Symbols In A Thousand Splendid Suns

“‘One could not count the moons that shimmer on her roofs, or the thousand splendid suns that hide behind her walls.’” (192). In A Thousand Splendid Suns written by Khaled Hosseini, two girls living dramatically different yet similar lives form a true and lasting friendship against all odds. Their names are Mariam and Laila. All that they possess that is comforting is their relationship with each other and with Laila’s children. In A Thousand Splendid Suns, Hosseini emphasizes the importance of hope through his development of setting, symbolism, and diction.
In Hosseini’s use of setting there are in depth incorporations of the war and location. Hope is implemented specifically during war when hardships increase. “Laila looked up, saw he was weeping. She

put an arm around his waist, ‘Oh Babi. We’ll come back. When this war is over. We’ll come back to Kabul, insuhallah, You’ll see.’” (192). Laila and her family are leaving Afghanistan due to the harsh conditions of the war. Hosseini demonstrates the hope to return because he wants to indicate that calamities such as war can strengthen the love of one’s country. “‘We’re leaving this spring, Aziza and I. Come with us Mariam.’” (256). Laila and her daughter are going to escape from Kabul and the wrath of Rasheed. However, she doesn't want to leave Mariam behind to face Rasheed’s terror. Laila has hope that Mariam will escape with her and Aziza. The setting that Hosseini developed greatly influenced Laila’s emotions. The most significant of these emotions is hope. The setting and feelings of hope also establish momentous symbols.
The symbolism that Hosseini integrates includes tangible symbols and also concepts such as knowledge.

“‘It’s all I have left to give to her,’ Mariam had said to Laila, ‘this knowledge, these prayers. They’re the only true possession I’ve ever had.’” (298). The knowledge is a conceptual symbol. Hosseini cultivates hope in both Mariam and Laila through the impact of knowledge from the Koran. The verses from the Koran that Mariam wishes to teach Aziza gives Mariam hope that Aziza will have something to remember her by. These prayers are giving Mariam hope, and Mariam hopes they will do the same for Aziza. Despite what Mariam says, the verses from the Koran weren’t the only gift that she gave Aziza. Mariam also made Aziza a doll. “Aziza has laid claim to the task of spraying and wiping the windows. The doll is never far from where she works.” (378). Hosseini promoted the idea that sometimes knowledge is not strong enough to keep a memory alive by creating the doll. It is something tangible that Aziza can hold onto from her past. The doll gives Aziza hope that Mariam will be with her throughout the rest of her life. Hosseini further enforced these symbols in a more potent manner by his particular selection of

diction.
The diction that Hosseini devised was organized into figurative language which also evoked imagery. Much of what Hosseini devised was metaphorical. “Rasheed’s house was much smaller than Jalil’s, but, compared to Mariam and Nana’s kolba, it was a mansion.” (58). This is an example of a hyperbole because Hosseini exaggerated the size of the house when comparing it to the kolba. This exaggeration makes it palpable that Mariam has hope for a better and happier future than her past. “But, mostly Mariam is in Laila’s own heart, where she shines with the bursting radiance of a thousand suns.” (415). A metaphorical comparison is made when comparing Mariam shining though Laila to the way that many suns would shine. Hosseini evoked imagery in this metaphor to depict how Mariam shines through in Laila. With Mariam in her heart, Laila has hope that Mariam will be with her forever and that the memories that they shared together will last. Hosseini expresses how people can live on through others in which a strong connection has been made.
The literary elements that A Thousand Splendid Suns comprises of notably impact the theme of hope. Hosseini demonstrates this by writing a story that holds similar examples of tone, mood, and feeling throughout. The message that is conveyed in this novel is that as long as there is hope no matter the amount, anything is possible to withstand. This message is clearly evident through the struggles that both Mariam and Laila face during their childhood and throughout their lives. Hope is perpetual.