Discussion Topic: A

The issue of domestic abuse within the grievous novel  A Thousand Splendid Suns by Khaled Hosseini expresses an idea of how common domestic abuse occurs in the Afghan society. Due to the war and political disorder, many people suffered through abuse whether it was within their own family or as they walk the streets of their own country. Hosseini uses literary elements such as imagery and characterization to connect the reader to the experiences and hardships the characters face.
            With the use to imagery, the author reveals how much Mariam and Laila suffers under the household of Rasheed. At first when he had his share of wealth, he used as an advantage to marry Mariam. He felt like he overpowers her because she needed him in order to survive, but when she couldn’t bear him any children, he turned against her. He no longer appreciated her, and instead tortured her by forcing pebbles down her throat telling her, “Now you know what your rice tastes like. Now you know what you’ve given me in this marriage. Bad food and nothing else” (104). Rasheed has abused her emotionally and physically by forcing rocks down her throat and making her feel as though she’s not good enough. Due to the abuse she faces from her husband, she feels emotionally scarred because she no longer feels the protection she use to around him. The author used imagery to help the reader relate to how Mariam could have felt when being mistreated by her own husband.
            The author also uses characterization to provide the reader with a better understanding of each character’s personality, and their actions. Society during their time is very fragile. There’s a war taken place which limits people from leaving their own home. Not only is everyone limiting their need to go outside, but it’s especially harder for women and children who are in need of the company of a man. This gives men a lot of power, creating a monster out of Rasheed.  Hosseini creates Rasheed’s character at the beginning of the novel as someone kind, and at times considerate to Mariam but soon suffers from his violence and raging personality. Once Laila came into the picture, he showed her his real side too when he started beating her for doing things he didn’t like. She endured his abuses which felt like “it was as if a car had hit her at full speed between the lower tip of the breastbone and belly botton. She realized she had dropped Aziza and that Aziza was screaming” (268). Not only does he turn against his two wives, he also hurts Aziza who hasn’t done anything to him. Hosseini uses characterization to develop Rasheed as someone who is heartless and causes pain to everyone under his household instead of trying to protect them from other violent acts going on during the war.
            The author uses literary devices to help the reader see in the character’s perspective of how much suffering Mariam, Laila and the children had to endure. Through the uses of characterization and imagery, the author can make the reader feel sympatheic towards the women and resentment towards Rasheed’s character because of all the abuse he caused against the women.  It also helped the author show the connection between the two women because they were abused by the same man and how they worked together to overcome their challenging life.