The universal definition of heroism is, someone who has the courage to do good and stand up against the wrong. A great example of a fictional hero would be Steve Roger in Captain America. He experiences a rough patch in his life but as he gains superficial human powers, he uses them to defeat the villain. In the novel, A Thousand Splendid Suns by Khaled Hosseini, the main heroes of the novel are Mariam and Laila. Mariam is one of the protagonists of the novel, who has a troubled childhood but regardless, she is a strong, selfless, and a loving character who is not loved back from anyone in her entire life until, Laila. Laila is the second protagonist of the novel, she is pretty, educated and has a loving childhood. Mariam and Laila develop
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As a child Mariam experiences abandonment from her father when she needs him the most causing her a loss of innocence. Mariam goes to visit her father Jalil, to prove to her mother and herself that he loves her; however, when she arrives her father forces her to sleep on the road causing, “Tears of grief, of anger, of disillusionment. But mainly tears of deep, deep shame of how she had foolishly given herself over to Jalil” (Hosseini 35). By abandoning Mariam, as Jalil pretends that he is not at home when Mariam arrives, Mariam loses her innocence as Jalil's behaviour shatters her illusion of him. She endures the hunger, the thirst and the embarrassment, in her desire for his acceptance and love. Regardless of the constant pain Mariam endures and she gives Jalil a second chance. She returns back to him, after the catastrophic death of her mother but once again he shatters her illusion by marrying her off to an abuser where Mariam must endure …show more content…
Throughout her entire childhood, Laila experiences constant love and support from her father, friends and Tariq. As Laila’s friends are talking about marriage, Laila knows deep down that Babi would never give her up for marriage at a young age, as he understands the importance of an education, “But Laila didn’t tell Hasina that Babi had said these things or how lucky she was to have a father like him, or how proud she was of his regard, or how determined she was to pursue her education just as he has his” (Hosseini 114). Laila understands how lucky she is to have a father like Babi, who cares for her, loves her and constantly empowers her to be a strong women in a male dominant society, through the power of education. As her friends are talking about their marriage at a very tender age, Laila knows that how protective Babi is of her and how he is never going to marry her off at a young age, as he is aware of Laila's dream of pursuing education. Whereas, Mariam never experiences the love or the joy of having a parent who cares for her or her needs, but instead she has a father who abandons her and marries her off at a young age. In conclusion, Laila would not be the true of heroin of the novel as she never develops the traits of a true heroine growing up. In contrast to Mariam, she faces constant trouble in her childhood that helps her to develop the power to endure pain for herself and others, which
As a child Mariam experiences abandonment from her father when she needs him the most causing her a loss of innocence. Mariam goes to visit her father Jalil, to prove to her mother and herself that he loves her; however, when she arrives her father forces her to sleep on the road causing, “Tears of grief, of anger, of disillusionment. But mainly tears of deep, deep shame of how she had foolishly given herself over to Jalil” (Hosseini 35). By abandoning Mariam, as Jalil pretends that he is not at home when Mariam arrives, Mariam loses her innocence as Jalil's behaviour shatters her illusion of him. She endures the hunger, the thirst and the embarrassment, in her desire for his acceptance and love. Regardless of the constant pain Mariam endures and she gives Jalil a second chance. She returns back to him, after the catastrophic death of her mother but once again he shatters her illusion by marrying her off to an abuser where Mariam must endure …show more content…
Throughout her entire childhood, Laila experiences constant love and support from her father, friends and Tariq. As Laila’s friends are talking about marriage, Laila knows deep down that Babi would never give her up for marriage at a young age, as he understands the importance of an education, “But Laila didn’t tell Hasina that Babi had said these things or how lucky she was to have a father like him, or how proud she was of his regard, or how determined she was to pursue her education just as he has his” (Hosseini 114). Laila understands how lucky she is to have a father like Babi, who cares for her, loves her and constantly empowers her to be a strong women in a male dominant society, through the power of education. As her friends are talking about their marriage at a very tender age, Laila knows that how protective Babi is of her and how he is never going to marry her off at a young age, as he is aware of Laila's dream of pursuing education. Whereas, Mariam never experiences the love or the joy of having a parent who cares for her or her needs, but instead she has a father who abandons her and marries her off at a young age. In conclusion, Laila would not be the true of heroin of the novel as she never develops the traits of a true heroine growing up. In contrast to Mariam, she faces constant trouble in her childhood that helps her to develop the power to endure pain for herself and others, which