As rules and regulations alter in Afghanistan in the novel A Thousand Splendid Suns, lifestyles begin to change for the women. The list of rules that Afghan women must obey, relates the reader back to those rules that Rasheed induced upon Laila and Mariam. Rasheed forbade the two woman to ever leave the home without wearing “a burqa at all times” and neither of the women could leave the home without being “accompanied by a mahram”, or a male relative.” Not only do the laws coincide with the beliefs that Rasheed previously enforced, but after the laws were conceived, Rasheed was “not at all bothered by the Taliban”, but embraced the laws. Rasheed symbolizes a microcosm of everything the Taliban stands for. Not allowing any freedoms for women, and holding men to the upmost superiority over all others.
While Rasheed is a microcosm of the Taliban, Zalmai is the epitome of his father’s personality. “Zalmai” means “young” in Afghanistan, which correlates with Zalmai being the “young” and youthful version of Rasheed- as he “easily held grudges” and “persisted in mischief” only around Laila, yet never did wrong when Rasheed was around. Rasheed contributes to Zalmai acting the way he does, as Rasheed bribes Zalmai with gifts such as a “new TV” which Rasheed never did with Aziza. The bribery and beloved emotional connection that Rasheed and Zalmai have foreshadow that Zalmai will turn out exactly like Rasheed—egotistical and abusive. The relationship also symbolizes a bigger picture- the power that the Taliban men have over the women and the negative, unfair, and bias treatment that the men have over the women.
Just as Rasheed has almost killed Mariam and Laila already in multiple ways, Zalmai is now denoted as possibly causing the death of them. When the Titanic becomes popular and widespread throughout the area, Aziza compares herself to Jack and Mariam to Rose, while Zalmai is the “iceberg” that caused the death of Jack and Rose. Zalmai being metaphorically compared to an iceberg denotes his icy and deadly personality and power in which Zalmai could possibly end up holding the future of the women. Laila then says that “everybody wants Jack to rescue them from the disaster” but, “there is no Jack…Jack is dead.” The true “Jack” symbolizes both the men in society, and that there is no one man that will stand up for the unfair treatment of the women. “Jack” also symbolizes the chances of the women ever being rescued from the miserable life they are living.
As Aziza is put in a orphanage, Zamen teaches her multiple facts in school, such as “tectonic plates” and how they “slide past each other, and release energy which travels to the earth’s surface and makes it shake.” Laila notices a “stutter” in Aziza as she speaks, which makes the reader realize the anecdote of Aziza’s studies symbolize more than what is on the surface. The “fractures” symbolize the pain one feels “deep down” but how all people see on the “surface” is just a “slight tremor.” The reiteration that Aziza speaks of symbolizes how she is trying to show her exuberance towards Laila so that she doesn’t feel bad about leaving her in the orphanage, but deep down Aziza is lonely and afraid.
Tremendous growth is illustrated in the characters of both Mariam and Laila. Mariam experiences growth when she learns the recurring motif of “endurance”—a lesson she learned from her mother. Mariam portrays motherly instincts as Laila is getting ready for birth a second time, and is forced to go to a “women doctor.” Mariam calls Laila her “daughter” which conveys the nexus the women have formed between each other. After the doctor says that there is no anesthesia available, Mariam volunteers to travel elsewhere to find some, just so Laila is not in so much pain. Mariam has grown from a bitter women afraid of Laila stealing away her husband, to a women devoted to empowering Laila and doing whatever it takes to make sure Laila and her children are taken care of.
Laila portrays growth when faced with the tough choice of abortion. Although Laila does not wish to give birth to something that is part Rasheed’s, Laila refuses to take the “bicycle spoke” and kill her baby. The selfless act of keeping the baby that Laila does not want depicts the morals that Laila has, even though the Taliban does not. Laila refuses to lose her morals even though everyone around her has.
The growth and connection that Mariam and Laila have formed between each other illustrates the power of the Afghanistan women. Standing up to Rasheed and taking brutal beatings along with Laila outlasting beatings from the Taliban just to see her daughter for an hour or two exemplifies the motif of “endurance” and the tenacity of the Afghanistan women. Hosseini illustrating the ruthless treatment that women face in Afghanistan everyday helps the reader understand what the women go through every day. Not only is Hosseini demonstrating the cruelty that women face, but also the strength of women through empowerment and endurance.
Although Mariam and Laila exhibit endurance, it is not always easy for the women. Laila has a dream that she is forced to bury her daughter, and can “taste the soil” as she dumps it over Aziza’s body. The dream that Laila has foreshadows that possibly in the future Laila will have to sacrifice her daughter perhaps to save her from the harsh treatment of the Taliban or the men in society. Or perhaps Laila will have to choose between her daughter and the man she loves, Tariq? If Tariq wishes to see Aziza, and Rasheed does not allow it, Rasheed may come after Tariq and kill him. Will Laila have to sacrifice her daughter in order to save the man she loves?
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