A Thousand Splendid Suns Adversity Analysis

Adversity Reflected in One’s Identity
The suffering one faces proves to diminish the sense of self of an individual, eventually compelling that individual to tolerate the hardships in life instead of resisting them. The text shows this theme when the trials and tribulations of Mariam's life as a harami are explored, and her actions to succumb or endure the misfortunes before her. In the novel A Thousand Splendid Suns author, Khaled Hosseini,develops the idea that adversity limits an individual's sense of self; however, through regularly enduring aforementioned hardships that individual overcomes the adversities showing their true sense of self, thereby their real identity. The way others see and individual prompts an individual to act a certain way, diminishing their true selves for the embetterment of the being others will see. This is seen in the text when Mariam is forced to leave because she is born out of wedlock and, to others, represents something shameful that must be discarded. “She was being sent away because she was the walking, breathing embodiment of …show more content…
This theme is present in A Thousand Splendid Suns when Mariam stays with Rasheed in a abusive and cruel marriage, where Rasheed stands dominant over his wife. “But after four years of marriage, Mariam saw clearly how much a woman could tolerate when she was afraid.” This dialogue from Mariam summarizes her situation with Rasheed, as his crude actions built a sense of fear and suppression for Mariam. Rasheed has placed his wife in a situation where she must endure suffering suppressing her identity for the sake of surviving her ordeals. An individual forced to face the adversities is diminished, however through compromising their sense of self they endure their hardships as a means to not overcome, but tolerate their