Chapter Eleven
by testsuphomeAdminIn Chapter Eleven of “The Breadwinner,” we witness an intense emotional exchange between Parvana and her family after she returns home wet and disheveled. Her mother, alarmed by Parvana’s absence during lunch, questions her, revealing the family’s fear of her potential arrest. Parvana, overwhelmed, has a moment of vulnerability and breaks down before sharing the shocking truth of her day: she had been digging up graves. Her revelation sparks a mix of horror and resignation among her family about the dire circumstances in Afghanistan, where such desperate measures are needed to feed their families.
Mrs. Weera rationalizes the use of bones for various purposes, including chicken feed and soap, highlighting the commodification of human remains in a society stricken by poverty. Parvana displays the money she made from her grim work, prompting a discussion about the family’s finances and the need for Parvana to continue working rather than returning to her previous job of reading letters. Nooria surprisingly sides with Parvana, noting the family’s dwindling resources and arguing for her right to help secure extra money.
Ultimately, Mother reluctantly accepts Parvana’s decision to continue her new line of work, upon the condition that Parvana reports back to her. As Parvana embarks on this new venture, she and her friend Shauzia decide to sell lightweight items like cigarettes and gum instead of pursuing further grave digging. Their spirits lift as they focus on selling in markets and during events, and they begin to earn a decent living.
Their entrepreneurial journey takes a dark turn when they decide to sell their wares at a soccer game. Instead of the expected excitement, they encounter a horrific public execution by the Taliban, where thieves are brutally punished. Parvana and Shauzia are paralyzed by fear as they witness the violence unfold, with Parvana’s glimpses of the gruesome spectacle starkly contrasting her hopes for a better life. The chapter closes with a kind stranger helping them escape the gruesome scene, reinforcing the pervasive sense of fear yet the lingering hope for a return to normalcy amidst the chaos.
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