Annotation #1

Hosseini is using figurative language and imagery here to evoke a visual of Afghanistan society for the readers. In this scene, society is ravaged by war and Hosseini compares Jadeh Maywand to a giant sand castle. It shows how Jadeh Maywand can easily collapse from the constant effects of war. It also shows how Afghanistan is in a great need of help and reconstruction. In the next few lines, Hosseini uses imagery to depict the aftermaths of war in society. Buildings are collapsing. There are hints of a lack of society. Signs aren't being fixed as shown in "DRINK COCA CO--" and this represents a lack of businesses. People are not buying goods and merchants are not avidly working to sell their goods. In addition, people are probably not purchasing goods because they are afraid to walk outside of their house. There is a chance that the Taliban might not like something that they see and they would be punished for it. The "bullet-pocked sign half buried at an angle" also gives the reader an image of Afghanistan being abandoned. No one is there to help rebuild society in Afghanistan and it does not really seem like people are living in these area anymore, even though there are people living in Afghanistan.