Historical Context of A Thousand Splendid Suns The novel takes place over approximately forty years, from the early 1970s, when Mariam is a teenager, to 2003, when Laila is settled once again in Kabul with her family. As Rasheed's daily behavior changes, Mariam perceives that Rasheed is courting Laila. 2023 Course Hero, Inc. All rights reserved. When Rasheed finds out that Tariq has come home, he brutally beats Laila. As penance for his adultery, Jalil comes to visit Mariam weekly, bringing her small gifts and news of the world. Laila feels devastated again. She will continue to fantasize about this idea, especially the thought of living a life with Tariq, throughout the novel, but conflict will continuously push back against this desire. She meets with the son of a kindly mullah who taught Mariam, who gives her a box Jalil had entrusted to the family to care for and give to Mariam should she return to Herat. Study Guide. Complete your free account to access notes and highlights. My students love how organized the handouts are and enjoy tracking the themes as a class., Requesting a new guide requires a free LitCharts account. Always. (including. Jalil's wives want nothing to do with Mariam, so they force him to let her marry Rasheed, a widowed shoemaker in Kabul. Shortly afterwards, Laila's family decide to also leave the city, but before they can, a rocket hits their home, killing Hakim and Fariba and injuring Laila who is then taken in by Mariam and Rasheed. publication in traditional print. She had begun stealing money from Rasheed in order to put her plan into action. Laila and Tariq live in Pakistan for a while, but after a year return to a more peaceful Kabul, to help rebuild the city. Analysis In two succinct scenes, Hosseini establishes that both Afghanistan as well as Laila and Tariq are at a crossroads. Retrieved from https . Laila endures a number of beatings from Taliban when caught travelling alone to attempt to visit Aziza when Rasheed refuses to accompany her as her guardian. Mariam murders him with a shovel in order to save Lailas life. Rasheed finds a job at a hotel and can sustain the family again. You can view our. All the major characters, except perhaps for Amir's wife Soraya, were men. With time, both of Laila's children warm to Tariq and they enjoy their new life. After becoming a bestselling author with the publication of. You remember that, Mariam." ~Khaled Hosseini, A Thousand Splendid Suns, Chapter 1, Page 7 "Look at me, Mariam.' Reluctantly, Mariam did. Finally, the central action of the chapter, Mariam's over-eager breaking of the sugar bowl, provides symbolic foreshadowing for the rest of the book. Although Kabul is a modernizing city, where women have greater liberties of expression, Rasheed proclaims himself of a traditional mindset and asks that Mariam wears a burqa. Raub, Adena. Mariam protests to no avail; Mariam and Rasheed marry and go to Kabul. Despite the violence that defines many events in the plot, Hosseini ends A Thousand Splendid Suns with the idea that it is possible to rebuild after overcoming a challenging past. The novel spans several years and shows the character arcs of the two protagonists as they age from girls to women. Instant downloads of all 1715 LitChart PDFs Part One is entirely told through Mariams point of view, and Part Two is told through Lailas. Despite the loss of Lailas close friend, Lailas story also ends on a note of hope. Laila is ecstatic. "[18], In the book, both Mariam and Laila are forced into accepting marriage to Rasheed, who requires them to wear a burqa long before it is implemented by law under the Taliban. He tells her about events in the outside . Mariam walks to heart and finds Jalil's house, but he doesn't let her in, so she sleeps on the street. Nana had worked as a housemaid for the wealthy cinema owner Jalil, Mariam's father, but after she became pregnant, Jalil cast her out to the shack. I remember watching them walking in pairs up the street, trailed by their children in ragged clothes, and wondering how life had brought them to that pointI spoke to many of those women in Kabul. Detailed explanations, analysis, and citation info for every important quote on LitCharts. Laila and Tariq leave Afghanistan and move to Murree, Pakistan, where they get married. You'll also receive an email with the link. Teachers and parents! She weeps and hugs Tariq. The citation above will include either 2 or 3 dates. The laws are even more severe than Rasheed has been. Rasheed puts Laila on a pedestal and makes fun of Mariam in order to impress Laila. [30], Columbia Pictures owns the movie rights to the novel. on 50-99 accounts. Mariam eventually is caught and put into a prison run by the Taliban. Throughout this time, Afghanistan was subjected to a series of violent, brutal wars and numerous political coups. A rare beauty, Laila grows up intellectually encouraged by her ex-schoolteacher father but ignored by her unpredictable mother, who thinks only of her sons fighting in the Mujahideens army, against the Communists. As a girl, Miriam loves Thursday visits from Jalil, who tells her stories of Herat, although she never visits the city and her mother takes pains to remind the growing girl that her father brings her only stories, none of the wealth Jalil describes to her. Mariam, a young girl, lives in a small shack with her mother, Nana, outside of the city of Herat in Afghanistan. Mariam is most changed by her relationship with Laila, as watching the younger woman teaches Mariam to stand up for herself, as highlighted in the scene where she saves Lailas life. The A Thousand Splendid Suns quotes below all refer to the symbol of Saib-e-Tabrizi's Poem. Nana had worked as a housemaid for the wealthy cinema owner Jalil, Mariam's father, but after she became pregnant, Jalil cast her out to the shack. By now, Tariq and Laila are teenagers and in love. A Thousand Splendid Suns is divided into four parts. The Question and Answer section for A Thousand Splendid Suns is a great [23] Natasha Walter from The Guardian wrote, "Hosseini is skilled at telling a certain kind of story, in which events that may seem unbearable - violence, misery and abuse - are made readable. A Thousand Splendid Suns Khaled Hosseini Study Guide Summary Summary & Analysis Literary Devices Themes Motifs Symbols Quotes Quotes by Theme Characters Mariam Mariam is one of the novel's two protagonists. She grows up in a small hut several kilometers outside the read analysis of Mariam Laila Laila teaches at the orphanage. to start your free trial of SparkNotes Plus. Jalil, on the other hand, feels as if he owes Miriam something. [12], Similar to The Kite Runner, the manuscript had to be extensively revised; with Hosseini ultimately rewriting the book five times before it was complete. After the fall of the Taliban, they decide to return to Kabul to be present for the rebuilding of Afghan society. He is a misogynist who uses women for what he wants. creating and saving your own notes as you read. As conflict turns to war in Kabul, living conditions become difficult for everyone. At first, Rasheed is sweet and brings her gifts. A Thousand Splendid Suns is set in Afghanistan from the early 1960s to the early 2000s. Tariq and Laila have sex before he leaves, a choice that creates lasting consequences. At one point, Jalil tries to visit Mariam in Kabul, but she will not see him. Renew your subscription to regain access to all of our exclusive, ad-free study tools. A Thousand Splendid Suns, a 2007 novel by Afghan-born Khaled Hosseini, is the story of Mariam and Laila, two women married to the same man, Rasheed. As Mariam grows older, she learns her father has three wives and nine legitimate children. Rasheed soon neglects the baby and implies that he knows the baby is not his. While Chapter 1 is brief, it provides us with important background information about three main characters and establishes symbolism as a means of foreshadowing. Teacher Editions with classroom activities for all 1715 titles we cover. Laila goes to school and lives in Kabul with Babi and Mammy. Want 100 or more? He doesn't gloss over the horrors his characters live through, but something about his direct, explanatory style and the sense that you are moving towards a redemptive ending makes the whole narrative, for all its tragedies, slip down rather easily."[24]. and any corresponding bookmarks? Tariq and Laila spend the afternoon together while Rasheed is at work. A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality study guides that feature detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, quotes, and essay topics. When she gives birth to a daughter, Aziza, Rasheed rejects them due to her being a girl. Subscribe now. Laila is saved by Rasheed and Mariam nurses her back to health. A Thousand Splendid Suns as well as Titanic illustrate the life and death the couple faces as their adversities draw them apart. Grossman, Lev; "The 10 Best Fiction Books"; "For 'A Thousand Splendid Suns,' a well-timed journey from the page to the stage", "Arts, Briefly; 'Kite Runner' Author To Release a New Novel", "A Thousand Splendid Suns: The plight of Afghan women only partially depicted", "Jonathan Yardley: A THOUSAND SPLENDID SUNS", Grossman, Lev; Top 10 Fiction Books; time.com, "A Woman's Lot in Kabul, Lower Than a House Cat's", "A Thousand Splendid Suns by Khaled Hosseini", "100 'most inspiring' novels revealed by BBC Arts", "Khaled Hosseini, Kabul's Splendid Son (Extended Interview)", "Khaled Hosseini: 'If I could go back now, I'd take The Kite Runner apart', "One Community Acquires 'A Thousand Splendid Suns' By 'The Kite Runner' Author Khaled Hosseini For Limited Series", "Seattle Opera's 'A Thousand Splendid Suns' is a poignant, timely tale", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=A_Thousand_Splendid_Suns&oldid=1143972196, Print (hardback & paperback) and audio CD, This page was last edited on 11 March 2023, at 01:40. We're sorry, SparkNotes Plus isn't available in your country. Start your 48-hour free trial to get access to more than 30,000 additional guides and more than 350,000 Homework Help questions answered by our experts. The reference to "a thousand splendid suns that hide behind her walls" likely refers to the women of Kabul, glowing beauties cloistered in hearth and home, tantalizingly hidden from the outside world but nonetheless providing vital life-giving warmth to Afghan society. Laila awakens in Rasheed's and Mariam's house. (one code per order). Rasheed attempted to squash the possibility of Laila missing her ex-lover by arranging for someone to tell her he was dead; he is furious when his plan is overturned. Despite her father Hakim's emphasis on attending school, Laila must quit because the streets are too dangerous. By interweaving historical facts, often with dates and leaders names included, with the fictional narrative, Hosseini helps to breathe life into what could be a confusing historical lesson for an English-speaking audience. Mullah Faizullah's son gives Laila a box that Jalil left for Mariam. Renews April 24, 2023 United by their love for Aziza and their distaste Rasheed, Laila and Mariam form a powerful bond. Laila also suffers beatings at the hands of Rasheed, but she is more likely to fight back or talk back to defend herself. It is Hosseini's second novel, following his bestselling debut, The Kite Runner. Dont have an account? From her parents Mariam inherits conflicting views: Nanas, that a harami like her must endure a lifetime of pain; and Jalils, that there is a whole world to discover beyond the kolba. Who is misogynistic and who isn't misogynistic in A Thousand Splendid Suns? He later becomes increasingly abusive. When Rasheed returns home from work, Zalmai informs Rasheed that Laila had a male visitor. "A Thousand Splendid Suns Summary". Mariam is initially hurt and threatened by Laila's presence and refuses to have anything to do with her. She thinks of herself as a person of consequence at last, and it is particularly significant that this woman who had been taught merely to endure and developed such a low sense of self-worth views herself through this lens by the novels end. A Thousand Splendid Suns Chapter 1 Summary and Analysis Part 1: Chapter 1 Summary Mariam, an Afghani woman, remembers her mother calling her a harami when she was five years old although it is many years later before she learns the word means "bastard child." Fariba joins Hakim and Laila spies on their conversation with the stranger; it quickly becomes clear that he brings news that Laila's brothers, Noor and Ahmed, have died. This almost maternal sacrifice allows Laila to escape with Tariq. The developing story captured me and enabled me to tune out the background noise and get on with the business of inhabiting the world I was creating. Though no one woman that I met in Kabul inspired either Laila or Mariam, their voices, faces, and their incredible stories of survival were always with me, and a good part of my inspiration for this novel came from their collective spirit. Continue to start your free trial. Mariam's loving nature is challenged by Nana, who yells at the five-year-old and calls her a bastard when she accidentally breaks a favorite sugar bowl. The Taliban come to power, and strict laws are placed on women. "My students can't get enough of your charts and their results have gone through the roof." To do so, they find a man who seems willing to act as their relative when they buy tickets to Pakistan, but he tells the authorities. After a few days, Abdul Sharif comes and brings news that Tariq had been hospitalized and then died. Mariam has always been disrespected and thought of as lesser due to her illegitimate status; she is accustomed to being treated as such. [11], Hosseini disclosed that in some ways, A Thousand Splendid Suns was more difficult to write than his first novel, The Kite Runner. Near her 15th birthday, Mariam goes for the first time to the Herat house Jalil shares with his legitimate wives and children. Marrying Rasheed in haste, Laila attempts to pass off the child as his own. Removing #book# 2023 eNotes.com, Inc. All Rights Reserved, Women as Protagonists in A Thousand Splendid Suns. [1] It continues some of the themes used in his previous work, such as familial dynamics, but instead focusing primarily on female characters and their roles in contemporary Afghan society. [17] A Riverhead Trades Weekly review states that the novel consistently shows the "patriarchal despotism where women are agonizingly dependent on fathers, husbands and especially sons, the bearing of male children being their sole path to social status. She wishes to return and contribute. Get free homework help on Khaled Hosseini's A Thousand Splendid Suns: book contents, chapter summary and analysis, and character analysis courtesy of CliffsNotes. Knowing that the two wives of a murdered husband would not have a chance of victory in a Taliban court, Mariam gives herself up and is sentenced to death, while she encourages Laila to elope with Tariq and the children. Mariam tries to reach Jalil for help, but she finds that he is dead. TO CANCEL YOUR SUBSCRIPTION AND AVOID BEING CHARGED, YOU MUST CANCEL BEFORE THE END OF THE FREE TRIAL PERIOD. They watch a kissing scene and both feel awkward and tense after it ends. The narrative, which takes place in Afghanistan, is speckled with Afghani phrases that only sometimes are directly defined. Her parents certainly never imagined her as a second wife and victim of domestic abuse, whereas Mariams mother would have expected nothing else for her daughter. Laila and Tariq marry and start a new life in Pakistan. Mariam gets pregnant seven times but loses the baby each time due to a health complication. A Thousand Splendid Suns by Khaled Hosseini Start Free Trial Analysis PDF Cite Share Last Updated on August 18, 2022, by eNotes Editorial. It is co-produced by the American Conservatory Theater and Theatre Calgary. Each character develops as a result of her interaction with the other woman, and the two become great allies. Part 2 describes the early life of Laila, who was born in Kabul in the late 1970's. The lives of the two women intersect in Part 3. Laila blocks his blow, the first time anyone has ever stood up for Mariam. Just before Laila reaches adolescence, her parents' receive news that both of their sons have been killed. Are you sure you want to remove #bookConfirmation# However before they can get away, a bomb explodes, killing Lailas parents. See a complete Character List for A Thousand Splendid Suns, as well as in-depth analysis of its most important characters. Purchasing eNotes.com, Inc. Mariam asks Laila if she would accept Rasheeds hand in marriage, and Laila answers at onceyesshe is pregnant and wants Rasheed to think that the baby is his. Get Annual Plans at a discount when you buy 2 or more! After Rasheed's death, Laila is determined to leave Kabul. By signing up you agree to our terms and privacy policy. Detailed quotes explanations with page numbers for every important quote on the site. Hosseini ultimately attended Santa Clara University and later medical school. The first theatrical adaptation of the novel premiered in San Francisco, California, on February 1, 2017. 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Gives birth to a series of violent, brutal wars and numerous political coups, she learns father... Quote on LitCharts Thousand Splendid Suns quotes below all refer to the novel spans several years and shows character! Both feel awkward and tense after it ends you read is saved by Rasheed and Mariam 's house with. Story also ends on a pedestal and makes fun of Mariam in order to save Lailas.... Her in, so she sleeps on the street other hand, feels as if he owes Miriam.. And move to Murree, Pakistan, where they get married had a male visitor ; Poem... By signing up you agree to our terms and privacy policy afternoon together while is! Start a new life in Pakistan their adversities draw them apart close friend Lailas... Its most important characters will not see him allows Laila to escape with Tariq woman, and citation for!
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