The fictional novel, A Thousand Splendid Suns by Khaled Hosseini provides a vivid portrayal of a country devastated by idealised leaders and wars initiated on it by foreign and internal forces. The narrative is in perspective of two women living in the problematic society. This text sheds light on Afghanistan and the implications of a corrupt government has brought on it 's people. Due to it 's relevance today, my view of society has been altered because of the discrepancy of this book to my regular life by religious and cultural , gender inequality and education.
Gender inequality has been known to exist in both third and first world countries. This novel has exposed me to the raw, disturbing discrimination of women in third world countries. …show more content…
“ a man’s accusing finger always finds a woman. Always. You remember that, Mariam.” (Page 7). This tells us as readers that women in an Afghan society must withstand much discrimination throughout their lives, from a stranger to their own blood relatives and spouses. This showed me how lucky I am as a young women living in a developed country free of gender abuse and that I am able to live a life with as much freedom and capability as a man.. This was a sudden downhill turn in the novel and brought sadness and loss of hope. Women became slaves and no longer had their own lives and missions. This struck my deepest core and the doings of Taliban was so blatantly wrong and unbelievably cruel. This made my life seem so simple, when women in Afghanistan are struggling to be given the simple rights of a human; “All human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights. They are endowed with reason and conscience and should act towards one another in a spirit of brotherhood.” Women are not equal and are thought to be not as able as men. This novel is written for much more than a narrative, but it is based on a real country where these alleged injustices are taking place particularly the abuse of women. The title; A Thousand Splendid Suns is reflective of the poem that is read out by Laila’s father Hakim. “One could not count the moons that shimmer on her roofs, or the thousand splendid suns that hide behind her walls.”(page 172). This poem symbolises the position of women in the Afghan society, The use of moons and suns are interpreted as the people of Kabul, with the male the ‘leader of the family’ represents shimmering moon on its roof. The second line of a thousand splendid suns are powerfully symbolic of women as the “splendid suns”. The women are special and so unique that they are hidden from society, but their strength and importance in
Gender inequality has been known to exist in both third and first world countries. This novel has exposed me to the raw, disturbing discrimination of women in third world countries. …show more content…
“ a man’s accusing finger always finds a woman. Always. You remember that, Mariam.” (Page 7). This tells us as readers that women in an Afghan society must withstand much discrimination throughout their lives, from a stranger to their own blood relatives and spouses. This showed me how lucky I am as a young women living in a developed country free of gender abuse and that I am able to live a life with as much freedom and capability as a man.. This was a sudden downhill turn in the novel and brought sadness and loss of hope. Women became slaves and no longer had their own lives and missions. This struck my deepest core and the doings of Taliban was so blatantly wrong and unbelievably cruel. This made my life seem so simple, when women in Afghanistan are struggling to be given the simple rights of a human; “All human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights. They are endowed with reason and conscience and should act towards one another in a spirit of brotherhood.” Women are not equal and are thought to be not as able as men. This novel is written for much more than a narrative, but it is based on a real country where these alleged injustices are taking place particularly the abuse of women. The title; A Thousand Splendid Suns is reflective of the poem that is read out by Laila’s father Hakim. “One could not count the moons that shimmer on her roofs, or the thousand splendid suns that hide behind her walls.”(page 172). This poem symbolises the position of women in the Afghan society, The use of moons and suns are interpreted as the people of Kabul, with the male the ‘leader of the family’ represents shimmering moon on its roof. The second line of a thousand splendid suns are powerfully symbolic of women as the “splendid suns”. The women are special and so unique that they are hidden from society, but their strength and importance in