Gender Roles And Male Dominance In ‘A Thousand Splendid Suns’

A Thousand Stunning Suns is fiction set during Operation Enduring Freedom from the 1960s until the early 2000s. This novel is about two young women named Mariam & Laila. Both are struggling with a discriminatory culture. Khaled Hosseini based A Thousand Splendid Suns off his personal knowledge. The excerpt you are referring to is after Mariam weds Rasheed. It’s when she begins to take on her wifely duties. This passage is set at Kabul. The author describes Mariam’s marriage to Rasheed through various themes. But, I believe, the dominant theme is that of male dominance. Hosseini uses the burqa as a symbol for the paradoxical nature of freedom and imprisonment. In this passage, the author uses comparisons to highlight the theme.

Hosseini portrays “a feeling that you are shrinking.” This is to illustrate his theme about gender roles. Mariam’s inner feelings emphasize that women are not in control of Afghanistan. Mariam is unmistakably conveyed that it’s futile for her to fight Rasheed. Hosseini makes reference to the mountains “looming above” the familiar town Mariam grew up in. Hosseini makes this reference in order to explain how Afghan men will control women for as long as they are there.

Mariam is made to feel oppressed and mistreated by Rasheed, as the burqa becomes a symbol. This destroys Mariam’s fondness of Rasheed. Hosseini shows “the suffocating feeling the pleated material caused her to feel when it pressed against the corners of her mouth”. This is a quote that illustrates how patriarchal culture can be portrayed through women being silenced. Hosseini uses soft consonants to mirror the fabric’s softness, and the way that continued oppression may even become comforting. The personification of a burqa, however, shows how it is simply a tool for patriarchy. It “presses”, “suffocates” and makes breathing, speech, and quick movements difficult.

This passage sheds light on Mariam and Rasheed’s marriage. Mariam is comforted by Rasheed as they travel through Kabul. Mariam’s comfort comes from Rasheed during her very first restaurant meal. She overcomes the discomfort of eating with strangers. Mariam is obedient to his orders, and she hides herself under her Burqa. “It looked like a window that only allowed one way. It was like a one-way window. She could observe without being scrutinized by strangers. She didn’t worry that anyone knew her shameful past secrets. This sentimental ritual serves as an effective shield to protect her from the wandering eye and from worrying about her past.

Mariam was in a similar situation. The burqa made her feel submissive towards her husband as intended, but it also gave her a sense of comfort. The narrator writes: “She was surprised to learn that the burqa also provided comfort.” The burqa shields Mariam against the harsh realities of life. The burqa hides Mariam’s past and allows her to feel as though no one can tell who she is or how she came to be. She can live her life as if she had never seen it before. She no longer feels the gaze of others, nor does she feel like she’s in the spotlight. Mariam finds security and comfort under the Burqa. But she also sees an opportunity. She is able to conceal her flaws and think how she wants.

Mariam remains in prison, however, as she is still Rasheed’s slave. Mariam states that Rasheed was present, but not Rasheed. Mariam is trapped by his dominance, but she still finds freedom within that prison.

As you can see from the examples, there are a number of literary devices used to portray the theme of masculine dominance. The reader can understand the power of this piece to dominate and control so much women. It is impossible to quantify how many men dominated or how many women were huddled behind their burqas. This passage describes how women were imprisoned in Afghanistan because of patriarchal laws. The passage describes the feeling of freedom and comfort that women feel while in prison. Hosseini employs symbolism as well as comparisons to establish a deeper connection between Mariam (the protagonist) and the reader in regards to gender inequality. The passage could have other themes. However, the literary techniques employed allow the readers to grasp fully the idea of being free in prison. Mariam accepts that Rasheed is in control of her, and she finds comfort in difficult situations. This passage helps the reader understand Mariam’s perspective, as well as that of other women. They can also see gender inequality in its truest form.