Misogyny In A Thousand Splendid Suns Essay

Women have been politically and socially disadvantaged by various governing bodies throughout history. The 1979 Soviet occupation of Afghanistan caused resentment fueled uprisings against the communist regime. Resistance groups steadily developed against the regime, one group specifically–The Taliban–absorbed the power after the Soviet retreat. With radicalized teachings of Sharia Law–a set of Islamic Religious codes–the Talbian strictly limited the rights of women. The harmful effects of misogyny in Khaled Hosseni’s A Thousand Splendid Suns is depicted through various interactions between female characters and their community, thus displaying how a society dependent on a patriarchal system will inherently disadvantage women by forcing them

From a young age, Mariam was told that “Women like us. We endure. It's all we have. Do you understand?’” (Hosseini 14) Despite wanting fairness and change, many women, after continual abuses, were forced to accept the laws of society. Mariam’s mother was a victim of injustice. She suffered through depression and epilepsy and did not have access to resources to help her conditions. However, Mariam’s mother and women in Afghanistan knew that they had to endure the injustices of society in order to survive. After the death of Mariam’s mother, Mariam had to marry Rasheed–an abusive, much older man. One evening when Mariam did not cook rice to Rasheed’s liking he ¨shoved two fingers into her mouth and pried it open, then forced the cold, hard pebbles into it. Mariam struggled against him, … his upper lip curled into a sneer….Mariam to spit out pebbles, blood, and the fragments of two broken molars” (Hosseni 67). Mariam and many other women in Afghanistan were victims of severe domestic abuse. They were often powerless in their relationships, forced to deal with physical and verbal abuse routinely. Though Mariam was the victim of severe violence, she did not lose hope. When Laila was introduced into her life, Mariam knew that she had to stay strong and help Laila. Initially “they are cast as competitors, Rasheed’s dissimilar wives team up to offer each other support from the beatings and the verbal lashings” (Reed). Mariam sprung to action when Rasheed was on the verge of killing Laila. Knowing the consequences, Mariam killed Rahseed. Mariam ended the cycle of abuse in both her and Laila’s life. In Mariam’s final moments she ¨wished for so much in those final moments. Yet as she closed her eyes, it was not regret any longer but a sensation of abundant peace that washed over her. She thought of her entry into this world, the harami child…And yet she was leaving the world as a