Laila's Suffering In 'A Thousand Splendid Suns'

Audrey Muck

A Thousand Splendid Suns Essay Questions

This novel shows the struggle of two women suffering against the Taliban society. Their similar suffering leads to the mother-daughter bond they created later in the book. The quote, "Women like us. We endure. It's all we have", can be used to exemplify the importance of hope, strength, and courage. Everyday, Mariam and Laila faced oppression and injustice, yet the book ended with a sense of pleasure. Mariam's mother believes that women have no choice but to be tough and survive.

In chapter 33, Laila saved Mariam from a beating by agreeing to have sex with Rasheed. Laila surrendered to Rasheed by saying, "You win. You win. Don't do this. Please, Rasheed, no beating! Please don't do this." This quote reveals the loyal and authentic relationship Mariam and Laila created. Laila took this action

because Laila was planning to eventually run away from Rasheed and she figured she may need Mariam to help. Although Mariam was harsh and cruel to Laila, Laila understood. Rasheed began honoring Laila with intentions of upsetting Mariam. Throughout the book, Laila confronted and defended herself and Mariam from Rasheed. Laila did this because she was raised to support femininity.
Laila used memories from her childhood to prevent the termination of Rasheed's child she was carrying. Laila wanted to abort the child in her womb but stopped when she realized the innocence and importance that comes with a pregnancy. On page 284, Laila dropped the metal wire and decided against another killing. This anecdote can relate to one of the themes found in this book: war. Laila was fighting a war with Rasheed and she decided that her innocent baby would not be the victim. Laila made sure that she had enough room in her heart to love another child. She treated her children equally and made sure that Aziza felt loved although Rasheed favored Zalmai.
In the mother-daughter relationship Mariam and Laila shared, Mariam was found to be the mother and Laila was the daughter.

Mariam taught Laila how to be a good wife and to survive a life with Rasheed. Even when Laila was bearing her second child, Mariam was doing everything she could to get Laila her medication despite the resentment Mariam had for not being able to carry children. Their relationships with their mothers shaped the way they treated one another. Laila's mother spent most of her time depressed because of her two older sons. In chapter 17, Laila's mother did not react when she told her about boys bullying her on her way home from school. While Mariam was the mother Laila never had, Laila was the daughter Mariam never had. The two women fill the important roles in their lives that they were once lacking. In chapter 34, page 247, it quotes, "Two days later, Laila woke up in the morning and found a stack of baby clothes, neatly folded, outside her bedroom door." Mariam had given Laila clothes for Aziza after Rasheed refused to support his daughter. Mariam constantly took care of Laila like a good mother

would.
The irony in this statement is that Mariam killed Rasheed to prevent Rasheed killing Laila. Mariam explained this to the judge in her trial but he stated that the woman belongs to the man in a marriage. Therefore, Mariam was sentenced to death. If Rasheed would have killed Laila, Rasheed would not have had the same consequence. It is ironic because either way someone would have been killed but the difference is the action of punishment between Mariam or Rasheed. It is also ironic that the judge mentions the good work of western doctors because the Taliban is fighting against the western belief system. Dramatic Irony is found in this book because the people of Afghanistan were very excited when the Soviets were overthrown and the Taliban was going to take over. We knew that the Taliban was going to negatively affect Afghanistan but the people didn't.
On page 364, Hosseini wrote, "Mariam declined her right to witnesses. The entire thing lasted less than fifteen minutes." By the term "thing", Hosseini was referring to Mariam's trial. Mariam refused to see visitors and declined the offer of witnesses because she was accepting her consequence. She was sacrificing her life for Laila and Laila's two children. Mariam also did not want to see anyone because if they would have questioned Mariam and her witnesses, the story may not have matched. Mariam condemned herself in hopes of giving Laila a better life. This scene displays themes of love and female bonding. Mariam and Laila had an unwavering relationship that could have lasted forever.
In chapter 21, Hakim, Tariq, and Laila visited the old fortress named Shahr-e-Zohak. The taxi driver informs them of its brief history. These landmarks were built to defend The Red City. They were invaded and surprisingly still standing. On page 146, he said, "Battered and nothing pretty to look at, but still standing." Mariam and Laila can relate to the passage told by the taxi driver because they represent the two Buddhas. They have survived many obstacles just like the fortress had been violated over many years of war. They also reflect on Afghanistan because they were controlled by Rasheed just like Afghanistan was. Mariam and Laila overcame Rasheed by killing him just like Afghanistan overthrew the Taliban in 2001. This story portrays the idea of unity generating a work of love and in Mariam and Laila's case, femininity.
Although the Taliban had banned the movie Titanic, many others watched it. They enjoyed the idea of having freedom to wear whatever they wanted. Many women envied the romanticism that was centered in the movie. The Taliban restricted this entertainment because it could empower the people of Afghanistan to overthrow the Taliban. On page 277, the list of Taliban rules or Shari'a stated, "Writing books, watching films, and painting pictures are forbidden." The Taliban strongly believed that any from of art could influence someone to want fame, power, or even freedom.
The first three parts of the story were written in past tense because it was a documented history. While Mariam was a young wife around the age of 15 or 16, Laila was just born. The first few parts had to be written in past tense so that the last part could match up in present tense. The story ends when Mariam was sentenced to death but Laila is still living and her life isn't over.