Alefa Chowdhury
12-09-13
7th Hour
A Thousand Splendid Suns A Thousand Splendid Suns, written by Khaled Hosseini, is a story that is set place in modern-day Afghanistan. It is a story of two particular women who live under the control of a persecuting husband and the infamous rule of the Taliban. In A Thousand Splendid Suns, Khaled Hosseini shifts the narrative perspective throughout the different sections. Overall, the story is told from an omniscient third person. The external character shows the reader world events as they happen and how it affects the main characters, Mariam and Laila, with a factual, unbiased perspective. As the story progressed, we switch to third person limited to understand Mariam and Laila’s individual struggles and experiences, yet we never know what any of the other characters are thinking unless it is said. By shifting narrative perspectives, Hosseini demonstrates how women help each other achieve a shared goal in a time of civil war and social inequality. And through these two women (Laila and Mariam), Hosseini creates a mind-blowing, adventure of regret, despair, tragedy, and more importantly, redemption. The book begins with separate perspectives of each woman, and how they consequently come together in the same household. Mariam, to start with, is actually a result of the shameful act that her father, Jalil Khan, a wealthy business man of Herat, committed when he impregnated one of his servants. As a result of this, Mariam was forced to live in the countryside with her mother, Nana (who committed suicide), and eventually forced into marriage as a teen to a man by the name of Rasheed. Secondly, Laila is a young girl whose family background is not the best: her parents are always fighting and her brothers, whom she hardly remembers are at war with the Soviets. Despite the hard life that she is forced to live, she always seems to find solace in her lover, Tariq. Nonetheless, when the Taliban finally come into power, her parents soon become victim to the violent bombings of Kabul, and immediately, she is orphaned. Then, as if by chance or luck, Rasheed finds Laila and digs her out of the rubble and eventually marries her. As Mariam and Laila form a mutual bond and lasting friendship, each soon realizes the anger and malice that Rasheed possesses. On numerous occasions he beats them, hits them, spits at them, ridicules them, and much more. Ultimately, Mariam and Laila attempt to escape, but fail, which in turn infuriates Rasheed even more. These two women then work together and protect each other, and in due course, kill Rasheed during one of his “ritual” beatings. In the end, Mariam is killed for murdering her husband, and Laila, with her children, Aziza and Zalmai, finds Tariq and marries him; then, together they start their own family. Throughout the course of the story, not only was a passionate, well-written story presented, but also a clear picture of what Afghan culture and its aspects are really like. One cultural facet of Afghanistan that really stood out was what controlling husbands do to their “unimportant” wives which Hosseini was quite candid about. Firstly, in one example, Rasheed is so upset with Mariam’s cooking, that he goes out, brings some pebbles in, and forces her to chew on them until her molars crack (Hosseini 94). This scene shows that husbands were in complete control in nearly every household, and the wives could not do anything. Secondly, when Laila and Rasheed are having an argument about what to do with their daughter Aziza (because they have become poor and it is hard to support all of them as it is), Rasheed becomes extremely infuriated and puts the barrel of his gun down Laila’s throat (Hosseini 267). After reading this, one can easily infer that in a controlling relationship, especially in Afghanistan, the husband can literally do whatever he desires and would never be penalized for it. Thirdly, when the police bring Mariam and Laila home after their failed escape attempt, Rasheed is vindictive in his actions: he locks both of them up in separate rooms, Laila with her daughter in one, and Mariam in the tool shed outside. Not only are the “prisoners” burning in extreme heat, they nearly die of thirst as well (Hosseini 239-243). This scene shows that Rasheed was indeed capable of inflicting sickening extremities upon his wives, and that in the Afghan culture; he would never be convicted of doing such a thing. After reviewing what happens to women in controlling relationships in this country, one must then look at the effects of being brutally treated by a husband of Rasheed’s caliber. In the Middle Eastern cultures, men tend to have more rights and freedoms than their female counterparts, so it is not surprising to hear about some of the ways Laila and Mariam rebel against Rasheed’s rule. Firstly, in times of crisis people look for others for support, and when dealing with their violent husband, Laila and Mariam find each other. At one point, they, “did their chores together” and cooked and spent time with each other, also (Hosseini 225). This is natural and completely understandable; it is good that they both have at least one person to go to in times of trouble. Another outcome of a controlling relationship is deceptiveness and dishonesty. In one scene, it is revealed that Laila has been stealing occasionally from Rasheed’s wallet in hope that it would someday help her be successful when she ever ran away from the man (Hosseini 220-221). The fact that Laila is forced to steal from her own husband is proof that being in a relationship where the male is a controlling maniac will not always lead to good things; it shows that she is desperate and in deep need of help. Furthermore, as a result of all the suffering Laila and Mariam have taken from Rasheed, they actually attempt to escape. However, while at the bus station, a man gives them away, and they are forced to come back home to Rasheed, quietly anticipating his wrath (Hosseini 236). For wives to be going out and trying to run away from their husbands and troubling relationships in search for freedom just shows that the effects of having a controlling husband are not always good, but just the opposite. Relationships, however, are not the only aspect of Afghan culture, in addition, the Taliban make up a big part of it as well. After the Soviets left Afghanistan, the Taliban came in and took power. At first, the Afghan citizens were joyful because they thought the violence throughout their beloved country would end; little did they know, the terror was just beginning to strike. At one scene in the story, Mariam witnesses firsthand the severity of Talib rule. On a sheet of paper, the officials have inscribed the new laws the Afghani citizens are to follow. Simple activities including kite-flying, chess, and cards are forbidden. Dancing and singing are not allowed, and the women are nearly stripped of their freedom completely (Hosseini 247-248). This example shows that life there really was not all that great- in fact, it was horrendous, and exasperating to live in fear every minute of the day. In another part of the book, it is Laila’s turn to realize the brutality and ferociousness of the Taliban. She hears men, who were accused of skipping their worship ritual, namaz, “being dragged from the streets…and shoved into mosques.” She also hears about cinemas being shut down, books being burned, and the Universities being shut down (Hosseini 250-251). This is when the Taliban showed their true colors and forced everyone to obey their every command; they limited nearly every freedom and/or right these people had. Furthermore, in yet another scene, Laila is forced to realize the hard way of being pregnant during the Talib rule. At one point, Rasheed and Mariam are forced to take Laila to one of the only running hospitals around, in Rabia Balkhi (because the Taliban have destroyed all the others). Then, while being treated in the unclean, overcrowded medical facility, Laila is forced to undergo surgery with no anesthetics whatsoever since the Taliban will not support any of the hospitals (Hosseini 255-259). This scene is evidence that living under the Talib rule was a very harsh and unwelcoming experience for anyone, especially for poor Laila (and Mariam), who had to go through some excruciating moments. In conclusion, A Thousand Splendid Suns is one most invigorating stories I have ever read. Not only was it presented in a purposeful, realistic manner, but it also shed some light on the real Afghani culture. Khaled Hosseini is a master at catching the reader’s attention right from the get-go, and in the end, leaving him wanting some more. From reading this story, I got to see Afghanistan from the female perspective, rather than the male perspective in Hosseini’s other book, The Kite Runner. It certainly was a joy to read; however, the story was slow at times, yet intense at others. Overall, I would recommend this book to other people, not just because it was a great story, but also because it gives the reader a certain sense of awareness for the violence that is really happening in Afghanistan right this second. To some, Afghanistan may seem like a country laden with war-torn violence and destruction, but to others, it is a country that shines in its own, true beauty.