disussion topic: C

In A Thousand Splendid Suns, Khaled Hosseini heartbreakingly conveys Mariam’s use of her past to survive in the present and understand her own life. Because of her illegitimate status, Mariam didn’t know much except Nana’s words about the real world. From what she had learned, Mariam implements the power to stay strong against any obstacle.

                When she was little, Nana taught her a really important lesson. “there is only one, only one skill a woman like you and me needs in life…and it’s this: tahamul. Endure” (18).  Because of what Jalil did to them, Mariam is taught that the only thing she needs to do is to go through the hardships that men implement on women.  She remembers these words and uses it with her marriage to Rasheed.  “Over the years, Mariam had learned to harden herself against his scorn and reproach, his ridiculing and reprimanding” (240). She uses Nana’s teachings from the past in order to endure Rasheed’s harsh criticism and continue on in life.

                Another part of Mariam’s past that she used was when Nana said, “ Like a compass needle that points north, a man’s accusing finger always finds a woman…(364)”. When Mariam turned herself in for killing Rasheed, she knew that they would accuse her anyways with or without any witnesses. That is why she sacrificed herself in order to protect Laila and the kids. Remembering those words helped her get through her persecution.

                Lastly, before Mariam passed away, she remembered all the good times she had when she was with Laila, Aziza, and Zalmai.  Mariam felt “a sensation of abundant peace that washed over her…She was leaving it as a friend, a companion, a guardian…This was a legitimate end to a life of illegitimate beginnings” (370). The time she spent with Laila and the kids gave her the most love that no one has given.  It also gave her more motivation to protect them from the society.

                Mariam’s experiences with the past events in her life gave her the strength and understanding to face her future. As a whole, her actions show that a person can find happiness within the midst of all the bitterness she’s had.

disussion topic: A

In the novel, A Splendid Thousand Suns, Hosseini uses literary elements to describe the melancholy experience that Marian and Laila had to suffer due to domestic abuse. A few literary elements that Hosseini uses to show the psychological and physical effects of abuse are point of view, imagery, and conflict.

                The book is told in a third-person point of view with focus mostly on Mariam and Laila. Throughout the story, the reader can understand everything that is going on. Specifically, from Mariam’s point of view, psychological issues that domestic abuse causes are understood.  “She lived in fear of his shifting moods, his volatile temperament, his insistence on steering even mundane exchanged down a confrontational path that, on occasion, he would resolve with punches, slaps, kicks…” (99). Rasheed’s anger spewed from Mariam’s miscarriage of their first child. Along with that, his past was already filled with the death of his wife and son. Because of so much grief, Rasheed beats Mariam; which made her feel frightened and lonely.  The reader would be able to see how Mariam feels because of the third person viewpoint Hosseini wrote.

                Another literary element Hosseini uses is imagery. The use of imagery paints the picture for the reader to feel as if they are in the story beside Mariam and Laila. For instance, when Laila and Mariam got caught trying to escape, Rasheed had beat Mariam until she was streaming blood all around her body.  “Only the systematic business of beating and being beaten, the thump, thump of something solid repeatedly striking flesh, something, someone, hitting a wall with a thud, cloth ripping…There was blood on his hands, blood on Mariam’s face, her hair, down her neck and back” (268-269). Hosseini lists the gruesome scene that Laila saw to have the reader imagine how horrific and terrible Rasheed’s physical abuse toward his wives.  It shows how abusive a man can turn into and how battered their wives can possibly be when the husbands become violent.

                An important element that is used is conflict. The constant battle between the wives and Rasheed is throughout the book. Because of the oppression toward the two, Laila and Mariam have to use their will power and withstand Rasheed’s tyrannical rule in their home.  “Over the years, Mariam had learned to harden herself against his scorn and reproach, his ridiculing and reprimanding. But this fear she had no control over it” (240). Despite the fact that Mariam can stand his harsh words and prodding, there is still that fear of being beaten by him. Laila and Mariam’s conflict with Rasheed psychologically makes the two feel inferior, weak, and hopeless against all odds.

                All together, domestic abuse is a serious and horrific event that a family should not witness or experience. Hosseini amplifies the life of Laila and Mariam to express how terrible a man can be toward his wife. His use of these literary elements makes the reader understand how extreme and upsetting abuse can affect one physically and psychologically.