A Closer Look: A Thousand Splendid Suns
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Afghanistan 1970s And Now | Afghanistan Before Taliban | Know In Less Than 5 Mins | News For You
Historical Information
The story spans from the 1970's to just after September 11, 2001. It follows the lives of Mariam and Laila in Afghanistan, mostly in Kabul, during the occupation of numerous coups as well as the occupation of the Taliban who impose strict fundamentalist laws. The novel examines the affects of class hierarchy and the lives of women during times of unrest in Afghanistan.
Khaled Hosseini
"Writing fiction is the act of weaving a series of lies to arrive at a greater truth"
Khaled Hosseini was born in Kabul, Afghanistan in 1965. After their homaeland was overrun by the Soviet Army and a communist coup, Hosseini and his family were forced to relocate and eventually sought asylum in the United States.
He attended Santa Clara University as well as UC San Diego, earning overall a medical degree.
Characters
Exposition
Mariam is introduced and the start of her life with Rasheed is told.
Rising Action
We meet the kind Laila and see her grow up with her family and Tariq during the Mujahideen fight.
Climax
After the death of her parents Laila moves in with Mariam and Rasheed, becoming his wife and bearing children.
Falling Action
The Taliban takes over. Relations with Rasheed become deadly, causing Mariam and Laila to strengthen their relationship. Tariq comes back in a shocking turn of events.
Resolution
Mariam kills Rasheed, sacrificing herself so that Laila and her children can live safely and happily with Tariq. Laila and Tariq decide to move back to Kabul as peace seems to settle in.
"I'll follow you to the edge of the world."
Khaled Hosseini
Symbols
Burqa
The burqa represents the control that Rasheed exercises over Laila and Mariam and their inability to speak their mind under the Taliban rule. The oppression hinders Laila and Mariam from escape and anonymity.
What is the greater truth?
From Hosseini's introduction of Mariam to Laila's embrace of her roots, Khaled Hosseini delivers a compelling and remarkable narrative that highlights no matter the hardships humans may face there still exists hope, progress, and beauty.
Meaning of Work as a Whole
Changing Perspective
Insights from the Marxist Lens
Because of Mariam's social class and gender, she is given little to no voice for herself and no guarantee for love due to her label as a harami. Rasheed, of higher social status, holds power over Mariam as a man as well as having money. Laila for a good portion of her life has education, love, and a voice within her family, which Mariam couldn't normally have.
Mariam, because of her label as illegitimate, never seems to have a voice. Her relationship with Rasheed only concerns her fertility, furthermore her ability to give him a son. She must obey Rasheed and his every whim, because he is of higher class and can provide her with security. It doesn't hurt to mention that Rasheed is a man who exploits that in order to maintain absolute control over Mariam.
Many of the characters in the novel, including Rasheed, are against communist views and rule. Under the Taliban there is a push for strict fundamentalist interpretation of Islam which causes the social classes and women to be vulnerable; sans voice, sans control.