How Is Jalil Portrayed In A Thousand Splendid Suns

In the novel A Thousand Splendid Suns, Khaled Hosseini illustrates the difficulties of living in Kabul, Afghanistan during the rule and control of the Taliban. Throughout the book, he incorporates aspects that display poor self-esteem which influences behavioral activities. When living in such a rule-heavy, grim environment, it is common for characters to develop conflicts within themselves. Jalil, a very distant parental figure in the story, experiences many conflicts within himself overall affecting those around him, such as Mariam and Nana.
The public has a great influence on the way people perceive themselves and those around them. On account of this, many people tend to obsess heavily over their image, title, or “ranking” in society.

On her fifteenth birthday, Mariam was promised that she would be taken to the cinema to watch Pinnochio. Coincidentally, this occurred at the same time Jalil decided to start distancing from her. On her way to meet with her dad, Mariam undergoes a few hardships; including her mother’s threats and suicide, resentment, discouragement, and loss of hope. When she arrived at his doorstep and was told that he refused to see her, she broke down crying. Jalil, watching from his bedroom window, did not go out to comfort her. Mariam, on the floor, ends up catching Jalil’s eye and they make eye contact. But this shocked Jalil and his “hand appeared and frantically pulled at a cord…[making] the curtains [of the window fall] shut” (Hosseini 24). Jalil’s actions only showed fear, implying that he understands what he is doing wrong. Avoiding the situation and not taking responsibility, Jalil orders his driver to take care of her and send her back to her mother. This only shows that Jalil does not want to go through the trouble and risk ruining his image more. This greatly relates to the impact of the public eye as it damages and inflicts changes in a person’s mindset. It is implied that Jalil cares more for the comments and reactions of others rather than his relationship with his own family. Again, in his letter, he confesses that he “has known so much sorrow” and reminisces about the old memories he had with