Sacrifice In A Thousand Splendid Suns

It is evident that life is a constant battle, is regularly unjust and appalling, but if one can endure through these things there is truth, power and beauty that gives oneself a true meaning for their existence. Putting others before oneself can be a difficult sacrifice, but it builds the strength of character. Different characters in “A Thousand Splendid Suns” by Khaled Hosseini demonstrate such selflessness, as well as perseverance and strength. To begin with, Mariam is one character who demonstrates most if not all of these character traits, especially selflessness. She willingly makes major sacrifices for Laila and her children, as well as taking responsibility for their abusive husband, Rasheed’s death despite knowing that she will be punished.Laila tries her best to change Mariams decision but it does not work. Mariam tells Laila different reasons of why she can not go with them such as “When they do [find us], they’ll find you as guilty as me. Tariq too. I won’t have the two of you living on the run, like fugitives. What will happen to your children if you’re caught?”(Hosseini,358). Mariam offers to surrender herself for Rasheed’s death, instead of taking the risk of both of them getting caught and killed. Unlike herself, she realizes that Laila has significantly more to lose, her children and Tariq. Mariam knows that the action she has taken against Rasheed is completely justified, therefore to her, execution is an honest and good way to die. For her family

Half the time, she never made it to the orphanage. Crossing the street, she was spotted by the Taliban and riddled with questions...before she was sent home. If she was lucky, she was given a tongue-lashing or a single kick to the rear, a shove in the back. Other times, she met with assortments of wooden clubs, fresh tree branches, short whips, slaps, often fists.... But for Laila, the reward, if she made it past the Taliban, was worth it