Women In Khaled Hosseini's A Thousand Splendid Suns

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When the Taliban ruled Afghanistan and war continuously went on, many women faced hardships too hard to cope with. In Khaled Hosseini’s novel A Thousand Splendid Suns, two incredibly strong women Mariam and Laila face many struggles such as harsh ruling, abusive husband and a war that seems never to end. No matter the hardships the women are obliged to endure and survive. Endurance takes strength, willpower and courage to endure a life with little freedom and stability in one’s world. Strength is a fundamental aspect in endurance. There was a time in Mariam and Rasheed’s marriage when Mariam finally got pregnant but unfortunately lost the baby and seven other times miscarried. The first time it was hard on her and when she asked her husband …show more content…

No matter the danger of escaping an abusive husband, Mariam and Laila risk their life in an attempt to run away from Rasheed earlier in the novel. When they don’t succeed and get caught laila takes courage to tell him that everything might end bad for them. “ Let us go officer...if you send us back, there’s no saying what he will do to us (266). By saying this she admits that they ran away and now it may cost her and Mariam’s life. Furthermore, when Laila has to send off her daughter Aziza to an orphanage because the family can not feed her any longer, Laila has to be courageous. As law, no woman can travel the streets without a male accomplice and Rasheed is too stubborn to accompany her, so Laila takes the matter in her hands and often goes by herself. When the Taliban stops her she doesn’t give up. “But, usually, Laila refused to cave in. She made as if she were going home, then took a different route down side the streets”(321). One must have courage in order to disobey those in charge. In the end, it always depends on how far can a person go. Mariam and Leila know that endurance takes strength, willpower and courage to endure a life with little freedom and stability in one’s

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