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A Thousand Splendid Suns- Khaled Hosseini

1- The key characters, how are they developing and are they changing?

Mariam- The main character in the novel. An ethnic Tajik, born into a illegitimate wealthy family living in Herat. She continuously tries to seek her father's acceptance as a daughter, though she feels pushed to the boundaries when she faces him. This leads to the heart of her mother's suicide and her own arranged marriage to Rasheed, a man much older than  her. She is a victim of abuse in the many years that she is married to him. Mariam is introduced as a very obidient and vulnerable child in which the audience feels sympathetic for She is looked down upon as a character throughout her childhood as she carries shame in the consequeneces that took place from the day she was born. She is labelled as a 'Harami' bastard child.

  Mariam has developed into a more independent individual in which she begins to understand the World through her own visions and experience. She has changed in a way, that makes it easier for those who have had arranged marriages understand Mariam, and are able to relate to the pain that she suffers in her unfortunate marriage. She begins to wear the full Burqa, she becomes more isolated as a character 'The loss of peripheral vision was unnerving.' 

Jalil- Mariam's Father, who made the mistake to produce her which from having an affair with his wife, with the housecleaner. He is a loving father during Mariam's childhood. She is the object of his shame but his love for her will never leave her feeling neglected despite what happens.

Nana- Mariam's mother, she was the housemaid for Jalil. He provided little shack in which she would stay with Nana. Nana is presented throughout the novel as an individual and casted out of Jalil's life. She becomes a clingy character as Mariam is the only familial connection as Mariam builds a bond with her father her mother kills herself.

Laila-  A very striking, bright young girl. Born into a wealthy modernised family in which a womans education is a top priority. She draws a close relationship with Tariq a childhood friend in which she marries later on.  She holds the reputation and respect among her friends as being on the newspaper one day, as well as her father telling her that she can change Afghanistan one day.

    Laila develops into socitey with more freedom, and appreciation of education than those girls who are less fortunate in a society where marriage and family at a young age is more favoured. Laila's character does begin to change when she is a married woman as she realises the duties as well as the pressure of family life.

Rasheed-The husband of Mariam and Laila. He is a cruel and abussive character in which he verbally and physically causes harm to both of his wives. Rasheed comes from a troubled past in which he as lost both his previous wife and his first son. Rasheed's character changes as once he is married he enforces religion upon Mariam such as forcing her to wear the Burqa. The loss of her children with Rasheed changes the relationship they have as they become more seperated and there is less interaction from when they were first married such as going out as a married couple. 

Tariq- Laila's neighbour, a few years older. He has lost a leg from the war. Despite this he is a character with a strong heart, and dependable. Their friendship grows into a romance in which they produce a child. Unfortunately Tariq moves to Pakistan to avoid the war in Kabul. 

2- Character Motivation...

Mariam- Has a constant drive to feel accepted by her father though she isnt seen as a legitimate family memeber. She feels the need to fulfil the wishes of Nana and to leave her feeling content at all times when she is present. We see Mariams curiosity of not understanding the word 'harami' bastard child. 'Nor was she old enough to appriciate the injustice, to see that it is the creators of the harami who are culpable, not the harami, whose only sin is being born.' She can be seen as a role model to the reader as her endless love and devotion to those that she seeks from (Nana, Jalil and Rasheed) isn't returned but she continues to show the love and respect she has for them.

Laila- Is more driven by her Father to be educated and bought up in a society where women are just as equal as men. She has a drive to recieve the love back that she gives to Tariq as a friend as well as being a romantic couple.She is impacted by dropping out of school as the war and violence leads to the streets becoming a very vulnerable place for any person. The heart breaking news that is given to Laila, impacts her as she finally is with the one she loves but he has to go. The sepration leads to her getting married again to Rasheed Mariam's husband. This also impacts her life as she makes a bond with Mariam in which they both act against the cruelty of Rasheed. 

3- The Plot...

The novel begins upon one character which is Mariam, in which she appears in part one of the book. It is then linked onto Part 2 of the stroy in which Mariam is introduced. Overall the novel has four patrs. Each Part we learn something new about each character, this helps to story progress  as we changes in society, relationships and individuals. We see the story from 2 young women, who experience the three decade war going on between the Jihad, civil war with Taliban. Mariam the first young girl, who has bought shame upon her Fathers name. She is forced to marry Rasheed a who becomes brutal man as she fails to produce children with him. The Parts of the novel are joined when Laila becomes the second wife of Rasheed.The two girls become allies in a battle with Rasheed whose violence is endorsed.
   The Plot is heavily built around the significance of a male figures being in control of women, it shows a side of reality to those who are well aware of forced marriages in countries which are patriarchal. Each woman in the novel comes to acceptance that the path they choose, they will never be content with. For example Mariam choses the path to sacrafice her life inorder to save Laila after she kills Rasheed. Laila has a different story, a young intelligent girl, with a good educational background. She is with the love of her life, though it comes crashing down, she has to find a way to keep the sacrafice Mariam has made from committing a horrible yet relieving act.
  Currently, I have seen the novel develop through many ways such as the culture of women, tend to be more closed of in society, they are seen as objects of pleasure and child production. We also see how boys in these cultures are more favoured as they can go and fight for their country, keep the family name as well as bring a wife home to nurture the family.
  I have also seen the way the country develops and how the people of Afghanistan suffer from the violence, abuse and threats. Though they have a strong belief that peace will arrive one day.
Education, is an important development in the novel, as well for Afghanistan today. The education system is begining to open for women, such as Mariam and her friends coming from a wealthier background. Its not common for women in a society where education as a key facility of life.

                                                                  THEMES!

• Strength Of Women: The young women, Mariam and Laila as well as the other girls mentioned, have grown up to act mature in a way that they are prepared for married life and its duties that come with the role. The forced marriages, bring them a life of misery in which we see their strength and efforts put in to please thier men to the highest ability. These women grow up as young experienced individuals who have the strength to persevere to receive attention, and independence.  Mariam suffers to seek attention from her father to accept her as a daughter and not a shadow of shame. She takes the pain of an abusive husband for the past 27 years but takes her fate and tries to build the best out of what she has. Whereas, Laila's dream of the perfect husband fails, in which she tries to rebuild her life with Rahseed in which she too becomes a victim of abuse. She then faces the challenge to help rebuild her country and to honor the memory of Mariam.
• Overriding power of Men: Power is overriding in the men that are in the war, the Soviets, Mujahideen and the Taliban all share little compassion for human life. The status that power brings is a key motivation in which these men remain evil, and become ignorant to improve the beauty and success of their country. The women are seen as victims in this male dominating society. They aren't given basic rights, such as freedom and speech. If one was to express their feeling a servere punishment would be put in place publicly, whereas men like Rasheed may have killed both Mariam and Laila this wouldn't be looked down upon at all.
• Loyalty and devotion: both women accept the roles of being wives to husbands in which they have been placed with. For example Mariam, she becomes a loyal and devoted wife in serving what Rasheeds wishes for with high standards. Though she fails to give him a child. She is also very loyal to her mother in the beginning, she shows love and attention to her mother, despite Nana not expressing her entire feelings to Mariam. Laila, shows loyalty and devotion towards her father, to have a life of education and to show a change in Afghanistan. 

Other themes are present such as:

• Discrimination
• Outcast
• Hope
• Peace
• War
• Love
• Pride
• Religion

Other Aspects Of Gothic Literature

Gothic Women

Gothic women in the early years were portrayed as weak, vulnderable and were often objects and controlled by men. They were often placed as negative in society as they were corrupted by male power.  

   Where as women in modern gothic literature are presented as more sexual, agressive amongst a male dominated society. There are two catorgories of  women in modern gothic literature. The first is seductive and threatening, theses women tend to be more premiscuous as well as independant. The second type is submissive, these tend to be more humble, lack self confidence and obidient.

Male Gothic Protagonists

The male gothic protagonist is often driven by slefish needs and desires, they turn away from the norms of society, in this way they feel more socially acccepted as they usually work independantly. Their actions and characteristics move the story along and determine the overall outcome of the gothic novel. 

Examples of popular Gothic protagonists.

• Frankenstein- A classic tale of a man-made monster who seeks acceptance from society, despite his unusual apperance and strange upbringing.

• Dracular- A young English lawyer who travels to the Castle of Dracular, to complete a real estate transaction with a nobleman named Count Dracular. The young English man is warned about the destination. He is given charms to work against evil and uttering strange words that is later translated into 'vampire'.

Gothic Settings

It was first found in Sweeden the use of Gothic architecture, Gothic novels were mainly set in deep dark places inwhich buildings were begining to decay. Settings were mainly in Castles which were mysterious, dark and secretive in which the superantural would come to life as well as being set in Graveyard, Churches etc. Castles were mainly used to create a specific mood and atmosphere this cretaed tight intensity between the characters as well as the audience. These mysterious places unraveled the fear of the unknown. 

   Settings were often associated with medieval buildings, they saw them as dark and terrifying as it reflected the times of harsh laws, tourture which had fascinating rituals.

  

Gothic Novels, Short Stories and Poems  

Gothic novels are strongly associated with Catholicism. As characters are introduced they are immediately presented from a religious background. The characters flaws are directly associated with their Catholic beliefs from the readers view.  Many of these novels are Ironic as they underline the message of humanity.

 These are present in novels such as:

• The Castle of Otranto- This short novel, shows the negativity of Catholicism through the character Friar Jerome. Many sinful events take place, For example Manfred, the lord of the Castle of Otranto, wants to divorce his wife so that he can marry the young and beautiful Isabella. Divorce is highly looked down upon in Catholicism.

•  The Monk- This is one of the most anti-Catholic characters in gothic literature.Ambrosio, a monk who falls into sin with Matilda, when her true identity is revealed. The thought of suicide is ingrained in her if she cannot have his love (already we see lust and suicide which are major sins in Catholicism) which leads to his own downfall.

• Zeluco- The novel shows the animosity between Protestants and Catholics. A Sicillian Catholic, who lacks morals and is only interested in himself. He leaves Countess Brunella's niece after impregating her. His first wife dies of a broken spirit once he marries her for her money. Once again this goes against all the beliefs of the Catholic faith.

 Origins of Gothic Literature

  Gothic literature began in the year 1765, with its first novel The Castle of Otranto, by Horace Walpole. This novel was based upon an Italian prince

who plans to turn away the curse brought on his family when his grandfather seizes the principality of Otranto. These novels were seen as a source of barbarism (a brutal or ignorant act). Gothic writers were mostly protestants, where as Catholics were very superstitious therefore where more closer to barbarism.

In literature, the word ‘Gothic’ refers to a mode of fiction dealing with supernatural or horrifying events.

 
 It also originated from rich architecture mainly between the 12th-14th centeury. Its intricasies of the height, ribbed vaulting and stained glassed windowns of Catherderals, showed a medium of being between Earth and Heaven. It Catholic styles influenced the presence of Catholicism within gothic literature, recieved negativity due to many unexpected occurences within the church. The vaulting arches and spires of Gothic cathedrals reach widly to the sky as if the builders were trying to grasp the heavens a desire for the eternal. 

Gothic literature can be traced back from many religious, cultural and artistic features. These features became very popular in the eighteenth and nineteenth century. Novels such as Demon Lover and Cannibal bridegroom . Though in the Seventeenth century novels were belived to have served as precursors which produced romantic literature texts such as Hamlet by William Shakespear. which also contained superantural elements to help build strong views on religion to avoid those that were superstitous.

Gothic Literature is popular for its use of recurring themes, images and symbols. These motifs run throughout the novel and help build the storyline to a climax in which the main protagonist reaches a dramatic ending or unpredictable event.  

 Key characteristics from all Gothic novels originate from a fascination for the past (revenge seeking), occurences of the superantural, and magic. Plots are usually set through dramatic settings which represent  many emotions mainly fear and horror. 

Gothic literature gets its name from its simularities to the Gothic medieval cathedrals, which have many artisitc and royal features. The word 'Gothic' derives from 'Goth' the name of one barbaric Germanic tribes that invaded the Roman Empire. This is associated with savagery which is property that is untamed or ferocious. 
  

 I have started to read,  A Thousand Splendid Suns by Hosseini, as I really enjoyed the writing style of The Kite Runner. I was particularly interested in the way of women being presented in a patriarch society, also the realisation of how women have developed since these times.
     Coming from an Asian culture i found that it was easy for me to relate to topics, such as religion, marriage and history. 

I have read up to chapter 16, the main Character  Mariam who is aged 15, is forced into an arranged marriage with a man who is a lot older than her. What I found interesting from this point was the relationship of Mariam and her Husband Rasheed starting of smoothly, but as this progresses the relationship changes. We also see how married life in this society has an affect upon Mariam, and the duties that come with this.
   The duty of motherhood, when she fails to become a mother several times, this also leads to her and husband relationship becoming slightly horrific when the first scene of abuse/violence occurs.

The themes i have recognised so far are:
Connection to Afghanistan- As Hakim quotes poetry, Fariba doesn't want to leave the land her sons have died upon.
Love and Respect- between Mariam and her mother, also for her father as well as Mullah Faizullah.
Guilt- the death of Mariam's mother, she feels that she is to blame for leaving her.
Isolation- 'she did not like the suffocating way the pleated cloth kept pressing against her mouth'. Mariam is introduced to wearing the traditional Burqa. Her identity feels hidden, she feels excluded from society 'it was strange seeing the world through a mesh screen'.




I have also started to look at Novels to Compare A Thousand Splendid Sons with a few suggestions:

Purple Hibiscus, by Chimimanda Ngozi Adichie interested me as it shows the disintegration of a wealthy family, its a view of violence which shares similar qualities with Hossieni's novel. It shows a contrast between wealth, women, and especially religion.

I have also started to look at The Color Purple by Alice Walker. I was interested in the way that the novel was presented throughout, the use of letters seemed different yet interesting. Violence towards women is also shown throughout the novel.