The main character in the novel is a man named Najaf who arrived in Australia as an asylum seeker after being picked up on Ashmore Reef with a group of people after fleeing war in his home country of Afghanistan. The Rugmaker of Mazar-e-Sharif is Najaf’s memoir of living with that conflict. The novel attempts to illustrate the far reaching ramifications of war on individuals and communities.
Encountering Confilct in The Rugmaker of Mazar-e-Sharif
The text raises questions about the justness of war. Is it fair and reasonable that civilians suffer? Does war ever result in positive social change? It explores how ordinary people like Najaf cope with incessant conflict. It shows how some people take side and how others, like Najaf, are resilient overcoming tragedies and continuing to live peaceful and productive lives. The text is a celebration of hope and the resilience of the human spirit.
Ideas in the text
Conflict has far-reaching consequences
The text highlights the many and varied ways in which conflict affects individuals and communities.
Conflict is futile
Explore the idea that there are no winners and no change brought about by war only more fighting.
Conflict opposes humanity
Najaf is a man who believes in honesty, respect and the value of each person.
Conflict is unfair
The text’s main concern is with the people who try to live ordinary lives while a war they did not want and did not start rages around them.
People can survive conflict
The text shows that people are not necessarily harden or brutalized by their encounters with conflict.
Individual experiences of conflict are not unique
Najaf is one individual among many civilians in Afghanistan who have had similar experiences when encountering conflict.