Riley Wick
Ms. Boeh
English 10
May 17, 2016
Oppression of Women in Afghanistan
Gender equality is still a major problem today as it was many years ago. Even though progress has been made we still face challenges. From the beginning of humanity men have been seen as the dominant race rather than women. The problems faced in A Thousand Splendid Suns ties into gender relations today because gender played a huge role in the book as it does today. A Thousand Splendid Suns is a novel written by Khaled Hosseini, the main character in this novel is Mariam. She lives with her malicious and stubborn mother, Nana. While her father Jalil, a successful businessman, visits Mariam only once a week. Mariam, resenting her limited place in Jalil's life; …show more content…
Jalil's wives do not want anything to do with Mariam; so they force him to let her marry a widowed shoemaker in Kabul named Rasheed. At first he treats Mariam appropriately, but after she suffers her miscarriage, he abuses her verbally and physically. The only use Rasheed has for Mariam is her ability to replace the son he lost years ago. Down the street from Rasheed and Mariam is a young girl named Laila, an intelligent girl from a loving family. However, Laila’s older brothers left to join the Afghani war against the Soviets which ruins her childhood. Laila receives comfort from her best friend, Tariq, a boy just a few years older than her. Just before Laila reaches her teen years, her parents are given the news that both of their sons have been killed. Eventually, a war reaches Kabul and bombs fall on the city regularly. At this point in time, Tariq and Laila are teenagers and in love. As Tariq tells Laila that he and his family are leaving to Pakistan, the couple makes love for the first time, quickly and passionately. A few days later, Laila's parents decide to leave for Afghanistan, but Laila’s parents end up getting killed from a rocket hitting their house as they are packing, wounding
Ms. Boeh
English 10
May 17, 2016
Oppression of Women in Afghanistan
Gender equality is still a major problem today as it was many years ago. Even though progress has been made we still face challenges. From the beginning of humanity men have been seen as the dominant race rather than women. The problems faced in A Thousand Splendid Suns ties into gender relations today because gender played a huge role in the book as it does today. A Thousand Splendid Suns is a novel written by Khaled Hosseini, the main character in this novel is Mariam. She lives with her malicious and stubborn mother, Nana. While her father Jalil, a successful businessman, visits Mariam only once a week. Mariam, resenting her limited place in Jalil's life; …show more content…
Jalil's wives do not want anything to do with Mariam; so they force him to let her marry a widowed shoemaker in Kabul named Rasheed. At first he treats Mariam appropriately, but after she suffers her miscarriage, he abuses her verbally and physically. The only use Rasheed has for Mariam is her ability to replace the son he lost years ago. Down the street from Rasheed and Mariam is a young girl named Laila, an intelligent girl from a loving family. However, Laila’s older brothers left to join the Afghani war against the Soviets which ruins her childhood. Laila receives comfort from her best friend, Tariq, a boy just a few years older than her. Just before Laila reaches her teen years, her parents are given the news that both of their sons have been killed. Eventually, a war reaches Kabul and bombs fall on the city regularly. At this point in time, Tariq and Laila are teenagers and in love. As Tariq tells Laila that he and his family are leaving to Pakistan, the couple makes love for the first time, quickly and passionately. A few days later, Laila's parents decide to leave for Afghanistan, but Laila’s parents end up getting killed from a rocket hitting their house as they are packing, wounding