Discussion Topic (B)

Prompt

Many works of literature deal with political or social issues. Analyze how Hosseini uses literary elements to explore the issue of gender relations. Do not summarize the plot or action of the work you choose.


In Khaled Hosseini's compelling novel, A Thousand Splendid Suns, Hosseini effectively demonstrates the issue of gender bias within the Afghan community. The novel being told through the eyes of two women allows the reader to grip the true severity of the affect of such bias on a woman's life. Not only are the women in this book severely suppressed and subject to constant abuse and neglect, but they have little to no hope of a possible change of lifestyle. They are deprived of even the smallest condolence due to the confinements of the stringent ideals in place in their society. When Mariam and Laila—the protagonists of the story—attempt to run away from the heavy hand of their ill-tempered husband Rasheed, it does not take long for the injustices of the land to catch up with them. Laila pleads with the officer to, "Let us go... we are not criminals." (266) She goes on to explain that, "If you send us back... there is no saying what he will do to us." (266) But the officer refuses, stating simply that, "What a man does in his home is his business... As a matter of policy we do not interfere with private family affairs..." (266) The officer's blatant disregard for the women's well-being is the epitome of negligence. Woman are shamelessly devalued and unappreciated in the Afghan community, and Hosseini brilliantly takes advantage of the point of view of the protagonists to convey his purpose. The role of a woman in the Afghan culture is simple: prepare meals, keep a tidy house, and bear children. A man's role is seemingly more important because they are deemed the "bread-winners" of the family, and even more importantly, they carry on the family name. For this reason, when a woman gives birth to a female, the child's value has already depreciated simply due to her lack of a Y chromosome. Hosseini exhibits this injustice in the novel when Rasheed mumbles that, "Sometimes, I swear, sometimes I want to put that thing in a box and let her float down Kabul River. Like baby Moses." (237) Mariam realizes that she, "...never heard him call his daughter by the name the girl had given her, Aziza, the Cherished One. It was always the baby, or, when he was really exasperated, that thing." (237) Rasheed makes no secret of the fact that he is bitter that Laila has given birth to a female child, and slowly begins to treat Laila with less respect as a result. The reader can appreciate Hosseini's use of irony in the novel when Laila bears her second child. To Rasheed's pleasure, it is a little boy who grows to worship his father. The differences between the way Rasheed handles his children are very distinct, seeing as, "When Zalmai was born, Rasheed had moved him into the bed he shared with Laila... He'd paid for new clothes, new rattles, new bottles, new diapers...," (295) while it had been a struggle for him to purchase a single suit of clothes for his daughter. "His patience with Zalmai was a well that ran deep and never dried." (296) The contrasting way the children were treated is an accurate representation of the active gender biases throughout the novel. The laws in place encouraged the advancement of males, while females were expected to be docile, obedient creatures with no opinions, thoughts, or grievances. Hosseini's heart-wrenching story of two women, plagued with the same injustices, coming together to find their place in the world definitely serves to prove a point. It may be a man's world, but without women, it wouldn't be a world at all. The true strength of a woman is creatively displayed in this novel, demonstrating that despite the hardships women may be burdened with, they always persevere.

Discussion Topic (C)

Prompt

In many works of literature, past events can affect, positively or negatively, the present actions, attitudes or values of a character. Select a character from A Thousand Splendid Suns who must contend with some aspect of the past, either personal or societal. Analyze how the character’s relationship to the past contributes to the meaning of the work as a whole. Do not summarize the plot or action of the work you choose.

Khaled Hosseini's thought-provoking novel, A Thousand Splendid Suns, tells a story of two women's struggle to survive under the stringent, gender-biased regulation of a traditional Afghan society. As a young girl, the second of the protagonists, Laila, is raised in an untraditional, more modern Afghan household. Her father made it a point that she receive a good education—especially being female, even though many parents in their culture had the desire to marry off their daughters as soon as possible. Laila's father, however, stresses, "Marriage can wait, education cannot... You can be anything you want, Laila. I know this about you. And I also know... society has no chance of success if its women are uneducated..." (114)  Because of Laila’s upbringing, she is characterized as being an intelligent, outspoken young woman. Hosseini’s establishment of Laila’s background gives the reader insight as to why she acts the way that she does when she finds herself in an unfamiliar environment. The hostile living quarters Laila becomes subject to lends no compassion to the freedoms she enjoyed in her old life. Hosseini continues the development of the protagonist’s background story by making good use of the element of flashback. As Laila contemplates the previous liberties of her life, she remembers a conversation she once had with her friends in which they told her, “You’re going to be somebody. I know one day I’ll pick up a newspaper and find your picture on the front page.” (166) It is developments such as this that provoke Laila’s true nature when she feels she is being treated unjustly.  Of all the years Mariam had endured Rasheed’s senseless beatings and constant ridicule, she would not have dared attempted to defend herself against him. But Laila’s history had molded her into an ambitious, courageous young woman. Her bold spirit is what leads to her defensive instinct—the idea that she did not deserve to be treated like an incompetent canine. And so when, “The slap made a loud smacking sound, the palm of his thick-fingered hand connecting squarely with the meat of Laila’s neck… Laila punched him. It was the first time she’d struck anybody…” (299) Laila’s past is what ultimately propels her ambitious nature, which is an example of how one’s history can positively affect their life. Laila’s willingness to defend herself and fight back with her conflict instead of just accepting it, though it almost got her killed, was a direct result of learned behaviors and attitudes taught to her at a young age. Hosseini’s purpose comes across as the idea that you can take the girl out of the home, but you can never take the home out of the girl.