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A Thousand Splendid Suns
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A Thousand Splendid Suns: Part 3 (contains spoilers)
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Even though they had a rough start, I'm glad that Mariam and Laila become friends and help support each other through a marriage and life that neither one deserves. It is inspiring how Mariam grows to be a mother figure for Laila, protecting her from Rasheed(a man I truly despise), helping her with the children and in the end making the ultimate sacrifice for her. At least she was able to be happy for a little while knowing that she was loved by Laila and Aziza, and know that her life meant something to someone.
I was deeply sure that Rasheed will be dead at the end of the book,because he really deserved it.But deep inside I had this feeling that Laila is the one to make this happen.Because Laila has a strict and strong personality,and putting her feet down in front of Rasheed was her thing!But I was surprised how Mariam made such a huge move.It was really sad watching her ending her life,because the book actually started with her story!
Rasheed was just a dreadful man. I'd like to hope he's a figment of Khaled Hosseini's imagination, but I fear that he probably isn't... I wonder what makes someone like that? Is it just growing up with a father like that? Or would he have experienced some other life event that makes him take out his frustrations on the women in his life like that?And to think that the system supported men like that!! I can't remember whether the part where Laila and Mariam ran away was in this section or part 2, but how true is it when the policeman (or whatever he was) tells Laila that they can't interfere between husband and wife (when Laila asks whether the law will be there to support her next time Rasheed almost kills her) and she replies that they won't when it's in the man's favour... They're happy to interfere with a woman's plans to leave but not so happy to ensure her safety...
::begin rant:: This part of the book brought some choice curse words to mind while reading. Women are human beings, deserving of love, respect, independence, happiness, and MEDICAL CARE! Women are not slaves or punching bags. The Taliban's rules made me so furious. Women can't walk down the street?! Can't look a man in the eye?! Can't laugh in public?! *^*$&*&^@ ::end rant::Seeing Mariam finally find love was beautiful. In Laila and her children, she had a real family, a family she was willing to sacrifice herself for. Mariam's end was obviously tragic and heartbreaking, but she seemed so peaceful knowing that she was dying to protect those she loved and give them the gift of a better life.
A few random observations:
- I love the name Aziza!
- Why does the Taliban forbid owning parakeets?
- The description of Titanic fever taking over Kabul was pretty funny, a nice moment of levity in an otherwise emotionally draining section.
Alicia wrote: "::begin rant:: This part of the book brought some choice curse words to mind while reading. Women are human beings, deserving of love, respect, independence, happiness, and MEDICAL CARE! Women are ..."Yes, the parakeet thing seemed quite random, didn't it? Would the same rules have applied to people owning canaries, or doves, or chaffinches?
And yes - the medical care in that over-run hospital with one female doctor and no more than basic first aid supplies - the mind boggles. But I love that she was meant to operate in burqa, but actually operated how she felt most comfortable.
Kathryn, I also hope the character of Rasheed is only a figment of the author's imagination but it can't be when this society allows men like that to exist and act however they want. All the injustices made me so angry that this is something probably many women have had to go through. It was great when Miriam finally killed Rasheed. Mariam's judgement was unfair, of course but I'm glad to finally be rid of this evil man. Also, that comment on her signature was heartbreaking to me. I thought the next time she'd sign her name would have been for a second marriage to someone much kinder than Rasheed.
Albany wrote: "Also, that comment on her signature was heartbreaking to me. I thought the next time she'd sign her name would have been for a second marriage to someone much kinder than Rasheed..."I remember that comment earlier in the book when she signed her name at her marriage and I wondered what the next occasion was going to be, but basically signing her own death warrant didn't occur to me...
I was looking at some discussion questions on Khaled Hosseini's website (http://khaledhosseini.com/books/a-tho...) and one of the questions asks why Mariam was so hostile to Laila when Rasheed took her as a second wife when she didn't have a good relationship with Rasheed in the first place, and having Laila around, at least initially, made Rasheed less temperamental? Why was she not more kindly disposed to Laila?
I think she feared Laila would become yet another tyrant or that she'd make Rasheed kick Meriam out of the house/abuse her even more. You see how at first Rasheed does become worse towards Meriam, basically suggesting that Laila didn't need to lift a finger.
Kathryn wrote: " why Mariam was so hostile to Laila when Rasheed took her as a second wife when she didn't have a good relationship with Rasheed in the first place ..."because entering some one new in the house,meant more housework for Mariam and more violence from Rasheed.And maybe before Laila ,Rasheed needed Mariam for sexual matters and treated her more humanly,but with a new wife and then the babies,Rasheed became capable of kicking her out of the house!
Albany wrote: "I think she feared Laila would become yet another tyrant or that she'd make Rasheed kick Meriam out of the house/abuse her even more. You see how at first Rasheed does become worse towards Meriam, ..."Yes, I think it probably was the fear of what changing the status quo would mean for Mariam - the thought that things probably would get worse. Initially as well, I wonder if Mariam could see Laila in a similar situation to hers when she was forced to marry Rasheed and she didn't want that for Laila. Then, when he persisted, she transferred her anger for Rasheed onto Laila because showing anger towards Rasheed could have painful consequences whereas making life difficult for Laila had no consequences (as long as Rasheed didn't find out).
Mahsa wrote: "...And maybe before Laila ,Rasheed needed Mariam for sexual matters and treated her more humanly,but with a new wife and then the babies,Rasheed became capable of kicking her out of the house!"
I would have thought the sexual side of things would have been over long before Laila arrived on the scene - I got the impression that Rasheed wanted a son of Mariam and after 7 miscarriages I thought he had given up trying, although I can't find anything that says as much, so maybe I was imagining it.
I have just finished Part 3 and my opinions after Part 1 have changed substantially. I wrote - "I feel no sympathy at all for Jalil, who was an educated man that knew or should have known the unfairness of what he and his wives did to Mariam and Nana. ... I realize this will be controversial, but I feel that Rasheed, truly an abuser, was a product of his environment. He too seems to be trapped by the ultra conservative dictates of that society. He must have realized how cruel he was to Mariam but was he trapped in a belief that it was culturally the proper way to act?"I now feel that Jalil was simply a weak man who bowed to the pressure of his wives. It was not right but I am somewhat more sympathetic than I was after Part 1. When Mariam looked out of her window curtains at him and did not go to her door to let him in, a reverse flashback to his behavior when she was a child, he must have been heartbroken because he knew all his past mistakes. I also feel that although Rasheed was a product of his environment he probably would have been an abuser anyway. The Sharia law just gave him leeway and excuses to behave in the egregious way he did.
Karen wrote "At least she was able to be happy for a little while knowing that she was loved by Laila and Aziza, and know that her life meant something to someone" and Alicia wrote "Seeing Mariam finally find love was beautiful. In Laila and her children, she had a real family, a family she was willing to sacrifice herself for. Mariam's end was obviously tragic and heartbreaking, but she seemed so peaceful knowing that she was dying to protect those she loved and give them the gift of a better life". The grace and dignity that Mariam showed when she paid the price for her sacrifice was amazing. I was happy that she did find a family and love with Laila and Aziza and I know that in a completely male dominated society that the outcome was really the only outcome possible. But after the hardships of her life I was immeasurably saddened.
Wondering if the parakeet thing was because they could talk. Would it have applied to parrots as well? Just a thought.
I looked up the parakeet enigma and this is what I found: "Some of the scholars are of the view that it is makrooh to keep them, and some disallowed that and said: Because man has no need to listen to their voices or enjoy looking at them. Rather this is a kind of extravagance and luxury, and it is also foolishness because he is enjoying the voice of a bird who is longing to fly free."
Albany wrote: "I looked up the parakeet enigma and this is what I found: "Some of the scholars are of the view that it is makrooh to keep them, and some disallowed that and said: Because man has no need to listen..."Just realised I didn't reply to this earlier and I had meant to! That's interesting, Albany. It's still strange that parakeets are specifically mentioned - you would think that would apply to all pet birds that sing and chirp etc...
Yeah that's true. Maybe parakeets are the most common choice of pet there?
If you haven't finished this section yet, beware: this thread could contain spoilers.