A Thousand Splendid Suns Complete Summary and Analysis PDF

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A Thousand Splendid Suns Complete Summary and Analysis...

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A Thousand Splendid Suns – questions.

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The novel opens with a curse word, uttered in frustration by Mariam’s mother, when Mariam breaks a treasured heirloom. What does Mariam’s memory of this suggest about her sense of self and her relationship with her mother? How does this opening set the tone for the novel? Principally sees herself as bastard (harami) – she feels she does not belong in the world because she is not in a nuclear family. This underpins her character as a whole – feels others may know she is a harami and is afraid. ‘not old enough to appreciate the injustice’ ‘unwanted thing…who would never have a legitimate claim to the things over people had, things such as love, family, home, acceptance’ ‘like an insect, like the scurrying cockroaches Nana was always cursing and sweeping out of the kolba’ ‘not so much saying it as spitting it at her, that made Mariam feel the full sting of it’ ‘they laugh at you. They do. I hear them’ – trying to make Mariam feel as if she is inadequate. ‘she picked up ten pebbles and arranged them’ to represent her siblings – wants to be a part of their family. ‘a harami was an unwanted thing’ ‘it is the creators of the harami who are inculpable’ Relationship with mother is complex – mother has tendency to guilt Mariam and blame her for something she cannot change. Sets tone of negativity of self-image in novel. Also emphasises struggle between mother and daughter for understanding. ‘whose only sin was being born’ ‘it did not occur to young Mariam to ponder the unfairness of apologising for the manner of her own birth’ ‘At first Nana paced around the kolba, clenching and unclenching her fists…then she mocked…then she tried guilt’ ‘I will die without you’ – prolepsis. ‘she was sick of Nana twisting the truths of their life, and making her, Mariam, another one of her grievances against the world’

CONTEXT: • Normalisation of being treated badly – rights of women were not prominent. • The prophets said that “the illegitimate child is the most evil of the three” – being a bastard is utterly wrong. WUTHERING HEIGHTS: • Cathy and Catherine lost mothers at young age (as did Bronte), Heathcliff does not know his parents – consistent lack of maternal nature throughout novel. • Impact of mother figure on child – in both WH and ATSS, mother creates negative impression on childhood and is a source of later issues. • Nelly replaces mother figure in the same way Mariam becomes a mother figure towards Laila. • Heathcliff – portrayed as an outcast, pulled out of Liverpool and his world. Also described as a bastard – dehumanised, stray dog.

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Based on Nana and Mariam’s experiences, what can you infer about the lives of women in Afghanistan in the 1960’s? Why does Nana forbid Mariam to go to school? What does Nana want for her and Mariam? Is Nana’s goal realistic? That women were treated as inferior and their role in the world was to survive and comply. ‘like a compass needle that points north, a man’s accusing finger always finds a woman’ ‘only one skill. And it’s this: tahamul. Endure’ Nana forbids Mariam to go to school because she worries about losing Mariam. Nana also feels that school will not teach her any valuable lessons. ‘what’s the sense in schooling a girl like you? It’s like shining a spittoon’ ‘it’s our lot in life, Mariam. Women like us. We endure. It’s all we have.’ Nana’s goal is to isolate her and keep her shaded from the world so they have one point of contact, one another. ‘they’ll laugh at you at school. They will. They’ll call you harami. They’ll say the most terrible things about you’ ‘if you (akhund sahib) really care about her, then you will make her see that she belongs here at home with her mother’ ‘there is nothing out there for her. Nothing but rejection and heartache’

CONTEXT: • The Taliban denied women secondary education/adequate healthcare/employment/restricted their freedom. • The Mujahedin meant women return to their traditional roles and a restricted role of women became part of Islamic ideology. • The communist People’s Democratic Party of Afghanistan – instituted radical reforms affecting women’s rights. WUTHERING HEIGHTS: • Women in Victorian era – male superiority complex, women get right to vote in 1918. • Hareton does not go to school – he is made fun of for his lack of skill to read and write and treated like a slave by Heathcliff. • Heathcliff feels he is lesser than everyone else, outcast like Nana. • When Cathy and Heathcliff isolate themselves – Nana.

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Jalil, Mariam’s father, is a complex character. Does he love his daughter? How does he show his love? How does he show that he does not fully recognise her as his daughter? Why does he treat her as he does? • Jalil does love his daughter but feels almost ashamed of her being a bastard. • Nana is the one who has to deal with Mariam’s romanticised image of Jalil and reliance on him – he only comes once a week and does not have to pick up the pieces. • ‘Jalil said she was his little flower’ • ‘Jalil never called Mariam this name (harami) • ‘around Jalil, Mariam did not feel like a harami’ • ‘even in birth you were a good daughter’ – good cop, bad cop. • Ramin and Farhad bringing supplies to Nana and Mariam – ‘his idea of penance’

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He shows his love through materialistic gifts and weak promises. He also shows his love through kindness. ‘all smiles and gifts and endearments, Mariam felt deserving of all the beauty and bounty that life had to give’ ‘he would catch her under the arms and toss her up high’ ‘Mariam and Jalil always went fishing in the stream’ ‘he taught her rhymes. Together they sang’ ‘thought of the week that stood like an immense, immovable object between her and his next visit’ He shows that he does not fully see her as his daughter by isolating her from his other children. He also does not indulge her in the same luxuries. ‘he owned a cinema, which Mariam had never seen’ ‘the children of strangers get ice-cream. What do you get, Mariam? Stories of icecream’ ‘“your favourite (flower)?”, Mariam asked. “Well, one of”, he said.’ He treats her this way because she is the outcast. ‘Jalil said yes ten (children). “Eleven if you count Mariam, of course”’ ‘Jalil shifted in his chair. He coughed, cleared his throat’ when Mariam asked him to take her to the cinema. ‘I’ll send someone to pick you up and take you’ to the cinema. ‘the face was there for only an instant, a flash, but long enough’ – Jalil let her sleep outside and did not come to her aid.

CONTEXT: • Men could have many wives (polygyny) under Islamic marital jurisprudence. However, the practice of a woman having more than one husband is a sin in Islam. • According to Islamic traditions, bastards are not treated fairly and are not allowed to take important posts in society e.g. being a judge. • Hosseini’s father was a diplomat, linking to Jalil’s prominent job. WUTHERING HEIGHTS: • Relationship between Cathy and Edgar – love is superficial and not deep. • Relationship between Heathcliff and Isabella – Isabella loves Heathcliff although he treats her badly. • Nelly – surrogate parent and Patrick Bronte – giving access to books = teacher for Mariam Mariam has moment of anagnorisis after Nana dies.

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Is Mariam right to feel guilt about the suicide of her mother? YES = ‘how could she even face Nana now?’ – even before death she is guilty ‘I’ll die if you go’ – should have known ‘Nana, who warned her, who had been right all along’ Should have appreciated that her mother’s love was unconditional. Although she was harsh, she loves and understands her more than Jalil ever could because Mariam has grown up with Nana predominantly. Mariam should not have romanticised the image of Jalil in her mind.

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NO = ‘I’ll die if you go’ – shouldn’t put that on a child ‘He who has power over all things, who created death and life’ – it was God’s will ‘longed to see [Jalil] for most of her life’ – realises the fault in her ways ‘how could she even face Nana now?’ – knows she was wrong – learning that Jalil was not so perfect was inevitable The more Nana begged and blamed Mariam, the more she pushed her away. Mariam began to feel that Jalil loved her more deeply, which is only natural for a child to crave the attention of a parent, which Nana does not provide. Why does Mariam ask her father to take her to the cinema for her 15th birthday present? What does she want? ‘he owned a cinema, which Mariam had never seen, but at her insistence, Jalil had described it to her’ – Mariam is interested in him, doesn’t feel a harami around Jalil. ‘she pictured herself sitting in a private balcony seat, lapping at ice cream alongside her siblings and Jalil’ – imagining the life she could have, wants to feel part of the family she never had. ‘I want you to take me’ – wants more than just a visit, wants to be with her father. ‘I want you to invite my brothers and sisters too. I want to meet them’ – feels isolated with Nana, needs to socialise with those she yearns to befriend. Jalil as some sort of magician, western access through Pinocchio – more attracted to this lifestyle of love. ‘you’re afraid that I might find the happiness you never had’ – freedom of leaving and being with Jalil is what epitomises her happiness.

WUTHERING HEIGHTS: • Link to Heathcliff wanting to be Edgar in happiness you never had. • Thrushcross Grange as Xanadu – cinema as Xanadu. • Wuthering Heights as freedom • Parallel of TG and WG and journeying between places of Kolba and Jalil’s house.

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What is the nature of Jalil’s wives in finding a suitor for Mariam? Why does Jalil go along with them? ‘they had been disgraced by her birth and this was their chance to erase, once and for all, the last trace of their husband’s scandalous mistake’ – marriage to Rashid erases the shame the wives feel ‘she was being sent away because she was the walking, breathing embodiment of their shame’ – wives feel threatened by Mariam’s illegitimacy, feels that their reputation could be tainted through Mariam ‘as Jalil’s wives began anew – and more sprightly – round reassuring, Mariam looked down at the table’ – superficial reassurance, perspective is shown, Mariam knows they are not being genuine and understands the wrong in their actions. ‘the wives each had on a flimsy black scarf…Mariam who could not imagine that they would wear black for Nana, pictured one of them suggesting it’ – perceiving that they are not being genuine, not thinking of her best intentions ‘Mariam heard the rattling of the key as it turned in the lock’ – parallel to being trapped in the marriage of Rashid, the way she is being treated is foreshadowed. ‘bruised, helpless look on his face’ ‘twirling his wedding band’, ‘your father has already given Rashid your answer’ ‘God damn it Mariam, don’t do this to me’

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‘chewing the corner of his lip’

WUTHERING HEIGHTS: • Marriage as instrument of gaining power – Isabella and Heathcliff (family situation can be controlled), young Linton and young Cathy (inheritance), Cathy and Edgar (not true love). • Heathcliff and Cathy vs. Tariq and Laila – marriage is not necessarily consequence of love.

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Why does Mariam finally say “yes” in the marriage ceremony? What does Mariam realise about her father? How does that make her feel? Combination of expectation and implicit desire to please Jalil ‘god damnit Mariam, don’t do this to me’ ‘with that Mariam felt the tension vanish from the room’ – maybe she wants to prevent his pain deep down and is still attached to him as a father figure Mariam could feel Jalil shifting next to her, throat clearing, attention is drawn to everyone’s actions but hers she’s not the priority in this situation so does it because of everyone’s expectations ‘Harsh raspy voice’ Rasheed reminds her of decay not of fertility She said ‘shakily’ – she’s not certain of it as this comes right after Jalil’s whisper so she’s been prompted to say ‘yes’ – not true conviction Nana always tells her she’s at fault so Mariam feels a sense of guilt for the start of her life so she feels she doesn’t deserve anything but what people expect of her ‘Physical threat of Rasheed’ – as she sensed him ‘lingering in the doorway’ Endurance- nana says you have to endure- it’s an inevitable downfall the leaves falling she has to endure not fight it Mariam was ‘conscious of all the eyes on her hand when she was signing the name’ top of pg54 shows she feels social expectations Next time she signs a document it’s the death execution so shows the marriage is linked to death The mullah is present shows ambiguity about religion because religion signs her into the marriage and to death Contrast between Jalil and Tariq’s love – Mariam is signing a contract which is antithesis of romantic relationship running away with the other two CONTEXT Even though women have the decision sadly the tragedy is that really they didn’t The beginning of Mariam’s marriage to Rasheed seems to promise some happiness. How? What are the signs that this might be short-lived? • They might have been happy due to the compromise Rasheed makes for Mariam. • ‘if it’s a girl…then you can choose whatever name you want.’ • ‘it was going to be a surprise’ (crib) • Begins to think that they could work together • ‘she told herself that they would make good companions’ • ‘it was as if a rainbow had melted into her eyes’ • ‘his hands shot protectively over her belly’ • ‘to catch the fleeting grace of a new season, a lovely beginning, before it was trampled and corrupted’ • ‘how delectable it was to think of her baby, their baby’

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‘he half-smiled and it seemed to Mariam that this was a smile meant only for her, a private, married smile’ Burqa as a ‘one-way window’ – settling into new lifestyle. ‘Rasheed’s presence was of some comfort’ ‘from a street vendor, Rasheed bought her ice-cream’ – first time having ice cream, symbolises the longing of her childhood, once associated with happiness, idea that men always betray her in the end. Ice-cream melts – short-lived happiness. Rasheed ‘did a touching thing’ ‘Mariam saw his shawl was a true gift’ not like her father’s ‘corrupt gestures’ Might be short-lived though as he is easily distracted and feels differently about the loss of the baby ‘he was squinting out the window as he said this, as if there was something more interesting that caught his eye’ Mariam wants a burial for baby, he says ‘what for? It’s idiotic’ ‘you’re like a child. Your brain is empty. There is no information in it’ His true, callous nature begins to show ‘the earlier pleasure over the approval of her cooking had evaporated’ ‘where I come from a woman’s face is her husband’s business only’ – disagree on this issue.

How does Rasheed feel about the westernisation of Afghanistan? How do you feel about his character? He looks down on it because he believes ‘a woman’s face is her husband’s business’ shows his similarities of his beliefs and the Taliban- both violent too and believe they are more superior than women While he has no trouble vocalizing his disapproval of Western culture and its lack of morality, His character is old fashioned in terms of his beliefs, misogynistic “shoved the barrel of [his] gun" into Laila's mouth shows his violence in his eyes, men are always in charge, violence is always an effective solution, and women are always up to no good. he is initially kind and solicitous to Mariam but soon becomes a grunting, hostile bundle of nerves, who treats Mariam with scorn and beats her. The same process is repeated when he marries Laila after her parents’ deaths—Rasheed becomes increasingly violent to both his wives Rasheed doesn’t mind the Taliban which shows his character is meant to reveal the worst of men’s treatment of women in Afghanistan during the time span of the novel. “But I’m a different breed of man, Mariam.” Rasheed from more rural part of Afghanistan – not so modernised. Rasheed is happy to have things such as electricity, television though. What are Rasheed’s reasons for making Mariam wear a burqa? What does this tell the reader about his role as a husband / man? What are his expectations of Mariam? Rasheed thinks that Mariam is his property. His role as the husband is traditional; he is in control and the provider. Again, his expectations are outdated in our view – he wants her to cook, clean and bare children.

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‘he fished a sky blue burqa’ ‘the yards of pleated cloth spilled over his knees’ – romanticized image ‘the women come uncovered…without shame’ ‘they allow it. They think nothing of a stranger touching their wives’ bare feet’ ‘they don’t see they’re spoiling their own…honor and pride’ ‘one wrong look, one improper word, and blood is spilled’ ‘a woman’s face is her husband’s business only’ ‘we have an understanding then’ ‘you’ll get used to it, with time, I bet you’ll even like it’ – controlling of Mariam’s feelings ‘the suffocating weight, the pleated cloth, kept pressing against her mouth’ – metaphor for marriage ‘it was strange to see the world through a mesh screen’ – taking away her true sight ‘felt tight and heavy on her skull’ Burqa allows Rasheed to exert control over Mariam more easily

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Rasheed thinks it is emasculating to be inferior/level to wife. ‘it embarrasses me, frankly, to see a man who’s lost control of his wife’ ‘these soft men’ ‘but I’m a different breed of man’

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Mariam learns about her husband’s history when she looks inside the drawers in his room. Why does she rationalize what she sees? What do you feel about this? ‘it was disquieting to her that Rasheed owns something that’s sole purpose is to kill something’ (pg81) ‘maybe he keeps it for his safety, her safety’ – justification ‘her stomach revolted with distaste’ at the magazines Rasheed has – can’t understand why he would have this, after Rasheed said ‘a woman’s face is her husband’s business only’ – seems hypocritical. ‘He was a man’ ‘his needs differed from hers’ – had a lot of loss in life ‘exercise in tolerating pain’ ‘why did Rasheed insist that she covered up when he thought nothing of looking at private areas of other men’s wives and sisters’ Picture of Yunus and Rasheed’s wife – ‘her body titled forward subtly, as if she was trying to wriggle free of his hands’ – Rasheed has always been overbearing. Tries to rationalise by looking at his history and finding an excuse. ‘she felt with sorrow for Rasheed’ ‘he too had a hard life, a life marked by loss and sad terms of fate’

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Why does Rasheed want a boy? How might life have been different if Mariam provided one? Rasheed wants a boy because men have control in the world. Want to perpetuate the oppression of women. Rasheed also wants to replace the son, Yunus, he had previously – second chance to prove he could be a good father. ‘the lake had snatched him from Rasheed, swallowed him up’ ‘he had immediately hopped on his bicycle, ridden to a mosque and prayed for a boy’ ‘if it is a girl, you can choose whatever name you want’ ‘sometimes I swear I want to put that thing in a box and let it float down Kabul river like baby Moses’

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‘he’s going to be a big boy…like his father’ – wants a mirror image of himself

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Still would have lost the kindness of Rasheed either way – having a son would have meant that Rasheed would have more to take from her. ‘if she asked to hold Zalmai – or worse, if Zalmai reached for her – Rasheed glowered at her’ Mariam may have gotten the attention that Laila had – although this dissipated, making it even harder ‘To Laila, the sounds she heard were those of a methodical, familiar proceeding’ – Mariam gets treated ev...