Great authors use literary elements to develop novels. In A Thousand Splendid Suns, Mariam, born out of wedlock, lives in Afghanistan. Afghan society refers to children born out of wedlock as a “harami”, Nana, her mom, emphasizes this to Mariam constantly. Later on in the novel, Laila, Mariam’s sister-wife has a harami herself. Khaled Hosseini uses characterization and tone to compare and contrast the ways Nana and Laila cope with having a harami, showing that Laila overcomes the stereotype. Hosseini uses characterization of Mariam through Nana’s upbringing to develop the subject of self-doubt. Mariam, born out of wedlock, becomes shamed and targeted by her mother, Nana. Nana always told her that she “was an illegitimate person who would never have legitimate claim to the things other people had, things such as love, family, home, and acceptance” (4). Not knowing any better, Mariam believes that she does not deserve the same personal rights as everyone because of her social status, even though she cannot control that. Nana blamed Mariam for the embarrassment, guilt, and shame of having a harami, making Mariam feel at fault. Nana makes Mariam feel lonely, undeserving, and insecure, because of her status, which she did not choose. Always dealing with Nana’s harsh words, it did not “occur to young Mariam to ponder the unfairness of apologizing for the manner of her own birth” (7). Nana’s hurtful words guilted Mariam into taking the blame over things she did not cause or
In addition, the author helps the reader understand the selfishness of the mother when the reader finds out she have stole the Persian Carpet “several months before” (230) the divorce and puts the blame on Ilya, the poor blind man. Furthermore, the visit of the children is supposed to signal a fresh start for the family. The mother even emphasizes she wants the girls to come “live with [them]” (229). Yet again, even if they meet in order to reunite, characterized by a situational irony, they see themselves separated because of her mother selfish decisions.
For many years, women have been oppressed and treated as property. The opinion of a woman did not matter, being obedient to her husband was all that is required. Even if they were obedient to their husbands, women were property and only for the pleaser and likening to the husband. Mariam did all the her husband required of her, however there was one thing should could not. Which was give her husband, Rasheed, a son or any child. In the novel A Thousand Splendid Suns by Khaled Hosseini, Hosseini reveals the social issue of physical abuse and mental abuse by his use of imagery, diction, and dialogue.
Much like the country of Afghanistan, characters in A Thousand Splendid Suns carry on through tough times and loss. Mariam and Laila persevere through unhealthy relationships with their mothers, as well as their abusive relationship with Rasheed. Through their character growth throughout the book, they grow into strong individuals. The war that has greatly damaged their country leads them to be able to overcome anything in their lives. Through this character growth, strength and perseverance through tough times proves to be the most prominent and important theme in the
The Five suns is creation story of the Aztec based on the mythological account of space, time, universe, people, animals and the world they lived in, as they understood it. The myth explains life’s unknowable obscurities to the Mesoamerica Mexica and Azteca people and it deeply rooted in their culture. Per the Archaeologist Nicoletta Maestri, “they believed their world had been created and destroyed four times before, and the current age, the fifth sun, would also end in violence at the end of the calendric cycle.” The mythologies claims that human have the responsibility of making sense of their surrounding as well as live by the god’s rule who have made human existence possible by sacrificing their blood and bones. The story begins with the primary maternities couples named Tonacacihuatl and Tonacateuctli known as Ometeotl or the gods of duality. They created the nine level of the universe and instructed their four
Anzaldúa uses ethos as a cultural theory studier to illustrate that culture forces us to make our beliefs and that expectations create a power struggle in her culture. She claimed that “Culture forms our beliefs.” (Anzaldúa 38) And that “Culture is made by those in power – men. Males make the rules and laws; women transmit them.” (Anzaldúa 38) Anzaldúa goes on to explain that women are powerless compared to men, and they are beaten anytime they try to break free of their cultural and familial expectations. She asserts that “The culture expects women to show greater acceptance of, and commitment to, the value system than man.” (Anzaldúa 39) and “Woman are made to feel total failures if they don’t marry and have children.” (Anzaldúa 39) In “Hollering Creek”, Cleofilas is pregnant with
Khaled Hosseini’s critically acclaimed novel A Thousand Splendid Suns, follows two women whose lives intertwine and their fates become connected. Laila is a young girl who falls in love with a man who she cannot be with and is carrying his baby when she marries Rasheed. Rasheed’s first wife, Mariam, is a lovely woman who becomes Laila’s companion in their mutual hatred for the abusive Rasheed. With alternating perspectives, Hosseini gives insight into both women's lives and relays the cruelties they are forced to endure, and how the brutality they face affects their lives, specifically Laila’s, whose motherly instincts allow her to endure much more than otherwise.
The phrase "a thousand splendid suns," from the poem by Saib-e-Tabrizi, is quoted twice in the novel - once as Laila's family prepares to leave Kabul, and again when she decides to return there from Pakistan. It is also echoed in one of the final lines: "Miriam is in Laila's own heart, where she shines with the bursting radiance of a thousand suns." Discuss the thematic significance of this phrase.
People in first world countries with privileges tend to overlook their good fortune and take everything for granted. Women in third world countries such as Afghanistan can only dream of the privileges and opportunities that would be given to them if one were to live in Canada, for example. Recently, media had been continuously trying to stress this concept of privilege difference to the Public. Attempting to amplify the amount of gratitude and thankfulness that people express for the good life they have been given. The novel ‘1000 splendid suns’ by Khaled Hossieni is a wonderful written example of this, as it explores the lives of two Afghan woman and their everyday struggle with oppressing forces in every aspect of their lives. Visual
In the novel A Thousand Splendid Suns, Khaled Hosseini contrasts Mariam’s path of overcoming adversity with Nana’s path of enduring to ultimately show that despite the adversity you face, overcoming it allows you to bring fulfillment to your life. As a young child Mariam is taught that the “only skill a woman” needs in order to survive in their society is to “endure”(Hosseini 17). Teaching this to Mariam was Nana’s way of passing on her idea of facing adversity. Nana’s path of enduring leads to her becoming a person full of hatred and distaste. Soon the guilt inside her reaches a breaking point leading to her suicide.
Numbers, as useful as they are, have no story. Stories, as moving as can be, cannot penetrate the heart of cruel human. In the 21st century world of capitalism, what speaks more truly to an American than consumerism? Throughout Warmth of Other Suns, Wilkerson describes the journeys of migrants and the personal obstacles each character encountered while moving. These challenges and their relevance to the larger narrative of the Great Migration are represented through the items on display. The emotional journey of a migrant is told through their stories, and their physical journey is told through their possessions.
“Joseph shall return to Canaan, grieve not, Hovels shall turn to rose gardens, grieve not. If a flood should arrive, to drown all that’s alive, Noah is your guide in the typhoon’s eye, grieve not (Hosseini 365).” A Thousand Splendid Suns, written by Khaled Hosseini, is a story that is set place in modern-day Afghanistan. It is one depicting the lives of two particular women who live under the control of a persecuting husband and the infamous rule of the Taliban. And through these two women (Laila and Mariam), Hosseini creates a mind-blowing, awe-inspiring adventure of regret, despair, tragedy, and more importantly, redemption. The book begins with separate perspectives of each woman, and how they consequently come together in the same
Explosions, Death, Loss, Fear- all are great symbols for war in A Thousand Splendid Suns. In this novel, Khaled Hosseini uses tumultuous environments to bring up some of the most interesting characters in the 21st century. The three strongest examples are Laila, Tariq, and Aziza. From losing your parents, to losing your leg, Hosseini uses these types of characters to almost make a connection with them. Because we see weakness in them it truly makes their triumph that much greater. War is a raging bull charging through the lives of many, but for some, it makes them stronger.
Everyone has relationships, whether it be with parents, friends, or even the special someone. It is also true that those relationships can change in an instant.. Authors show that truth in their work. Khaled Hosseini is no exception; including his novel A Thousand Splendid Suns. The main character Mariam does not see her dad, Jalil, except once a week. She loves him, but Jalil does not treat Mariam as well as he does his other children. When Mariam goes to Herat and wants to see Jalil,she ends up not being allowed into his house. This is when Mariam starts to dislike her dad, but Jalil only grows in his love for Mariam. Their relationship changed because of this one event. In the novel, A Thousand Splendid Suns , Khaled Hosseini uses character relationships to show that relationships can change or develop as a result of one event.
In the novel A Thousand Splendid Suns by Khaled Hosseini, main character Mariam is forced into exile after a horrific set of experiences. After her mother’s suicide, she is removed from her home and is later arranged to marry a random man she never met before. Before her departure, Mariam lived in a “kolba,” a small hut on the outskirts of Kabul, Afghanistan. With no other place to go, she disapprovingly lives with her father for a short period of time before being shipped off to her new husband. Her encounter with exile is almost unbearable, yet she endures and grows into a hardworking and respectable woman. For Mariam, exile is both alienating and enriching; it illuminates how withstanding life’s challenges and learning to overcome them with love will ultimately be beneficial in the end, no matter what happens.
The authors Khaled Hosseini and Kurt Vonnegut write novels of critical acclaim. Hosseini’s A Thousand Splendid Suns explores the life of Mariam and her struggles with her husband and society, however, she finds reason to fight through a religious tutor. Vonnegut’s Slaughterhouse-Five examines the life of Billy Pilgrim who goes through the bombing of Dresden and is kidnapped by an alien species, the Tralfamadorians, who have him apply a new philosophy. Using traditional techniques, Hosseini constructs Mullah Faizullah, the religious tutor, as a wise mentor. The persona of a hermit guru was used by Vonnegut as a non-traditional guide in the form of the Tralfamadorians in Slaughterhouse-Five. Hosseini uses foreshadowing and a comforting