Hijab
The attire may have several meanings to the wearer as it entails both religious and cultural connotations. In modern discourse, it is usually assumed to be a means of showing modesty since it is part of the Islamic doctrine. While some may view it as a symbol of traditionalism that represses females, for Muslim women it can be a form of female empowerment. In the novel, the female siblings don this religious attire to show pride in their faith and also embrace their womanhood and sexuality. However, the novel opens with a negative scenario that involves profiling the hijabi woman from the piece of clothing. Despite the fact that a hijab represents pride in one’s faith in the novel, it also indicates the stereotypes that tend to be used to misjudge Muslim people.
Parachutists
Through the skylight window of the apartment, Isma observes parachutists and concurrently contemplates the story of Daedalus and Icarus. The famed myth tells of the son—Icarus—who died from flying too close to the sun and could not be rescued by the father. In the same manner the male characters—Eamonn and Parvaiz—go too far with their endeavors to either honor or defy their fathers. As well, the other twin Aneeka also flies too close to the sun by rebelling towards Isma and her wishes to be more watchful. That said, the parachutists Isma see forestall the eventuality that will be the result of their actions against authority.
Terrorism
The conflict that ensues in the narrative is the decision of the twin brother to follow the jihadist path of his late father. Amid Aneeka trying to save his twin brother from this terrible decision, he dies in the hands of ISIS. The novel addresses the political and social tensions that exist with the continuing fight against terrorism in the world. It’s thus why the author demonstrates the complexity of air travel for Muslims particularly those of British nationality. The stereotypes in the current society place the religious group in difficult situations where they have to constantly verify their loyalty or patriotism.
The State / Karamat Lone
The majority-minority dynamics in the novel demonstrate the political scene that sees political figures betray their cultural identity. The author illustrates the conservatism in the current political sphere that threatens the rights of minority groups. In the tale, the state through Karamat Lone symbolizes the polity that aims to push an agenda in order to appeal to a larger audience. Thereupon, it becomes a battle between conscience versus law as Aneeka and Parvaiz defy the state to undertake their itinerary.
Greek Tragedy
Based on the tragedy Antigone, the story mimics the structure of the play and Greek tragedies in general. In the same way, Aneeka is tasked with defending the honor of his brother akin to Antigone defying Creon’s decree. Shamsie derived the character names from the original characters including Ismene to Isma and Haemon to Eamonn. The allegory aims to showcase the modern tragedy of the current social sphere as it is directly affected by politics. Similarly, Isma references the myth of Daedalus and Icarus to symbolize the fall of the young male characters in this modern tragedy.
