Like a ship in a storm, the turmoils of war can create a crippling tempest that can affect a child both physically and mentally. Author Khaled Hosseini shows the terrifying effects of war on the children of Afghanistan in his book, A Thousand Splendid Suns. Afghan children suffer in their volatile home country, whether from loss of family, loss of limb, or loss of mental stability through PTSD (Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder). Hosseini explores this concept in many ways, such as his characters Laila, Tariq, and Aziza, as well as the orphanage Aziza was kept at after the destruction of Rasheed’s store. But in order to truly understand the torment Hosseini’s characters face, we must examine the effects of war on the human body and mind.
A Thousand Splendid Suns details the effects of war through two major forces: physical trauma, and subtle attitude changes. While the first of the two examples is shown via obvious physical deformities, such as Tari’s missing leg, the shift of certain character’s mindsets shows the effects of the Afghan conflicts permanently scarring the protagonists. This change of mentality is a sign of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, otherwise …show more content…
The daughter of Laila has endured physical abuse from her father and an unwanted relinquishment from her mother for a short time. Her undesired relinquishment gives her a high percent chance of having PTSD when paired to the injustices committed by Rasheed. The surest sign of PTSD that Aziza shows is the lisp that she develops during her time in the orphanage. This, along with the frequent nightmares Aziza has reveal that the catastrophic events of the war have scarred her permanently. Though the mind of this child may now be corrupt, many her age that endure these tribal conflicts also sustain mental deficiencies. Hosseini reveals this through Laila’s return to the orphanage she was forced to give her daughter
A Thousand Splendid Suns details the effects of war through two major forces: physical trauma, and subtle attitude changes. While the first of the two examples is shown via obvious physical deformities, such as Tari’s missing leg, the shift of certain character’s mindsets shows the effects of the Afghan conflicts permanently scarring the protagonists. This change of mentality is a sign of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, otherwise …show more content…
The daughter of Laila has endured physical abuse from her father and an unwanted relinquishment from her mother for a short time. Her undesired relinquishment gives her a high percent chance of having PTSD when paired to the injustices committed by Rasheed. The surest sign of PTSD that Aziza shows is the lisp that she develops during her time in the orphanage. This, along with the frequent nightmares Aziza has reveal that the catastrophic events of the war have scarred her permanently. Though the mind of this child may now be corrupt, many her age that endure these tribal conflicts also sustain mental deficiencies. Hosseini reveals this through Laila’s return to the orphanage she was forced to give her daughter