Discussion Topic: C

Past events not only affect actions, attitudes or values of a character in works of literature, they also occur in society today. Everyone has been through series of events that contributes to their character and how they act. In A Thousand Splendid Suns, an emotional novel by Khaled Hosseini, Mariam’s childhood affects her attitudes and values drastically. Living with her mother created an environment of self doubt and lack of self value which was evident throughout her actions as she grew into an adult.
            Throughout the novel, Mariam often refers herself as a harami reflecting back towards the beginning when Nana use to call her that name all the time. She made Mariam feel unworthy and did not motivate her to be anything better in the real world; that she couldn’t be anything if she tried. She called her names, saying “what a stupid girl you are! You think you matter to him, that you’re wanted in his house? I’m all you have in this world Mariam, and when I’m gone you’ll have nothing. You are nothing!” (27). Nana live such a miserable life and tried to save Mariam from living through the same one, but by doing this, she exposed Mariam to such much negativity upon herself. The only person she felt happy around was Jalil but he soon disappointed her when he sent her away to Rasheed. Both her parents made her feel unwanted and worthless in the world. Her relationship to her unfortunate childhood led her to live a depressing life, in which she could not love and be loved. She let Rasheed and others push her around and treat her poorly because in the past her parents planted in her head that she does not deserve anything, and soon enough she ended up believing it herself. As Hosseini develops the death of Nana, Mariam felt that she was responsible for her death; because of this, she always self doubt herself and never let anyone into her life. Without Nana, she felt alone because Jalil has abandoned her and now her own mother, revealing her uncertainty of being in the world alone.
            As the author moves onto Mariam’s second part of her life, he establishes Mariam’s unwelcoming attitude towards Laila and Aziza. Hosseini creates Mariam as a closed and angry person because she felt as if Laila stole her husband. The way Mariam views life affected the novel as a whole because she pushed everyone away. She could not open up to new people and to love because she believes that she does not deserve it and that she’s meant to be alone. Towards the end of the novel, Hosseini changes Mariam into an accepting character. With the help of Laila, Aziza and Zalmai, she realizes that she has the ability to open up her heart, accept love and even give love. She was willing to give sacrifices and within the last moments of her life she realized,” she was leaving the world as a woman who had loved and been loved back. She was leaving it as a friend, a companion, a guardian” (370). Although for most of her life, she let the events of her miserable past play a role into her future, she later learns that she is worthy of love.
            Hosseini shows how past events of Mariam’s childhood affected not only her future, but also the people around her. She was bitter to everyone around her because she did not feel deserving of the people around her. She expected them to treat her wrong because she feels like that’s all she deserves. The author shows how her past shaped in future to help the reader understand that although past events can affect a character’s value, they can also change if they are open up and believe in themselves.