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A Thousand Splendid Suns – Practice Essay Freedom is an aspect of life that many people take for granted. A Thousand Splendid Suns by Chalked Hussein follows two women as they struggle to gain their freedom. The novel takes place in Afghanistan, a county with very limited women’s rights and a barbaric approach at government. The women, Miriam and Leila, start with two completely different lives that come together at a twist of fate. Throughout the novel Chalked Hussein illustrates the inner trench of women, their ties to Afghanistan, and the importance of family.
Women in Afghanistan have been treated horribly for decades. A majority are forced into marriage and then controlled by their husbands. In the novel, Miriam is thrust into an unhappy marriage at the age of fifteen after her mother dies. She caters to her husband’s every need with no sign of gratitude. Miriam showcases a strength that is not measured by her authority or brawn, but by her ability to overcome and accept her fate. Leila, on the other hand is very fortunate.
Her father, Baby, is a revolutionist who knows the importance of women. Baby says to her, “… When this war is over, Afghanistan is going to need you as much as its men, maybe even more. Because a society has no chance of success if its women are uneducated, Leila. No chance. ” He knows that a society cannot flourish, or even exist without the presence of women, and respects them for that. Although Miriam and Leila inhabit a country in which they have little redeem, they seem to feel attached to it.
When Leila first attempts to flee Afghanistan with her parents she says “Oh, Baby. We’ll come back. When this war is over. We’ll come back to Kabul. You’ll see. ” Leila acts as if she is compelled to go back, even though her country is in ruins. At the end of the novel when Leila is finally free, she becomes unhappy and decides to return to Kabul. It’s almost as if Leila sees the potential in her country and feels a longing to make it better.
Another important aspect of the novel is family. The whole novel revolves around relationships, both good and bad. The most prominent relationship is that of Miriam and Leila. They are each others’ backbone, and they protect each other. The relationship between mother and child is also important, Leila grew up with a mother that didn’t care and made sure to not be like that for her children. She has a bond with her kids that is unbreakable.