“A man's heart is a wretched, wretched thing. It isn't like a mother's womb. It won't bleed. It won't stretch to make room for you.” I will assemble, examine, and interpret Chapters 3 “Nice to Eat You”, 12 “Is that a Symbol” and 13 “It’s all Political” from “How to Read like a Professor” to investigate and draw conclusions on Mariam from “A Thousand Splendid Suns”. In addition I will also analyze how the turn of events in the protagonist, Mariam’s, life challenges or support morals, values, and beliefs of the world as a whole.
Chapter 3 “Nice to Eat You” of “How to Read like a Professor” connects to Miriam from “A Thousand Splendid Suns”. Chapter 3 says, “Sexual implications are a trait of 19th century literature to address sex indirectly”
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(Nelson). This relates to Miriam because Rashid takes her virginity, unwillingly. She refuses by saying, “I can’t” (Hosseini 76). “Nice to Eat You” also says, “Literal Vampirism is a nasty old man, attractive but evil, violates a young woman, leaves his mark, and takes her innocence” (Nelson). In “A Thousand Splendid Suns” Rashid symbolizes a vampire because he violates Miriam and takes her innocence. Rashid says, “There is no shame in this, Mariam…it’s what married people do. It’s what the prophet himself and wives did” (Hosseini 77). Mariam’s values of sexual relations was forced upon her and she lived a long life of sexual and emotional abuse. Chapter 12 “Is that a Symbol” also shares a connection with Miriam from “A Thousand Splendid Suns”.
“Is that a Symbol” says, “Actions, as well as objects and images, can be symbolic” (Nelson). She a symbol of the title of the book. When you break down the meaning of a thousand splendid suns it can mean plenty of beauty and splendor in life. The book says, “Mariam is never very far…mostly, Mariam is in Laila's own heart, where she shines with the bursting radiance of a thousand suns” (Hosseini 404). Chapter 12 also says, “How to figure it out? Symbols are built on associations readers have, but also on emotional reactions. Pay attention to how you feel about the text” (Nelson). “A Thousand Splendid Suns” states, “Mariam is never very far. She is here, in these walls, they've repainted, in the trees they've planted, in the blankets that keep the children warm, in these pillows and books and pencils. She is in the children's laughter. She is in the verses Aziza recites and in the prayers she mutters when she bows westward. But, mostly, Miriam is in Laila's own heart, where she shines with the bursting radiance of a thousand splendid suns” (Hosseini 324). Mariam and Lila both symbolize the struggles they face in their culture, and the power it takes them to …show more content…
live. In addition to Chapter 3 and 12, Chapter 13 “It’s All Political” shares a connection with Miriam from “A Thousand Splendid Suns”. “It’s All Political” is not about how Rashid treats her, but it’s about how women treat other women. The chapter says, “Interactions between the sexes and among various racial and ethnic consequences” (Nelson). “A Thousand Splendid Suns” show interactions between Miriam and Lila by saying, “Laila crawled to her and again put her head on Mariam's lap. She remembered all the afternoons they'd spent together, braiding each other's hair, Mariam listening patiently to her random thought and ordinary stories with an air of gratitude, with the expression of a person to whom a unique and coveted privilege had been extended” (Hosseini 319). Miriam from “A Thousand Splendid Suns” fits the definition of her name.
In “A Thousand Splendid Suns” Miriam’s name fits her because she is referred to as a bastard her whole life and goes in and out of a relationship with Jalil. The website says, “Hebrew sources say it means “bitter”, others say it means, “Wished for child”, and others say it means “Our Lady” (QuranicNamescom). The meaning of the name Miriam also means, “Can be quietly stubborn and resist taking advice” (Kabalarians). In “A Thousand Splendid Suns” her mother gives her advice multiple times and she doesn’t take it. Miriam’s name identifies her as someone special in the world and someone
different. After assembling, examining, and interpreting Chapters 3 “Nice to Eat You”, 12 “Is that a Symbol” and 13 “It’s all political” from “How to Read like a Professor” I now know that Miriam was a girl that was abused her whole life. If you were getting abused in any way then would you say something?
Like the Good Other Woman, the Evil Other Woman often spends much of her life hidden away in the castle, secret room, or whatever, a fact suggesting that even a virtuous woman’s lot is the same she would have merited had she been the worst of criminals. The heroine’s discovery of such Other Women is in the one case an encounter with women’s oppression-their confinement as wives, mothers, and daughters-and in the other with a related repression: the confinement of a Hidden Woman inside those genteel writers and readers who, in the idealization of the heroine’s virtues, displace their own rebellious
At the outset, an insightful reader needs to draft the general boundaries of allegory and symbolism in the story. To put it most simple, the problem of distinguishing between good and evil undergoes a discussion. It is not difficult to notice that the Grandmother stands for good and the Misfit for evil. But such a division would be a sweeping and superficial generalisation, for both the characters epitomize good and evil traits. Moral evaluation is a very complex process and it is not the human who is to decide on that. There are rather various degrees of goodness and evil, both interwoven, also in their religiousness. Th...
And readers are thus exposed to the exploitation and extortion that goes on in this cycle of sympathizers. While the gathering of the women is supposed to be a period of preparing the widows for their confinement, it turns to a period of financial exploitation of the widows. Ramatoulaye succinctly expresses her displeasure,
The antagonistic nature of man verses woman is illustrated through Allende’s description and reactions of Clara and Esteban. Men and women are at the opposite ends of the spectrum of human nature, women know that men like to think they are in charge, because it gives them power, so women give into this little whim for the peace of mind and happiness that are essential in any relationship. Their instincts make their influence much more threatening and rebellious than the rage of one man who does not get his way. The women of Allende’s world are vibrant, spiritual, sensible and loving, the men are volatile, strong, and passionate, while they may be stereotypical, they help portray the true nature of man verses woman. Women may be physically weaker than men but they can match wits and daring with them any time.
Women are beaten, and it is culturally acceptable. Like routine, women are beaten in Afghanistan almost every day. When a person purposely inflicts sufferings on others with no feelings of concern, like the women of Afghanistan, he is cruel. Cruelty can manifest from anger, irritation, or defeat and is driven by self-interest. An idea that is explored in many works of literature, cruelty also appears in Khaled Hosseini’s A Thousand Splendid Suns in the relationship between a husband and wife. In their case, the husband uses cruelties in the form of aggression are to force his wife to submit. In A Thousand Splendid Suns, Hosseini’s use of cruelty elucidates the values of both Rasheed and Mariam as well as essential ideas about the nature of
Women all around Esperanza, such as Minerva and Sally, are held hostage, within their own acceptance of an unjust cultural fate. For example, Minerva is a young girl who constantly prays for better luck, and a happier life, but enables her husband to take advantage of her, and therefore sets the path for her unsatisfactory life. “ One day she is through and lets him know enough is enough. Out the door he goes. Clothes, records, shoes. Out the window and the door locked. However, that night he comes back and sends a big rock through the window. Then he is sorry and she opens the door again. Minerva finds herself forgiving without truly seeing that her husband is sorry. She used marriage as a way out from her undesirable life, yet her married life still carries the same characteristics. And so, without fighting for a satisfactory life she settles with the hand she is dealt.
Unfortunately, Maria is constantly aware of the children missing from her life and is border-lining depression. Didion shows readers many symptoms of Maria’s depression throughout the novel. For example, the narrator says “When she got home she thought about calling him [Les Goodwin], but instead she went upstairs and lay face down on Kate’s empty bed, cradled Kate’s blanket, clutched Kate’s baby pillow to her stomach and fought off a wave of the dread” (Didion 23). It is obvious that Maria is depressed; however, she cannot confide in anyone. She cannot confide in Carter because he is emotionally distant nor can she confide in her lover Les Goodwin because he is a married man. Thus, leading to Maria becoming self-destructive and unintentionally seeking an identity. For example after a party, Maria “was stopped for speeding outside Tonopah and when the highway patrolman saw the silver dress and the bare feet and the Ferrari registered to someone else” the officer found out it was indeed stolen ( Didion 154). Didion creatively shows readers that Maria is acting out unintentionally because of her lack of control over life. In fact, someone who was in his or her right mind would have not stolen a car from a famous person like the one Maria did. The people in Maria’s life Maria’s notices there is a problem and start to worry about her well-being. This is shown when
Beatrice's refusal to be controlled by men and Hero's subservience carries echoes of modern-day feminism. Comparing this novel to a contemporary society, women have made a substantial amount of progress in terms of gender roles. It is women like Beatrice, and the many others that choose to defy the expectations that are placed upon us by society, that help us progress to a more utopian civilization. This novel can be read by future generations to reflect back on how much we have changed and how much we have progressed, not only as women, but as humans in general. Additionally, this play also serves as one of the world's greatest odes to the single life known to man.
One of the issues that was raised is the idea of the relationship between femininty, technology and sexuality. The relationship between all of these qualities converse in one character, Maria. The real Maria has many roles thoughout the movie, including one who cares for the workers children, a preacher of peace for the workers, and one who loves Freder. The machi...
Quimet’s attitude towards Natalia throughout their relationship enhances the man’s dominance in the Spanish culture. In the novel, Quimet, “delivered a long sermon about men and
Some of the areas that Maria would like to address are marital concerns (the romance, hanging out with people other than her husband’s coworkers, communication, spend more time doing outdoor activities), concerns regarding pleasing her parents even during adulthood (the guilt she feels about her parents making sacrifices to send her to the United States to obtain her college degree), and the pressure of her religious background (being Catholic and feeling that she could not divorce her husband, even if she wanted).
...riam and Salome transgress the patriarchal boundaries that demand purity and silence, but only Mariam is punished. Salome goes unpunished, although her triumph depends on the actions of men. The only character that adheres fully to the patriarchal demands of being chaste, silent and obedient is problematic because of her economic status, which leaves her entirely submissive to a male authority figure. However, Cary uses Mariam's death to question the patriarchal idea that having a public voice indicates sexual transgression. Mariam's death dissociates the female public voice from the conventional connotations of sexual impurity. In death, Mariam is finally accepted, and her pure and innocent image dominates the final scenes of the play. By removing Herod's rhetorical power, Cary offers a searing critique of the tragic effects of an oppressive patriarchal society.
The characters provide a contrast for the readers, by presenting the powerlessness of women through Esme’s fate in the institution after her refusal to conform to married life, and the subplot of Iris being a contemporary version of Esme. Esme’s suffering foreshadows the events of Iris’ life. Through the use of narrative voice, symbols and foreshadowing, O’Farrell reveals that all aspects of Esme’s life are determined by society’s expectations to create the essence of the harsh effects of patriarchy for the reader to
In a nation brimming with discrimination, violence and fear, a multitudinous number of hearts will become malevolent and unemotional. However, people will rebel. In the eye-opening novel, A Thousand Splendid Suns written by Khaled Hosseini, the country of Afghanistan is exposed to possess cruel, treacherous and sexist law and people. The women are classified as something lower than human, and men have the jurisdiction over the women. At the same time, the most horrible treatment can bring out some of the best traits in victims, such as consideration, boldness, and protectiveness. Although, living in an inconsiderate world, women can still carry aspiration and benevolence. Mariam and Laila (the main characters of A Thousand Splendid Suns) are able to retain their consideration, boldness and protectiveness, as sufferers in their atrocious world.
In order for us to deal with how a consideration of femininity can effect our understanding of a literary text, we must also be able to grasp the notion of `feminism' and `Feminist Literary Theory'. A dictionary definition of `feminism' is: `the advocacy of women's rights on the grounds of the equality of the sexes.' Although this leans towards feminism in the historical sense of the word, it still provides the grounds, or foundations, from which feminist literary theories were created. Feminists argue against the stereotyping and social construction of female norms, seeing them as created by men in order to establish their own sense of power. It is thought that while males suggest that gender is sex and not actually a construct, the female role will become much more passive, stereotyped and controlled.