Assignment #2 Topic A

C. Rodriguez
2nd period

Discussion Topic A:


Khaled Hosseini’s novel A Thousand Splendid Suns explores the darker realities of what most Afghan women are forced to endure, and thus, stirs feelings of sympathy. Trapped in a world where “…all [those] people know is war,” (177), Hosseini centers the tale of his novel in a country that is infamous for divesting women of their rights. Moreover, he incorporates the time period when the Taliban victoriously rule Afghanistan, 1994. That alone, automatically allows the reader to imply that the account of the two women is a representation of the majority of the women in Afghanistan. After all, the Taliban often symbolize a cause for alarm, for fear, inequality, and worst of all, violence. As a result of the lack for rights women have, beatings, insults, and mistreatment by the men in their lives is approved, perhaps even encouraged. In the men’s defense, however, “[as] a matter of policy,” (266) officers “…do not interfere with private family matters…” (266). Consequently, laws that protect women’s safety is inexistent. Most of the men in this novel resemble each other: mean, volatile, inflexible, selfish, and violent. Protected by the government, men could do as they pleased to women. Despite the brutality of their assault, to their advantage, one can say that “…there isn’t a court in [that]…country that will hold [them] accountable for [what] they will do,” (272). This novel transmits the pain of the women abused word wide, and allows one to see the extent of evil found in this world. 

Assignment #2 Topic C

C. Rodriguez
2nd period

Discussion Topic C:

 Khaled Hosseini’s novel A Thousand Splendid Suns tells through the eyes of Mariam the undeserved treatment of Afghan women. Mariam, frequently insulted, is held accountable for the curse her birth sets upon Nana, her mother, and Jalil Khan, her father. The fact that her birth is out of wedlock makes her a “…clumsy little harami,” (4). In her country, her culture, being a harami is compared to equaling nothing but a shameful mistake. Thus, throughout her life, Mariam feels no need to defend herself from the abuse of her husband. Additionally, Mariam forever finds herself guilty of her mother’s death. Nana warned her that “‘[she’ll] die if [she goes]. [She’ll] just die,’” (38). Mariam, nevertheless, leaves in search of contentment at the side of her father. Mariam, eventually, realizes the futility of her pursuit of happiness because in the end, she is a harami, and bastards are unwelcome and undeserving of love; at least in that country they are. Mariam’s reality, being a harami carries on to her marriage. Originally “worthless,” Mariam loses all possibility of being appreciated when she suffers a miscarriage. It is then that Mariam notices the ominous change that “…had come over Rasheed ever since the day at the bathhouse,” (94). Rasheed, Mariam’s husband, silently blames Mariam for the death his boy, as he tenaciously claims he would be. Following this incident, Rasheed’s aggressive behavior soon escalates, because in his perspective, the only thing a woman is good for is giving birth to male children. Sadly, the life of Mariam can extend to the life of most Afghan women. Like both of the women protagonist of this novel, women under the ruling of Taliban law each are linked as one for a single reason: pain. Whether they experience sorrow due to loss, or exploitation, each are obliged to embrace their pain.