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People have different definitions of the word sacrifice. Some believe the greatest form of sacrifice consists of the loss of a material item, or the the action of giving up a concert ticket or a vacation. However, others find sacrifice to be more personal, like giving up their own dreams for the greater good of someone they deeply care about. How could people with such limited understanding of sacrifice fathom giving up a child in order to put food on the table for the rest of the family? Khaled Hosseini reveals in A Thousand Splendid Suns, that women go through much affliction in order to keep their husbands content. The women of society give up almost everything they once believed in, for fear of the future consequences. Hosseini demonstrates …show more content…
Having the ability to sacrifice significantly is not easy; taking the selfish route would be less distressing. Since Laila is pregnant, but not with Rasheed’s child, she became well aware of how she must handle the situation, forcing her to see “the sacrifices a mother had to make. Virtue was the first”. A mother, Laila in particular, is willing to sacrifice her own happiness for the benefit of her child (219). By realizing the grief a mother goes through on behalf of their children, Laila begins to define the necessities for her child in order to provide the best life for it. As a result of the current situations for women in Afghanistan, Laila understands that it is in her best interest to marry Rasheed, so that she can have someone to help her support her family. On the other hand Mariam was not able to have children. Which put a strain on Mariam and Rasheeds relationship. Leaving Mariam with only the loving nature of Laila, Aziza, and Zalmai, due to the fact that Rasheed was only a negative presence in her life. After a while Rasheed treated both of his wives with no respect, therefore the women became closer than ever. Mariam became like a mother figure in Laila’s life, she would do anything for Laila and her children. “She gave it everything she had” revealing that she would go as far as killing Rasheed in order to free Laila and herself from greater abuse (349). However, …show more content…
To be able to remain tough during troublesome settings, one must look at the positive aspects it will bring to the future. Nana, Mariam's mother, had no help in her life. Jalil expected her to remain hidden in the shack given to her so that she could live out of town; of site. When Nana “ gave birth to Mariam, no one came to help” (11). Nana was left to sum up all the strength needed to care for her child all alone. By reason of Jalil’s lack of interest in his daughter, Nana has to find ways to answer her daughters question’s about her father's absence, and find the courage to tell her daughter that her father feel’s that he has better things to worry about. Nana teaches Mariam that a woman's purpose in life is to “endure,” because “it’s all [they] have” (19). The lack of aid in their life leaves them with no one to care for them besides each other. By informing Mariam that they have to tolerate uncommon, it shows her that life will not be easy,that they will have to sacrifice for their own prosperity, but they are strong. Nana is forced to sacrifice her private well being because she is needed to care for her daughter, and keep her from getting hurt by Jalil; like she had. Without people like Nana who go through so much, and not to mention give up so much, children would be able to mature to their full potential. Many children like Mariam for instance would be deprived of the
In the novel A Thousand Splendid Suns by the author Khaled Hosseini presents the tragedy that Mariam went through. Mariam the unwanted child for her father because he was not married to Mariam’s mother when she get pregnant from him. She lived in a village with her only family member, her mother. One day she left her mother and went to the city that her father lived in. Her mother felt abandoned and committed suicide because Mariam is all she had. After the death of her mother, Mariam moved with her father to Kabul. She was a burden to her father so after some weeks she was forced to marry a forty-five year old man when she was only fifteen year old. She moved to another city with her husband where she had to live with a man that she never
Furthermore, Lupita suggested to her father that he takes her mother to a cancer clinic but the clinic is six hours away from their home. He tells her that he “[doesn’t] know how [they’re] going to do it”. Lupita thinks that there is nothing “more to think about[. Her] Mami needs this” (McCall 114, 115). While Lupita is focused on her Mami and her needs, her Papi is worried about how this will affect his children, even if it could help his wife. Their priorities are very different making their perspectives on how to deal with Lupita’s mother’s care different as well. In addition, after Lupita’s mom dies and Lupita starts thinking about her future since she has already graduated, she confronts her father with the idea of going off to college. He tells her that he ‘“made promises to [her] mother. / [He] told her [he’d] take good care of [Lupita], /… there’s no place safer than home/… [He] can’t let [her] go [to
How much are you willing to sacrifice for another? Whether they are a family member or a complete stranger. In the novel The Kite Runner Baba was was willing to risk his life when he had stood up and was trying to stop the Russian soldier from rape the young woman as payment for letting them pass through one of the checkpoints. Then there had been Amir it was when he had suffered extreme injuries, nearly losing his life when he had fought Assef, so that he could save Sohrab for the abuse he was suffering from the Taliban. Both Character Baba and Amir were willing to sacrifice themselves for another person, regardless of who they were. Khaled Hosseini’s novel, The Kite Runner, teaches the reader sacrificing your life can lead to another person’s happiness through Baba saving the woman from the Russian soldier and Amir fighting Assef.
Furthermore, losing her father and older brother means that Najmah had to do most of the chores outside of the house leaving her mom all by herself. Najmah and Mada-Jan were keeping the farm and home up and running, even with the birth of Najmah's new baby brother, until, “My mother lies on the ground nearby with her legs splayed at odd angles to the rest of her. She reaches her hand toward me, and opens her lips to speak. Instead of words, blood pours from her mouth. By the time I reach her she stares with glassy, dead eyes”(67). Najmah does not know what could have gone worse, she has to take care of a farm and home by herself! But luckily Najmah also has other neighbors that haven't lost their families and are traveling to Pakistan. Najmah only agrees to this because she hopes that Baba-Jan and Nur will be there waiting for her. In addition to all this Najmah has forgotten that she will lose the home that she was born in and spent the last twelve years in, " I look back over my shoulder at the path we've ridden all through the night. But they are far, far behind us, and I realize I will never see them
In the Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini and Those Winter Sundays by Robert Hayden both authors develop the main idea of sacrifice for others while expecting nothing in return. Hosseini’s main sacrificial character is Hassan who constantly sacrifices himself for his friend Amir’s relationship with his father and Amir’s comfort. Although Amir is aware of Hassan’s sacrifices he remains distant and cruel while still expecting Hassan to sacrifice more for him. Hayden develops the idea of sacrifice with a father waking early to work for his family who in turn act cold towards him. Both authors further the idea of the sacrifices made with metaphors, anecdotes and, textual evidence.
Domestic violence can come in various forms such as physical, mental, and verbal abuse. In the novel the most vulnerable victims to go through this experience was the women and children. The mother, Beatrice, first- hand experience this abuse from her husband and endures it in silence. In this type of culture the women become part of their husbands, their identities in society are their husbands (Fwangyil, 262). Beatrice undergoes several miscarriages at the hands of her husband. For example, one evening the children witnessed their mother hanging over their father’s shoulders and “trickle[s] of blood, which trailed away” (Adichie, 33). Even through all the abuse and miscarriage’s, she continues to defend her husband to the end. Women during
In order for the gods to be satisfied; and in order for the people of this great civilization to survive and live a steadfast, healthy, and rewarding life, a human sacrifice must be given to the gods. In order for this great civilization to prosper and grow there must be a human sacrifice offered up unto the gods. In order for the sun to keep burning and producing light and heat, which is necessary for our crops, agriculture, and all of life, there must be human sacrifice given to the gods. Thankfully, in today’s society this is not the case and people no longer believe that sacrificing a living human being is what makes the world go around. However, in the ancient Aztec civilization ranging from approximately 1100 to 1522 B.C.E. this is how the world revolved and without this procedure and practice all of human kind would fall and disappear within a short amount of time and the gods as we know would shun civilization forever. This practice of offering human sacrifice was very vital to the Aztec civilization and plays a very significant role within the military, political, and religious practices, as well as having a profound impact on the social structure of Mexica, and has had varied explanations far and near from scholars who have studied what seems to be inexplicable practices of the Aztec civilization.
In most people’s minds, the word sacrifice equals self-giving actions and explains selflessness. Under certain conditions, people voluntarily choose to sacrifice their benefits or even lives to achieve other goals. Through Meng Zi’s “Fish and Bear’s Paw”, we know that for most of time, people can only choose one between the two significant events, especially when they are sharply contradictory with each other. Everyone has his or her own value system about the world, and what someone considers the most significant may not worth a lot in others’ value system. Which one should people sacrifice for achieving the other is a question that has no consistent answer. Therefore, sometimes people’s sacrifices are not helpful or even hurt who they originally want to save.
From start to finish, one could see how much Mariam values Laila, Aziza, and their friendship. The first example is when Mariam vows to help Laila while they are in the hospital for Laila’s unborn child: “I’ll get you seen, Laila jo. I promise” (287). This simple promise is a deep portrayal of Mariam’s desire to help Laila find a doctor and deliver her baby. Additionally, one can see Mariam’s love for Laila when she protects her from Rasheed’s grip of death, “‘Rasheed.’ He looked up. Mariam swung. She hit him across the temple. The blow knocked him off Laila” (348). Rasheed was going to kill Laila, but Mariam steps in and knocks him off of her with a shovel to save her life. Mariam forms a tight-knit bond with Laila, and when Hosseini includes their relationship, one can see how Mariam values Laila enough to kill another man. The author also describes their relationship after Mariam and Laila discuss plans for leaving: “When they do, they’ll find you as guilty as me. Tariq too. I won’t have the two of you living on the run like fugitives.” … “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 thoughts and ordinary stories with an air of gratitude, with the expression of a person to whom a unique and coveted privilege had been extended” (358). The love Mariam has for
Nana is the character who plays the role of Mariam's mother. Based on the novel, one can say Nana spent most of her life being occupied with domestic duties like cooking, cleaning, and doing laundry. She lived the typical lifestyle of a woman from Afghanistan. Women in
The mother is the backbone of the family. Although a mother’s capabilities embellish with undeniable strength, both internal and external, the destruction of war hinders Hecuba. The division of Hecuba's position as a queen, mother and woman rest out of her control. Despite losing everything, Hecuba attempts to strengthen her family. She realizes that her family is the remaining hope of her reign. Hecuba illustrates to the audience the constant struggle of survival for women. The constant struggle of survival for women is the sacrifice to protect their families. Hecuba sacrifice more than she anticipated. While protecting her family, Hecuba begins to feel helpless. We see her helplessness when her daughter Cassandra comes forth bearing a flaming torch. The helplessness women endures is a negative effect from
According to Charles Dubois, a Belgian naturalist, “The important thing is: to be able at any moment, to sacrifice what we are for what we could become.” This quote means to have the ability to sacrifice what you have for what we could become in the future. Some kind of sacrifice must be made to reach a desired amount of not only happiness, but of other things as well like good health, education, love etc. In the novel, “Brave New World” by Aldous Huxley, not all sacrifices made bring positivity. When sacrificing something for the better, the outcome may be even worse. Mustapha Mond, one of the ten world controllers, claims that in the civilized society, happiness is the greatest good. The civilized society has sacrificed high art in order
It be demonstrated through putting others and their needs before yourself and your needs. It can be “letting things go” for the sake of maintaining the well-being of the family with the slight risk of personal discomfort. One example of sacrifice in literature stems from a previously discussed story, “The Storm”. The part that involves sacrifice involves Alcee and the influence the “emotional family” he has created with Calixta has on his own marriage. Alcee and his wife haven’t been together for a while as they needed a “break” for a modicum of time. His relationship with Calixta inspired him to write to his wife that same night. Alcee explained how it was alright if they stay a month longer because he realized that “their health and pleasure were the first things to be considered”(Chopin 398). Even though Alcee wanted to be with his wife and child, he made the sacrifice of giving them some extra time even though he was ready to have them back. He put their needs before his own-he sacrificed. To be willing to be apart from loved ones even though things are happy and copacetic is true devotion and attests to a person’s ability to
...nd self-belonging. In the face of her mother, Nana, is always preaching awful comments about Jalil, with this in mind she never listens to the stories Jalil tells her and she never believes in them. This connection between her father is so serious that it could potentially compromise his relationship with his two wives, and the bond of trust, which exists between both of them. Further to that, the mistake implements Mariam to have a hold over her Father. Mariam’s personal and family dilemmas force her to jump back and forth between her parents. This constant back and forth for Mariam is what dazzles the reader, and increases the suspense as Mariam tries to build a healthy relationship with her parents, Nana and Jalil; unfortunately, it does not work out.
In the second part of the novel it explains the story of Laila and her family. Laila’s mother does not seem to be bothered with her much. It tells about how she forgot to pick her up from school one day and a couple of boys squirted her with a toy gun filled with pee. Laila comes home and she wakes her mother up and tells her what has happened, she barely seems worried. This happens often in parenting. A lot of times parents can be swamped with things in their own lives that they can forget about things that go on in their children’s lives. This incident angered Laila as she thought about it, “Of course, it wouldn't have happened if Mammy had shown up like she was supposed to either. Sometimes Laila wondered why Mammy had even bothered having her. People, she believed now, shouldn't be allowed to have new children if they'd already given away all their love to their old ones. It wasn't fair. A fit of anger claimed her.” (Hosseini, 118-119) Mammy always seemed distant to Laila and Laila always ponders this. She thought about how her mother and father fought and how her mother might love her brothers more than she loves her. Then the incident happens and she is now almost certain that she does. Her brothers are killed in war and her mother becomes depressed. This breaks the family and now Laila is even more distant from her mother. Things like this can cause devastation to a family and it can make things different between them, just as it is in Laila’s family. Laila remembers what it was like to have the family happy and all enjoying each other’s company, “Laila's favorite part of Mammy's good days was when Babi came home, when she and Mammy looked up from the board and grinned at him with brown teeth. A gust of contentment puffed through the room then, and Laila caught a momentary glimpse of the tenderness, the romance, that had once bound her parents back when this house had been crowded and