A Thousand Splendid Sunss

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In A Thousand Splendid Suns, Khaled Hosseini uses the symbol of snow to represent the struggles and adversities faced by Afghan women living in the current society. The first connection Hosseini presents takes place during Mariam's childhood while staying at the Kolba her father, Jalil, made for her and Nana, her mother. Early in the story, Nana never bothered to try and hide her discontent with their situation or the lack of attachment she felt for her daughter; however, she would warn Mariam about the hostilities of existing as a woman in Kabul. Particularly when it correlated to the mistakes Nana committed with Jalil. “Each snowflake was a sigh heaved by an aggrieved woman somewhere in the world [.] As a reminder of how women like us suffer. …show more content…

Nonetheless, the negative impact it had on Nana's innocence. The rejection from her parents, the public humiliation, and the degradation as a person stand all the consequences of existing as a single mother of a bastard in Afghanistan. Later in the novel, Mariam explains how her husband's behavior toward her took a drastic, aggressive arc after the six miscarriages she mourned during her marriage. She describes how Rasheed would treat her poorly when she could not satisfy his ideology of the perfect wife by replacing his deceased offspring and spouse. He insults the food prepared by her and ridicules Mariam's ignorance, causing her to feel pressured and overwhelmed by nothing but his presence nearby, mostly during their drives back from the hospital. Another bus ride with Rasheed. Snowing again. Falling thick this time” (58). The sudden thickness of the snow predicts how Mariam's misfortunate pregnancies induced Rasheed's acrimonious conduct when she could not fulfill his expectations. The author highlights the snowflakes' alteration of portrayal when troubles arise and how it impacts the sentiments; nonetheless, it also depicts the leading character's lost innocence due to exposure to traumatic

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