Hosseini explores the role and treatment of women before, during and after the period of war in 1980s Afghanistan. Notably, he examines the drastic changes in attitudes to marriage, education and law. This is as Mariam is presented as ‘Naturally timid, or sweet...or dependent, or self-pitying’ and Nana as ‘the woman as eternally dissatisfied shrew’. However, in his portrayal of Laila, she both challenges and conforms to both the society she lives in and in terms of the ‘literary representation of women repeated familiar cultural stereotypes’.
Mariam; a character who conforms to the identity of being, 'naturally timid or sweet...or dependent, or self-pitying '. Due to being born outside of wedlock, she is labelled as a 'harami ' and …show more content…
Radical feminists would claim Nana is simply aware of the oppression men hold over women and is right to explicitly tell Mariam that, ‘"Learn this now and learn it well, my daughter: Like a compass needle that points north, a man 's accusing finger always finds a woman” '. By having a pessimistic view against men due to her own misfortunes with them, Nana instructs her daughter about the ruthlessness of men, which Mariam soon finds out for herself. Furthermore, Nana snubs Jalil openly implying to Mariam that even her own father is not to be trusted through remarks such as, '“The children of strangers get ice cream. What do you get, Mariam? Stories of ice cream” '. She tries to embed a sense of hatred towards men within Mariam, much like Miss Havisham does with Estella in Dickens ' Great Expectations. Nana Is shown to be temperamental as behind Jalil 's back she badmouths him but in his presence she does the utmost to try and impress …show more content…
This is as Mariam is 'Naturally timid, or sweet...or dependent, or self-pitying’, whilst Nana is an 'eternally dissatisfied shrew '. Moreover, although Laila may be considered as a challenge at first, when looked in greater detail it seems she is also a conformity. This is as many other young girls also received an education, especially in
Mariam; a character who conforms to the identity of being, 'naturally timid or sweet...or dependent, or self-pitying '. Due to being born outside of wedlock, she is labelled as a 'harami ' and …show more content…
Radical feminists would claim Nana is simply aware of the oppression men hold over women and is right to explicitly tell Mariam that, ‘"Learn this now and learn it well, my daughter: Like a compass needle that points north, a man 's accusing finger always finds a woman” '. By having a pessimistic view against men due to her own misfortunes with them, Nana instructs her daughter about the ruthlessness of men, which Mariam soon finds out for herself. Furthermore, Nana snubs Jalil openly implying to Mariam that even her own father is not to be trusted through remarks such as, '“The children of strangers get ice cream. What do you get, Mariam? Stories of ice cream” '. She tries to embed a sense of hatred towards men within Mariam, much like Miss Havisham does with Estella in Dickens ' Great Expectations. Nana Is shown to be temperamental as behind Jalil 's back she badmouths him but in his presence she does the utmost to try and impress …show more content…
This is as Mariam is 'Naturally timid, or sweet...or dependent, or self-pitying’, whilst Nana is an 'eternally dissatisfied shrew '. Moreover, although Laila may be considered as a challenge at first, when looked in greater detail it seems she is also a conformity. This is as many other young girls also received an education, especially in