Oppression In A Thousand Splendid Suns

Although the story of two women under oppression in Afghanistan during the Taliban’s rule may seem distant and irrelevant, Khaled Hosseini’s A Thousand Splendid Suns (418 pages) is a heart-wrenching historical novel that delves into the intertwined lives of Mariam and Laila, two women married to the same abusive husband, and the struggles they face. The novel takes place in Afghanistan, beginning in the 1960s with Mariam’s childhood and ending in the early 2000s with Laila and Tariq’s reunion. Poverty, separation of social classes, and the expectation that a child born out of wedlock will be shunned are factors that create conflict between Mariam, Nana, and Jalil. Furthermore, Rasheed, the abusive husband of Mariam and Laila, does not believe
Zalmai, the son of Laila and Rasheed, informs his father of Tariq’s visit, igniting Rasheed’s ire. Rasheed whips Laila with a belt. Mariam, emboldened by Laila’s belief in justice and defending those who need help and angry about everything Rasheed has stolen from her, jumps to Laila’s defense by clawing Rasheed. The women are united against Rasheed. However, Rasheed chokes Laila and she slips out of consciousness. Mariam runs out to get a shovel and kills Rasheed, effectively saving Laila in a moment of great triumph. The scene is one of high tensions and emotional drama. It is memorable because Mariam is no longer a victim of Rasheed’s abuse, but instead takes charge of her life by choosing to fight back and become a
On a scale of 1 to 10, I would give the book an 11. Soon after picking up the book, I felt a strong emotional connection to Mariam and the struggles she faces. It was very engaging, and I never wanted to put it down. The book was a roller coaster of emotions, dramatic turning points, and fascinating character development. The author went in-depth to the emotions and thoughts of Mariam and Laila. Khaled Hosseini allowed me to step into their shoes and experience Afghanistan in the late 1900’s from the women’s perspective and enhanced my knowledge of Afghani history. Although I knew a little about political unrest in the Middle East and the Taliban’s oppression of women, Hosseini’s novel enriched my knowledge in a personal way as I experienced the lives of two fictitious characters. The protagonists are both female, but I believe it is vital for men and women of all ages to understand the unvoiced struggles many women still face to this day under oppressive husbands in Afghanistan. A Thousand Splendid Suns is now one of my favorite books, and it is a must-read for people of all