A Thousand Splendid Suns

1. A Thousand Splendid Suns An Analysis of Chapters 1-5

2. THEMES IN CHAPTERS 1-5 • The Plight of Women: “Learn this now and learn it well, my daughter: Like a compass needle that points north, a man’s accusing finger always finds a woman. Always. You remember that, Mariam” (Hosseini 7) • Women and Education: “What’s the sense schooling a girl like you? Its like shining a spittoon. And you’ll learn nothing of value in those schools. There is only one, only one skill a woman like you and me needs in life, and they don’t teach it in school” (Hosseini 18) • Endurance and Inner Strength: “It’s our lot in life, Mariam. Women like us. We endure. Its all we have. Do you understand” (Hosseini 19) • Illusion vs. Reality (and Human Capacity for Evil): “He let her sleep on the street. On the street.” (Hosseini 35)

3. Symbols • Kolba in the midst of weeping willows (constant suffering): “…there was a circular grove of weeping willow trees. In the center, in the shade of the willows, was the clearing” (9) • Pebbles (hope for a family, to belong): “The pebbles spilled from her pocket” (35)

4. Character Development: Mariam • A dutiful and respectful daughter • Respects her mom and listens to her bitter comments • Enjoys hearing stories • Appreciates education • Always sees her mother in a negative light and presents Jalil and his sons in a more positive light • Longs for a family • Is in constant search for happiness which she only finds in Jalil and Mullah Faizullah • Gullible /naïve

5. Character Development: Nana • Bitter and angry • Loves Mariam but is incapable of showing it • Pessimistic • Verbally aggressive and abusive • Selfish, incapable of sympathizing and empathizing • Superficial • Controlling and conniving • Dislikes company, enjoys solitude

6. Character Development: Jalil • Bound by duty • Thinks he can protect Mariam from harm but fails • Uses wealth to seek redemption • Cowardly • A victim to the status quo

7. Chapters 1-5 from the Marxist Perspective • Jalil: elite Bourgeoisie class • ability to mold his environment (and the people within that environment) to his liking (power that comes with being upper class) • Role of money and wealth in seeking redemption • Single women part of working class and living in poverty • Jalil controls both Mariam’s and Nana’s futures/fates (they are at his mercy) • “She liked that no matter the weather he always wore a suit on his visits –dark brown, his favorite color, with the white triangle of a handkerchief in the breast pocket-and cufflinks too, and a tie, usually red, which he left loosened” (21)

8. Chapters 1-5: Psychoanalytic Perspective • Oedipus Complex: Jalil and Mariam • Only male figure in her life • The relationship between father and daughter is romanticized • “But there was no one, no one, that Mariam longed to see more than Jalil” (20) • “Mariam would leap to her feet when she spotted him hopping stones across the stream, all smiles and hearty waves” (21) • “Later, after Jalil went home, Mariam and Nana had a small fight about this. Mariam said she had tricked him” (22)

9. Afghan Politics: Early 1970s • 1973: King Zahir Shah is overthrown by bloodless coup led by Daoud Khan • Afghanistan is no longer a monarchy; it becomes a republic : “The Republic of Afghanistan” (www.afghan-web.com) • No overlap of political and personal spheres

10. Discussion Questions • 1. Nana is a complex character. Do you think Nana’s comments on the dangers of mainstream society is an attempt to protect her only child or is it a selfish way of keeping Mariam within her handhold? • 2. A. Would you allow your child to do something which you already know will NOT help them in any way? • B. Do you think Nana made the correct decision by robbing Mariam of an education? • 3. What was your opinion about Jalil when we are first introduced to him. How does your perspective of him change following the incident that occurred on Mariam’s fifteenth birthday?

11. The end……or the beginning? ???