Alexis Silverstein Page 1Ms. LindquistEnglish 10AA Essays

Alexis Silverstein Page 1Ms. LindquistEnglish 10AAugust 18 2014A Thousand Splendid SunsThe key to creating a significant and influential literary work is the use of certain themes in order to convey the lesson of the story. A Thousand Splendid Suns is one of many noteworthy novels to have a very moving effect on its readers due to its themes. A Thousand Splendid Suns is written by Khaled Hosseini. The story takes place in Herat, Afghanistan, Gul Daman, Kabul, and Murree, Pakistan from 1958 to present day during the years of Soviet rule, the civil war and the Taliban dictatorship. The plot is centered around two Afghan women, Mariam and Laila, whose lives are entwined when both are married to Rasheed, an abusive and cold-hearted man. Through the themes of oppression and hope and the education of women, Khaled Hosseini's message that all people are deserving of equal treatment and happiness is communicated.The theme of oppression and hope is prevalent throughout A Thousand Splendid Sun s. The use of this theme in the story is a great part of the development of Mariam's character. Furthermore, she suffered a lot of oppression during her childhood due to her mother's degradation and scorn. "She understood then what Nana meant, that a harami was an unwanted thing; that she, Mariam, was an illegitimate person who would never have legitimate claim to the things other people had, things such as love, family, home, acceptance." (Hosseini 2) Mariam's mother, Nana, constantly told her that she was a "harami", even at a very young age. In addition, with so much ridicule and harshness, Mariam believed herself to be worthless which led to her yearning to please others and to be accepted. With nothing but her mother and the false hope that her father would accept her, Mariam became very resentful and bitter as time went on, although she had been innocent and thoughtful in the beginning. When Mariam left her home for the first time a fifteen to see her father, her mother felt v ery betrayed that she would leave her behind to see the man that lied and disregarded her. Mariam felt a similar betrayal when her father didn't let her in to see him, and then having her married to Rasheed. For the rest of her life, she would be abused and devoted to being a good wife to him, until Laila and her children gave her love and acceptance. " Why have you pinned your little heart to an old, ugly hag like me? Mariam would murmur into Aziza's hair. Huh? I am nobody, don't you see? A dehati. What have I got to give you?" But Aziza only muttered contentedly and dug her face in deeper. And when she did that, Mariam swooned. Her eyes watered. Her heart took flight. And she marveled at how, after all these years of rattling loose, she had found in this little creature the first true connection in her life of false, failed connections." (Hosseini 246) The love and acceptance that her mother and father didn't give Mariam was replaced with the kindness, loyalty and compassion of La ila, Aziza and Zalmai. This transcended past the guilt she had about her mother's suicide and her feelings of shame for being born out of wedlock. The education of women is a significant part of the novel. During the years of Soviet rule, the civil war and the Taliban dictatorship, men were the authority and women were seen as inferior to them. It is apparent that women who were poor were usually married at very young ages like Mariam, but the rich sent their daughters to get an education. This is because men controlled what women could do. "It did not escape Mariam that no mention was made of her half sisters Saideh or Naheed, both her own age, both students in the Mehri School in Herat, both with plans to enroll in Kabul University. Fifteen, evidently, was not a good, solid marrying age for them." (Hosseini 51) Moreover, Laila had plans to enroll in a college because her father had always said her education is the most important thing for her and her family was also financially st able. After the deaths of