Mariam And Laila's Journeys In A Thousand Splendid Suns

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“A Thousand Splendid Suns” outlines Mariam and Laila’s journeys as their surroundings in Afghanistan are changing. Laila was born into a family that could guarantee a promising future. Her father, Babi, had the idea in mind that Laila could make a difference in many Afghan lives by going to school on a daily basis and Babi also did not support the idea of a forced marriage. Mariam, on the other hand, was born into a broken home. Her parents had a one-time sexual encounter, which led to her unexpected birth. Her father was immensely wealthy and was trying to keep the lives of Mariam and his other children separate, leading to Mariam’s being neglected. However, as Mariam and Laila crossed paths, both becoming Rasheed’s wives, their stories became …show more content…

Laila grapples with the idea of standing up to Rasheed and teaching him a lesson, but it ended in a more abusive response. Laila thought her actions would “end the suffering,” which gave her hope that she overpowered the forces of the male gender. However, she ended up “slammed against a wall” which suggests the superiority of the male that will always remain, even when the female attempts to overcome. Not only did Laila attempt to punch Rasheed; she also committed treason. Once Rasheed found out about the act, “she was being dragged by the hair. . .Hair was ripped from Laila’s scalp, and her eyes watered with pain” (268). Laila treatment like an object regarding her hair and being locked in a toolshed further solidifies the dangerous relations between Rasheed and the women in the house. Therefore, the actions in Rasheed’s residence help establish a chaotic mood throughout the novel in addition to the effects of the Taliban and the exploding rockets just outside their …show more content…

Whether one of the women ask a simple favor or punch him in the stomach, Rasheed always finds reasons to resort to violence. This passage shows the authoritarian role that Rasheed plays in the household, which contributes to the decision of beating Laila and Mariam on a routine basis. Rasheed’s “hand was around her throat” displays disturbing imagery and helps establish the detrimental effects of living under Rasheed. This helps set the foundation for not only the atmosphere of the house, but how the women were being treated by the Taliban. Consequently, “Women are forbidden from working. If you are found guilty of adultery, you will be stoned to death. Listen. Listen well. Obey”(278). The Taliban produced a section of their laws solely targeted against women, setting them up to become inferior. This is done by stating that women were not allowed to find jobs nor relish in the privilege of education. Women were even prohibited from showing their faces in public, which led to the booming population of burqas, prohibiting them from expressing their identities towards society. As a result of Rasheed’s and the Taliban’s biases against women, Mariam and Laila are constantly walking on eggshells in their own home and the streets, careful not to commit wrongdoings in risk of being attacked, arrested, or executed. As a result, freedoms diminished more as Rasheed’s acts of violence became

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