“A woman who will be like a rock in a riverbed, enduring without complaint, her grace not sullied but shaped by the turbulence that washes over her”(Hosseini 355). A Thousand Splendid Suns, by Khaled Hosseini, is a story centered around Mariam and Laila, two Afghani women. Mariam’s Nana told her “each snowflake was a sigh heaved by an aggrieved woman somewhere in the world. As a reminder of how women like us suffer. How quietly we endure all that falls upon us” (Hosseini 82). Each has experienced a multitude of anguish and misery. They suffer through tragic childhoods and a malicious husband. Through their endurance they represent two of the “hidden suns” of Kabul.
During Mariam’s childhood Nana always told her she was a harami. Once, Nana …show more content…
These women are concealed in the shadows, whether the restraint takes the form of abuse or a burqa. The burqa symbolizes a loss of identity for Laila and Mariam as well as many Afghan women, because Mariam and Laila never wore them until they married Rasheed and Afghan women did not wear them until they were under the Taliban's rule. Although Mariam is originally bitter to Laila, their biggest restraint was their marriage with Rasheed and begin to lean on each other. Through this friendship, Laila takes comfort in having a friend and mother figure, and starts to understand the necessary sacrifices that come with motherhood. Mariam is also able to fulfill her wish to finally give and receive love through her love for Laila and her children. Their friendship is similar to those shared by Afghan women who keep each other standing. As both marriages wear on, Rasheed becomes more and more abusive. During a beating, Rasheed nearly strangles Laila. Mariam, in hopes of saving Laila’s life, “she gave it everything she had” (Hosseini 349) and kills Rasheed. Afterwards, Mariam is executed for the murder giving Laila and her children enough time to run away. Mariam told her, “There's nothing more I want. Everything I'd ever wished for as a little girl you've already given me. You and your children have made me very happy” (Hosseini 319). Mariam puts Laila and her children's needs before hers, similar to how most mothers and wives sacrifice their necessities for their
During Mariam’s childhood Nana always told her she was a harami. Once, Nana …show more content…
These women are concealed in the shadows, whether the restraint takes the form of abuse or a burqa. The burqa symbolizes a loss of identity for Laila and Mariam as well as many Afghan women, because Mariam and Laila never wore them until they married Rasheed and Afghan women did not wear them until they were under the Taliban's rule. Although Mariam is originally bitter to Laila, their biggest restraint was their marriage with Rasheed and begin to lean on each other. Through this friendship, Laila takes comfort in having a friend and mother figure, and starts to understand the necessary sacrifices that come with motherhood. Mariam is also able to fulfill her wish to finally give and receive love through her love for Laila and her children. Their friendship is similar to those shared by Afghan women who keep each other standing. As both marriages wear on, Rasheed becomes more and more abusive. During a beating, Rasheed nearly strangles Laila. Mariam, in hopes of saving Laila’s life, “she gave it everything she had” (Hosseini 349) and kills Rasheed. Afterwards, Mariam is executed for the murder giving Laila and her children enough time to run away. Mariam told her, “There's nothing more I want. Everything I'd ever wished for as a little girl you've already given me. You and your children have made me very happy” (Hosseini 319). Mariam puts Laila and her children's needs before hers, similar to how most mothers and wives sacrifice their necessities for their