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The Unbreakable Spirit: A Comparison Of Mariam And Laila

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The Unbreakable Spirit: A Comparison of Mariam and Laila Despite their contrasting backgrounds, these two women exhibit a set of character traits that enable them to overcome their daunting challenges. Both Mariam and Laila exemplify an unwavering strength of will, extraordinary resilience, and an unrelenting desire for a brighter future. Their journeys unfold as testaments to the indomitable human spirit when confronted with adversity.

One of the most striking attributes Mariam and Laila share is their fierce determination to survive and overcome the obstacles they face as women in Afghanistan. Mariam, an illegitimate child thrust into a loveless marriage with an abusive husband, refuses to succumb to the despair she consistently faces in …show more content…

Mariam's life begins with hardship as she is born into a split family and faces discrimination and isolation from society. She grows up with limited education and is forced into a loveless and toxic marriage at a young age. yet manages to find solace and happiness in her relationships with her daughter and Laila. As she imparts her wisdom to Laila, Mariam emphasizes the importance of education, telling her to seize the opportunities available. Laila also overcomes tremendous adversity, realizing her dreams of education and a better life for her children. Her unwavering spirit is encapsulated in the poignant declaration that she would endure any hardship. “Laila came to believe that of all the hardships a person has to face, none was more punishing than the simple act of waiting” (Hosseini 80). Both Mariam and Laila's resilience not only ensures their survival but also serves as a beacon of inspiration for those around them, urging them to persevere in the pursuit of a better …show more content…

“Nana said, “Learn this now and learn it well, my daughter: Like a compass needle that points north, a man’s accusing finger always finds a woman. Always. You remember that, Mariam.”(Hosseini 7). Initially, Mariam and Laila's relationship is encapsulated by tension and jealousy due to their forced circumstances. However, as they navigate their shared hardships, their bond deepens, they support each other and strengthen each other as well as discover mutual respect. Together, they endure unimaginable trials and inspire each other to fight for a better future. Mariam yearns for love and belonging, which she finds through her relationships with Laila and her daughter. Likewise, Laila craves a life free from violence and oppression, tirelessly working towards her dream of education and a fulfilling career. Her unwavering desire to write shows her immense determination and motivation to uplift and empower women like themselves within their community. Their shared desire for a better life fuels their unwavering resolve and also inspires them to help others in need. Mariam’s and Laila's experiences throughout the book teach them important lessons about the significance of love, family, and sacrifice, shaping their characters' identities

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PART 1: CHAPTERS 1-15 Characters introduced: Mariam Mariam is the protagonist in the novel. She grows up outside of the city of Herat in a small shack and is raised by her mother, Nana. She was thought to know that she is a “harami”. She dreams of bigger things for herself and tends to question authority.

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This time, she gave it everything she had” (Hosseini 280). While Mariam had never expected her life to turn out this way, she was still able to overcome her trauma and regain her strength. She fought off Rasheed to save Laila, who was being strangled halfway to death. This was the first time Mariam was sure of herself and had enough confidence to save Laila. She didn’t second guess herself or hesitate to grab the shovel to resist Rasheed’s attack.

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Laila states, "I wanted to escape, to leave behind the only world I had ever known". Mariam goes further by killing Rasheed, her oppressive husband, as she states "I did it for myself. And for you, too", The technique of irony is used here, as the reader knows that Mariam is not only referring to her own death but also to the death of her abusive husband, Rasheed. This creates a sense of tension and anticipation in the reader as they wait to see how Mariam will carry out her plan and how the other characters will react. Furthermore, the impact of this quote on the reader is significant as it represents a pivotal moment in the story.

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Laila is the representation of the woman yearning to be something more, resisting the control that is over them. Time has changed Mariam's perspective. Unlike her mother, Mariam had forgiven the faults of those who had mistreated her in the past. She has matured and learned to thank the little things in

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‘You write it down and I’ll get it.’” (290). Mariam helps Laila as much as she could, even though she wasn’t as educated, and Laila helps Mariam in return by making her happy. “Mariam would always admire Laila for how much time passed before she screamed.” (292).

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(Illegitimate child) In Afghanistan, being a harami, people treated Mariam differently and unfairly. She had to persevere through this her whole life and even to her death towards the end of the book, it is still one of the key personality traits of Mariam. “The years had not been kind to Mariam. But perhaps, she thought, kinder years were waiting still.

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This scene shows how she takes action for the things she cares about. She even cares for others even though the child is not hers and takes charge as the mother who was supposed to take care of the baby. Another way Mariam’s change was made evident was when Mariam goes to the hospital for Laila’s baby and tries to shove other people to get treated earlier and realizes what Nana had to go through and changes the way she thinks about Nana. The Narrator states, “Mariam saw now the sacrifices a mother made. Decency was but one.

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The injustice Mariam endures in the novel, A Thousand Splendid Suns, leads Mariam on a struggling journey impacting her future path in life. The injustice that Mariam endures leaves a permanent mark on her life and impacts her from the beginning. Life wasted no time throwing the cruel injustices of life at Mariam. Mariam was marked a harami, otherwise known as a child without a father, even though her father Jalil was alive, near, and well. “She understood then what Nana meant, that a harami was an unwanted thing: that she, Mariam, was an illegitimate person that would never have legitimate claim to the things other people had, things such as love, family, home, acceptance.”

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Mariam demonstrates courage and perseverance through her sacrifices for Laila and her kids, overcoming her identity as a harami, and enduring the loss of her own children and her mother. Mariam makes significant sacrifices for others’ well-being. Enduring a loveless marriage to Rasheed, she ultimately sacrifices

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Mariam’s character as being playful to Aziza and Zalmai shows that she is like a mother to them on the grounds that she played with them to bring about

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When Laila’s parents were killed and she was injured, Mariam took her in and sacrificed her time and space in order to take care of Laila (199). Mariam didn’t have kids of her own, yet took care of Laila as if she were her own daughter. She cared enough for the young girl’s well being to take her in and show her kindness. When Rasheed is about to kill Laila, Mariam hits Rasheed with a shovel so hard that it kills him (349). She viewed Laila as her own daughter, and she wasn’t going to let anyone hurt her daughter.

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