In the novel A Thousand Splendid Suns, Khaled Hosseini, showcases the struggles women face on their journey for fulfillment and satisfaction in difficult circumstances such as war, abuse, and loss. Mariam and Laila both find fulfillment and self satisfaction in their life through resilience and inner strength. The ability of women to establish their identity and roles in society is based on their drive to love others, seek purpose through hardships, defeat a common enemy, and conquer their inner demons. Women are able to establish their identity and roles in society through loving others and feeling loved. Laila and Mariam find their identity through loving others and feeling love back through horrid situations. Firstly, Mariam finds love in Laila and her children. Mariam states to Laila,“‘Kiss Aziza for me. Tell her she is the noor of my eyes and the sultan of my heart.’” (Hosseini 359). All of Mariam’s life she’s been labelled a harami, a illegitimate being but finds herself a new life full of warmth and satisfaction through loving Aziza and Mariam. Contrary to, Mariam’s mother; she did not feel love in her life, so did not find fulfillment. She ended her life by suicide as she felt there was no purpose to live, ‘“I’ll swallow my tongue and die. Don’t leave me. Mariam jo. Please stay. I’ll die if you go.’” (27). Although Mariam leaves the world for a crime, she feels satisfied in giving …show more content…
To be able to find satisfaction and purpose in life, one must be open to make sacrifices, accept others, and stick up for their beliefs. The women in A Thousand Splendid Suns were able to find their identity and role in society after a journey of betrayal, loss, abandonment, and confusion. The women were able to achieve this by, having the drive to love others and to feel loved, finding purpose through hardships, conquering a common enemy, and defeating inner