Mud City

Mud City interrogates the desire for absolute autonomy by contrasting it with the fundamental need for community and interdependence. Shauzia’s journey demonstrates that while independence is an enticing dream for those who feel constrained, true self-reliance is nearly impossible in a world where systemic poverty and mutual reliance are unavoidable. The narrative suggests that agency is found not in total separation but in purposeful connection.

Shauzia’s fierce pursuit of independence is initially framed as a rejection of communal obligation, which she views as a form of imprisonment. In the refugee camp, she resents Mrs. Weera’s authority and the “little jobs” that tether her to the Widows’ Compound. She believes her dream of reaching France requires a complete break from this structure, a goal she articulates with defiant certainty: “I’m leaving tomorrow, and I’m going to find a great job and become rich, and go to France, and never come back here again!” (16). This declaration encapsulates her immature, idealized vision of a life free from the demands of others. Her escape into Peshawar is a literal step toward this vision, as she seeks to forge a path sustained only by her own efforts, believing this to be the only route to freedom.