Examples Of Hope In A Thousand Splendid Suns

Nneoma Azuakoemu Vance English IV 17 April 2024 Hope: A Tool for Surviving Adversity Inapplicable. Naive. I am a naive. These are words that many would use to describe hope, a belief so strong it can often lead to a path of heartache. Many tend to place their desires above their reality, but is this always an issue? A Thousand Splendid Suns by Khaled Hosseini unpacks this idea through the characters of Mariam and Laila, two Afghan women whose lives are wracked by war, loss, and abuse at the hands of their husband, Rasheed. The two eventually find themselves in a situation where their beliefs prove to be stronger than they ever thought. While hope can sometimes hinder one’s ability to survive, it is important for survival as it provides an escape

When she is married off by her father and his wives, she attempts to find comfort with the situation. Mariam falls pregnant and it is expressed that “when Mariam thought of this baby, her heart swelled inside of her. It swelled and swelled until all the loss, all the grief, all the loneliness and self-abasement of her life washed away” (Hosseini 80). From birth, she was outwardly made to feel ashamed of her presence by her mother as well as subtly by her father. This causes Mariam to possess very little self worth, so much so that she clings to the slightest bit of fulfillment within her dire circumstances. This reigns true for a majority of modern Afghan youth, especially women. Documentary photographer, Kiana Hayeri, declares that “this is a generation that I identify with. A generation that fights for the strain of life in the midst of constant conflict.” (Hayeri 5:14-5:22). Many people reach for hope, even if it is only temporary. They do so in spite of hardship because it will ultimately invoke a sense of

Two new flowers had unexpectedly sprouted in her life [...] she pictured Mullah Faizullah twirling his tasbeh beads, leaning in and whispering to her in his soft, tremulous voice, But it is God Who planted them, Mariam Jo (Hosseini 229). The company of Laila and Aziza makes Mariam realize that the life she endured prior was anything but bearable. They have become her family. After Mariam bravely overtakes Rasheed, she holds no reservations about protecting Laila and the children from the authorities. Mariam protests, “Who will take care of them then? The Taliban. Think like a mother, Laila Jo. Think like a mother of three. I am” (Hosseini 319). While Laila longs for all of them to escape together, Mariam reminds her of the reality of the situation. She places her safety above her own in a sheer act of selflessness. Mariam’s growth as a person allows her to remain content with her fate, knowing that she protected those close to her. Throughout the novel, Hosseini utilizes the characters to detail how hope can contribute to the progression of mental