Assessment 2

1. The Miriam’s relationship with Rasheed in this part of novel seems that Miriam is a submissive
wife. She follows what Rasheed wants her to be liked. He required her to wear burqa which she
never worn before.
2. Burqa symbolizes that women were not allowed to have their sense of independence and were no
longer equal to men, as men did not have to cover their body parts.   The author portrays the
despotism among women through the culture of wearing burqa by means of fashion comparison
between traditional women to modern women. It is a powerful symbol of the oppression and
subjugation of Muslim women.
3. For me, the author’s intention of presenting the traditional women and the modern women of
afghan society is to open the mind of the readers about rights of women in the society and to have
the reader’s notion about the importance of education for women especially in the Afghan
society. There are some Asian countries which practices are the same with the Afghan society
such as Pakistan and other Arab countries. Where in women must be under their husband’s
power. Women in these countries experiences lack of aspirations and ignorance.
4. The theme I can deduce from the excerpt of the novel A Thousand Splendid Suns is the rights of
women. Women has no freedom, they are expected to wear burqas, be escorted by male family
members, and to be obedient to the rules and regulations of the regime. Husband has given all of
the power over the women and children. Another theme is to value education even among
women. They must be knowledgeable too so they can in-part it to their children and other
members of the family.