Even in the beginning, the point of the novel is easily discerned by the reader. The theme is simply that love is sacrifice. With Mariam and Laila taking on burdens, choosing the harder path, laying down their life, so ultimately other's could live theirs.
It was apparent from the start that Mariam as well as Laila gave up so much. They each took on the responsibility of being a mother, giving selflessly not because they had to but because they wanted to. They didn't put themselves first, but they put everyone else in front out of pure love. They performed selfless acts that added to the development and made A Thousand Splendid Suns truly inspiring and beautiful!
Mariam, before her time acting as a mother, suffered and sacrificed her childhood for her beloved father. She was an illegitimate child and lived with her mother in a kolba, a shack. Mariam wanted the chance to live with her father because he treated her well, but little did she know that he would act out in fear of "losing face." Since Mariam fled and her father didn't accept her in, she returned to her mother dead. Out of love and respect, Mariam sacrificed all she had in hopes that she could be with her father, but it only ended in pain and disappointment. This changed the story then on because Mariam was forced in an arranged marriage where she inevitably met Laila and took on motherhood.
When Laila is introduced in the story, she was just a child who wanted to learn and had a love interest. When Laila learned that her parents didn't survive the blast and that her lover, Tariq, had died, she accepted the proposal to marry Rasheed. This is when Mariam and Laila's lives collided.
Laila married Rasheed out of sacrifice because she was with child and knew without Tariq, she couldn't raise her child. Laila put a knife to her finger and made it bleed to convince Rasheed that she was just a virgin. She sacrificed her life out of pure love, so her soon to be daughter could survive.
Then on as problems continued to rise, there was many acts of sacrifice that was displayed out of true love. The most remarkable act was when Mariam threw herself at Rasheed because he had a chokehold on Laila. Then she continued with an iron pan to strike his head, and the second time take his breath away once and for all. Because of a dead husband on their hands, something had to be done otherwise the Taliban would find Mariam, Laila, Tariq, the children and take them all. Mariam found herself as the solution to all their problems, and gave herself to the authorities. She was executed so Laila, Tariq, and the children could restart their lives and live it the way they intended all along.
Mariam's bravery and valiant act changed the lives of the one's she loved the most. Her deep-rooted love made her sacrifice, so all could live in peace. It was one of the highest acts of love that can be ever be demonstrated, something that everyone can learn from!
It was apparent from the start that Mariam as well as Laila gave up so much. They each took on the responsibility of being a mother, giving selflessly not because they had to but because they wanted to. They didn't put themselves first, but they put everyone else in front out of pure love. They performed selfless acts that added to the development and made A Thousand Splendid Suns truly inspiring and beautiful!
Mariam, before her time acting as a mother, suffered and sacrificed her childhood for her beloved father. She was an illegitimate child and lived with her mother in a kolba, a shack. Mariam wanted the chance to live with her father because he treated her well, but little did she know that he would act out in fear of "losing face." Since Mariam fled and her father didn't accept her in, she returned to her mother dead. Out of love and respect, Mariam sacrificed all she had in hopes that she could be with her father, but it only ended in pain and disappointment. This changed the story then on because Mariam was forced in an arranged marriage where she inevitably met Laila and took on motherhood.
When Laila is introduced in the story, she was just a child who wanted to learn and had a love interest. When Laila learned that her parents didn't survive the blast and that her lover, Tariq, had died, she accepted the proposal to marry Rasheed. This is when Mariam and Laila's lives collided.
Laila married Rasheed out of sacrifice because she was with child and knew without Tariq, she couldn't raise her child. Laila put a knife to her finger and made it bleed to convince Rasheed that she was just a virgin. She sacrificed her life out of pure love, so her soon to be daughter could survive.
Then on as problems continued to rise, there was many acts of sacrifice that was displayed out of true love. The most remarkable act was when Mariam threw herself at Rasheed because he had a chokehold on Laila. Then she continued with an iron pan to strike his head, and the second time take his breath away once and for all. Because of a dead husband on their hands, something had to be done otherwise the Taliban would find Mariam, Laila, Tariq, the children and take them all. Mariam found herself as the solution to all their problems, and gave herself to the authorities. She was executed so Laila, Tariq, and the children could restart their lives and live it the way they intended all along.
Mariam's bravery and valiant act changed the lives of the one's she loved the most. Her deep-rooted love made her sacrifice, so all could live in peace. It was one of the highest acts of love that can be ever be demonstrated, something that everyone can learn from!