When Afghanistan Was At Peace

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In Margaret Atwood's article "When Afghanistan Was at Peace," Atwood reminisces about her visit to Afghanistan. In February of 1978, Atwood visits Afghanistan with her husband and daughter as a two-week stopover on their way to Australia. In the article, Atwood uses descriptions of Afghanistan to convey her mixed view of the country. She describes the overall landscape of Afghanistan, the people, and the treatment of women, which together convey her conflicting impressions of the country. Atwood describes the environment of Afghanistan, both the natural scenery and also the atmosphere; what it is like to live in the country. She notes the beauty of the Afghan landscape, stating that "the scenery was breathtaking." Atwood displays how she is impressed with Afghanistan and its beauty. However, immediately afterwards she mentions that the "driver took the switchback road at breakneck speed since [they] had to be back before sundown because of bandits." Atwood observes that Afghanistan is not a very safe place to live, which is evident in their haste to move quickly to avoid thieves. Atwood conveys her conflicting impressions of the environment around her by contrasting the country's beauty with its danger. Atwood demonstrates her insight of Afghan culture through the description of the people she meets. She states that "the men [she] encountered were friendly" and that even though she was a woman "[she] received nothing worse than uneasy glances." Although women are not allowed into the all-male teahouse, they allow Atwood to enter because she is a guest. Atwood says that "the law of hospitality toward visitors ranked higher than the no-women-in-the-teahouse custom." Also, when Atwood goes to the market to buy a chador, "a jovial crowd of men gathered around [and] offered advice about color and quality." The Afghan men are described as amiable and polite, and
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