Themes In A Thousand Splendid Suns By Khaled Hosseini

A Thousand Splendid Suns is written by Khaled Hosseini, and it takes place in Afghanistan during the 1900s. The story tells many themes, but the essential theme is about women 's roles in the past decades. The novel identifies Afghanistan women’s lives of suffering disastrous events such as war, protecting family members, and injustice. Mariam was born as an illegitimate child in Herat, and lived with her mother Nana alone for fifteen years. She grew up hearing different stories from both her parents, and she had always believed her father’s story, which were lies told to hide his guilt. When Nana died, Mariam was forced to marry a shoe keeper, in Kabul, by her father’s wives. Laila, who is much younger than Mariam and grew up as Mariam’s neighbor, …show more content…
However, women are expected to stay home and do chores for their future without being involved in the society, as school was not necessary for women. When the Taliban conquered the city, education was completely banned. Girls did not have any chances to be educated because men believed women can only do housework. They never gave any chances for them to learn or work in the society. A quote stated, “But I’ve seen nine-year-old girls given to men twenty years older than your suitor, Mariam, We all have. What are you, fifteen? That’s a good, solid marrying age for a girl.” The quoted explains that women do not have freedom. It is unjust to marry at a young age when they haven’t even graduate from school, and they cannot go out to find jobs and hobbies. It will also be difficult to truly love a person who is over twenty years older than you and with different opinions and ways of living. There is a scene when Rasheed and Mariam are listening to the radio, and Mariam had difficulties to comprehend the the situation of the person reporting news. This demonstrates the importance of learning can be useful for women, so they can also have work opportunities in the society to raise a …show more content…
This novel demonstrates the strength of women who fought for survival and freedom. In the end, Laila and Tariq survived with their children when they escaped to Pakistan while Mariam died in prison. Laila soon decided to return home in Kabul with her family where it is now safe. Laila first went to find Mariam’s family in Herat and found things from Jalil, Mariam’s father, including a letter he written for Mariam. In the letter, he talked about his regrets and pride he had before, and hope Mariam can forgive him. Although, Mariam never read the letter, Laila felt extreme pity for her after knowing about her early life and understand that her father must have been very special for her. Laila thought of all the events that happened during the war and the friendship with Mariam who gave up her life to save her. Laila, who is a survivor of suffering from unfairness and cruelty by men, will always remember Mariam and their friendship, and by remembering, she would name her upcoming child Mariam, if it is a