAKAN TINDAKAN TIDAK TERPUJI
7
times in order to have better understanding about the novel. This step also helped
the researcher to make a summary of the novel.
The second step was deciding the interesting things which were happened in
the novel. In this step, the researcher chose the interesting topic which is needed
to be analyzed. After finding the topic, the researcher made the problems
formulation, then read books and journals which could help the researcher to
answer the problems formulation.
The third step was to answer the questions which were made in the
problems formulation. In this step, the researcher analyzed the character which
was described in the novel. In order to analyze it, the researcher employed the
theory of character and characterization and the theory of types of character. After
answering the first question in the problem formulation, the researcher analyzed
the next question. In order to analyze this question, the researcher employed the
theory of setting, the theory of women’s oppression and a review on Afghanistan
during the Taliban regime. Those theories helped the researcher analyze how
women’s oppression experienced by Afghan women in Afghanistan during the
Taliban regime exposed in the novel, supported by the character and the setting.
After analyzing and answering the questions which were stated in the
problem formulation, the last step was to draw conclusion. In this part, the answer
of the problems formulation was discussed briefly. After finishing the analysis,
the researcher drew conclusion and proposed suggestions for the future
researchers, and also proposed the implementation of this study for teaching and
learning English by using the novel, The Breadwinner.
PLAGIAT MERUPAKAN TINDAKAN TIDAK TERPUJIPLAGIAT MERUPAKAN TINDAKAN TIDAK TERPUJI
8
CHAPTER II
DISCUSSION
This chapter discusses the review of related literature and the findings of the
changes characterization of the main character and the women’s oppression
experienced by Afghan women. The related literature consists of theories which
are needed in analyzing this study. The descriptions of the main character and
revealing women’s oppression which happens during Taliban regime are the main
objects of the discussion.
A. The characteristics of Parvana as seen in Deborah Ellis’ The
Breadwinner
Character and characterization cannot be separated in a literary work.
According to Abrams (1985), character is,
The person presented in a dramatic or narrative work, who is interpreted by
the readers as being endowed with moral, dispositional, and emotional
qualities that are expressed in what they say- the dialogue- and by what they
do- the action (p.23).
Character is created through its characterization by the author. In creating
character and characterization, it may present the author’s thought and
imagination.
Holman and Harmon (1972) state through characterization the author
creates the character by applying everything in reality, so the character will also
look like a real person in the novel (p.81). Characterization is the creation of
imaginary person so the character exists in the novel.
PLAGIAT MERUPAKAN TINDAKAN TIDAK TERPUJIPLAGIAT MERUPAKAN TINDAKAN TIDAK TERPUJI
9
There are two types of character. Those types are flat character and round
character. According to Forster (1927) as cited in Abrams, a flat character is built
around a single idea or quality and is presented without much individualizing
detail; therefore it can be described in a single phrase or sentence (p.20). A flat
character does not show any change in the character. The character stays steady
from the beginning of the story until the end of the story. Then, Forster (1927)
defines round character as complex in temperament and motivation and is
represented with subtle particularity; thus, the character could not be described
easily (p.20). In order to find out the characteristics, readers must understand the
characterization of the character from the beginning of the story until the end.
In analyzing the characterization of the major character, the researcher
employs the theory of characterization. According to Murphy (1972), there are
nine ways of characterization, they are; personal description, character seen by
another character, speech, past life, conversation of others, reaction, direct
comment, thoughts, and mannerisms (p.161-173). Even though there are nine
ways of characterization, the researcher only employs some ways in analyzing the
data. Those are character as seen by another character, thoughts, direct comment,
and speech.
By employing the theory types of character, the character of Parvana is a
round character. The character of Parvana changes in the middle of the story.
Then, in order to analyze the characteristic of Parvana the researcher employs the
theory of characterization. As stated by Murphy that there are nine ways of
PLAGIAT MERUPAKAN TINDAKAN TIDAK TERPUJIPLAGIAT MERUPAKAN TINDAKAN TIDAK TERPUJI
10
characterization, the researcher only employs three ways in analyzing the
characteristic of Parvana in the beginning of the story. Those are direct comment,
speech, and thought. According to Murphy (1972) author could describe the
characterization through direct comment. The author uses his/her comment
directly in describing the characterization (p.170). Besides, Murphy also states
that the author could reveal the character’s thought in describing the
characterization. Therefore, the readers would be able to understand the
character’s thought directly. Another way of telling characterization is by the
speech of the character him/herself. Murphy (1972) states that the author could
give the readers insights into the characterization by seeing the character’s speech
or by what character says. Besides giving insights, the author could describe the
character’s personalities through what he/she says (p.164).
In the beginning of the story, Parvana’s character is a coward and an
envious person. Those characters are analyzed by employing Murphy’s theory of
characterization. When her father is around, she does not dare to go outside alone
because women are not permitted to go outside alone. Parvana goes outside only
for helping her father to work. In the market, Parvana is afraid to show herself to
the people there. “Parvana would slump down further on the blanket and try to
make herself look smaller. She was afraid to look up at the soldiers” (p.8).
Whenever someone comes to her father Parvana wants to be invisible so no one
would notice her. As cited from the novel, Parvana does not dare to show herself
especially when The Taliban is around. “When the Taliban were around, what she
wanted most of all was to be invisible” (p.9). Besides, Parvana does not dare to
PLAGIAT MERUPAKAN TINDAKAN TIDAK TERPUJIPLAGIAT MERUPAKAN TINDAKAN TIDAK TERPUJI
11
say something out loud. “I can read that letter as well as Father can,” Parvana
whispered into the folds of her chador. “Well, almost.” She didn’t dare say those
words out loud” (p.7). Besides being coward, Parvana is also envious person. She
envies her older sister because her older sister does not have many things to do.
Since the Taliban has ordered that women must stay inside her older sister and her
mother only do the cleaning at home. Other activities such as fetching water, and
outside activities are done by Parvana.
“If you had fetched it yesterday, when Mother asked you, you wouldn’t
have so much to haul today,” Nooria said as Parvana passed by her to get
the water bucket. Nooria smiled her superior big-sister smile and flipped her
hair back over her shoulders. Parvana wanted to kick her. “Nooria never
goes for water, nor does Mother. Maryam doesn’t either. She doesn’t have
to do anything!” (p.19-20).
Parvana also envies her older sister’s hair. “Nooria had beautiful hair, long, and
thick. Parvana’s hair was thin and stringy. She wanted hair like her sister’s and
Nooria knew this” (p.20). Therefore, she hates if the water is used to wash
Nooria’s hair. “Parvana hated all that cleaning. It used up the water she had to
haul. The only thing worse was for Nooria to wash her hair” (p.22). Besides that,
Parvana envies her sister because she thinks her mother loves Nooria more. When
her mother wants to sell her red cloth Parvana tries to argue with her mother.
“My good shalwar kameez! We can’t sell that!” “I decide what we’re going
to sell, not you. There’s no longer any use for it, unless you’re planning to
go to parties you haven’t bothered to tell me about.”.........
“Why don’t we sell Nooria’s good clothes? She’s not going anywhere.” “
She’ll need them when she gets married.” Nooria made a superior sort of
face at Parvana. As an extra insult, she tossed her head to make her long hair
swing. “I pity whoever marries you,” Parvana said. “He will be getting a
stuck-up snob for a wife.” “That’s enough,” Mother said. Parvana fumed.
Mother always took Nooria’s side (p.24).
PLAGIAT MERUPAKAN TINDAKAN TIDAK TERPUJIPLAGIAT MERUPAKAN TINDAKAN TIDAK TERPUJI
12
However, the character of Parvana changes in the middle of the story. Since her
father is arrested, there is no one who could go outside to work besides her. It
changes Parvana into a brave person. Parvana knows that she is the only one who
could help her family to survive. Moreover, being the breadwinner for her family
makes her more mature. Those characters are analyzed by employing Murphy’s
nine ways of characterization. However, the writer only employs three ways,
namely thought, seen by another character, and direct comment.
1. Brave
According to Murphy (1972), there are nine ways of characterization
(p.161). Readers can see the character through the main character’s thought.
Murphy (1972) states the author can give the readers direct knowledge of what a
person is thinking about (p.171). By knowing the main character’s thought, the
readers might know what kind of person the main character is. Another way to
know the character’s characterization is by observing how the character is seen by
another character. Murphy (1972) states a characteristic of character can be seen
by another character. The author could describe the character by employing
another character’s point of view or opinion (p162).
Since Parvana’s father has arrested, no one in the family dares to go outside.
However, the family is running out of water. Then Mrs. Weera asks Parvana to
fetch the water because Mrs. Weera knows that Parvana is a brave girl.
“We’re out of water,” Nooria explained. “We’ve been afraid to go out.”
“You’re not afraid, are you, Parvana?” She didn’t wait for the answer.
“Fetch the bucket girl. Do your bit for the team. Here we go!” Mrs. Weera
still talked like she was out on the hockey field, urguing everyone to do their
best (p.59).
PLAGIAT MERUPAKAN TINDAKAN TIDAK TERPUJIPLAGIAT MERUPAKAN TINDAKAN TIDAK TERPUJI
13
Then, another character of Parvana could be seen through her thought. As
seen from her thought, Parvana is a brave girl. When her family asks her to
disguise herself into a boy, she tries to refuse it. However, she thinks about it, and
Mrs. Weera encourages her. After thinking about it, she finally agrees to disguise
herself. She finds courage in herself.
When the soldiers come to her house to arrest her father, Nooria, her older
sister hides herself in a small room and covers herself with a chador. Parvana is
sitting in her place and cannot move herself to hide. While sitting, she sees the
soldiers hit her mother and other soldiers drag her father outside. The soldiers hit
her mother until her mother falls down to the floor. By seeing her mother falls
down, it gives courage Parvana to take an action while her older sister hides
herself. “Seeing her Mother on the ground finally propelled Parvana into action.
When the soldiers dragged her Father outside, she flung her arms around his
waist” (p.31).
As one of the soldiers has dragged her father outside, the other soldiers are
still inside the house looking for things to be taken away. When Parvana sees it,
she is thinking about her father’s books which are hidden at the bottom of the
cupboard. She thinks that the soldier will find it so it leads her to scream. Even
though her body hurts, she still wants to protect her father’s book.
They couldn’t be allowed to find father’s book! The soldiers had started at
the top of the cupboard and were working their way down closer and closer
they came to the bottom shelf, the one with the false wall. Parvana watched
in horrors as the soldiers bent down to yank the things out of the bottom
shelf. “Get out of my house!” she yelled. She threw herself at the soldiers
with such force that they both fell to ground (p.32).
PLAGIAT MERUPAKAN TINDAKAN TIDAK TERPUJIPLAGIAT MERUPAKAN TINDAKAN TIDAK TERPUJI
14
She is the one who forces the soldiers to go away from her house. Her mother is
on the floor and her body hurts because of the hitting. As an eleven-year-old-girl,
Parvana is brave to do it. She has the courage which her older sister does not have.
Since her father is arrested, no one goes outside. They eat what they have
until the third day; they are running out of food. Nooria tells Parvana to go outside
to buy food and to fetch water. Since her father’s arrest, she is the one who will do
her father’s work. As she cannot go out without her chador, her mother and Mrs.
Weera finally make a decision which is quite hard to believe. Her mother and
Mrs. Weera will turn her into a boy. At first, Parvana is scared that people and the
Talib will find out that she is not a boy. She refuses the plan. However, thinking
about the situation now, she knows that agreeing to the plan is the only way to
help them survive. When Parvana refuses the decision, Mrs. Weera tells her that
they can force her to do it but they cannot force her to act as a boy. By knowing
that gives her courage.
Parvana realized Mrs. Weera was right. They could hold her down and cut
off her hair, but for anything more. They needed her coorperation. In the
end, it really was her decision. Somehow, knowing that made it easier to
agree. “All right,” she said. “I’ll do it” (p.66).
Since Parvana has disguised herself as a boy, she is the only family member
who is able to go out without any difficulties. She goes outside to work and to run
errands. One day, after working and fetching water, Parvana thinks that it will be
great if her younger sister can go outside. So, she asks her mother whether she can
take her younger sister to the water tap outside. At first, her mother refuses her
offer because her mother is afraid that they will be arrested. Parvana is so brave
that she even thinks about taking her sister outside. “Mother, can I take Maryam
PLAGIAT MERUPAKAN TINDAKAN TIDAK TERPUJIPLAGIAT MERUPAKAN TINDAKAN TIDAK TERPUJI
15
to the tap with me?” (p.86). After taking her younger sister outside successfully,
Parvana also wants to take out her mother and her older sister. By disguising
herself as a boy, it gives her courage to take all her family members outside to
enjoy the sun and see the situation outside. Even though she knows the risk, she
still wants to do it. Parvana wants all her family can go outside the house and
enjoy the sun outside as they cannot enjoy it when they are inside the house.
“One day, after she had been working for a week, Parvana had an idea.
“Mother, I’m seen as a boy, right?”
“That’s the idea,” Mother said.
“Then I could be your escort,” Parvana said.
“I could be Nooria’s escort too, and you could both get outside sometimes”
(p.89).
Through Parvana’s thought, it can be seen that she is a brave person who is
willing to do anything to help her family. She has the courage that not all the kids
in Afghanistan have. Even though she is not the only one who disguises herself
into a boy, the writer can still see the courage in Parvana. She dares to do
something which is impossible for others to do, such as digging up the bones in
the graveyard. It really needs strong courage for an eleven-year-old girl to do it
and Parvana has it. Besides, Mrs. Weera knows that Parvana is a brave girl who is
willing to do anything for her family.
2. Mature
As the situation in her family has changed, Parvana’s character also
changes. In the beginning of the story, she envies her older sister. However, after
her father’s arrest, Parvana realizes that she does not want to lose other family
members. Therefore, she does not feel envy her sister any more. She understands
that her older sister is not able to go outside so she is willing to go outside to be
PLAGIAT MERUPAKAN TINDAKAN TIDAK TERPUJIPLAGIAT MERUPAKAN TINDAKAN TIDAK TERPUJI
16
the breadwinner, to take her older sister’s role, to take care of the family.
Parvana’s character is analyzed by employing Murphy’s nine ways of
characterization. However, the researcher only employs two out of nine ways
namely thoughts and direct comment.
When they are out of food, Nooria asks Parvana to go outside to buy it.
However, Parvana does not want to do it because Parvana thinks that it is
Nooria’s responsibility. Then Parvana looks at Nooria and she begins to think that
Nooria is not accustomed to go outside. Parvana also sees fear in Nooria. So, she
decides to go outside. “Nooria looked terrified. If Parvana didn’t obey her, she
would have to go for food herself. Now I’ve got her, Parvana thought. I can make
her as miserable as she makes me. But she was suprised to find that this thought
gave her no pleasure” (p.52-53).
As she has disguised herself into a boy, Parvana works in the market. Then
one day, she discovers that there is also another girl who disguises herself into a
boy. She is Shauzia, her classmates. When she meets Shauzia, Shauzia gives her
dried apricots. She is happy to receive it because it has been a long time she does
not eat the dried apricots. As she receives the dried apricots, Parvana does not
keep the apricots for herself only. She counts them and thinks that the apricots are
enough for everyone in her family. “She counted them. There was one for
everyone in the household, and an extra one for her to eat now” (p.96). It is
unusual for an eleven-year-old girl to have a thought like that. The situation
changes Parvana into a mature person. She does not only think about herself but
she also thinks about her family at home.
PLAGIAT MERUPAKAN TINDAKAN TIDAK TERPUJIPLAGIAT MERUPAKAN TINDAKAN TIDAK TERPUJI
17
Mrs. Weera tells Parvana about a plan which is made by her, her mother and
Nooria. They are going to start a school at home and Nooria will be the teacher.
Parvana does not think that Nooria will become a good teacher, however, she does
not want to say it because she does not want to hurt Nooria’s feeling. “Parvana
didn’t like the idea of learning from Nooria. As a teacher, she’d be even bossier
than she was as a big sister! Still, she couldn’t remember the last time she’d seen
Nooria excited about something, so she keep quiet” (p.102).
Being the breadwinner for her family makes Parvana does not want to argue
with Nooria any more, Parvana has understood the situation in her family.
Parvana understands that Nooria is not able to go outside because she is not
permitted to go outside not because she does not want to. If Nooria goes outside it
will be very dangerous for Nooria. Therefore, Parvana does not want to argue with
her. “Nooria hadn’t said anything nasty to Parvana in ages. Or maybe it’s me
who’s changed, Parvana thought. Arguing with Nooria simply didn’t make sense
any more” (p.118). The situation in the family and the women oppression have
changed Parvana’s character into a mature person. She does not think that arguing
with Nooria gives her pleasure.
One day, Parvana saw something bad happening in the stadium. The Taliban
cut people’s head and hand because those people were thieves. By seeing that,
Parvana worries about her father. She decides to take a break from work.
However, she understands that she could not take the break forever. She knows
that she must take care of her family. “No one said anything to Parvana when the
bread ran out, but she got up and went to work that day anyway. Some things just
PLAGIAT MERUPAKAN TINDAKAN TIDAK TERPUJIPLAGIAT MERUPAKAN TINDAKAN TIDAK TERPUJI
18
had to be taken care of” (p.124). Again, this fact shows that Parvana has unusual
thoughts despite the fact that she is only eleven years old.
Since Parvana becomes the breadwinner for her family, Parvana always
thinks and cares about her family. She does everything for her family. She does
not think that she could leave her family. Parvana’s friend Shauzia plans to go to
France and leaves her family in Afghanistan. Shauzia wants to leave her family
because she does not want to work for her family. She hates living in Afghanistan.
Shauzia asks Parvana to come with her. However Parvana refuses to go because
she could not leave her family. “Do you want to come with me?” Shauzia asked.
“We could look after each other.” “I don’t know.” She could leave Afghanistan,
but could she leave her family? She didn’t think so” (p.128). Parvana is different
to Shauzia. Even though living in Afghanistan is difficult for her, she still does not
want to leave Afghanistan and her family. The situation changes Parvana not to an
eleven-year-old girl’s character.
Women’s oppression which happens in Afghanistan influences Parvana’s
character in the novel. The situation in Afghanistan and her family make Parvana
becomes a brave and a mature girl. Parvana acts like an adult whereas she is just
eleven years old. Being the breadwinner also makes Parvana becomes a reliable
person. From the beginning until the end of the story, Parvana remains as a
reliable girl. This character is stable because the character does not change from
the beginning of the story until the end of the story.
This characteristic is analyzed by employing character as seen by another
character and direct comment. The writer could find the characterization by seeing
PLAGIAT MERUPAKAN TINDAKAN TIDAK TERPUJIPLAGIAT MERUPAKAN TINDAKAN TIDAK TERPUJI
19
from another character’s point of view or opinion. Then, another way is finding
the characterization through the direct comment from the author.
3. Reliable
When her father is around, her father needs Parvana in order to work. Her
mother and her sister need her in order to fetch water. Then, when her father is
arrested, her family relies on her in order to survive. Her mother and Mrs. Weera
also believe that they could rely on Parvana. So, they ask Parvana to disguise
herself in order to work outside freely. Everyone in her family believes that
Parvana is a reliable person so they could rely on Parvana in order to survive.
In the market, when the Talib asks her father about Parvana being outside,
her father would tell them that he needs Parvana in order to work. “I need this girl
to help me walk,” her Father would tell any Talib who asked, pointing to his leg”
(p.8). Then, when her father is arrested, he tells Parvana to take care of the family.
“When the soldiers dragged her father outside, she flung her arms around his
waist. As the soldiers pried her loose, she heard her father say, “Take care of
others, my Malali.” Then he was gone” (p.31).
Besides her Father, Mrs. Weera knows that she could rely on Parvana. Mrs.
Weera is a friend of her mother who helps her when she was chased by the
soldiers. They go home together. At home, her mother is still lying on the bed.
Her mother has been very sad since her father’s arrest. Since Mrs. Weera there,
she tries to talk to her other. After dressing up her mother, her mother finally
wants to sit and talk to them. Mrs. Weera and her mother know that Parvana is
able to go outside. They figure out the way for Parvana to go outside without
PLAGIAT MERUPAKAN TINDAKAN TIDAK TERPUJIPLAGIAT MERUPAKAN TINDAKAN TIDAK TERPUJI
20
being chased by the soldier. They ask Parvana to disguise herself into a boy.
“They were going to turn her into a boy. “As a boy, you’ll be able to move in and
out of the market, buy what we need, and no one will stop you,” Mother said”
(p.63).
When her mother and Mrs. Weera tell her about their plan, firstly, Parvana
refuses to do it. She knows that the Talib might recognize her. However, she gives
a thought on that plan, because she knows that there is no one in the family who is
able to help the family. Finally, she agrees to disguise herself into a boy. Mrs.
Weera encourages her because she is sure that Parvana is able to do it.
“It has to be your decision,” Mrs. Weera said. “We can force you to cut off
your hair, but you’re still the one who has to go outside and act the part. We
know this is a big thing we’re asking, but I think you can do it. How about
it?” (p.65).
Parvana has agreed to their plan, she disguises herself into a boy. It is easier
for her to go outside. Her mother trusts her that she is able to earn money and
work like her father does. She works as a letter writer and reader in the market.
Her mother even gives compliment to Parvana when Parvana has succeeded
buying their needs. “Take your Father’s writing things and his blanket, and go to
the market,” Mother told her. “Maybe you can earn some money. You’ve been
watching your Father all this time. Just do what he did” (p.74).
Since Parvana has disguised herself into a boy, she is able to do more
activities other than buying things and working in the market. She also takes her
younger sister outside to see the sun and see the situation outside their house.
After succeeding with her younger sister, she now wants to take out her mother,
her older sister, and her younger brother. Since her mother trusts her, her mother
PLAGIAT MERUPAKAN TINDAKAN TIDAK TERPUJIPLAGIAT MERUPAKAN TINDAKAN TIDAK TERPUJI
21
agrees with her plan. “Nooria, Ali should go outside. Parvana is able to manage
fine with Maryam, but Ali squirms so much. You will have to hold onto him”
(p.90).
Besides finding the characterization through another character’s opinion, the
researcher also finds the characterization through the direct comment from the
author. According to Murphy (1972), the author could use the direct comment in
describing the characterization (p.172). As seen from the author’s comment
Parvana is a reliable person. The author describes why Parvana is being outside
with her father. “Parvana was there only to help her father walk to the market and
back home again after work” (p.7). Then, when Parvana is asked to fetch water,
even though Parvana does not want to do it, but the author gives a clear comment
that Parvana has to fetch the water because there is no one else. “Parvana knew
she had to fetch the water because there was nobody else in the family who could
do it” (p.20-21). Through the author’s comment, the writer sees that the family
relies on Parvana for going outside and doing outside activities.
Through another character’s opinion and direct comment from the author, it
can be seen that Parvana is a reliable person. This character does not change from
the beginning until the end of the story. Parvana’s family needs her help in order
to keep alive. It makes Parvana a reliable person.
B. Women’s opression in Afghanistan as exposed in The Breadwinner
In analyzing this study, the researcher employs the sociocultural-historical
approach. Therefore, the researcher needs to provide a review on Afghanistan
PLAGIAT MERUPAKAN TINDAKAN TIDAK TERPUJIPLAGIAT MERUPAKAN TINDAKAN TIDAK TERPUJI
22
during the Taliban regime. It is expected that the information might help the
readers understand the history of Taliban in Afghanistan and might enrich the
readers’ knowledge about Afghanistan during the Taliban regime.
Afghanistan is one of a Moslem countries in South Central Asia. It is
located in South Central Asia near Pakistan and Iran. The declaration of
Afghanistan was in 1919. Based on the novel,
Afghanistan has been at war since 1978, when American-backed figthers
opposed the Soviet-backed government. In 1980, the Soviet Union invaded
Afghanistan, and the war escalated, with both sides bombing and killing
with modern weapons. After the Soviets left in 1989, a civil war erupted, as
various groups fought for control of the country. (Ellis, 2000:167)
Before the Taliban, Afghanistan was led by a king. The king was Mohammed
Zahir Shah. Then, Taliban took over the country in 1996.
Bajoria and Laub (2013) defined Taliban as a “Sunni Islamic extremist
group that ruled Afghanistan from 1996-2001”. Bajoria and Laub (2013) also
stated that the Taliban was formed by Afghan Mujahideen who fought against the
Soviet. The Taliban was emerged as a force in national politics in 1994 in the
midst of the country’s civil war. In governing the country, the Taliban applied an
austere form of Islamic Law.
Besides a review on Afghanistan, the researcher also employs theory of
setting in analyzing the second formulated problem. A setting in the novel refers
to setting of place and setting of time. According to Abrams (1985) setting is “the
overall setting of a narrative or dramatic work is the general locale, historical
time, and social circumstances in which its action occurs” (p.192). By knowing
PLAGIAT MERUPAKAN TINDAKAN TIDAK TERPUJIPLAGIAT MERUPAKAN TINDAKAN TIDAK TERPUJI
23
the setting of place and time, readers can obtain more detailed information about
the story in the novel.
The setting of place in the novel was in Afghanistan and the setting of time
was during the Taliban regime which was in 1996 to 2001. During the Taliban
regime women were oppressed by the Taliban. The Taliban applied rules which
were not fair to women. Many women struggled to survive during the Taliban
regime even though they could not do much. Women’s oppression happened
during the Taliban regime.
During the Taliban regime, women does not have their freedom. Cudd
(2004) defines oppression as a name as social injustice, which is to say that it is
perpetrated through social institutions, practices, and norms on social groups by
social groups. Oppression can be done to everyone (p.2). Cudd (2004) also
defines oppression as a “harm, which persons are systematically and unfairly
constrained, burdened, or reduced by any several forces” (p.2) In this study the
person refers to women. The Taliban apply very strict rules to women. The
Taliban forbade women to go to school or work. By employing the theory of
women’s oppression, the following is the evidence of women’s oppression during
the Taliban regime which is exposed in the novel.
1. Women are not allowed to get education
The Taliban has ordered all women to stay inside the house. During their
regime, women are not allowed to go to school. As stated by An-Na’im (1998), in
1996 the Taliban issued an edict forbidding women to attend school (p.11). It also
happens in the novel.
PLAGIAT MERUPAKAN TINDAKAN TIDAK TERPUJIPLAGIAT MERUPAKAN TINDAKAN TIDAK TERPUJI
24
The Taliban had ordered all the girls and women in Afghanistan to stay
inside their homes. They even forbade girls to go to school. Parvana had to
leave her sixth grade class, and her sister Nooria was not allowed to go to
her high school (p.7).
Once the Taliban find out about school, they would close the school immediately.
“The Taliban would close down any school they discovered” (p.132). Therefore,
besides women are not allowed to go to school, there is also no more school in
Afghanistan because the Taliban has closed the school.
2. Women are not allowed to work
Besides school, women are also not permitted to work. An-Na’im (1998)
states the Taliban forbid women to work outside the home (p.11). In the novel,
Parvana’s mother does not work anymore because the Taliban has kicked her out.
Their mother had been kicked out of her job as a writer for a Kabul radio station”
(p.7). Besides her mother, Mrs. Weera also loses her job. “She had been a physical
teacher before the Taliban made her leave her job” (p.58). Women are allowed to
do the housework only. “Mother and Nooria were always cleaning something.
Since they couldn’t work or go to school, they didn’t have much else to do”
(p.22). Only men are allowed to work. Men do the shopping which is usually done
by women. “Men were supposed to do all the shopping” (p.54).
3. Women must wear burqa
Even though the Taliban has ordered women must stay inside the house,
women could still go outside. However, if they go outside, there is also a rule for
them to obey. Women must wear burqa when they are outside. An-Na’im (1998)
states “In public, women must be covered from head to toe in a burqa, a body-
PLAGIAT MERUPAKAN TINDAKAN TIDAK TERPUJIPLAGIAT MERUPAKAN TINDAKAN TIDAK TERPUJI
25
length covering with only a mesh opening to see and breathe through” (p.11). By
wearing burqa, they could only show their eyes. Burqa covers their body and their
faces. In the novel, it is explained that burqa is, “A long, tent-like garment, it
covers women completely and even has a narrow mesh screen over the eyes”
(p.169). If they go outside without burqa, women could get trouble and
punishment.
“Where is your burqa?” She looked around but couldn’t see one.
“Are you outside without a burqa?” The woman nodded.
“What are you doing outside without a burqa? You could get in a lot of
trouble for that” (p.145).
When Parvana is asked to go shopping, she is confused about what is she
going to do in order to buy the things. Parvana is confused because she does not
wear burqa. She does not know how to shop because there is also a rule for
women when they are shopping.
Parvana wasn’t sure if she would consider a woman. On the one hand, if she
behaved like woman and stood outside the shop and called in her order, she
could get in trouble for not wearing burqa. On the other hand, if she went
into a shop, she could get in trouble for not acting like woman (p.54).
Women could be punished for not wearing burqa. When Parvana in the market
and she does not wear her burqa, she gets caught by the soldier.
“What are you doing on the street dressed like that?”
“You must be covered up! Who is your father? Who is your husband? They
will be punished for letting you walk the street like that!” The soldier raised
his arm and brought his stick down on Parvana’s soldier (p.55).
By wearing burqa, sometimes women could not see the street clearly. It is difficult
for women to walk with burqa.
“How do women in burqas manage to walk along these streets?” Parvana
asked her father.
PLAGIAT MERUPAKAN TINDAKAN TIDAK TERPUJIPLAGIAT MERUPAKAN TINDAKAN TIDAK TERPUJI
26
“How do they see where they are going?”
“They fall down a lot,” her father replied.
He was right. Parvana had seen them fall (p.17).
4. Women are not allowed to enter to the shop
Even though the Taliban has ordered women to stay inside, women are still
allowed to go outside but they must wear burqa. For example, to go to a shop to
buy things. If a woman does not have husband or son, then she does the shopping.
However, once she goes to a shop, she must stay outside the shop. There will be a
punishment for the shopkeepers who disobey the rule. An-Na’im (1998) states
male physicians cannot properly examine women patients because of the
prohibitions on touching women or looking at the bodies. If the male physicians
are caught treating women, they would be beaten and thrown to jail (p.17). The
rule is also applied to shopkeepers who treat women inside the shop. Therefore, if
women go to a shop, women must stay outside the shop.
Women were not allowed to go to into the shops. Men were supposed to do
all the shopping, but if women did it, they had to stand outside and call for
what they needed. Parvana had seen shopkeepers beaten for serving women
inside their shops (p54).
5. Women are not allowed to be outside alone
Women are not allowed to be outside without a companion. Once they go
outside they must be accompanied by a man. An-Na’im (1998), states the Taliban
forbid women to leave their homes unless accompanied by a husband, father,
brother, or son (p.11). If a woman does not have a man with her, the woman must
have at least a note from her husband which says her husband allow her to go
outside. However, women are not allowed to take public transportation. “Mother
wasn’t supposed to be outside of her home without a man, or without a note from
PLAGIAT MERUPAKAN TINDAKAN TIDAK TERPUJIPLAGIAT MERUPAKAN TINDAKAN TIDAK TERPUJI
27
her husband” (p.38). When Parvana and her mother want to go to the prison to get
her father out of jail they cannot take the public transportation. “Buses were not
permitted to carry women who did not have a man with them. They would have to
walk a whole way” (p.38). It is not fair because men are allowed to take the public
transportation even when they are alone.
6. Women must walk slowly
Another rule for women is they must walk slowly. According to An-Na’im
(1998), “Women are not permitted to wear white (the color of the Taliban flag)
socks or white shoes, or shoes that make noise while they are walking” (p.11).
Women are not allowed to make noise while walking. “The Taliban had made it a
crime for women to make noise when they walked” (p.148). Based on the rule, it
is really difficult for women to beoutside. Many rules are applied to them but
those rules are only for women.
Based on the data which is shown above, women are treated unfairly during
the Taliban regime. Many rules are applied to women. However, the rules are not
applied to men. During the Taliban regime, women could not have their freedom.
Women are being oppressed by obeying the Taliban’s rules.
PLAGIAT MERUPAKAN TINDAKAN TIDAK TERPUJIPLAGIAT MERUPAKAN TINDAKAN TIDAK TERPUJI
28
CHAPTER III
CONCLUSIONS AND SUGGESTIONS
In this chapter, the researcher provides the result of the analysis of this study
and the suggestions for future researchers and future teachers or lecturers.
A. Conclusions
The conclusion of this study is Afghan women suffer a lot during the
Taliban regime. However, it does not make some of them giving up. Based on the
story in the novel and the analysis of the characterization in the main character,
the main character in the novel, Parvana is a brave and a mature girl. However, in
the beginning of the story, the main character is a coward and an envious girl. The
characteristics are changed in the middle of the story due to Parvana’s father’s
arrest and the situation in Kabul and Parvana’s family. Women’s oppression and
Parvana’s father’s arrest change Parvana’s characteristics into a brave and a
mature girl. Besides the changing in the characteristic, there is one characteristic
which does not change. Parvana is a reliable girl.
Since the Taliban has ordered all women to stay home, and cover
themselves from head to toe, Afghan women feel hopeless and useless because
they could only do home activities such as cleaning, cooking, and take care of
babies, if they have one. However, the rules are only applied to women while men
can still go outside for working. The rules are only applied for women and make
them feel that they are being oppressed. The rules are not fair between men and
women. By analyzing the women’s oppression experienced by Afghan women,
PLAGIAT MERUPAKAN TINDAKAN TIDAK TERPUJIPLAGIAT MERUPAKAN TINDAKAN TIDAK TERPUJI
29
this study exposes the feeling of Afghan women and also their opinion towards
Taliban’s rules for Afghan women. It helps the readers understand their feeling
and how bad the women’s oppression in Afghanistan.
B. Suggestions
In addition to the conclusion, the reseacrher proposes suggestions for future
researchers and future lecturers/teachers.
1. For Future Researchers
The Breadwinner, novel of Deborah Ellis is about women who struggle
from Taliban and an eleven-year-old girl who becomes breadwinner for her
family. Taliban leads the country by applying very strict rules. For future
researchers, the researcher suggests analyzing the novel from the psychological
aspect. The future researchers might analyze the inner conflict which is
experienced by the main character and the supporting character. The supporting
character in the novel is Shauzia. Shauzia is an eleven-year-old girl who also
becomes the Breadwinner for her family. Parvana and Shauzia work together in
order to keep their family alive. However, they have different family situation. It
might be interesting and thoughtful to compare and contrast these two characters.
2. For Future Lecturers/Teachers
In this part, the researcher proposes suggestions for future teachers or
lecturers who are interested in women’s oppression. This novel is about the
struggle of little girl in being breadwinner for her family and women’s oppression
which is experienced by Afghan women during the Taliban regime. Since
oppression has negative meaning, the teachers or lecturers are expected to be able
PLAGIAT MERUPAKAN TINDAKAN TIDAK TERPUJIPLAGIAT MERUPAKAN TINDAKAN TIDAK TERPUJI
30
to build the sensitivity of the students about women’s oppression. Later on, the
teacher can utilize the novel as a subject of learning.
PLAGIAT MERUPAKAN TINDAKAN TIDAK TERPUJIPLAGIAT MERUPAKAN TINDAKAN TIDAK TERPUJI
31
REFERENCES
Abrams, M. H. (1985). A glossary of literary terms. New York: Holt, Reinhart &
Winston Inc.
An-Na’im, A. A. (1998). The Taliban’s war on women: A health and human
rights crisis in Afghanistan. Boston: Library of Congress Catalog.
Bressler, C. (1999). Literary criticism: An introduction to theory and practice.
Upper Saddle River, NJ: Prentice Hall, Inc.
Ellis, D. (2000). The breadwinner. Toronto: Groundwood Books.
Holman, C., & Harmon, W. (1986). A handbook to literature (5th
ed.). New York:
Macmillan, Inc.
Langland, E. (1984). Society in the novel. Chapel Hill: The University of North
Carolina Press.
Murphy, M. J. (1972). Understanding unseens: An introduction to English poetry
and the English novel for overseas students. London: Allen & Unwin Ltd.
Woods, H. S., & Rohrberger, M. (1971). Reading and writing about literature.
New York: Random House.
Bajoria, J., & Laub, Z. (2013). The Taliban in Afghanistan. Retrieved November
14th
, 2013, from http://www.cfr.org/afghanistan/taliban-
afghanistan/p10551
Cudd, E. A. (2004). How to explain oppression: Criteria of adequacy for
normative explanatory theories. Retrieved November 14th
, 2013, from
http://kuscholarworks.ku.edu/dspace/bitstream/1808/7605/1/How%20to%
20Explain%20Oppression%20post%20print.pdf
Wall, L. (2014). Gender equality and violence against women: What’s the
connection. Retrived June 29th
, 2015, from,
http://www3.aifs.gov.au/acssa/pubs/researchsummary/ressum7/ressum7.pd
PLAGIAT MERUPAKAN TINDAKAN TIDAK TERPUJIPLAGIAT MERUPAKAN TINDAKAN TIDAK TERPUJI
32
APPENDIX 1
SUMMARY OF THE NOVEL
The Breadwinner is a
novel by Deborah Ellis
which is published in 2000.
The story is about an eleven-
year-old girl, Parvana, who
becomes a breadwinner for
her family and who can
make a living for the whole
family. She becomes the
breadwinner for her family
because there is no one else
in the family. She becomes
the Breadwinner because
she is the only one who is
accustomed to be outside. She is accustomed to be outside because she always
accompanies her father when he goes to work in the market.
Since the Taliban has ordered all women to stay inside and only men who
are allowed to go outside, Parvana’s father is the only one in the family who can
go out of the house to work or do things outside. Parvana accompanies her father
to work in the market. Her father needs her because her father has lost his leg
PLAGIAT MERUPAKAN TINDAKAN TIDAK TERPUJIPLAGIAT MERUPAKAN TINDAKAN TIDAK TERPUJI
33
during the war. However, while she is in the market, she is not allowed to do
anything even to look at the customers. So, she only sits in the market all day
waiting for her father to finish his work. Her father works as a letter reader and
writer. Most Afghans cannot read or write.
One day, after arriving at home, Parvana’s mother and Parvana’s older sister
are cleaning the house. Her older sister, Nooria, asks her to fetch the water while
she and her mother prepare for dinner. After having dinner, suddenly, soldiers
come to their house and arrest her father without any specific reason. The soldier
only says that Taliban knows about her father’s education. Her father goes to
school in London so her father could speak English and the Taliban forbids it and
arrests him.
As her father has been arrested, there is no one in the house who can go to
work. Her mother is sad and refuses to talk to anybody in the house. Parvana’s
older sister makes them breakfast. In the third day after her father’s arrest, they
are out of food. Her older sister asks her to go to the market and buy bread, rice,
fruit, and vegetables. However, she does not manage to buy them all. While she is
in the market, the soldier has caught her and hit her. While she is hit by the
soldier, she shouts to the soldier and asks him to stop hitting her. The soldier is
surprised and Parvana has a chance to escape. She runs away until the soldier
cannot catch her. She meets Mrs. Weera on the street. Mrs. Weera and Parvana go
back home together.
PLAGIAT MERUPAKAN TINDAKAN TIDAK TERPUJIPLAGIAT MERUPAKAN TINDAKAN TIDAK TERPUJI
34
Mrs. Weera is her mother’s friend. She only lives with her grandson. After
Parvana and Mrs. Weera arrive at home, Nooria tells Mrs. Weera about her
father’s arrest and her mother’s condition. Mrs. Weera has talked to her mother,
finally her mother wants to talk them all again. Mrs. Weera stays one night at
Parvana’s home and has a discussion with her mother. In the next morning, when
Parvana wakes up, they tell Parvana about their plan. Since there is no man in the
family, someone must go outside to work and buy things. So, Mrs. Weera and her
mother make a plan about disguising her into a boy.
At first, Parvana does not agree to their plan. She refuses to do it and asks
her older sister to do it because she is the oldest. However, after having a
discussion with Mrs. Weera, Parvana decides want to do it. She agrees to disguise
herself into a boy. Her mother cuts her hair and put her older brother’s clothes on
her. She wears her older brother’s clothes because he has died.
Since Parvana is able to go outside now, Parvana works hard and earns
money as much as she can. While working in the market, she meets her friend
who also disguises herself into a boy. The Talib’s rules have changed the girls to
change their identity in order to be alive. Parvana also works as a letter reader and
writer like her father does. However, only working as letter reader and writer
cannot earn much money. So, she joins her friend to work as bone digger. Since
working as bone digger is dangerous, she only works for a week.
Parvana spends days outside, she works as hard as she can. One day, her
mother tells her that her older sister is going to get married with a man in Mazar-I-
PLAGIAT MERUPAKAN TINDAKAN TIDAK TERPUJIPLAGIAT MERUPAKAN TINDAKAN TIDAK TERPUJI
35
Sharif. That place has not been attacked by Taliban. Her mother tells her that she
and others are going to Mazar-I-Sharif including Parvana. However, Parvana
refuses to go because she is sure that one day her father will come back to the
family. Finally, her mother agrees to leave Parvana in Kabul with Mrs. Weera.
Then her mother, Nooria, Maryam, and Ali go to Mazar-I-Sharif to meet Nooria’s
future husband.
After her family left her, Parvana is sad so she decides to take a rest for few
days. After resting for few days, she goes back to work in the market. One day,
she goes home late and it is raining. She decides to stop at an empty building and
wait for the rain to stop. At that building, she hears someone is crying. Then, she
asks the person about his/her position because it is dark in the building. Since that
person does not answer Parvana, Parvana finds her matches. She strikes her
matches. Finally, she sees a person near the wall. After introducing herself to that
person, Parvana takes that person home. At home, that person introduces herself
to Parvana and Mrs. Weera. That person is Homa. She is from Mazar-I-Sharif.
She tells Parvana and Mrs. Weera that she has just lost her family because the
Taliban has attacked there. Parvana is shocked. At night, she cannot sleep,
because she knows that her family now is in trouble and she does not know where
they are now.
After hearing Homa’s story, Parvana is sad, so she decides not to work for
few days. She is resting at home. Being home without doing anything make her
bored. In the next day, she decides to go back to work. One day after working, she
sees two men in front of her house. She enters the house and she sees her father
PLAGIAT MERUPAKAN TINDAKAN TIDAK TERPUJIPLAGIAT MERUPAKAN TINDAKAN TIDAK TERPUJI
36
lays down in the Toshak. Parvana is happy because her father is back. After
thanking the two men who bring her father, Parvana tells her father about
Nooria’s marriage. Then, her father decides that he and Parvana are going to the
refugee in Mazar-I-Sharif to find her mother, Nooria, Maryam, and Ali.
PLAGIAT MERUPAKAN TINDAKAN TIDAK TERPUJIPLAGIAT MERUPAKAN TINDAKAN TIDAK TERPUJI
37
APPENDIX 2
BIOGRAPHY OF DEBORAH ELLIS
Deborah Ellis was an award-winning author, a feminist, and a peace activist.
Deborah penned the international bestseller The Breadwinner. Deborah Ellis was
born in Cochrane, Ontario, Canada, in 1960. She lived up in Moosonee right close
to James Bay for the first couple of years of her life. Her parents were working at
a hydro outpost up near Abitibi Canyon which did not exist anymore. Then they
moved to South when Deborah was a little kid. She and her parents moved to
several places due to her parents’ work. Deborah Ellis has one sister who two
years older than her. All her public school took place in Paris.
She grew up in a small town. Deborah started writing since she was 12 years
old. In that age, she had a thought of being a writer. However, at the age fourteen,
she got put into a psychiatric hospital; she stayed there for couple years. In high
school, she joined the Peace Movement. This Peace Movement group was an
PLAGIAT MERUPAKAN TINDAKAN TIDAK TERPUJIPLAGIAT MERUPAKAN TINDAKAN TIDAK TERPUJI
38
organization of men who were jerks. Since Deborah was isolated, it took some
time for her to realize the fact that those men were jerks.
In her journey of being a writer, she got lots of rejections. It was a long road
for her to be an author. Once she got her book rejected, she’d always have the
sense that maybe the next one or the next one after that would be the one that
would do it and finally she got one. Deborah usually started writing from a
question. Like in her book, “Looking for X”, that book came from a question. The
question was, “What would it be like to be the daughter of a stripper?”
Deborah has travelled to many exotic places including Pakistan. She spent
her time in Pakistan by helping in refugee camps in 1997. She began to write her
book The Breadwinner after her visit in the refugee camps. In the camp, she met a
woman who was a member of Afghan women’s organization. She talked to a
woman whose daughter was still in Kabul, Afghanistan. The woman told her
about how her daughter’s struggle in order to keep the family alive. That woman
cut her daughter’s hair so she could disguise herself into a boy and could go
outside freely.
It stunned her to listen to that kind of story. Since then, she heard that there
were few kids who have done that same type of thing. The Breadwinner was not
selling in English speaking country. Deborah noted that there was a South
American edition in Spanish, and the book had also been purchased for markets in
Italy, Greece, Denmark, Germany, Norway, Japan, Croatia, India, Sweden, and
Switzerland.
PLAGIAT MERUPAKAN TINDAKAN TIDAK TERPUJIPLAGIAT MERUPAKAN TINDAKAN TIDAK TERPUJI
39
Deborah is a passionate advocate for the disenfranchised. She “walks the
talk,” donating most of her royalty income to worthy causes — Canadian Women
for Women in Afghanistan, Street Kids International, the Children in Crisis
Fund of IBBY (International Board on Books for Young People) and UNICEF.
She has donated more than one million dollars in royalties from her The
Breadwinner books alone.
Adapted from:
http://deborahellis.com/
http://deborahellis.weebly.com/biography.html
http://www.umanitoba.ca/cm/profiles/ellis.html
PLAGIAT MERUPAKAN TINDAKAN TIDAK TERPUJIPLAGIAT MERUPAKAN TINDAKAN TIDAK TERPUJI
40
APPENDIX 3
LESSON PLAN
BASIC READING I
Subject : KPE 110 Basic Reading I
Topic : Women’s Oppression
Meeting : 1 meeting
Semester : 2 of English Language Education Study Program
Time Allocation : 2x50 minutes class meeting
Material : Literary text; prologue page 7-17
A. Basic Competences:
Competence
On completing this course the students will be able to:
a. Understand some basic reading strategies, namely KWL,
previewing, predicting, skimming, scanning, finding pronoun
referents, and guessing words meaning from contexts.
b. Apply the reading strategies when reading various types of texts.
c. Read the text aloud with correct pronunciation.
d. Provide the meanings of essential used in the texts discussed and
used them appropriately.
Conscience
On completing this course the students will be able to:
a. Identify humanistic and life values in the reading texts.
b. Get good values in the texts for self enrichment.
Compassion
On completing this course the students will be able to:
a. Show concerns on social issues revealed in the reading texts.
b. State their attitudes towards particular social issues in the reading
texts in a form of reflective writing.
B. Indicators:
1. The students are able to apply some reading strategies
2. The students are able to find the meaning of some vocabularies found in
the text
3. The students are able to find the important information of the text
4. The students are able to find the main ideas of the text
5. The students are able to give response to the text
C. Teaching Activities:
No Activities Time
Allocation
1 Pre-Reading Activities
1. The teacher greets the students 15’
PLAGIAT MERUPAKAN TINDAKAN TIDAK TERPUJIPLAGIAT MERUPAKAN TINDAKAN TIDAK TERPUJI
41
2. The teacher asks the students what they have learnt
in the previous meeting
3. The teacher gives the pre-reading questions related
to the topic for today’s learning activities
4. The teacher and the students share (asking
experiences, opinion) together related to the main
issue that they found in their society.
5. The teacher explains the topic which is going to
be learnt for today
2 Whilst-Reading Activities
1. The teacher distributes text and handouts
2. The teacher explains the text and exercises briefly
3. The teacher asks the students to read the text
4. The teacher asks the students to answer some
vocabulary words
5. The teacher and the students discuss the vocabulary
they found in the text
6. The teacher asks the students to answer the
comprehension questions in group
50’
3 Post-Reading Activities
1. The teacher and the students discuss the
comprehension questions
2. Explain the task that will be submitted by the
student next week.
3. The teacher asks the students what they have learnt
from today’s lesson
4. Closing
35’
D. Assessment
CRITERIA SCORE
Pre-reading activity Not assessed
Vocabulary building 15
Finding moral and social values 10
Text understanding 30
Comprehension question 45
Total 15+10+30+45 = 100
PLAGIAT MERUPAKAN TINDAKAN TIDAK TERPUJIPLAGIAT MERUPAKAN TINDAKAN TIDAK TERPUJI
42
APPENDIX 4
TEACHING MATERIALS
A. Pre-reading Questions
1. What do you know about women’s oppression?
_________________________________________________________
2. What is your opinion about women’s oppression?
_________________________________________________________
3. In your opinion, do men have more power than women?
_________________________________________________________
B. Find the meaning of these words below using a dictionary!
No Words Synonym Part of
Speech
Sentences Using the
Words
1 Whisper
2 Infant
3 Slump
4 Invisible
5 Disrupt
6 Recognize
7 Definite
8 Tattletale
9 Scream
10 Ladles
C. Answer the questions related to the text correctly!
1. Why could Parvana go outside?
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
2. What are Taliban rules to women during their regime?
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
PLAGIAT MERUPAKAN TINDAKAN TIDAK TERPUJIPLAGIAT MERUPAKAN TINDAKAN TIDAK TERPUJI
43
3. Why does her father need Parvana in order to work?
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
4. What does Parvana’s father do in the market?
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
5. What is Taliban?
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
D. Answer the questions related to the text below in group!
1. In your opinion, why does Parvana go to market with her father? Not
Nooria, her older sister?
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
2. What social and moral values do you find in the text? Explain!
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
3. Based on the last sentence of the text, please continue the story by using
your own sentences!
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
PLAGIAT MERUPAKAN TINDAKAN TIDAK TERPUJIPLAGIAT MERUPAKAN TINDAKAN TIDAK TERPUJI
44
Read this following text!
The Breadwinner
One
“I can read that letter as well as Father can,” Parvana whispered into the
folds of her chador. “Well almost.”
She didn’t dare say those words out loud. The man sitting beside her
Father would not want to hear her voice. Nor would anyone else in the Kabul
market. Parvana was there only to help her father walk to the market and back
home again after work. She sat well back on the blanket, her head and most of her
face covered by her chador.
She wasn’t really supposed to be outside at all. The Taliban had ordered
all the girls and women in Afghanistan to stay inside their homes. They even
forbade girls to go to school. Parvana had to leave her sixth grade class, and her
sister Nooria was not allowed to go to her high school. Their mother had been
kicked out of her job as a writer for a Kabul radio station. For more than a year
now, they had all been stuck inside one room, along with five-year-old Maryam
and two-year-old Ali.
Parvana did get out for a few hours most days to help her father walk. She
was always glad to go outside, even though it meant sitting for hours on a blanket
spread over the hard ground of the marketplace. At least it was something to do.
She had even got used to holding her tongue and hiding her face.
She was small for eleven years. As a small girl, she could usually get away
with being outside without being questioned. “I need this girl to help me walk,”
her father would tell any Talib who asked, pointing to his leg when the high
school he was teaching was bombed. His insides had been hurt somehow, too. He
was often tired.
“I have no son at home, except for an infant,” he would explain. Parvana
would slump down further on the blanket and try to make herself look smaller.
She was afraid to look up at the soldiers. She had seen what they did, especially to
PLAGIAT MERUPAKAN TINDAKAN TIDAK TERPUJIPLAGIAT MERUPAKAN TINDAKAN TIDAK TERPUJI
45
women; the way they would whip and beat someone they thought should be
punished.
Sitting in the marketplace day after day, she had seen a lot. When the
Taliban were around, what she wanted most of all was to be invisible.
Now the customer asked her father to read his letter again. “Read it slowly,
so that I can remember it for my family.”
Parvana would have liked to get a letter. Mail delivery had recently started
again in Afghanistan, after years of being disrupted by war. Many of her friends
had fled the country with their families. She thought they were in Pakistan, but
she wasn’t sure, so she couldn’t write to them. Her own family had moved so
often because of the bombing that her friends no longer knew where she was.
“Afghan covers the earth like stars cover the sky,” her father often said.
Her father finished reading the man’s letter a second time. The customer
thanked him and paid. “I will look for you when it is time to write a reply.” Most
people in Afghanistan could not read or write. Parvana was the one of the lucky
ones. Both of her parents had been to university, and they believed in education
for everyone, even girls.
Customers came and went as the afternoon wore on. Most spoke Dari, the
same language Parvana spoke best. When a customer spoke Pashtu, she could
recognize most of it, but not all. Her parents could speak English, too. Her father
had gone to university in England. That was long time ago.
Now, the country was ruled by the Taliban militia. They were Afghans,
and they had very definite ideas about how things should be run. When they first
took over the capital city of Kabul and forbade girls to go to school, Parvana
wasn’t terribly unhappy. She had a test coming up in arithmetic that she hadn’t
prepared for, and she was in trouble for talking in class again. The teacher was
going to send a note to her mother, but the Taliban took over first.
“What are you crying for?” she had asked Nooria, who couldn’t stop
sobbing. “I think a holiday is very nice.” Parvana was sure the Taliban would let
them go back to school in a few days. By then her teacher would have forgotten
PLAGIAT MERUPAKAN TINDAKAN TIDAK TERPUJIPLAGIAT MERUPAKAN TINDAKAN TIDAK TERPUJI
46
all about sending a tattletale note to her mother. “You’re just stupid!” Nooria
screamed at her. “Leave me alone!”
One of the difficulties of living with your whole family in one room was
that it was impossible to really leave anyone alone. Wherever Nooria went, there
was Parvana. And wherever Parvana went, there was Nooria.
Now most of the country was controlled by the Taliban. The word Taliban
meant religious scholars, but Parvana’s father told her that religion was about
teaching people how to be better human beings, how to be kinder. “The Taliban
are not making Afghanistan a kinder place to live!” he said.
After a few more customers had come and gone, father suggested they end
their work for the day. They left the busy part of the market and turned down a
side street to their building. Parvana carefully guided her father around the pot
holes and broken places in the road.
“How do women in burqas manage to walk along these streets?” Parvana
asked her father. “How do they see where they are going?” “They fall down a lot,”
her father replied. He was right, Parvana had seen them fall.
PLAGIAT MERUPAKAN TINDAKAN TIDAK TERPUJIPLAGIAT MERUPAKAN TINDAKAN TIDAK TERPUJI