Sacrifice And Perseverance In A Thousand Splendid Suns

In the novel A Thousand Splendid Suns, a theme that is developed throughout the novel is the sacrifice and perseverance of the main female characters. When Rasheed raged at Laila for refusing to have sex with him. He immediately thought that this is Mariam’s influence on her. Since Mariam throughout the years have developed the confidence to say no to Rasheed. As the only method of expression that Rasheed is familiar with is abuse. Stomping towards Mariam’s room with a leather belt, Rasheed prepared himself to beat his wife. Laila who is not on good terms with Mariam in this part of the novel, tries fiercely to stop him. When things got out of control, Laila gave up, screaming, “You win. You win. Don’t do this. Please, Rasheed, no

beating! Please don’t do this.” (241) Laila knew that Rasheed will not stop until he gets what he wants.

She sacrificed herself to protect Mariam. Laila had to endure Rasheed desire to keep others safe and sound. The willingness of Laila to protect Mariam signifies their unity as females to stand up for each other. Another act of perseverance in this novel, is when Laila had to give her daughter to an orphanage. When Rasheed’s store caught fire, the financial state of the family got worse and worse. They had to sell almost everything they had and skip meals to survive, the kids got weaker and weaker. Due to Rasheed’s ill temper, he got fired from every job. Therefore, Laila is obligated to take to Aziza to an orphanage where she can be fed well. Laila tries to calm Aziza on their way to the orphanage, claiming, “I’ll come and see you.”(315) Laila had to distance herself from her only daughter. She does this for Aziza’s own good, for her to maintain her health. Even though she tells her that she will visit, Laila struggles to go there. The first few time going there is not a problem, since she in the company of Rasheed. When Rasheed refuses to go visit Aziza, the Taliban soldiers abuse her physically and emotionally. That did not stop her from seeing her daughter, she goes there even though she knows the

soldiers will be beating her up. She suffers each time she goes there, but her patience keeps her from giving up. In the final part of the novel, Mariam shows acts of endurance and sacrifice towards Laila and her kids.

After killing Rasheed, Mariam decides to turn herself in to get her punishment. She gets locked up in jail for a few months, before being taken to the stadium to get executed. Mariam says her last words pleading God for forgiveness, “Oh my Lord! Forgive me and have mercy, for you are the best of the merciful ones.” (371) Mariam knows that if she tries to flee with Laila, Tariq and the kids to Pakistan they will not be allowed to leave. After all these years together, Mariam treated Laila like her daughter. She felt responsible of her safety, therefore she gave up on her life just so her child can survive. The judge who requested her death saw that her life is not worth much anyway as a women. This shows the mistreatment of Taliban to women and how women in Afghanistan are strong enough to live there and not commit suicide or give up unless it is for their children. In essence, this scene where the mother gives up on all she has for her children is reoccurring scene throughout the novel. The birth of Zalmai where Laila had to be cut open or the birth of Mariam where Nana she had a harami in her belly and still gave birth to her alone without the help of anyone. And now the life of Mariam, where she

sacrificed herself for Laila and her kids. Nana, Laila and Mariam are all examples of mothers that choose their children over themselves. They all endured the pain they went through and choose their kids over their own self.