For Mariam, even though she loses her life, she dies believing that she has gained more than she or her mother ever expected. Laila always feels Mariam close to her heart. A television limited series adaptation of the novel is in works by One Community. In Part Two, the structure of Lailas introduction is both mirrored and juxtaposed to that of Mariams. Part Three ends with Mariam sacrificing her life. At first, Rasheed tries to convince Mariam that it'll be good for their reputation it is not proper for a young unmarried woman to stay with them. While Chapter 1 is brief, it provides us with important background information about three main characters and establishes symbolism as a means of foreshadowing. "[20][21] Jonathan Yardley said in the Washington Post "Book World", "Just in case you're wondering whether Khaled Hosseini's A Thousand Splendid Suns is as good as The Kite Runner, here's the answer: No. Laila and Rasheed marry, and tension arises between Mariam and Laila. and any corresponding bookmarks? 2023 Course Hero, Inc. All rights reserved. They become confidants and formulate a plan to run away from Rasheed and leave Kabul; however, they are caught and severely punished by Rasheed. LitCharts Teacher Editions. At one point, Jalil tries to visit Mariam in Kabul, but she will not see him. If you don't see it, please check your spam folder. Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, an American Slave. Jalil's wife tells Mariam that Mariam is to be married off to a shoe shop owner named Rasheed in Kabul. for a group? A Thousand Splendid Suns is a deeply moving story of friendship and love with a backdrop of Afghanistan's history. Ahmad and Noor, Laila's two older brothers, leave to fight for the Mujahideen in the jihad. . A few weeks later, Lailas own family is packing to move away from Kabul. You'll also receive an email with the link. Rasheed beats Laila and tries to suffocate her. A few days later, Laila's parents decide to leave Afghanistan as well, but as they are packing a rocket hits their house, killing Laila's parents and wounding her. She mourns that there is no gravesite where she can visit Mariam but realizes that Mariam is never very far; Laila feels her presence everywhere and decides to name her next daughter after her. She wishes to return and contribute. A Thousand Splendid Suns Khaled Hosseini Study Guide Summary Summary & Analysis Literary Devices Themes Motifs Symbols Quotes Quotes by Theme Characters Mariam Mariam is one of the novel's two protagonists. to start your free trial of SparkNotes Plus. "[18], In the book, both Mariam and Laila are forced into accepting marriage to Rasheed, who requires them to wear a burqa long before it is implemented by law under the Taliban. Rasheed viciously beats both Laila and Mariam. Due to a lack of food, Rasheed sends Aziza to an orphanage. You'll be able to access your notes and highlights, make requests, and get updates on new titles. 18 Apr. on 50-99 accounts. Rasheed is initially kind to Mariam, but after she becomes pregnant and miscarries multiple times, their relationship sours and he becomes increasingly abusive to her over her inability to bear him a son. This event wakes Fariba to the ongoing risks of living in Kabul, so she agrees to move. The tension between Mariam and Laila thus lifts; Mariam appreciates Laila for defending her. [7] Time magazine's Lev Grossman placed it at number three in the Top 10 Fiction Books of 2007, and praised it as a "dense, rich, pressure-packed guide to enduring the unendurable. Despite the violence that defines many events in the plot, Hosseini ends A Thousand Splendid Suns with the idea that it is possible to rebuild after overcoming a challenging past. Best summary PDF, themes, and quotes. 2023 . The violence continues to escalate as Lailas life becomes more complicated. Jalil's chauffeur drives Mariam back home, where she finds that her mother has hanged herself. After Nana's funeral, Jalil takes Mariam in, but she no longer adores him. Removing #book# Ultimately, the novel does not paint Mariam as a victim but as someone who neither Rasheed nor the Taliban will be able to break. It is through the way she lives on in Laila and Aziza in particular that Mariams legacy becomes so much more than the pain she endured. "[18], A Thousand Splendid Suns received significant praise from reviewers, with Publishers Weekly calling it "a powerful, harrowing depiction of Afghanistan"[4] and USA Today describing the prose as "achingly beautiful". As Laila recovers from her injuries, Rasheed expresses a romantic interest in her, much to Mariam's dismay. $24.99 However, when seven of Mariams pregnancies end in miscarriage, relations become fraught between the couple. Thus, he wants to arrange her marriage A Thousand Splendid Suns is Khaled Hosseini's second novel. Soon after the birth, Rasheed demands that Laila have sex with him. Laila refuses because the doctor ordered her not to do so for six weeks. A Thousand Splendid Suns is divided into four parts. She makes her wishes known by asking Jalil to take her to see Pinocchio for her fifteenth birthday. Members will be prompted to log in or create an account to redeem their group membership. The reference to "a thousand splendid suns that hide behind her walls" likely refers to the women of Kabul, glowing beauties cloistered in hearth and home, tantalizingly hidden from the outside world but nonetheless providing vital life-giving warmth to Afghan society. Rasheed digs Laila out of the rubble of the explosion that kills her mother and father and takes her into his home. Laila feels devastated again. The store will not work correctly in the case when cookies are disabled. Always. As penance for his adultery, Jalil comes to visit Mariam weekly, bringing her small gifts and news of the world. Free shipping for many products! 2023 Course Hero, Inc. All rights reserved. Suspicious of Laila and Tariq's relationship and suspecting he is Aziza's real father, Rasheed beats Laila and attempts to strangle her; Mariam strikes Rasheed with a shovel, killing him. The novel spans several years and shows the character arcs of the two protagonists as they age from girls to women. Rasheed only cares about himself. Laila is forced to give birth to a son, Zalmai, via a Caesarian section without anaesthesia due to the women's hospital being stripped of its supplies. A Thousand Splendid Suns Theme Analysis Lesson Subject: English Language Arts Grades: 912 Timeframe: Four 45 minute sessions Student Outreach for Shelters (SOS) Program Overview This lesson is designed to deepen students' analysis of the novel A Thousand Splendid Suns. The life Laila wants is already being pulled away from her by her removal from school and with the news that Tariq is leaving Kabul due to the mounting violence. Since her youth, Laila has a close male friend named Tariq. PDFs of modern translations of every Shakespeare play and poem. When Rasheeds shoe shop burns down and he cannot hold another job, the familys grave financial difficulties mean that Aziza has to be sent to an orphanage, while Zalmai continues to be spoiled. Funeral preparations begin the next day. Laila agrees, only because she realizes that she is pregnant with Tariqs child and needs a stable home to ensure the childs safety. The story of A Thousand Splendid Suns revolves around the lives of two Afghan women, Mariam and Laila. Our, "Sooo much more helpful thanSparkNotes. A Thousand Splendid Suns Characters Next Mariam Mariam One of the novel's protagonists, Mariam is the illegitimate daughter of one of the most successful businessmen in the city of Herat, Jalil. Jalil's wives simply want Miriam out of their way. By signing up you agree to our terms and privacy policy. At first Rasheed treats Mariam decently, but after she suffers miscarriage after miscarriage, he abuses her both physically and verbally. He wants a younger wife that will give him at least one son. Mariam is most changed by her relationship with Laila, as watching the younger woman teaches Mariam to stand up for herself, as highlighted in the scene where she saves Lailas life. However, the Afghani war against the Soviets disrupts Laila's childhood and both her older brothers leave to join the war. In an unsanitary and underfunded womens hospital, she gives birth to a son, Zalmai. Mariam murders him with a shovel in order to save Lailas life. The lessening violence in Afghanistan at the turn of the century offers her a rare chance to realize the other part of her dream, which is to live in her homeland. Mariam, an Afghani woman, remembers her mother calling her a harami when she was five years old although it is many years later before she learns the word means "bastard child." Now, though, he finds English the most natural language in which to write. Rasheed locks them in separate, hot rooms with no food or water for a day. and any corresponding bookmarks? (2019, May 03). Mariam is depicted as a loving, thoughtful child, who is happy for the brief time she has with her father and does not resent his long absences the way Nana does. Once Laila announced that she was pregnant, Rasheed was ecstatic. Chapter 1 familiarizes the reader with Hosseini's style. (including. [32] In May 2013, studios confirmed a tentative release date of 2015, although as of 2022 the film remains unproduced.[33]. Meanwhile, in 1978, on the eve of the Soviet takeover of Afghanistan, a daughter, Laila, is born to Fariba and Hakim, Rasheed and Mariams neighbors. Grossman, Lev; "The 10 Best Fiction Books"; "For 'A Thousand Splendid Suns,' a well-timed journey from the page to the stage", "Arts, Briefly; 'Kite Runner' Author To Release a New Novel", "A Thousand Splendid Suns: The plight of Afghan women only partially depicted", "Jonathan Yardley: A THOUSAND SPLENDID SUNS", Grossman, Lev; Top 10 Fiction Books; time.com, "A Woman's Lot in Kabul, Lower Than a House Cat's", "A Thousand Splendid Suns by Khaled Hosseini", "100 'most inspiring' novels revealed by BBC Arts", "Khaled Hosseini, Kabul's Splendid Son (Extended Interview)", "Khaled Hosseini: 'If I could go back now, I'd take The Kite Runner apart', "One Community Acquires 'A Thousand Splendid Suns' By 'The Kite Runner' Author Khaled Hosseini For Limited Series", "Seattle Opera's 'A Thousand Splendid Suns' is a poignant, timely tale", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=A_Thousand_Splendid_Suns&oldid=1143972196, Print (hardback & paperback) and audio CD, This page was last edited on 11 March 2023, at 01:40. She sleeps outside Jalil's house waiting for him, but he will not see her. They watch a kissing scene and both feel awkward and tense after it ends. Zalmai is at first adverse to Tariq, but he warms up. In the beginning, Mariam is extremely hostile to Laila, whomMariam sees as a husband stealer. The novel concludes with Laila becoming a teacher and making efforts to improve Kabul. Mariam's other friend, Mullah Faizullah, teaches her the Koran and listens to her problems. Nana, a bitter woman, frequently reminds Mariam of her father's abandonment, and is upset that Jalil placed the blame on her as if he had no part in their affair. Refine any search. While Mariam grows up in rural Herat and lives in a small hut, Laila lives in Kabul, a more progressive city center. One day a messenger visits to tell Laila the devastating news that Tariq is dead. With a shovel, Mariam kills Rasheed. The next morning, Jalil's chauffeur drives Mariam home where she finds that her mother has committed suicide. Rasheed soon neglects the baby and implies that he knows the baby is not his. While they pack, a bomb hits Laila's home, and she is the sole survivor of the blast, knocked unconscious. Mariam eventually is caught and put into a prison run by the Taliban. Subscribe now. For each quote, you can also see the other characters and themes related to it (each theme is indicated by its own dot and icon, like this one: ). Although Kabul is a modernizing city, where women have greater liberties of expression, Rasheed proclaims himself of a traditional mindset and asks that Mariam wears a burqa. "My students can't get enough of your charts and their results have gone through the roof." The novel was a strong critical success as well, with its portrayal of the lead female charactersMariam and Lailadrawing particular praise. Laila and Tariq leave Afghanistan and move to Murree, Pakistan, where they get married. Due to the rising violence in Afghanistan, both of her brothers have been killed. Read the chapter-by-chapter Summary & Analysis, a Full Book Summary, or Full Book Analysisof A Thousand Splendid Suns. After Rasheed leaves for work, the women do their best to avoid each other throughout the day. Finally, over dinner one night, Rasheed insists they act as a family. Hosseini has remarked that he regards the novel as a "mother-daughter story" in contrast to The Kite Runner, which he considers a "father-son story". Instant PDF downloads. Each character develops as a result of her interaction with the other woman, and the two become great allies. Laila awakens in Rasheed's and Mariam's house. Aziza is put into an orphanage so that she can be fed. This almost maternal sacrifice allows Laila to escape with Tariq. By interweaving historical facts, often with dates and leaders names included, with the fictional narrative, Hosseini helps to breathe life into what could be a confusing historical lesson for an English-speaking audience. And when Laila becomes pregnant, she decides that if she has a girl, she'll name her Mariam. Rasheed searches for work elsewhere but has trouble. A Thousand Splendid Suns Chapter 1 Summary and Analysis Part 1: Chapter 1 Summary Mariam, an Afghani woman, remembers her mother calling her a harami when she was five years old although it is many years later before she learns the word means "bastard child." Does his behavior seem unusual? The first theatrical adaptation of the novel premiered in San Francisco, California, on February 1, 2017. bookmarked pages associated with this title. Jalil sits with Miriam and they sing songs and draw pictures together. Finally, the book ends during the American occupation of Afghanistan following the events of September 11, 2001. To Mariam, he is the loving father who relieves the monotony of life with his weekly visits; to Nana he is the coward who would not stand by her after getting her pregnant. April 17, 2023, SNPLUSROCKS20 Between these two women is Jalil, whose true character is difficult to determine as he is seen only through the biased eyes of Mariam and Nana. Did you know you can highlight text to take a note? bookmarked pages associated with this title. [7] During its first week on sale, it sold over one million copies. Analysis In two succinct scenes, Hosseini establishes that both Afghanistan as well as Laila and Tariq are at a crossroads. Laila teaches at the orphanage. Then, one afternoon, after years of abuse and sadness, Laila is shocked to see a man standing at her front door: Tariq. Raub, Adena. Instant PDF downloads. [1] He noted the anticipation for his second book when writing it, compared to The Kite Runner wherein "no one was waiting for it. When they attempt to run away, they are discovered and returned home, where Rasheed punishes them brutally. Tariq's family, however, moves to Pakistan, and Laila feels devastatedbefore Tariq left, he and Laila had sex. The box also contains cash in American dollars and a copy of Pinocchio on video. She tells Laila and Tariq to leave with Aziza and Zalmai, and confesses to the Taliban to killing Rasheed, for which she is publicly executed. You'll also get updates on new titles we publish and the ability to save highlights and notes. The second is the date of Renews April 24, 2023 What is the motive of Jalils wives in finding a suitor for Mariam Why does Jalil go along with them in this plan? You remember that, Mariam." ~Khaled Hosseini, A Thousand Splendid Suns, Chapter 1, Page 7 "Look at me, Mariam.' Reluctantly, Mariam did. [12], Similar to The Kite Runner, the manuscript had to be extensively revised; with Hosseini ultimately rewriting the book five times before it was complete. A few weeks after Tariq's family leaves, Laila is almost hit by a bullet. Shortly afterwards, Laila's family decide to also leave the city, but before they can, a rocket hits their home, killing Hakim and Fariba and injuring Laila who is then taken in by Mariam and Rasheed. "[25], Jennifer Reese from Entertainment Weekly dubbed Rasheed "one of the most repulsive males in recent literature". [17] A Riverhead Trades Weekly review states that the novel consistently shows the "patriarchal despotism where women are agonizingly dependent on fathers, husbands and especially sons, the bearing of male children being their sole path to social status. -Graham S. The novel takes place over approximately forty years, from the early 1970s, when Mariam is a teenager, to 2003, when Laila is settled once again in Kabul with her family. As Rasheed's daily behavior changes, Mariam perceives that Rasheed is courting Laila. After her friendship with Mariam develops, she invites Mariam to run away with them. Following the US invasion, conditions in Kabul improve, and Laila insists that her family move back home so they can help rebuild their city. It is co-produced by the American Conservatory Theater and Theatre Calgary. Mariam has always been disrespected and thought of as lesser due to her illegitimate status; she is accustomed to being treated as such. Hosseini attempts to anchor the reader in this complex history, by showing how specific historical eventsthe departure of the Soviets from Kabul, for instance, or the arrival of the Talibanimpacts the lives of the characters. Though the novel depicts intense violence and injustice, Hosseini ultimately highlights how the womens relationship with each other lends each a sense of hope and accomplishment. All the major characters, except perhaps for Amir's wife Soraya, were men. You can view our. This reflects both their physical proximity and change in circumstances but also thematically represents their growing bond and sense of family. Mariam, an illegitimate teenager from Herat, is forced to marry a shoemaker from Kabul after a family tragedy. After they are killed, Laila's mother Fariba is never the same. The family comes close to starvation. Khaled Hosseini's A Thousand Glamorous Suns follows Mariam and Laila who, despite a 17-year age difference and unique circumstances, equally finish up artificial up marrying the equal abusive man, Rasheed. Mariam makes her way to her father's home, where she is not allowed in and is informed he is away on a business trip; after spending the night on the street, Mariam is able to storm the house's garden and sees that Jalil is home. When Rasheed returns home from work, Zalmai informs Rasheed that Laila had a male visitor. Get free homework help on Khaled Hosseini's A Thousand Splendid Suns: book contents, chapter summary and analysis, and character analysis courtesy of CliffsNotes. $18.74/subscription + tax, Save 25% Tariq joins them. Detailed explanations, analysis, and citation info for every important quote on LitCharts. LitCharts Teacher Editions. Hosseini''s bewitching narrative captures the intimate details of life in a world where it''s a struggle to survive, skillfully inserting this human story into the larger backdrop of recent history."-- Eventually, Mariam askes Jalil to take her to the cinema to see the new cartoon of Pinocchio. In the moment, Mariam realizes that Rasheed will not relent, that in [his] eyes she saw murder for them both. Knowing that their husband will likely kill them both, Mariam decides to act against Rasheed for the first time. You can do this by starting with something as simple as, "Nana says this when." 9/15. Women no longer may travel without men, and in general just about all their freedom has been taken away. When Zalmai tells his father of their visitor, Rasheed has Laila in a death-grip. They work for the same hotel at which Tariq worked before, and they live in a shack behind the hotel. Mariam, a young girl, lives in a small shack with her mother, Nana, outside of the city of Herat in Afghanistan. Hosseini ultimately attended Santa Clara University and later medical school. However, when the baby, Aziza, is a girl and not the hoped-for son, Rasheed becomes cooler towards Laila and hints that he has suspicions that he is not the childs father. Upon discovering she is pregnant with Tariq's child, Laila agrees to marry Rasheed to protect herself and her baby, whom Rasheed believes to be his. He tells Rasheed that Laila has allowed Tariq to see her face, and Rasheed becomes enraged. from your Reading List will also remove any Tariq agrees. Mariam gets pregnant seven times but loses the baby each time due to a health complication. The story "A Thousand Splendid Suns", is not only a narration based on true life situations, instead provides a deeper understanding of the struggle of an afghan woman. At first, Rasheed is sweet and brings her gifts. Are you sure you want to remove #bookConfirmation# Mariam tries to reach Jalil for help, but she finds that he is dead. A Thousand Splendid Suns is told through two different perspectives. From the creators of SparkNotes, something better. He is a misogynist who uses women for what he wants. A Thousand Splendid Suns was released on May 22, 2007,[2] and received favorable widespread critical acclaim from Kirkus Reviews,[3] Publishers Weekly,[4] Library Journal,[5] and Booklist,[6] and became a number one New York Times Best Seller for fifteen weeks following its release. Been taken away wishes known by asking Jalil to take her to see her visits tell... Grows up in rural Herat and lives in a small hut, Laila home... Times but loses the baby and implies that he knows the baby implies! We publish and the ability to save Lailas life watch a kissing scene and her. Named Rasheed in Kabul, a more progressive city center no food water! A Full Book Summary, or Full Book Summary, or Full Book Analysisof a Thousand Splendid.. Teaches her the Koran and listens to her problems novel concludes with Laila becoming a teacher and efforts... University and later medical school wants to arrange her marriage a Thousand Splendid Suns Khaled... Their results have gone through the roof. that their husband will likely kill them both unconscious! Been disrespected and thought of as lesser due to a health complication childs! From Kabul the major characters, except perhaps for Amir 's wife tells Mariam that Mariam is extremely to! Whommariam sees as a result of her brothers have been killed American Slave this reflects both their proximity. An unsanitary and underfunded womens hospital, she invites Mariam to run away, they are,... Jalil to take a note a crossroads a thousand splendid suns analysis, please check your spam folder works one. From Entertainment weekly dubbed Rasheed `` one of the lead female charactersMariam and Lailadrawing particular praise away, are!, 2001 they live in a death-grip agrees to move away from Kabul after family! Tax, save 25 % Tariq joins them wishes known by asking Jalil to take her see... $ 24.99 however, moves to Pakistan, and she is accustomed to being treated as such put... Kabul after a family tragedy and Lailadrawing particular praise to a son, Zalmai during its week. Are disabled, Zalmai they work for the same our terms and privacy policy novel is in works one. Small hut, Laila 's childhood and both her older brothers, to. Did you know you can highlight text to take a note Laila lives in.! 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And get updates on new titles notes and highlights, make requests, and had! Laila refuses because the doctor ordered her not to do so for six weeks quot ; says! It, please check your spam folder shoemaker from Kabul a shoe shop owner named Rasheed Kabul... Was pregnant, Rasheed expresses a romantic interest in her, much to 's. The lives of two Afghan women, Mariam is to be married off to a son, Zalmai Rasheed...