Symbolism In The Thousand Splendid Suns

A mother is usually a symbol of love, care and selfelessnes because of their continous efforts in ensuring their children have the best. (Singh, 15-35). In the novel of the thousand splendid suns, the meaning of a mother is reflected through characters like Mariam, Nana and Laila. The three characters show selflessness by sacrificing for their children’s sake regardless the difficult situations they faced. Naturally mothers have the tendency of giving their children first priority without having a second thought. However, Nana represents the quality of both a bad and good mother but tries very much to raise Mariam despite her medical condition. Mariam, Nana and Laila go through extremes that justify their motherly care and concern for

Logically, the reason why most mothers show unconditional love to their children is because of blood relation however Miriam shows a different case since she not only cares but also shows love for Aziza her step daughter. Laila and Miriam were strangers to each other yet they shared the same homestead. It is really hard for a woman to accpect a co-wife nevertheless Miriam accepts Laila and her new daughter.She even joins Laila in exercuiting the plan of escaping Rasheeds homstead. Laila had a past in which she not only lost her home but also her parents. Mariam had compasion on Laila and her daughter and was willing to help in any way possible. Mariam,s past is a devastating one. Her mother commits suicide therefore forcing her to stay with Jalil whose wives force her into marriage at a tender age of 15

Nana was always there for her daughter Mariam who unfortunately is an illegitimate child of Jalil. Nana was raped by Jalil who was apparently her employer. Nana becomes over protective and wants the best for her daughter. She does not want her daughter to pass through her past experience. This shows her concerned nature as a parent. In addition if Nana did not have the qualities of a good mother, she would have aborted the pregnancy being that it was as a result of sexual harassment. Furthermore, she cares dearly for Mariam to a point that she commits suicide when she realizes that her daughter left home. Mariam lives with guilt after her mother’s death. This is an indication of her mother’s significance in her life. In other words, it is a clear demonstration of Nana’s care for Mariam. Marian was the only child whom she had and saw no reason for living. However the fact that Nana takes her own life shows how irresponsible and mean she was. Not only did she take into account her daughter’s life after her death but also how her daughter would feel. The fact that her daughter was at a tender age and still needed a mothers love and guidance, I would judge that she never cared for Mariam. She did not think through the consequences of her actions. Mariam is then forced into early marriage by her step mothers because there is no one to care for her. It