Home Fire: Chapter One

How does the passage help the reader understand Isma’s identity? 

In this particular extract, Kamila Shamsie gives the reader an insight into Isma’s, the protagonist, identity, and cultural background in Chapter one after the Heathrow interrogation that is “still jangling her nerves”. Shamsie begins by asserting that in line 4 “she had been able to think of surveillance satellites wheeling through the sky”, hence through the use of sibilance and visual imagery, Shamsie demonstrates Isma’s fear of constantly being watched by the government as her cultural background may cause individuals to be afraid of her, causing Islamophobia. Furthermore, in line 6, Shamsie states that “she wouldn’t be able to afford anything nicer without the encumbrance of a roommate.”. This particular line does not only highlight her unstable financial state, however, may also imply Isma’s independence as she is not in need of a “roommate”, in other words, external support from different individuals. In addition, as Isma looks up at the parachutists that are “trailing golds and reds” in line 10, Shamsie establishes Isma’s social status as she is physically and metaphorically looking up at those Americans that are capable of doing activities that want to try “someday”, as stated in line 15. Furthermore, through the use of an allusion in line 11, Shamsie incorporates the greek mythology of Daedalus and Icarus by symbolizing Isma as Daedalus trying to protect the twins, Aneeka and Parvais, who symbolize Icarus. This allusion to greek mythology acts as a foreshadowing that gives the reader a glimpse into the role Isma plays in trying to warn Parvais from joining ISIS. In addition, in line 23 as Shamsie states that “the weight of snow pressing familiarity out of the objects, so that the glove placed beside its former pair looked no more than a distant relative,” through this symbolism used, the gloves symbolize the twins, Aneeka and Parvaiz, as twins support one another; However, Shamsie demonstrates Parvaiz slowly drifting from Aneeka, which makes Isma begins to question “what then do you do? Throw away both gloves, or wear them mismatched to acknowledge the miracle of their reunion?.”