Rotation 4 Discussion, pages 144-192, Discussion Leader: Eailya
Eailya: Hey guys, ill be discussion leader again for our fourth rotation, ill be asking some questions and viewing your responses but fill free to ask any questions regarding clarification, good luck!
Eailya: 1) Whos path do you believe shabanu will follow considering she believes her life will end up either like Mama, auntie, sharma, fatima, or the bughti girl?
Quynh: In my opinion, I think Shabanu will most likely end up following Fatima's path because Fatima resembles Shabanu in her fiercely independent and outspoken demeanor
Sana: I believe that Shabanu will follow Fatima's path since she is self-reliant and their personalities are very similar as well
Eailya: 2) While shabanu’s charachter has become more serious and cautious throught out the story where as phulan has become overly joyed without any worries, explain how there personalities affect eachother and the reasoning behind their behavior?
Sana: Since Phulan is already married and has started her new life, she does not have anything to worry about. Wheras Shabanu still has a lot to live and has gone through so much emotional pain, she tends to overthink certain situations.
Quynh: Shabanu's rebelliousness has transformed into a sharp and evaluative mind, which explains why she observes her world honestly and without self-pity. She is determined to survive and retain her inner freedom. In contrast to Phulan, however, Phulan is dreamy and passive. She has been looking forward to her future as a wife and when she finally gets married, she has nothing to worry about. These factors affect both characters because they are complete opposites to each other
Eailya: 3) Nazir muhammad clearly is longing for phulans beauty and desirablitiy which gives him great pleasure, what do the actions of the men claiming the women as a “ prize” enhance? What can be compared to these actions and struggles we face in our society today?
Sana: This enhances that men can get what they want if they find the woman attractive, and they treat women as if they are a thing and do not consider her opinion. In todays society, there are places where this issue is still taking place, men think they are superior to women and they can get what they desire.
Quynh: There are still places today that society's structure results in men treating women as resources for power. They trade women, fight over women, and demonstrate their power over women. Muhammad fits the description of society in which he views women as another piece of property that can be bought and enjoyed for a price
Eailya: 4) Shabanu is just now beginning to reconcile herself to the idea of marrying Murad, but its shattered when the adults have made the decision of phulan marrying murad now, how does this decison affect shabanus view of her family?
Sana: The decision affects the view of her family because it seems like it is not the girls decision to pick who she wants to marry, Shabanu might take this personally and would think that her family wants Murad to marry Phulan, and don't ask Shabanu as to what she really wants for herself and her own opinion.
Quynh: Their decision affects her in ways that make her feel betrayed. Shabanu's betrayal is parallel to the betrayal she endured earlier in the book when Dadi sold off Guluband to an Afghani warrior. Like Guluband, Shabanu has been sold to a wealthy man in order to honor a code of male behavior
Eailya: From reading the responses, I think we can conclude our interpretation of Shabanu's character. She's a fierce child who wants to break free from the society's expectations and standards, while making her own choices in deciding her fate. She has already lost so much and has been turned down in every opportunity to defy the social norms. It seems like almost no one is on her side when it comes to breaking through social barriers, therefore it is up to her to do what she can for herself.