What was Jalil's "idea of penance"? Explain what he did, who he was with, the detail of what it looked like, and why he had to do it. Why did Jalil not have the dil? Lastly what would you have done if you were in Jalil's position? Use quotes to prove your answer.
14 comments:
After Jalil learns about Nana’s, his maid, pregnancy he tries to separate himself from her and her expecting child because of the shame and tarnished reputation it will bring him. Jalil ventures from the city of Herat and forces Nana to live in Gul Daman, far removed from society. As penance, Jalil and his two sons build the kolba, or hut, with their bare hands for Nana. “Jalil could have hired laborers to build the kolba, Nana said, but he didn’t. ‘His idea of penance.’” (10).
Jalil took the easy way out and simply acted as if Nana did not exist. His conscience was cleared once he built the one room stick hut; however, Jalil should not have cast away his daughter. He should have provided for her, sent her to school and let her have the luxuries that his other children experienced. Even if he did not want to be associated with her he should have put up Nana and Mariam up in a better house, not just a dirt floored tent.
Lauren Southworth
Jalil’s idea of penance was to build Miriam and Nana’s house. He and his two sons built it with their own hands. The house was made with bricks, mud, and straw. Inside there was two cots, a table, two chairs, and several shelves. They gave them a stove and a door to bake bread. They also had an outhouse and some sheep and chickens. Jalil felt the need to build the house himself because all his other children lived with him in his mansion, but Nana and Miriam couldn’t live with him because Nana was his housemaid and it was dishonorable what happened between them. Had I been in Jalil’s position, I would have had them live with me and take responsibility for what I had done. “Jalil could have hired laborers to build the kolba, Nana said, but he didn’t. His idea of penance.” (Hosseini 10)
When Jalil found out Nana, his maid, was pregnant he decided in order to make penance he would build a stick-like hut in the middle of now-where for Nana and his illegitimate child. Him and his two sons built the kolba for Nana and Mariam from there bare hands that was his way of penance. “Jalil could have hired laborers to build the kolba, Nana said, but he didn’t. ‘His idea of penance.’” Jalil did not have the courage to take his daughter anywhere that people would have seen or known him he simply acted as if Mariam and Nana didn’t exist. If I was in Jalil’s position I would have taken my daughters places instead of meeting with her once a week and promising her things that are not going to happen. I believe that Jalil shouldn’t just ignore his problems that is not how problems are fixed that is how problems get worse.
Alicia Scanlan
Per D
When Jalil heard that Nana was pregnant with his child, he separted himself from her. He did this because he felt ashamed and knew that it will give him a horibble reputation. He and Nana lived in separtate cities. "His idea of penance." (10) was to build the kolba for Nana. Him and his two sons built it with their bare hands.
Jalil did not do the right thing. He was only concerned about what he would look like to other people and he didn't care about the family he had created. If I was in his postition I would have stayed with Nana and raise the baby with her.
-Nadya Kaltsunas
When Jalil impregnated Nana, one of his housekeepers, Jalil decided to send her away. He built a small kolba for her to live in and raise the child away from him and his family. He didn’t have the courage, the dil, to “stand up to his family, to his wives and in-laws, and accept responsibility for what he had done.” The kolba only had two sleeping cots, a wooden table, two straight-backed chairs, a window, and shelves nailed to the walls”. He also provided them with a tandoor, cast iron stove, a chicken coop, some sheep, and an outhouse. This was his “idea of penance”, working to try and make his mistake right by building this pathetic house by himself instead of hiring people, which he could clearly afford. If I was in Jalil’s position, I would have taken responsibility for what I had done. I wouldn’t have sent them to live by themselves with no real support. I would provide them with more than just the bare necessities, and try to be a real part of their lives.
Jalil’s idea of penance was to build a small dirty kolba for Nana and Mariam. Jalil impregnated Nana. Jalil wanted nothing to do with Mariam. He could have easily given them a nice place to live, just like he did for his other family. It was unfair to desolate himself from her just because it might ruin his name. Because Jalil physically build the kolba with his two sons, he believed he had redeemed himself. In reality, however, he committed a nice act, but it definitely did not make up for everything he has put them through. “Jalil could have hired laborers to build the kolba, Nana said, but he didn’t. ‘His idea of penance.’” (10). Jalil didn’t have the courage (dil) to stand up to his family and provide Mariam and Nana with a nice place to live. If I was in Jalil’s position, I would have provided for Mariam and Nana, regardless of the fact that it might lower his reputation. Just because he doesn’t want to be associated with Mariam doesn’t mean he shouldn’t have provided her with the same opportunities as his other children.
--John Cunniff
After Jalil learns of Nana's pregnancy, he and his sons build a shack for Nana and their future child (Mariam) to live in. “Jalil could have hired laborers to build the kolba, Nana said, but he didn’t. His idea of penance.” (Hosseini 10) This is Jalil's idea of penance because he believes that him working to build the hut with his own bare hands is a high-enough price for his own salvation.
If I were Jalil, I would take responsibility for my actions and support Nana and Mariam myself, as opposed to alienating them from my life. Jalil chose instead to house Nana and his own child, Mariam, in a shack with a dirt floor, living with nothing but the bare necessities. Jalil should have stepped up and taken responsibility for his actions.
Joe Mitchell
Jalil exemplifies this stereotype of men, that men cannot just keep it in their pants. Nana becomes pregnant and Jalil tries to avoid the situation. The inevitable biological problem behind such circumstances is that the guy can just stay out of it. He provides the sperm, gets his pleasure, and he is essentially finished. It is the women who are forced to deal with the burden of pregnancy, child birth, and ultimately a child.
Similar to TKR, someone can try to just avoid a situation, but the mind still holds on. Guilt will eventually get the best of you and your human integrity is tarnished. Penance is this idea of becoming good again, doing something good to compensate for all the wrongs committed in your life. As penance, Jalil and his sons built a 'house' for Nana, with their bare hands, without help from servants or hired workers. By doing this good deed, Jalil hoped to redeem himself.
In my mind, Jalil can do as many acts of 'penance'as he pleases, but it is not truly the right thing to do. The right thing would have been to take the blame, and the shame, of impregnating a maid. The right thing would have been to be there for Nana in a time tougher than ever. The right thing would have been to accept his daughter, a product of only his own irresponsibility, lust, and dishonor. He is the one to dishonor, not Nana, not Mariam. The right thing would have been to actually deal with the consequences of his own actions.
B.Finnster, represent
Everything said by all of you is interesting, but in your opinoin, do you think Jalil should have taken Nana into his own house? Why or Why not?
Well he shouldn't have been fooling around with her in the first place if he had other wives and he was her employeer, but its understandable why he wouldn't want her to live with him. I think that he was a good father because he truely did care for Marium and he did visit her, and he provided Nana with medical help. He should have given them a nicer house to live in instead of a tiny, muddy shack.
Yes I do think that Jalil should of taken Nana and Mariam into his home because Mariam and Nana shouldn’t suffer because Jalil is a scummy person. There should be no reason that Mariam is punished for her parents’ lack of good judgment.
Alicia Scanlan
Per D
I do think that Jalil should have taken Nana into his own house in the city. He should have considered her feelings. After Jalil’s actions with Nana, he should have brought Nana and Mariam into his family, or at least provided for them the same that he gave his other family.
John Cunniff
I do not think Jalil should have taken Nana into his house because if he did not really want her and her child there, it would have been an uncomfortable situation. However in saying that, he should have provided her and her expecting child with a decent place to live with all of his money and not just a one-room dirt house. He should have provided for Nana and sent her child to school.
Lauren Southworth
I think Jalil should have taken Nana into his house because she is the mother of his daughter. However, he would not do this because he wouldn't want to ruin his reputation and chancing that his neighbors will talk.
-Nadya Kaltsunas
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