Discussion Topic A

Throughout the volatile events illustrated in A Thousand Splendid Suns, Khaled Hosseini is able to portray mental and physical domestic abuse in Afghan marriages. Using imagery and reoccurring conflicts of man v man, Hosseini depicts the blatant overbearing power of men. The upper hand that males have in the Afghan culture influence in great part the derogatory ways in which they treat their women.
Hosseini describes in detail the way Rasheed strikes Mariam, “the systematic business of beating and being beaten, the thump, thump of something solid repeatedly striking flesh, something, someone, hitting a wall with a thud, cloth ripping” (pg268). Hosseini describes this scene through the ears of Laila and by doing so he is able to appeal to the reader’s sense of sound. The reader is able to associate the rough thumps with the heavy hand of a man beating down on a defenseless woman. The unwavering way Rasheed took hold of Laila is depicted as the author describes “spittle flying from his mouth, his eyes glittering with murderous intent, kicking until he couldn’t anymore” (pg 305). Rasheed is merciless towards the women in his household. As he grows more and more upset at their rebellious acts he is overtaken by fury and retaliates with kicks and lashes.
Hosseini goes deep into the root of the conflicts between Rasheed and his wives. His dissatisfaction in their maternity and his dissatisfaction in them as women cause a deep void in his life. Mariam makes a claim to Rasheed about his recent attitude change towards her, “I worry that you are angry with me.” Rasheed quickly takes offense to her claim to which he responds, “Is that the kind of man you take me for after everything I’ve done for you? Then stop pestering me,” (pg 95). He becomes cold and resentful after Mariam’s first miscarriage and as time passes every argument leads Mariam to believe that she is unworthy of a child. Rasheed very quickly becomes frustrated in her as a wife as a whole. He even becomes dissatisfied in her solid attempts to create the perfect meal. He “chewed once, then twice, before grimacing and spitting it out on the sofrah. ‘What’s the matter?’ Mariam asked, hating the apologetic tone of her voice. She could feel her pulse quickening, her skin shrinking,” (pg 103). Rasheed is able create in Mariam a sense of shamefulness as if she should truly be sorry that the slightest shortcoming in her cooking should require an apology.
Through his descriptive word choice and reoccurring conflicts of man v woman, Hosseini is able to illustrate to the reader the hostile environment of an abusive husband in a marriage. Rasheed gradually begins to tear down any contentment that Mariam feels in her life. He abuses her mentally with the hurtful expressions he makes towards her and her actions and abuses her physically blow after blow. Rasheed only keeps wanting more and is never satisfied with what he has.

Discussion Topic C

In the culturally charged novel A Thousand Splendid Suns, Khaled Hosseini's early unravel of Mariam's oppressive childhood foreshadows her life as an oppressed wife. The adversities she faces for not being taken into account as a child mold her self-esteem as a woman.
Nana says to her, “Learn this now and learn it well, my daughter: Like a compass needle that points north, a man’s accusing finger always find a woman,”(pg 7) From an early age Nana plants in Mariam the seed of inferiority that women have towards men. Mariam carries with her the idea that in Afghan culture a woman will always be to blame for any misfortune in the eyes of men. This philosophy becomes true in the eyes of Mariam after she loses her first child and thinks, “No. Not Rasheed. She was to blame.” (pg 93). She blames no one but herself and feels unworthy of the precious gift that is a child. Rasheed’s abusive behavior of an unsatisfied husband causes her to feel guilt, as though she cannot even be a decent wife. Hosseini's initial portrayal of an unwanted girl shapes Mariam into an unwanted woman.
Through Hosseini's early introduction of Mariam as a child, the reader is able to grasp the importance that negligence plays in her life. Mariam punishes herself throughout the novel for the grievances she experienced as a child.
Mariam demonstrates that in some cases you try so hard but in the end it doesn’t even matter.