A Thousand Splendid Suns by Khaled Hosseini Book Analysis

Women in Khaled Hosseini's novel, A Thousand Splendid Suns make a variety of sacrifices throughout their lives, the majority of which are devoted to caring for and protecting their children and loved ones. Mariam and Laila discover the sacrifices necessary to live as women in Afghanistan as they develop from little girls to women and, eventually, mothers. Throughout their journeys, Mariam and Laila made sacrifices that not only helped those close to them, but also served as the foundation for their survival. Mariam and Laila were Afghan women during a period when being a woman was extremely difficult. They fought through misery and pain, which only strengthened their determination. Afghan women had to undergo actions ranging from arranged marriages to living in a city on the verge of collapse; decisions based on sacrifice were what they had to face during this period.

While Laila made horrible choices that contributed to her troubles along the way, she is willing to give her entire life for the well-being of others. Laila does things she does not want to do and goes against her will, but it is vital for the safety of everyone she cares about. She makes her first sacrifice by refusing to marry Tariq and departing Kabul with his family, knowing she cannot leave her Babi behind. Laila could not bear to leave her father, who has done so much for her. Laila thought of Babi, saying “It’s my father I can’t leave, I’m all he has left. His heart couldn’t take it either” (184). Laila is giving up a future she has envisioned her entire life for her family, whom she loves with all her heart. Laila had to make another sacrifice later in her journey by marrying Rasheed. Laila realized she could not care for her kid on her own, therefore this marriage was critical for her security and the safety of her child. She was foregoing her future and true love for Tariq in the process. Moving on in Laila's life, she is the mother of two lovely children, Aziza and Zalmai. Laila makes sacrifices for them, giving up everything for their safety. Her relentless commitment to seeing her daughter in the orphanage, despite Taliban beatings, is one example. Laila told Aziza that she would make her as many visits as she could. Despite the sacrifices she had to make, Laila was determined to honor her promise. Laila is a strong and fearless person who would go to any length to sacrifice for the people she loves the most. Laila's struggles ended up drawing her and Mariam together, and they helped each other in overcoming the obstacles that Afghan women have to face.

Mariam makes sacrifices regardless of the circumstances since she understands that things must be given up for the ones she loves the most. Mariam’s life has been plagued by a lack of affection and belonging, yet she possesses extraordinary resilience to survive and grow in the face of adversity. As Mariam nears the end of her journey, she gives up her own life for the freedom of a girl who Mariam has no blood relation with. After finally having a sense of belonging to Laila and her daughter Aziza, Mariam makes the ultimate sacrifice. Mariam gives up her life so that people she cares about can live freely. In her final moments, Mariam says “This is a legitimate end to a life of illegitimate beginnings” (329). Mariam ultimately says that the majority of her life has been meaningless and that it has now come to a conclusion where she has discovered a feeling of belonging. It was really beneficial for her to be accepted by others rather than being pushed to the side. This final sacrifice has a profound effect on Laila's soul, and she even goes to Herat to learn more about Mariam's life. Mariam is the novel's most stunning representation of both the pain and the bravery of Afghan women. At the conclusion of Mariam's life, she made sacrifices for those she cared about the most, and more significantly, she was loved by others.

Laila and Mariam, like any other Afghan women, make numerous sacrifices throughout their lives. The vast majority of them are preoccupied with providing for and protecting their children and loved ones. Laila makes sacrifices for Aziza and Zalmai at the expense of her own life. In A Thousand Splendid Suns, mothers go to tremendous efforts to ensure their children's safety. Some tend to connect sacrifice with the loss of something, but Mariam's willingness to sacrifice her safety and, eventually, her life demonstrates that what she genuinely loved was giving a good life for her family. Mariam exemplifies sacrifice by going through a lifetime of suffering that eventually leads her to find people she loved, who she sacrificed herself for. Khaled Hosseini's novel reveals the ongoing struggles and sacrifices of motherhood by comparing the lives of the female characters in the book; Fariba, Nana, Mariam, and Laila, and each of these women demonstrates how being a mother and sacrifice always go hand in hand.