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Cindy Ly

English 112

Literary Analysis Essay

April 18, 2017

A Thousand Splendid Suns: Mariam Commented [1]: More creative title

To this day, women in Afghanistan still suffer from oppression and abuse even after the

fall of the Taliban. According to research by Global Rights, it is estimated that nine out of ten

Afghan women face physical, sexual or psychological violence, or are forced into marriage.

In A Thousand Splendid Suns, the lives of two female characters, Mariam and Laila, represent

what the women of Afghanistan may live through on a daily basis. In the novel, Khaled Hosseini

demonstrates how a womans love for her family can influence heroic acts of sacrifice, which is

crucial for survival.

From the beginning, Mariam is a identified as a harami from a small village by her Commented [2]: _Accepted suggestion_

delusional motherNana whose ideas gave Mariam a hopeless future. Nanas only lesson that

stuck with Mariam for with the rest of her life is to endure. A snowflake was a sigh heaved by Commented [3]: _Accepted suggestion_
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an aggrieved woman somewhere in the world...As a reminder of how women like us suffer, shed Formatted: Highlight

said. How quietly we endure all that falls upon us (Hosseini 91). Feelings of guilt from running Commented [5]: _Accepted suggestion_

away from home at age 15, her mothers suicide, and not being able to bear children contributes

to Mairiams ability Mariam being able to endure and tolerate a long abusive marriage with Commented [6]: _Accepted suggestion_
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Rasheed. Because Mariam is an illegitimate child, her shame and status as a harami has made Commented [8]: _Rejected suggestion_
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her unable to stand up for herself. Mariam endures through years of oppression, and physical,
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sexual, and emotional violence alone until Laila became a part of her family. Formatted: Highlight
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When Laila married Rasheed, Lailas positivity becomes a part of Mariams life and

relieves some of Rasheeds abusive oppression. Laila grew up in an encouraging, loving family

with forward-thinking views, womens rights, and education. Lailas strong-willed nature gained Commented [10]: _Rejected suggestion_
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Mariams trust and formed a bonding sister, mother-daughter relationship. Under the oppression

of Rasheed, Mariam and Laila supported each other, sharing and protecting one another from Commented [11]: _Rejected suggestion_
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struggle. The arrival of Laila and Lailas children allowed Mariam to fulfill her wish to become a Commented [12]: _Rejected suggestion_
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mother and learn the meaning of to give and receive love. Lailas presence and confident nature
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transformed Miriam from a opened Mariam up from being resentful and fearful woman, into a Commented [14]: _Accepted suggestion_
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caring and headstrong, woman capable of making her own decisions without a man as well: Commented [16]: _Accepted suggestion_
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But somehow, over these last months, Laila and Aziza a harami like herself as it turned
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out had become extensions of her, and now, without them, the life of Mariam had Formatted: Highlight
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tolerated for so long suddenly seemed intolerable The years have not been kind to Commented [20]: _Accepted suggestion_

Mariam. But perhaps, she thought, there were kinder years waiting still (256).

When Rasheed was on the verge of killing Laila, Mariam made a life-changing decision for the

first time, determining the course of her own life, to kill Rasheed in defense for Laila. Mariam Commented [21]: _Accepted suggestion_
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made the ultimate sacrifice based on her own beliefs.TRANSITION Commented [23]: _Accepted suggestion_

Despite being born a generation apart, Mariam and Laila are brought together by hope,

loss, and war. Although, Mariam wanted to live to see Laila and her children to grow up, she Commented [24]: _Rejected suggestion_

knew that she could not live on the run. Mariam believed that she must turn herself intoin to the Commented [25]: _Rejected suggestion_
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Taliban for the safety of Laila and her childrens future. She was leaving the world as a woman

who had loved and been loved back. She was leaving it as a friend, a companion, a guardian. A

mother. A person of consequence at last (370). These are Mariams last thoughts as she faces
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execution for killing Rasheed. Although Mariam is executed, she died proud on her own terms as

she made her own decisions and was willing to make the ultimate sacrifice for her loved ones.

In A Thousand Splendid Suns, Khaled Hosseinis characterization of Mariam and Laila Commented [27]: _Accepted suggestion_

establishes that a womans strength is influenced by love for her family and she will be willing to

sacrifice herself for the sake of her familys survival. The dynamic characterization of Mariam

through the course of her life was brought on by the love for Laila and her children, which leads

to Mariam becoming a mother-figure and influencing the course of Lailas life as well.
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Works Cited Commented [28]: _Accepted suggestion_

Hosseini, Khaled. A Thousand Splendid Suns. New York, NY: PenguinPeguin Group, Commented [29]: _Accepted suggestion_
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2007. Print.