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Kylee Battelle
English 111
Literary Analysis Essay
21 April 2014
Influential Values
I'm sorry," Laila says, marveling at how every Afghan story is marked by death and loss
and unimaginable grief. And yet, she sees, people find a way to survive, to go on. (Hosseini
234). A Thousand Splendid Suns is a powerful novel that follows the lives of two wildly
different afghan women, Laila and Mariam. Their paths cross when Laila marries Mariams
husband, Rasheed. They form a relationship that changes both of their lives. This novel
embodies Afghan culture in a time of discrimination, injustice, and war. The Afghan culture and
principles impact the way the characters behave and the relationships they have with each other.
The cultural norms in Afghanistan may attempt to justify oppression, war, and sexism but they
dont define an individuals place in society. These individuals overcome their circumstances; no
traditions or cultural values can label their character or their worth.
The way Rasheed acts is influenced by the way he was brought up, in what he would
consider a traditional Afghan home. He makes it clear to Mariam from the beginning of their
marriage that he will be obeyed. He asserts, But I am a different breed of man, Mariam. Where I
come from, one wrong look, one improper word, and blood is spilled. Where I come from a
womans face is her husbands business only, (112). This speaks volumes, not only about
Rasheed but the men in Afghanistan. He is strict and controlling, however, the Islamic culture
wasnt intended to become this. At the base of Afghan ideology the men are meant to preserve
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womens honor and respect. It wasnt about control. However, even the best intentions can
spawn awful consequences. Women are meant to be great mothers, homemakers and family
nurtures. Furthermore, the women may be limited when in public but in the home their opinions
and ideas are valued. This is not the case with Rasheed; he is an archetypical villain. He is
abusive and has likely been raised to believe that this is what a man must do. However, this is
not where the culture started but evolved into. The society were Rasheed was raised, similar to
the Taliban, limits the way women can express themselves and favors men. This was the thought
process when the Taliban took over Kabul; however, ironically, it is not traditional afghan
thinking. The ignorance permeated through the society and formed a sort of backwards culture.
Rasheed religiously supports this misinterpretation of traditional culture, How urbane, how
Tajik of you. You think this is some new, radical idea the Taliban are bringing? Have you ever
lived outside of your precious little shell of Kabul, my gul? Ever cared to visit the real
Afghanistan, the south, the east, along the tribal border of Pakistan? No? I have. And I can tell
you that there are many places in this country that have lived this way (278). Just because
many people believe it doesnt make it right, culturally or morally. The way the traditional
culture shifted to become this sexist and oppressive society influences a nation. The society of
Afghanistan influences Rasheed to become a tyrant.
Similarly, Laila is impacted by the culture. She chooses to rebel against it. Having been
brought up to believe there is nothing she cant do, she is more educated and doesnt put as much
value into marriage. Her father inspires much of this thinking in her even as a child with little
gems of wisdom including, marriage can wait, education cannot (156) and A society has no
chance of success if its women are uneducated... (164). These are the ideas that serve as a
foundation for Laila to believe that she is more than a part of a culture. She is an individual. She
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sees the world differently than most in Afghanistan who are brain washed or killed by the
Talibans backwards, enforced culture.
The real defining trait of Afghans is their ability to endure and no backwards culture can
take this away from them. The Taliban may have imposed many ideas and rules that must be
followed; some may choose to follow, like Rasheed. Others may choose to stand by their beliefs,
like Laila but both are not defined by culture. They have to overcome the obstacles in their lives.
Though their lives are marked by suffering and sadness they endure and no amount of culture
can take that away from them.











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Works Cited
Hosseni, Khaled. A Thousand Splendid Suns. New York: Riverhead, 2007. Print.