A Thousand Splendid Suns Reading Questions
And Answers, Complete Verified Solution 2023
What does Nana mean when she says, "'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"? (6-7)
She means that she wishes her father would've used the knife to kill her baby because
then she would still have been able to live a more honorable and enjoyable life.
The novel opens with a curse word, uttered in frustration by Mariam's mother,
when Mariam breaks a treasured heirloom. What does Mariam's memory of this
suggest about herself and her relationship with her mother? How does this
opening set the tone for the novel?
This memory suggests that Mariam took a lot of what her mother said, to heart, and it
shows that their relationship was very tense and difficult at times. This sets the tone by
showing us how their relationship would be throughout the book.
Based on Nana's and Mariam's experiences, what can you infer about the lives of
women in Afghanistan in the sixties? Why does Nana forbid Mariam to go to
school? What does nana want for her and Mariam? Is Nana's goal realistic?
Lives of women were bad and were dominated by the men and they don't even realize
it. Nana doesn't want her to go to school because she thinks women only need to know
how to do household chores. She wants her and Mariam to be left alone because they
are outcasts
Jalil, Mariam's father, is a complex character. Does he love his daughter? How
does he show his love? How does he show that he does not fully recognize her
as his daughter? Why does he treat her as he does?
He does love her, but he can't fully show the love because she was born out of wedlock.
Shows his love by visiting her and bringing her gifts. He makes them live outside of the
town because he is embarassed
Why does Mariam ask her father to take her to the cinema for her fifteenth
birthday present? What does she want?
She wants to experience the real world and going into town and be apart of his real
family and to meet her siblings
What happened to Mariam's mother? In your opinion, why did this happen?
She committed suicide because she was plagued with guilt
Is Mariam right to feel guilt about the suicide death of her mother?
-She did not cause it but her leaving was a triggering point from her Nana to kill
herself---> her mother told her that she would kill herself if she left
-The way she left may also cause guilt but her rational mind knows that she did not
cause it
-Since Nana controlled her she may have been mad that she is losing control so she
kills herself as a vindictive way
What is the motive of Jalil's wives in finding a suitor for Mariam? Why does Jalil
go along with them in this plan? How does it appear he feels about the plan?
-To get Mariam out of the house and can continue their good life
-He wants to continue his perfect life and get rid of the scandal, looking out for himself
, -He knows Rasheed and knows the actual treatment of Mariam, he feels bad that he
feels guilty, also acting like a kid (thinking why are you doing this to me)
-Everything Jalil does is for him, not for Mariam and she starts to understand this
Why does Mariam finally say "yes" in the marriage ceremony to Rasheed? What
does Mariam realize about her father? How does that make her feel? Does this
explain why she goes along with the marriage to Rasheed?
-She has no other option
-He only looks out for himself and he does not care about her
-It makes her feel stupid
-Yes, she does not want to be around him
The beginning of Mariam's marriage to Rasheed seems to promise happiness.
What are signs that this may be short lived?
Giving her time to adjustment, got to sleep in her own room
-Yells at her for crying, shows no sympathy, tells her that she needs to start acting
better, thinks men control women (not about consent, oppression)
What are Rasheed's reasons for making Mariam wear a burqa and what do they
tell us about his ideas about his role as a husband and man and his expectations
for Mariam?
She is oppressed
-Loss of identity
-No consent
-She needs permission
-Controlling relationships (Nana to Rasheed)
1. Explain these quotes:
· "She [Mariam] was being sent away because she was the walking, breathing
embodiment of their shame" (48).
· "I thought about you all the time. I used to pray that you'd live to be a hundred
years old. ...I didn't know that you were ashamed of me" (55).
"Where I come from, a woman's face is her husband's business only" (70).
-Quote 1: Seeing Mariam lead to people gossiping and remembering Jalil and Nana's
scandal
-Quote 2: Talking to Jalil--victim of patriarchy
-Quote 3: Rasheed talking to her about control [transition from green (growth) to blue
and brown (sad)]
What does Mariam notice about the women of the city? How does this make her
feel?
The women in the city are free
-She views them in this modern light that is valuable
How does Rasheed feel about the westernization of Afghanistan? What shows his
ambivalence?
He is against it. He talks bad about how the woman walk around in skirts and even talks
bad about Fariba
Mariam learns some of her husband's history when she looks inside the drawers
in his room. Why does she rationalize about what she sees?
And Answers, Complete Verified Solution 2023
What does Nana mean when she says, "'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"? (6-7)
She means that she wishes her father would've used the knife to kill her baby because
then she would still have been able to live a more honorable and enjoyable life.
The novel opens with a curse word, uttered in frustration by Mariam's mother,
when Mariam breaks a treasured heirloom. What does Mariam's memory of this
suggest about herself and her relationship with her mother? How does this
opening set the tone for the novel?
This memory suggests that Mariam took a lot of what her mother said, to heart, and it
shows that their relationship was very tense and difficult at times. This sets the tone by
showing us how their relationship would be throughout the book.
Based on Nana's and Mariam's experiences, what can you infer about the lives of
women in Afghanistan in the sixties? Why does Nana forbid Mariam to go to
school? What does nana want for her and Mariam? Is Nana's goal realistic?
Lives of women were bad and were dominated by the men and they don't even realize
it. Nana doesn't want her to go to school because she thinks women only need to know
how to do household chores. She wants her and Mariam to be left alone because they
are outcasts
Jalil, Mariam's father, is a complex character. Does he love his daughter? How
does he show his love? How does he show that he does not fully recognize her
as his daughter? Why does he treat her as he does?
He does love her, but he can't fully show the love because she was born out of wedlock.
Shows his love by visiting her and bringing her gifts. He makes them live outside of the
town because he is embarassed
Why does Mariam ask her father to take her to the cinema for her fifteenth
birthday present? What does she want?
She wants to experience the real world and going into town and be apart of his real
family and to meet her siblings
What happened to Mariam's mother? In your opinion, why did this happen?
She committed suicide because she was plagued with guilt
Is Mariam right to feel guilt about the suicide death of her mother?
-She did not cause it but her leaving was a triggering point from her Nana to kill
herself---> her mother told her that she would kill herself if she left
-The way she left may also cause guilt but her rational mind knows that she did not
cause it
-Since Nana controlled her she may have been mad that she is losing control so she
kills herself as a vindictive way
What is the motive of Jalil's wives in finding a suitor for Mariam? Why does Jalil
go along with them in this plan? How does it appear he feels about the plan?
-To get Mariam out of the house and can continue their good life
-He wants to continue his perfect life and get rid of the scandal, looking out for himself
, -He knows Rasheed and knows the actual treatment of Mariam, he feels bad that he
feels guilty, also acting like a kid (thinking why are you doing this to me)
-Everything Jalil does is for him, not for Mariam and she starts to understand this
Why does Mariam finally say "yes" in the marriage ceremony to Rasheed? What
does Mariam realize about her father? How does that make her feel? Does this
explain why she goes along with the marriage to Rasheed?
-She has no other option
-He only looks out for himself and he does not care about her
-It makes her feel stupid
-Yes, she does not want to be around him
The beginning of Mariam's marriage to Rasheed seems to promise happiness.
What are signs that this may be short lived?
Giving her time to adjustment, got to sleep in her own room
-Yells at her for crying, shows no sympathy, tells her that she needs to start acting
better, thinks men control women (not about consent, oppression)
What are Rasheed's reasons for making Mariam wear a burqa and what do they
tell us about his ideas about his role as a husband and man and his expectations
for Mariam?
She is oppressed
-Loss of identity
-No consent
-She needs permission
-Controlling relationships (Nana to Rasheed)
1. Explain these quotes:
· "She [Mariam] was being sent away because she was the walking, breathing
embodiment of their shame" (48).
· "I thought about you all the time. I used to pray that you'd live to be a hundred
years old. ...I didn't know that you were ashamed of me" (55).
"Where I come from, a woman's face is her husband's business only" (70).
-Quote 1: Seeing Mariam lead to people gossiping and remembering Jalil and Nana's
scandal
-Quote 2: Talking to Jalil--victim of patriarchy
-Quote 3: Rasheed talking to her about control [transition from green (growth) to blue
and brown (sad)]
What does Mariam notice about the women of the city? How does this make her
feel?
The women in the city are free
-She views them in this modern light that is valuable
How does Rasheed feel about the westernization of Afghanistan? What shows his
ambivalence?
He is against it. He talks bad about how the woman walk around in skirts and even talks
bad about Fariba
Mariam learns some of her husband's history when she looks inside the drawers
in his room. Why does she rationalize about what she sees?
