Polygamy In A Thousand Splendid Suns

201 Words1 Page
bulb-icon

Recommended: Essays against polygamy

In Khaled Hosseini’s A Thousand Splendid Suns polygamous culture is highly accepted and legal. This acceptance stems from Mariam’s own father Jalil had 4 wives, but could not bring himself to accept his illegitimate child. Rasheed and Mariam’s marriage becomes a polygamous one when he coerces Laila into marriage. Polygamy is legal in over 100 countries mostly in the middle east and third world countries of africa. Attitudes toward polygamy in countries like the US and UK greatly contrast those in the middle East, but as TV shows like Sister wives become more accepted so does the idea. The practice of polygamy has caused some debate in the 20th century; and with the new legislation legalizing gay marriage one might say the legalization of

Show More
Related

  • Analysis of Writing Women's Worlds by Lia Adu-Lughod

    932 Words  | 2 Pages

    All the way through Migdim's incident with arranged marriages, we can understand the old customs that has to do with marriage. It is obvious that, although women were believed to be obedient, they were capable to effectively convince men. Yet, today there seems to be a sign toward polygamous marriages that are eventu...

    Read More

  • A Comparison of the Culture of Things Fall Apart and Western Culture

    2311 Words  | 5 Pages

    Polygamy is not something many Americans are accustomed to. Western culture teaches that monogamy, as opposed to polygamy, is the proper, accepted form of marriage. Western culture places that morality into it's people, often from youth.

    Read More

  • Sunjata Sparknotes

    1159 Words  | 3 Pages

    One man having many wives may seem like something that would happen in a male-dominated society, but while the men are spending time and doing things for one wife, the other wives are left to fend for themselves and their children. When Sogolon Wulen Condé cannot conceive because she has been vexed by the other wives of her husband, Maghan Konfara, she convinces her husband to take on another wife to have a child with. He ends up giving into her demands and marries another woman. While Sunjata is not actually born from this tie, the reader can see that Maghan Konfara is willing to respect his wife and listen to her input on such an impactful topic. Women are seen in the story has having a profound effect on the world around them, instead of just being used as a wife and mother. In this culture, they have more of a say. While not downplaying this system, it is critical to note that the polygamous marriages put in practice in the story of Sunjata would possibly complicate a patrilineal system, which is why the Mande peoples follow a matrilineal way

    Read More

  • Victimization Of Women In A Thousand Splendid Suns

    1125 Words  | 3 Pages

    The systematic victimization of women by patriarchal societies is extremely prominent throughout the book “A Thousand Splendid Suns”, written by Khaled Hosseini. For example, Mariam has been victimized since birth with her father not being around, her not getting a proper education, she is outcasted by everyone around her. This patriarchal society allowed her to be married off to Rasheed at the age of 15. Another way this theme is displayed is through Laila. She was a young girl that was living a fantastic life but once her father and mother were killed she was taken in by Mariam and Rasheed, which then lead to her becoming a victim. Rasheed abused her mentally, and physically with no remorse. She had to abide by his

    Read More

  • Polygamy in America

    1486 Words  | 3 Pages

    Polygamy is defined as “a marriage that includes more than two partners.” There are different types of polygamy, these include: polygyny, where a man has multiple wives, polyandry, in which a woman has multiple husbands, and group marriage, where a family consists of multiple husbands and wives. Of these different types of polygamy, polygyny is definitely the most popular of the three. In America, the practice of any form of polygamy is illegal and due to this law, many adherents of the lifestyle stay hidden ("What is Polygamy?"). Polygamy became an issue in the United States in the year 1852 when the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, also known as the LDS Church, made it so that plural marriage became a part of its religious doctrine. However, due to the storm of controversy that followed this movement, in 1890 the Mormon Church officially abandoned the practice. The Mormon’s who disagreed with the movement broke away from the Mormon Church and became known as Fundamentalist Mormons. Although the practice was almost unheard of in regions such as the Midwest, Northeast and South, in the Western portion of the United States, polygyny marriage is still prevalent. Those who are found to be practicing the belief are fined and sometimes are forced to split up with the rest of their families. For this reason many remain in the dark about their lifestyle, considering the severity of the consequences ("History of Fundamentalist Mormons"). However, recently many families have come out of hiding and proclaimed to the world that they are a practicing polygamist family, raising the question: is it right for the government to tell people who they can and cannot marry?

    Read More

  • Professor Elias Kary Applied Anthropology

    1220 Words  | 3 Pages

    Polygamous marriages in Tibet were the basis of an article by Melvyn Goldstein, the articles specific focus was on a unique type of marriage they practice called fraternal polyandry where several Tibetan brothers marry one wife. Age determination is the method in which each brother is place; sexual aspects of the marriage are age-related as well as how children are treated within family groups. Discussed also within the article was family planning and how these polyandry marriage are celebrated.

    Read More

  • Honor In A Thousand Splendid Suns

    675 Words  | 2 Pages

    The Afghan and Muslim community take the idea of honour very seriously. They honour their family name and reputation very dearly. If someone within their family were to act or behave in such a way that the family’s honour is put into question the head, typically the father or the eldest male will act in a barbaric way that could potentially be deadly. This extreme sense of honour is prevalent throughout the novel A Thousand Splendid Suns by Khaled Hosseini and the documentary “Honour Killing”. If a female were to act in a way that dishonors their reputation the husband or male relative believes they are allowed to punish those who brought the shame to their family without being held accountable for their actions.

    Read More

  • Analysis Of When Brothers Share A Wife By Melvyn C. Goldstein

    1283 Words  | 3 Pages

    Then the article connects to how fraternal polyandry is similar to nineteenth century marriage in England. Even though they are similar, Tibetan “believe that in this way fraternal polyandry reduces risk of fission, monogamous marriage among brother need to necessarily precipitate the division of family estate” (“When Brothers Share a Wife”). Then the article goes into how the author of this article, Melvyn C. Goldstein, asked the Tibetan people on why they marry this way. Some said it makes the family more stable and other said that is keeps conflict from affecting

    Read More

  • Is Monogamy the Best Form of Marriage?

    579 Words  | 2 Pages

    The Western Religious leaders and moralists believe only one spouse for life is the highest form of marriage. Some of the most "primitive" peoples are strictly monogamous in their ideals, while some "highly advanced" cultures have moved away from the stri...

    Read More

  • A Defense of Polyamory

    1418 Words  | 3 Pages

    Mention the concept of polygamy in any “civilized” gathering, and you just may be able to see the shiver of repulsion that ripples through the crowd. By substituting the word “polyamory” in, you will be able to circumvent this reaction – but only because everyone is staring at you in baffled silence instead. So we begin, as always, with definitions.

    Read More

  • Children: The Innocent Victims of Polygamy

    1413 Words  | 3 Pages

    “Polygamy is defined as a marriage in which a spouse of either gender has more than one mate at the same time. Polygamy is considered a valid form of marriage in many countries and communities around the globe” (Al-Krenawi). However, polygamy is illegal in the United States. Those who practice polygamy in America can only be “legally” married to one spouse; therefore, the subsequent spouses in a polygamist relationship hold a “singl...

    Read More

  • Theme Of Feminism In Things Fall Apart

    1833 Words  | 4 Pages

    “Polygyny is the marriage of one man to more than one woman at the same time” (Powell 167). This structure of marriage is prevalent among the families of Okonkwo’s village, and Okonkwo himself has three wives. A man with many wives was looked upon in a better light than a man with only one wife or no wife at all. In the novel, Okonkwo is said to have had a hard start as a young man because “he neither inherited a barn, nor a title, nor even a young wife” (Achebe 18). Men view wives as a means to gain titles and respect as well as extra labor power for thier combines. Women bring a number of benefits to a man: sexual services, reproductive power, labor, farms for women’s crops, in-laws with goods, land, and livestock. Men typically have only one wife if they lacked wealth (Amadiume 30-31). This is a feminist issue because the people of the village treat women as property that can be inherited. A feminist critic sees how polygyny devalues women and treats them the same as animals. According to Nigerian law, a woman is categorized “as an object who is not quite human” (Bazza 176). In Nigeria, if a woman is involved in polygyny and her husband divorces her for whatever reason, she cannot remarry and often turns to prostitution or extreme poverty for herself and her children (Kunhiyop 44). There is no good that comes from polygyny for

    Read More

  • Argumentative Essay On Polygamy

    1581 Words  | 4 Pages

    In today’s society the assumption asserts that there must be only two adults integrated in a relationship, however in polygamous environments, having more than one spouse is traditional. Some may argue that Polygamy is simply just an alternate lifestyle. This, however, ceases to be true. Young girls are being forced to marry older men and sometimes relatives. Little boys are often abandoned because it appears to be competition for older men. Children are victims of sexual and physical abuse. Whereas, for women, they generally become stripped of their money and experience competition against the multiple wives a husband. Although Polygamy is viewed as immoral by society, the main focus point should be saving young children and women because

    Read More

  • Theme Of Pygamy In So Long A Letter

    2016 Words  | 5 Pages

    “You think the problem of polygamy is a simple one. Those who are involved In it know the constraints, the lies, the injustices that weigh down their consciences In return for the ephemeral joys of change, I am sure you are motivated by love, a love that existed well before your marriage and that fate has not been able to satisfy.” I think this quotation captures the true essence of the novel and represents the central conflict. Two of the plot lines in Mariama Bâ’s So Long a Letter revolve around the effect of polygamy. The issue of polygamy also remains one of the central issues in the book. In a letter which is written to her friend Aissatou Bâ, Ramatoulaye Fall describes how her husband decides to take a second wife Binetou. In the course

    Read More

  • An Analysis Of Mariama Bâ's So Long A Letter

    1496 Words  | 3 Pages

    A second point raised during the reading which exemplifies gender inequality tendencies of the society includes polygamy. In the story, after Modou and Binetou’s marriage, the guests go to Ramatoulaye’s house for a surprise visit. Tamsir, Modou’s older brother, tells Ramatoulaye that “God intended [Modou] to have a second wife” and that “there is nothing he can do about it” (Bâ, 2008, p. 38). He soon continued by saying that “a wife owes her husband [happiness]”

    Read More

More about Polygamy In A Thousand Splendid Suns

Open Document