A Thousand Splendid Suns

A Thousand Splendid Suns is the second novel written by Khaled Hosseini, an Afghan-American writer. It was published in 2007 in the United States and has gained great popularity. The novel is centered around the lives and experiences of women in Afghanistan. It is a story of struggle, hardship and hope during difficult times. Although the main focus is on two women in particular, historical background of Afghanistan is greatly incorporated into the novel as well.

.

In the interview below, Hosseini briefly introduces his novel and discusses where he found the inspiration to write it. He talks about his experiences growing up in Kabul, as well as his returning visits later on in life.

The interview can be found at http://www.youtube.com/user/RheadBooks

A Thousand Splendid Suns (pg.1-50)

A Thousand Splendid Suns
.
Characters:

1. Mariam: female born in 1959 in Herat, illegitimate child, main character, young, still pretty innocent and somewhat niave, loves her father, does not get along well with her mother, raised by her mother away from society, dreamer, unsatisfied with her life
2. Nana: Mariam's mother, Jalil's lover (never married), used to be one of Jalil's housekeepers, disowned by father when became pregnant, sarcastic and rather bitter, had almost married once (to poor man who sold parakeets), suffers occasionally from seisures, has one lazy eye
3. Jalil: Mariam's father, visits Mariam every Thurs and tells her stories and gives her gifts, has 3 wives and 9 (legitimate) children, very wealthy, owns cinema/land in Karokh/land in Farah/3 carpet stores/clothing shop/ black 1956 Buick Roadmaster, always wears suits
4. Muhsin: Jalil's eldest son by his first wife (Khadija)
5. Mullah Faizullah: elderly village Koran tuto, Mariam's friend and favorite visitor, kind of like father figure to Mariam, taught her how to write and pray, very old, very thin, has one son, Mariam's confidant, very religious
.

Vocab:
.
1. harami (3): bastard
2. kolba (3): hut or shack
3. kinchini (8): whore
4. jinn (10): seisure, kind of like a curse put on someone in the form of a disease
5. jo (20): dear (term of endearment)
.
Notes:
.
* Nana calls Mariam harami (deragatory term) for dropping a piece of her china

• "a harami was an unwanted thing; that she, Mariam, was an illegitimate person who would never have legitimate claim to the things that other people had, things such as love, family, home, acceptance." (4)

* Mariam's father disowns her as soon as he finds out she is pregnant out of wedlock (not ok in their culture)

• "I wish my father had had the stomach to sharpen one of his knives and do the honorable thing. It might have been better for me." (7)
• she is referring to death rather than being disowned --> not uncommon for men to kill their daughters for dishonoring their family by laying with a man out of wedlock, much less having an illegitimate child

* "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." (7)

• as soon as Jalil's family found out about Nana's pregnancy she was kicked out and he blamed her for forcing herself on him (indicative of lower status of women and lack of rights and respect)

* Nana and Mariam live in a very secluded shack removed from society's glares and care

• Jalil was the one that provided the land and space and that relocated them there
• Nana did not want to live close to people after what had happened, didn't want to deal with fake kindnesses or scorn from others (shame and embarrassment)
• house made from bricks, mud and straw; had two cots, one wooden table, two chairs, one window, cast-iron stove and shelves

* Nana was not helped by a midwife or anybody else in her birth of Mariam, in fact, she was left basically alone to do it all by herself even though the others were well aware of the fact she was in labor (Nana's story)

• not a wife, illegitimate child, therefore didn't really matter if she or the child died
• Jalil had no responsibility to take care of/provide for her, and did not
• Jalil denied all of his, said she was in the hospital and well taken care of (unclear which story is true)

* Although not by any means treated anywhere close to the way that Jalil's wives are, he does take care of Nana and Mariam to a degree (takes some responsibility)

• built their house and gave them the land to live on
• sends them food and supplies once a month (his sons take it to them)
• gave them goats and chickens for milk and eggs
• Mariam treated much differently than his other childred --> doesn't get to go to school (which she really wants), not seen with father in public, doesn't enjoy same privileges

* "What's the sense in schooling a girl like you? It's like shining a spittoon. And you'll learn nothing of value in those schools. There is only one, only one skill a woman like you and me needs in life, and they don't teach it in school. [...] Only one skill. And it's this: tahamul. Endure. [...] It's our lot of life, Mariam. Women like us. We endure. It's all we have." (18-19)

• very difficult life of women, especially unmarried or "dishonorable" women (such as an illegitimate child), cannot afford the luxuries of life, must just push through it until it ends

* Despite her hatred and rants toward Jalil, Nana acts docile and controlled when he is around. She serves him tea, smiles (although uncomfortably), and is very mannerly, washes her hair, brushes her teeth and wears her best hijab when he is around. Does not look at him directly and does not curse (22)

* Summer 1973 Afghanistan becomes a republic rather than a monarchy when Daoud Khan overthrows King Zahir Shah in a bloodless coup. Daoud becomes president (socialists may have helped him)

* For 15th birthday, Mariam asks to be taken to her father's theater and to watch Pinocchio with him (in public)

• Nana and Jalil try to make excuses about why she should not go (bad sound and picture quality)
• obvious truth is she cannot be seen in public with him without causing problems
• he says that he will hire someone to take her, but she wants him to come and to bring all of his other children
• Jalil promises to met her at noon the next day to take her (mother becomes hysterical, says she will die if Mariam goes)
• noon comes around next day, he isn't there...so Mariam goes to town to find him

* When Mariam arrives at the house she is told Jalil is not there, and that it was unknown when he would be back, she decides to wait (not allowed in house though, in fact, the chauffer has specifically been instructed not to let her in).

• Jalil instructs driver to taker her home after she spends the night on the sidewalk outside of his house, refuses to see his daughter, worried about the scene she is making (appearences)

* Nana hanged herself while Mariam was away, and Mariam sees it as she is brought back to the kolba by Jalil's driver (Mariam feels responsible for it)

* The maid (gurl who opened the door for them) is young gurl with tatoo under her lip (signifigance of tattoo?)

* Mariam taken to be with her father, but no longer wants to be with him, understands his past incencerity for the first time (everything changes, including her regard and loyalty to her father)

* "'You could eat downstairs with the rest of us,' he said, but without much conviction. He understood a little too readily when Mariam said she preferred to eat alone." (40)

• obviously very uncomfortble situation for all involved, unorthodox situation

* Mariam feels depressed, lonely, feeling of not belonging (not in Jalil's house or world, or anywhere else)

* Niloufar (Jalil's youngest daughter; 8) very friendly towards Mariam, plays her music, invites to teach her how to do a headstand

• "My mother says you're not really my sister like you say you are." (42)
• Niloufar is innocent, but shows the adults dislike for Mariam and the situation, she is unwanted at the house, and only allowed to stay because Jalil has a responsibility towards Mariam, predjudice against Mariam

* Meeting between Mariam, wives and Jalil: fake pleasentries, women talk while Jalil sits there silently, they inform her that she has a suitor (Rasheed) who lies in Kabul (far away from Jalil and his family), 45 years old, shoemaker

• Although 15 is "a good marrying age," it is only for her, and not her sister's who are students and planning on going to college
• used as an excuse to get her out of the house
• idea of arranged marriages (lack of women's right to chose who she wants to marry or be with) --> Mariam begs not to have to, but forced into it
• "She was being sent away because she was he walking, breathing embodiment of their shame." (48)
• Jalil obviously feels bad, but has no other choice

Observations/Overview

One can see some of the difficulties that women face in Afghanistan within the first 50 pages of the novel. Nana was basically ostracised and abandoned by her family after she gave birth to an illegitimate child. She was sent to the outer echelons of society, and forced into a life of shame and bitterness. Although Jalil has done some to help Nana and Mariam, it is more out of duty than anything else. Nobody respects her, not even herself. At one point she wishes that her father would have done the "honorable thing," which to most Westerners would not be considered honorable in the slightest, and killed her after she was caught having sexual relations with a man out of wedlock. This practice is something that is, and particularly was, actually done in such cases. It was not only considered ok and justifiable to drown one's daughter for such an offense, but it was considered by many to be the right thing to do. Nana brought shame on to her family, and is forced to face the consequences. Interestingly, virtually nothing happens to Jalil. Yes, his wives and family are upset, he really has no consequences other than having to provide some form of life for Nana and Mariam. Considering the fact that he is extremely wealthy, as can be noted by the description of his house and the number of wives he has, the modest living that he provides for Nana and Mariam is not much of a consequence at all. It most definitely does not pose any financial difficulty whatsoever. Society really does not care about what he has done, and as long as the woman and child are not around his indecency is quickly forgiven and forgotten. Not only does Mariam have to deal with the difficulties of being a woman in Afghanistan during the mid to upper 1900's, but she also is privy to extra hardship due to the fact that she was born out of wedlock and her parents were never married. Nana tries to make this clear to her from the beginning, and does not encourage Mariam's dreams of love and happiness and an easy life. For her, life is a thing that must be taken one step at a time and worked though, not something of wonder and fortune. It is clear that Mariam is not considered to be a "good woman" due to her background, and that she should feel "lucky" to find such a lucky match for marriage. She does not want to get married, but as a woman does not have a choice and is basically given away by her father, much like property would be. Women are considered to be property of their husbands or fathers (men), and have very few options with regards to exercising their own rights and doing what they want. Their destiny tends to be controlled by the men in their lives. This is both a source of frustration and resentment for Mariam and her mother. However, Mariam is young, and just beginning to understand how the world works, so it is more of a source of hurt at the moment.

As for how women are portrayed thus far in the novel... Most definitely as property. All of the women, even the wives of Jalil, come off as very emotional and unable to control their emotions. Women are very reliant on men thus far, for happiness as well as in order to get through daily routine. Most of the women this far in the novel are far from nice, and are actually quite rude. This includes Nana and the wives of Jalil. Mariam is still kind of too young to really include in this category. She is still young and a dreamer. She has yet to really face the real world and to understand the social and physical obligations of a woman in Afghani society.

Khaled Housseini

Khaled Hosseini was born into a relatively well off family in Kabul, Afghanistan on March 4, 1965 and is the oldest of five children. Both of his parents were well educated and literate. His mother was a teacher of Farsi and history and his father worked for the Afghan Foreign Ministry as a diplomat. His family lived in an affluent part of Kabul called the Wazir Akbar Khan district where men and women shared considerably more equality than in other parts of Afghanistan. Hosseini and his family moved to Paris in 1976 for his father's work. They had initially planned on returning to Kabul in 1980, however due to political unrest they instead sought political asylum in the United States. They were granted political asylum, and relocated to San Jose, California in September of 1980 to begin their new life. It would be 27 years before Hosseini returned to his home country. He was 15 years old when they came to the US, and Hosseini spoke very little English. Over the next few years his English improved substantially, and he began to write short stories in English along with his studies. Hosseini remained in California after graduating high school and did his undergraduate studies at Santa Clara University. In 1988 he graduated with a degree in biology and then continued on to medical school in the University of California-San Diego. He graduated in 1993 and then completed his residency in Los Angeles at Cedars-Senai Hospital. From 1996 to 2004 Hosseini practiced medicine full time. Although Hosseini began to write recreationally at a very young age, it was in 2001 that he began to write his first actual novel Kite Runner. The novel was not immediately well known, but it gained acclaim over the next year and a half. In fact, it became an international best seller and has been published in 48 different countries. His second novel, A Thousand Splendid Suns, was published in 2007 and has been published in 40 different countries. As of right now, Hosseini has put his medical career on hold in order to write full time and to do humanitarian work. Much of his time is also spent with his wife and two children. He has created his own humanitarian foundation called the Khaled Hosseini Foundation, and it works towards promoting and assisting in the higher education of women and children as well as providing Afghani refugees with shelter.

.

Sources:

.

Hosseini, Khaled. "Biography." Khaled Hosseini. AuthorBytes.com, 2009. Web. 29 Sept. 2010

< http://khaledhosseini.com/hosseini-bio.html>.

.

"Khaled Hosseini: Tapestry of Friendship, Redemption and Hope." Academy of Achievement. American Academy of Achievement, 24 Sept. 2008. Web. 29 Sept. 2010.

< http://www.achievement.org/autodoc/page/hos0bio-1>.

Preliminary Ideas/Outline/Notes

Research Question: How does the gender, socio-economic status, historical background, and/or nationality of an author of Muslim literature affect the individual's portrayal of women within their works?


Research:
* each authors' background/history
* basic history of each country and important historical events
* the feminist movement within the three different countries (historical and contemporary)
* current political status of women (going along with feminism) as well as overview of Muslim law w/regards to gender relations
* other social factors that may contribute to portrayal (social class, race, religion, etc.)
* thorough reading and analysis of each novel
* later discussions and interviews with the authors about their works and ideas
* reading of critical reviews and articles on the novelists and their works (JSTOR & other scholarly articles)
* possibly the psychological and philosophical factors regarding the social construct of "women" within the minds of the authors and general population


Theories:
* feminism
* possibly psychology and the formation of social constructs within a population


Discussion:
* brief history of authors and their countries
* the ways in which different female characters are portrayed throughout the novels
* the authors' "actual" stance on the treatment and portrayal of women within the Muslim culture (based on his/her personal background, personal portrayal of women within their work, tone of their writing with regards to women's roles, and possibly later interviews and discussion of their own works and ideas)
* comparison of the differences between the portrayal of women within the different works, and possible reasons for such differences (social constructs, history (personal and national), gender, nationality of author, etc.)
* other scholars' thoughts and criticisms of each work

Statement of Approval

Statement of approval

for

Caitlin Murphey's Honors Thesis & Independent Study/Capstone Project

I have read Ms. Murphey's proposal and am excited to oversee her work on this project, as I think that it will contribute to making her study abroad in Morocco as worthwhile and valuable an experience as possible. As the semester progresses, Ms. Murphey will keep me apprised of the progress of both her research and her writing by way of a regularly updated blog that I myself will check on a regular basis. While this form of interaction on our part (I say "interaction" because I will be able to post my own thoughts, comments, and suggestions on her blog) will largely supersede e-mail, it will not replace it entirely, as I'm sure there will be occasions on which it will make for a preferable mode of communication. My evaluation of Ms. Murphey will be based primarily on the following three things: 1) the depth and assiduousness of her research, which must be conveyed by regular and extensive updates on her blog; 2) her final research paper, complete with professional citations and a complete bibliography; and 3) her own professionalism (by which I mean graduate-level conduct and responsibility) throughout the course of the semester.

Independent Study Proposal

The topic which I propose to investigate in my independent study is the portrayal of women in Muslim literature. I intend to read a number of novels (see list at the end of the proposal) written by authors of both genders and from different countries within the Middle East and North Africa and to discuss the ways in which women are portrayed within them. I will research the authors' history as well as the historical and cultural backgrounds of the countries from which each author originates. (This research will be conducted primarily through book-length studies and academic articles.) I will discuss the ways in which each individual's culture has possible affected his/her work and analyze differences and similarities resulting from these differing backgrounds. I intend to use a number of sources for my research, both electronic and traditional.

Dr. Ben Leubner has agreed to be my faculty advisor. As I am in Morocco, all communication will be done via e-mail. Weekly progress will be reported and checked through a blog which I will continuously update throughout the semester. The blog will consist of research regarding the individual authors and their countries, notes and important details from the readings, and ideas and outlines for the final paper. The final paper will be turned in via e-mail by December 15th and will consist of a minimum of 20 pages. Citations will be done in MLA format, and a complete bibliography noting my sources will be included at the end of the paper. These requirements for the paper have been set with the aim of my producing work of graduate level quality and possibly publishable merit.

Upon my return from Morocco, I will give a public presentation of my research project, which I will organize in conjunction with Professor Leubner.

Novels:
Khaled Hosseini (Afghanistan-America, Male): A Thousand Splendid Suns
Tahr Ben Jelloun (Morocco, Male): Sand Child
Sadegh Hedayat (Iran, Male): Blind Owl
Shahrnush Parsipur (Iran, Female): Touba and the Meaning of Night
Fatima Mernissi (Morocco, Female): Dreams of Trespass: Tales of a Harem Girlhood