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Alayne Hutchinson
Literary Analysis
A Thousand Splendid Suns
April 21, 2016 2A
Title
In the novel, A Thousand Splendid Suns, author Khaled Hosseini exemplifies the lives of
two women, Mariam and Laila. Both main characters face many hardships while living in a
misogynistic society where women arent given the opportunity to learn or to thrive, along with
lacking basic rights that neither women receive. Despite experiencing many setbacks, the two
are able to team up and use both their talents and abilities to prosper and end the novel living a
life they both are content with. In Khaled Hosseinis novel, A Thousand Splendid Suns, the
characters support the theme that change and triumph are only possible when accompanied by
knowledge and education.
Despite living in an environment where women do not get the opportunity to learn,
Mariam and Laila both acquired a form of education, but through different educational
experiences. Mariam was tutored by Mullah Faizullah, who taught her the Koran. At the same
time, her mother, Nana, insisted that she never had the need to go to school, and that an
education would do nothing for her. Nana believed that the only lesson Mariam needed to know
was how to endure when hardships come her way. On the other end of the spectrum, Lailas
father, Hakim, insisted she receive as much education as possible. Hakim felt that for Laila,
marriage and motherhood could wait, and that education could not. Hakim, who was a former
teacher, taught Laila as much as he could, in subjects like history and literature. With the

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combination of Mariams learn as you go mentality, and Lailas book smarts, the two were able
to handle the adverse circumstances that came their way and eventually both become content
with their situations.
Mariam and Laila both contributed what they knew, in order to educate Aziza, Laila's
daughter. Mariam was able to teach Azizia the Koran, just as Mullah Faizullah had taught her,
while Laila passed down the knowledge she had learned from Babi. Laila eventually volunteers
to teach at Aziza's school. By doing so, she shows the progress they have made in the attempt to
educate women. At the end of the book, Azizia and Zalmai, Laila's son, go off to school
together. This feels hopeful in terms of education and equality. If it weren't for Mariam and
Laila both being so empowered to educate not only themselves, but also the children, then they
wouldn't have been able to handle the situations they were thrown into, along with the
circumstances Aziza could eventually encounter.
"A society has no chance at success if its women are uneducated, Laila. No
chance."(216.56). This quotes from Babi, proves to be true in more ways than one. Mariam and
Laila faced countless struggles, all of which they endured. Mariam knowledgably decided to
turn herself in for killing Rasheed, in order for Laila to be able to leave a life. Also, Laila was
able to keep a contact with Tariq, which led to her be able to have a family with him. Both girls
used their intellects when decided what to say and do. In Khaled Hosseinis novel, A Thousand
Splendid Suns, it is only through educatuon that the two main characters, Mariam and Laila, had
the ability to withstand and overcome all the struggles they were forced to face.

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