A Thousand Splendid Suns Study Guide
A Thousand Splendid Suns: Chapter Summaries
A Thousand Splendid Suns: Themes
A Thousand Splendid Suns: Characters
A Thousand Splendid Suns: Analysis
A Thousand Splendid Suns: Critical Essays
A Thousand Splendid Suns: Questions & Answers
A Thousand Splendid Suns: Introduction
A Thousand Splendid Suns: Biography of Khaled Hosseini
Introduction to A Thousand Splendid Suns
A Thousand Splendid Suns is the second novel by Khalid Hosseini. In the wake of the popularity of Hosseini‘s first novel, The Kite Runner, the author chose to focus on a different type of relationship for his sophomore effort. Whereas The Kite Runner focuses on the relationships between men–specifically fathers and sons—A Thousand Splendid Suns focuses on the role of women in Afghan society and the relationships formed between those who are trying to survive in difficult circumstances. The novel was well received by critics, with some believing that it surpassed The Kite Runner in quality. Hosseini interviewed numerous women in Afghanistan prior to writing the novel, and he used the knowledge gained from these conversations when developing the novel's protagonists, Mariam and Laila, in an effort to reflect the real experiences of Afghan women.
Women and the relationships between them are a central focus of the novel. Both Laila and Mariam are stuck in an unhappy marriage with the sexist and abusive Rasheed, and although they are initially at odds with one another, they bond over their shared dissatisfaction and a mutual love for their children. Mariam's sacrifice on behalf of Laila is a testament to the deep love and understanding between the two, and she become an almost martyr-like figure. Women have minimal power in Afghan society to begin with, and the rise of the Taliban only further restricts their lives. However, Hosseini provides a balanced perspective, criticizing the laws and policies that restrict women while also imbuing his characters with a deep love for their country. Although Afghanistan is where Laila suffered many hardships, it is still her home, and she believes in the ability of her people to overcome prejudice and political turmoil.
A Brief Biography of Khaled Hosseini
Khaled Hosseini (born 1965) grew up in Kabul, Afghanistan, before moving with his family to Paris, France. After the Soviet Union invaded Afghanistan in 1979, his family was prevented from returning and sought political asylum in the United States, where Hosseini studied medicine at the University of California, San Diego. Hosseini practiced medicine full time after graduation and devoted his spare hours to penning his first novel, The Kite Runner. Published in 2004, The Kite Runner enjoyed massive critical and commercial success, as did Hoesseini's second book, A Thousand Splendid Suns. His novels—all of which take place at least partially in Afghanistan—have been credited with bringing global attention to current issues facing Afghanistan. In addition to his literary contributions, Hosseini has been recognized for his humanitarian work, including his role as a UNHCR goodwill ambassador.
Frequently Asked Questions about A Thousand Splendid Suns
A Thousand Splendid Suns
Why does Mariam have difficulty understanding Rasheed?
Mariam has to listen carefully to understand Rasheed when he speaks. This is because he speaks a different dialect from hers. He comes from a region of Afghanistan called Kandahar and speaks Farsi...
A Thousand Splendid Suns
When did Tariq lose his leg?
In A Thousand Splendid Suns, Tariq is presented as a kind, moral, compassionate, selfless and occasionally playful man who has a physical disability—he has only one leg. As the story progresses, we...
A Thousand Splendid Suns
What does Laila do with Mariam's money?
Laila inherits a fairly substantial amount of money from Mariam's deceased father and wants to use it in a way that will honor her dear friend's memory. It's important to consider the way Mariam's...
A Thousand Splendid Suns
Why did Nana not marry?
In A Thousand Splendid Suns, Nana's lack of a husband comes down to two events in her life that ultimately prevent her from being married in her hyper-patriarchal society. At the age of fifteen,...
A Thousand Splendid Suns
How did Rasheed's son die?
While trying to “sell” the middle-aged Rasheed to the teenaged Mariam as a good prospective husband, Jalil’s wives appeal to her sympathy; they tell her that his first wife died during childbirth...
A Thousand Splendid Suns
What did Laila and Mariam do with Rasheed's body?
When Mariam realizes that Rasheed intends to kill Laila, she decides to determine her own fate for the first time in her life. With the shovel in her hand, she uses all of the force in her body to...
A Thousand Splendid Suns
Do Laila and Tariq get married?
Near the end of the novel, Laila discovers that Tariq is alive. Having heard that Laila recently received a visit from Tariq, Rasheed viciously attacks her. Mariam saves Laila's life by hitting...
A Thousand Splendid Suns
Where is Mariam executed?
After Mariam kills Rasheed in order to save Laila's life, she is imprisoned for doing a "wicked thing." Mariam has no legal council and no examination of evidence during her trial. Though the judge...
A Thousand Splendid Suns
What is the jinn that enters Nana?
A jinn in Arabian and Muslim mythology is a spirit that can enter and possess a person's body. The main jinn that enters Nana is epilepsy. Mariam witnesses Nana's jinn many times during her...
A Thousand Splendid Suns
What was the first gift Rasheed gave Mariam?
Not long after they are married, Rasheed gives Mariam a beautiful maroon shawl embroidered in gold with a beaded fringe. Mariam's previous context for gifts are the presents that Jalil would bring...
A Thousand Splendid Suns
Why does Laila quickly agree to marry Rasheed?
When Mariam tells Laila that Rasheed wants to marry her as a second wife, Laila quickly accepts his offer. She knows she is pregnant with Tariq's child and wants to consummate the marriage with...
A Thousand Splendid Suns
Why is Mariam called "harami"?
Mariam is called "harami," which means bastard, because she is illegitimate. At the very beginning of the novel, Mariam breaks a porcelain teapot, an heirloom from her grandmother, and her mother,...
A Thousand Splendid Suns
What is the message of A Thousand Splendid Suns?
A Thousand Splendid Suns delivers a message of hope and optimism. For example, despite all the hardships she suffers, including sacrificing her life to save Laila and Laila's children, Mariam's...
A Thousand Splendid Suns
Why did Nana kill herself?
The text offers the bare facts of the events surrounding Nana's death: we are not privy to Nana's interiority or, in other words, her private thoughts, so we have to piece together her reasons for...
A Thousand Splendid Suns
Does Jalil love his daughter?
Jalil loves Mariam to some extent, but her illegitimacy, in part, is what interferes with his ability to love her fully. We know he must have some feelings of affection for her as his daughter...
A Thousand Splendid Suns
How much older is Rasheed than Mariam?
In A Thousand Splendid Suns, Rasheed is almost thirty years older than Mariam, who is forced to marry him at the age of fifteen. Mariam is the illegitimate child of her father, Jalil, and she is...
A Thousand Splendid Suns
Does Mariam have a child?
Mariam is never able to have children of her own. Much to her intense disappointment, she is unable to conceive a child throughout her marriage to the cruel Rasheed. In a culture where women are...
A Thousand Splendid Suns
How old was Mariam when she married Rasheed?
In chapter 8, Mariam wakes up to a hasty wedding ceremony with Rasheed. As the illegitimate daughter of the wealthy Jalil and his housekeeper Nana, Mariam is a reminder of Jalil’s infidelity to his...
A Thousand Splendid Suns
Why does Mariam kill Rasheed?
In Khaled Hosseini's A Thousand Splendid Suns, Mariam kills Rasheed after Rasheed attacks and almost kills Laila. Rasheed is a violent, abusive man who is married to both of these women. Mariam is...
A Thousand Splendid Suns
How does Mariam die?
Near the end of the novel, Mariam is condemned to death for killing Rasheed with a shovel. The judge says he would like to show her mercy because of the circumstances that led to the murder, but he...
