A Thousand Splendid Suns

A Thousand Splendid Suns, tells the history of the last three war filled decades of Afghanistan through the lives of two unsuspecting women. Education is a topic discussed in the novel frequently and effects Mariam's and Laila's lives. The similarities and differences between the two focuses heavily on education. Laila's father, Babi, repeatedly urged the importance of Laila's schooling. While Mariam's mother, Nana, wanted Mariam to stay away from any type of school. Although, Mariam is discouraged to pursue an education, Mariam and Laila knew the possibilities of women. Laila was expected to be something important in her life, her childhood friends and Rasheed made a note on how intelligent, independent and determined she was. While Mariam

One similarity between Mariam and Laila is that both women, in one point of their lives, were aware of the things they could do in life. Mariam became aware when Rasheed took her out to Kabul for the first time they were married. While waiting for Rasheed, Mariam observed modern Afghan women and she thought how successful they all were. They made Mariam aware of how little she has accomplished and what she could if was given the opportunity. A quote from the list to support this is, " She imagined that they all had university degrees... these women mystified Mariam. They made her aware of her own lowliness, her plain looks, her lack of aspirations, her ignorance of so many things. (p. 75)". Laila was aware of her abilities, her aspirations and priorities were clear, since she was encouraged to study and her friends had high hopes for her. One difference between Mariam and Laila is that Laila did something significance in her life. For example, at the end of the novel, Laila open a classroom to teach the new generation of Kabul and landed in a newspaper. She came back to Kabul to help rebuild it. Laila and Mariam were aware of their endless possibilities as women, even under the never ending oppression but Laila was the one who acted