The image above could depict Jalil composing the letter that Laila reads in Part IV of A Thousand Splendid Suns. While this moment is important, it is by no means the only significant point in these chapters.Primary Blog Expectations (respond to the prompt above): 200-250 words, minimal errors in grammar and usage, thoughtful and thorough writing. Please use the name you were assigned in class as your nom de plume and be sure to add word count. Due by 11:59pm Tuesday night 4-10-2018!
Mahsheed
4/10/2018 07:04:45 pm
“Laila frowns. She keeps watching for a minute or two. Then she pushes stop, fast forwards the tape, and pushes play again. It’s the same film. The old man is looking at her quizzically. The film playing on the screen is Walt Disney’s Pinocchio. Laila does not understand” (Hosseini 403-404).
Zarafshan
4/10/2018 10:18:49 pm
In the final part of A Thousand Splendid Suns, I feel the most significant moment of strength was when Mariam found the power to hit Rasheed with the intent to end his life; though she realizes she will have no escape from the punishment of killing a man, she fiercely decides to sacrifice her life for those of the three people she calls family. "But in Rasheed’s eyes he saw murder for them both. And so Mariam raised the shovel high, raised it as high as she could so it touched the small of her back. She turned it so the sharp edge was vertical, and, as she did, it occurred to her that this was the first time that she was deciding the course of her own life. And, with that, Mariam brought down the shovel. This time, she gave it everything she had" (Hosseini 349). This quotation reveals Hosseini’s authorial intent of Mariam accepting what truly matters to her as well as her sudden realization of her ability to fight for the people he cares about. This opened my understanding of Mariam’s character development through her change of action while still holding much of her original character morals such as her appreciation of those who have taught her. Despite being put into a situation where the monster who’d induced pain on her for almost twenty years had the opening to kill her and the woman she considered a sister, she found the right state of mind to stand up for the people she loved and end his reign of cruelty.
Zarafshan
4/10/2018 10:24:32 pm
I love the quote that you chose here, as it truly shows Hosseini's effort to include the audience in the closing of Mariam's character in the novel. I agree with the fact that the purpose of these letters was originally to show Mariam that she was loved and still important to her father, however I also feel as thought the meaning of the gifts from Jalil were to show how pure Mariam was; since Jalil knew simple things such as a movie would mean the most to Mariam, we see how truly open and appreciative to the world she was.
Rashanak
4/11/2018 10:47:28 am
It is interesting seeing the close of Mariam's story. You would expect a characters story to end at their death, but Mariam is better than that. Her story lives on through Laila, who gets to discover the end of Mariam's story. I had hoped that she would never have to die, but it seems that death was actually a freeing thing for Mariam. It would have been very difficult for her to go back to Mullah Faizullah's home, but Laila, desperate for answers and always very brave, was able to. This let us see the love Mariam's father actually had for Mariam, even if she never got to see it. This helps to redeem his character, and it helps us to see that even though she didn't believe it, Mariam was indeed loved.
Shahmir
4/11/2018 11:24:36 pm
When Laila goes to see Mariam’s old home, I end up really surprised. I knew that Jalil felt some kind of regret and agony, however, I hate that he was so late. When Mariam was first sent off, all she could do was look her father in the face and hope that he wasn’t actually gonna send her away to live with a stranger. Mariam practically begged her father to let her stay, and all he did was look away in sorrow. The idea of it “being too late” seems to occur in many plots. Jalil decided to leave Mariam an inheritance and a sad letter once she had already moved away, been gone, and not only that, but dead. If only Jalil decided to get off his high horse a long time ago, Mariam could’ve had a different life.
Darsameen
4/16/2018 08:17:29 pm
This scene was pretty significant since Jalil never forgot about Mariam, and he seems to have been living with guilt since the day she was taken away from his house. Even though the letter was never delivered to Mariam, I think it was good for Mariam to never read it. Jalil didn’t protect her, nor did he prevent her from getting married to a man way older than her. Moreover, the need to watch the film was pretty significant to Mariam when she was a child, since it’s about a puppet who is simply trying to be accepted by society, just like Mariam.
Kiriana
4/16/2018 08:41:10 pm
I also believe that this scene was very important because it does shows how Jalil did care for at the end. Though he wasn’t the best father by forcing her into an arranged marriage with a very abusive person ( he probably wasn’t aware, boo Rasheed.) at the end of the day he ended up caring, but just a little too late. He is trying to come to terms with his faults before he faces death, so he doesn’t have to live with the complete guilt of marrying off his daughter to a man who could also be old enough to be her father.
Zarafshan
4/10/2018 10:20:00 pm
In the final part of A Thousand Splendid Suns, I feel the most significant moment of strength was when Mariam found the power to hit Rasheed with the intent to end his life; though she realizes she will have no escape from the punishment of killing a man, she fiercely decides to sacrifice her life for those of the three people she calls family. "But in Rasheed’s eyes he saw murder for them both. And so Mariam raised the shovel high, raised it as high as she could so it touched the small of her back. She turned it so the sharp edge was vertical, and, as she did, it occurred to her that this was the first time that she was deciding the course of her own life. And, with that, Mariam brought down the shovel. This time, she gave it everything she had" (Hosseini 349). This quotation reveals Hosseini’s authorial intent of Mariam accepting what truly matters to her as well as her sudden realization of her ability to fight for the people he cares about. This opened my understanding of Mariam’s character development through her change of action while still holding much of her original character morals such as her appreciation of those who have taught her. Despite being put into a situation where the monster who’d induced pain on her for almost twenty years had the opening to kill her and the woman she considered a sister, she found the right state of mind to stand up for the people she loved and end his reign of cruelty.
Zarafshan
4/11/2018 10:05:25 am
wc 265, sorry for the comment of my primary post
Rashanak
4/11/2018 10:20:36 pm
It is interesting to see all of the pain inflicted on Mariam. She is tortured by her mother, father, and husband, though in many different ways. She does decide that she is done with being tortured and that she will not let others be hurt by her cruel, evil husband. This is what I think gave her the strength to kill Rasheed, something she never before seemed able to do. She killed for love, possibly the most noble reason for murder. She killed her husband so that Laila's children wouldn't have to grow up without a mother. Mariam and Laila both had very distant mothers, so it is very powerful that Mariam wants these children to grow up with a mother who is present and loves them.
Mahsheed
4/12/2018 10:12:34 pm
I thought of Mariam killing Rasheed as a sign of freedom, and you’re right about it. She’s finally taking full control back in her life, doing something she wants with no holding back. Mariam was using her will to protect the people she loved, and like you said, she was ending his reign of cruelty. Though the consequences are terrible, it is this moment that Mariam is freed from her prison, and she is able to be who she wants, even if it’s only for a few moments. This does show a big part of her character development, most likely the climax. It shows a point to where her life has finally peaked, and in this she must have found acceptance even when we didn’t. (Word Count: 125)
Rashanak
4/11/2018 10:42:52 am
"But the game involves only male names. Because, if it's a girl, Laila has already named her" (Hosseini 415)
Mahsheed
4/12/2018 09:46:47 pm
I agree with you in how Laila didn’t know much about Mariam. They were so preoccupied with trying to live day to day that I doubt they had much time for childhood stories of tragedy. Mariam herself probably never wanted to think about it again. I do disagree however, with the fact that only after Laila learns about Mariam, that you say she decides to name the baby after her. I believe that their relationship alone made Laila want to name her child after her. They had been through so much, and as you said, Mariam killed and died for Laila. Laila loves her enough where if she didn’t know where Mariam came from, she’d still want to keep her close to her heart. (Word Count: 124)
Farahnoush
4/11/2018 01:55:24 pm
"In Rasheed’s eyes he saw murder for them both. And so Mariam raised the shovel high, raised it as high as she could so it touched the small of her back. She turned it so the sharp edge was vertical, and, as she did, it occurred to her that this was the first time that she was deciding the course of her own life. And, with that, Mariam brought down the shovel. This time, she gave it everything she had" (Hosseini 349).
Anonymous
4/11/2018 02:01:51 pm
Guys. The shovel part is in 3.2. Part 4 doesn’t start until Mariam is dead.
Mahsheed
4/12/2018 09:33:14 pm
wooaaahhh intruder alert
Shahmir
4/11/2018 11:17:18 pm
“Most times, Laila and Tariq make love in silence, with controlled muted passion […] But for Laila, being with Tariq is worth weathering these apprehensions. When they make love, Laila feels anchored, she feels sheltered” (Hosseini 385).
Darsameen
4/16/2018 08:00:07 pm
I agree with your response, since Laila had no other choice but to marry Rasheed in order to protect her baby with Tariq. She knew what were the risks of marrying a man, and clearly her purpose was to pretend she was getting pregnant. Just like you state it, everytime Laila had sex with Rasheed, she was basically trying to shelter herself and in the process she was suffocating. In the other hand, while she made love with Tariq, not only did she love him but he was her protection; shelter. Also, Laila and Tariq had a strong bond that has been keeping them together since the day they met, which explains their strong connection.
darsameen
4/12/2018 02:04:03 am
But Laila has decided that she will not be crippled by resentment. Mariam wouldn't want it that way...and so Laila has resigned herself to moving on. For her own sake, for Tariqs, for her childrens. And for Mariam, who still visits Laila in her dreams, who is never more than a breath or two below her consciousness. Laila has moved on. Because in the ends she knows that's all she can do. That and hope. ⧭Hosseini 411 ⧭
Kiriana
4/16/2018 09:19:06 pm
“ I hope you do not think that I am trying to buy your forgiveness. I hope you will credit me with knowing that your forgiveness is not for sale. It never was. I am merely giving you, if belatedly, what was rightfully yours all along. I was not a dutiful father to you in life. Perhaps in death I can be. Weak heart, the doctors say. It is a fitting manner of death, I think, for a weak man.” -(Hosseini 406)
kiriana
4/16/2018 09:20:52 pm
WC: 205 Comments are closed.
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