A Thousand Splendid Suns Part II (Primary and Secondary Blog Posts)

3/21/2018

These images could depict some of the main plot points of Part II of A Thousand Splendid Suns. While these moments are important, they are by no means the only significant points in these chapters.
After having read these chapters:
-Select a single passage (this may be a single paragraph or several) that you feel best typifies the thematic importance of "shelter" in this section of ATSS.
-Explain the action and context of the quoted passage (you must cite the passage) and then,
-Explain how your understanding of this passage (1) supports your contextual understanding, (2) deepens the character development, and/or (3) builds a central message that aligns with one of the unit's essential questions.

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 that you were assigned in class as your nom de plume and be sure to add word count. Due by 11:59pm on Friday night!

Secondary Blog Response Expectations (read everyone's primary responses, select two that interest you, and respond to their ideas): 100-150 words EACH, minimal errors in grammar and usage, thoughtful and thorough writing. Please use the name that you were assigned in class as your nom de plume and be sure to add word count. Due by 11:59pm on Sunday night!

Rashanak

3/23/2018 11:27:25 am

"'Let me marry you, Laila. Today. We could get married today.' [/] He began to say more, about going to a mosque, finding a mullah, a pair of witnesses, a quick nikka... [...] Sometime... I fell like you're all I have, Laila" (Hosseini 184)

This quote really seems to exemplify Tariq's sense of shelter. At this point, Tariq, who had previously said he would only get married if there was a gun to his head, has proposed to Laila, professing his love and showing how he really cares about her. This seems to show that Tariq has found shelter in Laila, this being the only reason he would be willing to get married They were childhood friends in the past before their homes becoming a warzone pushed them to rely on one another more. Laila essentially relies on Tariq for protection: he carries a gun on him and says that he would gladly kill to keep her safe. This seems to be almost a defense of his shelter, willing to do anything to protect his home. This really resonates because most people would do anything to protect the constants in their lives. For Tariq, his one constant has been Laila: she stood beside him through her whole life and they have always spent time together, so he is willing to kill for her as she is the one thing in his life really tying him to who he is. She is a constant in his life that really helps him to feel at home in his life.

WC : 213

Darsameer

3/23/2018 11:39:18 pm

I agree with your perspective on Tariq identifying Laila as her shelter. It's funny since I think Laila views Tariq as her shelter, but they both seem to be each other's shelter. Growing up together has definitely helped them to fully understand each other's views and have a deep love for each other. In my opinion, who wouldn't dare to kill in order to protect those who you love, especially if that person is your “home”? Since Tariq seems to be willing to marry Laila out of his own choice, he has clearly found the one who will always make him feel welcome and protected.
WC= 105

Shahmir

3/26/2018 02:22:38 pm

I’ve decided to respond to this blog post because I highly agree with what you’re saying. You mention that you believe Laila is Tariq’s shelter. I agree and I feel like she protects him from a broken heart and sadness in a way. Although Laila’s father is married to her mother, she still seems to be all he has. Laila’s mom is described to have been this loving and positive person, yet after Laila’s dad allowed the sons to go off to war, and especially after they passed, her mom turned into a very depressed person. Not only does she lack as a good mother, but she also abandons her husband. Therefore, I feel like Laila shelters him from loneliness. If Laila wasn’t his encouragement to live, I don’t know how strong of a person he would be.

word count: 138

Mahsheed

3/26/2018 10:30:39 pm

I also agree with you saying that Laila is Tariq's shelter. Usually most people leave the implied fact unsaid, but if they are as close as people say, then they both provide shelter for the other. The fact that you brought up Tariq willing to die for Laila is interesting. It is important to want to defend your home and your shelter. Most humans are territorial when it comes to very personal things. Laila is of the most value to Tariq, so he will go to any lengths to make sure she is safe. It shows how valuable Laila is to Tariq, if it wasn't obvious before.
(Words: 107)

Kiriana

3/28/2018 08:30:36 am

I agree with the fact that Laila leans towards Tariq for protection because he was the only one that truly made her feel comfortable since they have known each other their entire lives. Their relationship shows that they would do anything for each other no matter any circumstances. I also think that not just Laila seeks shelter in Tariq, but he also needs her too. It is clear that they are very important to each other and if anything would happen to one another they would be devastated.

WC:100

Zarafshan

4/5/2018 10:43:34 pm

I am truly appreciative of your inclusion of how the theme of shelter is identified in characters other than Laila; this was both extremely clever and extremely successful in opening my eyes to viewing the novel through different perspectives through various character lenses. Your statement "This seems to be almost a defense of his shelter, willing to do anything to protect his home" made me compare other character's questionable actions to the possible motivation of one's personal defense of their shelter- such as Jalil removing Mariam out of his house for the motivation of defending his "shelter" which was his reputation.
Word Count 103

Parvana :)

3/23/2018 08:03:49 pm

“It was Tariq who was real, flesh and blood. Tariq, who taught her cusswords in Pashto, who likes salted clover leaves, who frowned and made a low, moaning sound when he chewed, who had a light pink birthmark just beneath his left collarbone shaped like an upside-down mandolin. So she sat beside Mammy and dutifully mourned Ahmad and Noor, but, in Laila’s heart, her true brother was alive and well. So she sat beside Mammy and dutifully mourned Ahmad and Noor, but, in Laila’s heart, her true brother was alive and well” (Hosseini 140). This quote is told from Mariam’s point of view shortly after she learns of the death of her two brothers, who died in the war against the Soviets. Mariam’s mother and father become noticeably distraught upon hearing the news—“Then Babi’s face was white...and Mammy was screaming,screaming, and tearing at her hair”— but the same can not be said for Mariam. Although she does not take the news lightly, she is able to console herself by thinking of Tariq, who she considers to be her “true” brother, despite the fact that they are not blood related. In my opinion,this quote is a great example of how the theme of shelter is prevalent throughout the novel. When a person typically thinks of the concept of shelter, the first thing that comes to mind tends to be a physical place, such as a home, or a building which protects individuals from harsh weather. However, a person does not always find shelter in a physical place. As shown in Mariam’s case,it is easily possible for individuals to find shelter in another person, the way she finds shelter in Tariq. The connection the two of them share is so strong that she was able to take comfort in knowing that even though her brothers had lost their lives, her “true” brother was still very much alive.

Word count: 321

darsameer

3/23/2018 11:53:39 pm

I love how you said a shelter doesn’t literally need to be a place with four walls and a roof, since a person can also be considered a shelter. In this situation, Laila’s brothers have passed away but by simply thinking about Tariq being safe, she seems to be able to find comfort and tranquility. Losing any family member can be pretty devastating, but it’s clear that Tariq has that power of making Laila find a solid ground where she can feel secure and safe. However, Laila should also work on feeling confident and secure within herself, since Tariq won’t alway be there for her 24/7. For instance, when he was gone for quite a while, Laila was counting down the days to see him again, which shows that she relies on Tariq most of the time.

WC= 135

Rashanak

3/27/2018 08:06:17 am

I love that Laila’s shelter isn’t a place. She finds shelter in Tariq, her first love. It makes sense that she would find shelter in him because he is her home. He is the one who makes her feel safe and protected, cherished and loved, and he obviously will do anything to protect her; after all, he said he would kill anyone if it meant she would be safe. She spends a lot of time worrying about him and caring about him, and it shows in the shelter that they find.

WC: 101

Shahmir

3/23/2018 08:55:18 pm

“What’s the sense schooling a girl like you? It’s like shining a spittoon. And you’ll learn nothing of value in those schools. There is only one, only one skill a woman like you and me needs in life, and they don’t teach it in school. Look at me” (Hosseini 18).

In this novel, this idea of sheltering from society is obviously current. This quote is describing the conversation between Mariam and her mother after she asked her to go to school. However, this quote clearly shows the mother’s negative and harsh attitude towards her daughter. Mariam’s mom tells Mariam that there’s no reason for her to go to school because it won’t help someone like her, and that the only thing she needs in life is to learn to endure. The concept of sheltering from society is present because of the fact that Mariam is being held from going to school, and being kept away from the people who live in her town. Her mother shelters her in hopes that she doesn’t become just like her. These ideas have shaped Mariam’s character development because the only learning she receives is from her mother, and this while being held captive at home. This causes Mariam to want to escape her mom to visit her father, however resulting in the end of her mother’s life. Mariam being socially sheltered results in her searching for any acceptance from society that she can. Mariam’s lack of learning is then seen in a different perspective with Laila, because we see that she is socially unsheltered, and her father encourages her to go to school and learn.

word count: 221

Parvana

3/28/2018 03:35:46 pm

I decided to reply to your response because you made me think about the concept of shelter in a new way. I had mainly focused on shelter as something Mariam sought in a person (Tariq), but I hadnt thought about it in the sense that her mother could also be sheltering Mariam from society. It makes me wonder whether Nana is really sheltering Mariam from society for protection, or whether she did it to keep Mariam from having the same fate as she did. I agree with your statement about how this is probably what pushes Mariam to want to go to school and learn, despite her mother's wishes to keep her kept away from the other people in the town.

Parvana

3/28/2018 08:44:10 pm

I realized that what i typed was completely wrong, because in my response to your comment, I mixed up Laila with Mariam. What I meant to say that it I agree with your statement about how Nana tends to shelter Mariam from the other people in the town, and I think that this definitely impacted Mariam's desire to go out and learn, because Nana wasnt really sheltering her (She was just keeping her from the rest of the town, and i think this is what made her so determined to escape the sheltered world her mother had created for her.

Darsameer

3/23/2018 11:25:44 pm

The idea of shelter can be open to a variety of interpretations, but in A Thousand Splendid Suns Laila seems to be able to shelter herself in her friend Tariq. In the beginning of Part II, we are introduced to the great friendship Laila and Tariq have, and how they have a developed strong bond. One day, when Leila was walking home from school, she encountered a group of boys who intentionally sprayed urine all over her with a water gun. This caused Laila to get incredibly mad, and the boys said,” What are you going to do?” he said . “Sic you cripple on me ? ‘Oh, Tariq jan. Oh, won’t you come home and save me from the badmash” (Hosseini 117). Clearly, these boys are aware of the great friendship they have, and how Laila seems to rely on Tari for support. Sometimes, shelter can be found in a house, or just a friend you completely trust. Throughout the novel, Laila seems to grow closer to Tariq and their friendship may continues to strengthen. But in my opinion, Laila should also work on finding a shelter within herself since it would make her grow as a person.

Word Count = 200

Mahsheed

3/26/2018 10:23:56 pm

I disagree with you when you say Laila should work on finding a shelter within herself. People can find shelter within each other before they find shelter within themselves. Laila and Tariq are both good for each other in ways most people can't fathom. I don't think think it is necessary for them to find shelter and comfort within themselves before finding it within each other. They are extremely close as best friends, and I believe they can help each other grow just as you were saying with Laila growing as a better person. Laila and Tariq have been friends for a very long time, and they have become a part of each other.
(Word Count: 114)

Giti

3/28/2018 11:10:41 pm

I don't fully agree with this idea, but I understand where you are coming from. Laila does seem to find a lot of her comfort and shelter in Tariq and although that's a good thing for her, it causes her to be slightly dependent on him. Especially with her struggle as woman, she should be looking for that feeling within herself. However, because of the state of women's rights, it is very important that she have a man with her in life. And it's even better that she is backed by a man like Tariq who she can trust and who she obviously cares about genuinely.

Word Count:106

Mahsheed

3/24/2018 12:25:02 am

“Laila had learned the fundamental truth about time: Like the accordion on which Tariq’s father sometimes played old Pashto songs, time stretched and contracted depending on Tariq’s absence or presence.” (pg 108).

This quote comes from the very beginning of part two, where Tariq is visiting a family member for two weeks when he is eleven and Laila is only nine. Throughout this section of the novel, the audience is exposed to the strength of the bond these two share, and how much they rely on each other. Since they were children, they were always there for one another, and eventually it develops into something more as they grow up. They become each other’s foundations, as well as their shelter from the world around them. With the war against the Soviets being waged, they find solace and love in their relationship. Without Tariq, even a young Laila laments how slowly time passes by until she can see him again. She agonizes over the hours she knows they won’t see each other, and even when he leaves Afghanistan later in part two, she has not outgrown this habit. It is revealed that Tariq too, misses her terribly when they are separated from each other, and in this we realize that without one another, it is very difficult for the other to go on.
(Word Count: 222)

Rashanak

3/27/2018 05:45:42 am

It is interesting how they, yet again, find shelter in one another. This seems to be happening all throughout part two of the novel. It is interesting though that time seems to move so differently without Tariq, probably because it feels like she has lost her home. Also, it is so sweet seeing this young love, especially because they both try so hard to help one another and gro together.

It is also very sad when Tariq leaves her. It is almost as if she has been separated from a part of herself and that she is now going on, incomplete. I pray that she will find some shelter in her new family, but we never know what will happen in the future.

WC: 123

Kiriana

3/28/2018 08:24:10 am

“That’s… that’s terrible. God. I’m sorry. Poor you. I’ll have a talk with him first thing in the morning. Or maybe with his mother. Yes, that would be better, I think.”

“I haven’t told you who is was.”

“Oh. Well, who was it?”

“Never mind.”

“You’re angry.”

“You were supposed to pick me up.”

“You don’t know Laila.”

“Know what?” Laila wheeled around to face her mother.”What don’t I know?” Mammy’s hand floated up to her chest, tapped there.”In here.” What’s in here. Then it fell flaccid. “You just don’t know.”-(Hosseini 124-25)

I think this scene best represents shelter in Laila’s life because she is not getting the “emotional shelter” or support from her mother Fariba, who is depressed because her two sons are fighting at war. Because of this, she stays in her room all day and ignores Laila. In the first scene, Laila is telling her mom about a bullying incident that happened earlier that day and it is obvious that her mom isn’t as interested as she claims to be. It is very clear that Mammy is struggling with herself and isn’t willing to help restore her relationship with Laila. She becomes distant towards Babi and Laila because she is unable to cope with the departure of her sons.. Laila knows this and sees that "she would never leave her mark on Mammy's heart the way her brother

WC:234

Giti

3/28/2018 11:17:01 pm

This conversation is very sad to me because it shows how mature Laila is for her age. Because of her mother's depression, she has lost her. Her brother's leaving for war affected her mother so much that she barely has enough energy to pay attention to Laila. But even as a child, she seems to understand that her mother is like that for a reason. She doesn't hold it against her even though it is affecting her life. This also demonstrates how much impact the war has had on Laila's life, causing her to become more mature at a very young age.

Word Count: 102

Allysiah

4/13/2018 04:45:34 pm

I noticed the two extreme reactions that Laila received from two of the people she looks for acceptance from the most regarding the bullying incident. From Mammy, Laila received a complete insincere, almost sarcastic response. Then a few days later when she told Tariq, Laila received the complete opposite reaction. Tariq responded the way that one would respond if it had happened to them. It was like Tariq was offended personally that someone would do this. The ironic part about this whole thing is that generally, the responses would be swapped. Mothers normally take anything that happens to their children personally. This highlights the shelter that Laila is denied from Mammy but granted from Tariq.

Giti

3/28/2018 11:03:49 pm

"Nine-year-old Laila rose from bed, as she did most mornings, hungry for the sight of her friend Tariq. This morning, however, she knew there would be no Tariq sighting.

"How long will you be gone?" She'd asked him when Tariq had told her that his parents were taking him South, to the city of Ghazni, to visit his paternal uncle" (Hosseini 107).

This short paragraph shows us from an early age the dependency that Laila had in Tariq. As with her parents, she unconsciously used most of her relationships as shelter in her life. Even from a young age we saw this with her surprise when Tariq was leaving. Laila used the relationships of her parents and friends to protect her from the harsh reality of the outside world. While they brought her happiness and literal protection, they also served as a good distraction for the horrible events unfolding in front of her. With both Tariq and her parents, she could shelter herself from the poor reality of worsening women's rights as well. These ideas of shelter helped us better understand Laila as a character as we were able to see how she drew her inner strength from the strong relationships around her. And also, how she endured such difficult situations by remaining focused on what was important to her.

Word Count: 220

Zarafshan

4/5/2018 10:33:40 pm

I like your take on how Laila used people as shelter for most of her early life; I agree completely with your selections of Tariq and her parents being her most prominent shelters. However, I disagree with your statement "With both Tariq and her parents, she could shelter herself from the poor reality of worsening women's rights as well" as I feel these people were almost oblivious to the worsening of her rights; I feel instead that they were trapped in the same communist-created bubble Laila was, leaving them all unable to prepare for the removal of her rights upon the end of the soviet war during her early teenage years.
Word Count 113

Zarafshan

4/5/2018 10:22:28 pm

Shelter is defined as a place giving one protection from danger. In part two of Khaled Hasseini’s A Thousand Splendid Suns, the theme of shelter appears in both forms of people and places; for Laila, shelter meant somewhere she was safe, loved, and appreciated. Her forms of shelter are found when at school, with her two girl friends Giti and Hasina, with her best friend Tariq, and at home with her father; however, it is clear from the moment they are introduced that Tariq and Laila’s father are her two biggest shelters to protect her from life while loving her for everything she is. This is proven when Laila’s house is bombed, killing both of her parents; while barely conscious following the bombing, Laila’s thoughts are described in short, simple, revealing sentences as follows: “Her chest hurts. Her arm and legs hurt. All around, shapes moving. Where’s Tariq? Why isn’t he here? Darkness. A flock of stars. Bibi and she, perched somewhere high up. He is pointing to a field of barley” (Hasseini 195). By having her immediate thoughts after being severely hurt be of Tariq and her father- Babi,- she reveals to readers what her true and passionate shelters are.
Word Count 203

Allysiah

4/13/2018 04:32:22 pm

I never thought about the point you brought up that Laila finds shelter in school; but, after reading your response I completely agree. School is the place where Laila feels that she belongs, because of Babi's constant wishes and prayers for Laila to be able to grow up and receive a proper education. School is the only place where Laila feels that everyone around her wants her to be.

Allysiah

4/6/2018 08:26:29 pm

“Then Tariq stopped a few feet from Khadim and his band. There was a moment of consideration, Laila thought, maybe a change of heart, and, when he bent down, she imagined he would pretend his shoelace had come undone and walk back to her. Then his hand went to work, and she understood. The others understood too when Tariq straightened up, standing on one leg. When he began hopping towards Khadim, then charging him, his unstrapped leg raised high over his shoulder like a sword. The boys stepped aside in a hurry. They gave him a clear path to Khadim. Then it was all dust and fists and kicks and yelps. Khadim never bothered Laila again.” (Hosseini 134)

Even though Khadim himself was not necessarily an important character in part 2, after reading the prompt it was this scene in the book that came to mind. From what I observed the entire second section was about the shelter that Tariq provides Laila with without even trying. Laila, quite similar to Mariam, struggles greatly with the people in her family not accepting/loving her. Much like Mariam struggles with Jalil and his wives, Laila struggles with Mammy not even acknowledging that she is her daughter. Even though Laila does have brothers, she does not feel connected to them as she feels connected to Tariq. It is Tariq who Laila turns to whenever she feels threatened, needs help, needs advice, or just wants a shoulder to cry on. Since she does not necessarily feel comfortable emotionally like this with anyone in her family, it is Tariq who provides this emotional shelter for Laila. Much like in this scene, Laila was not even going to tell Tariq originally but the words, she says, seemed to flow out of her without her control. It seems that this happened because Laila is so used to turning to Tariq whenever she feels that her safety or security is in jeopardy, and since Khadim and his friends made her feel threatened she naturally turned to Tariq.
(Word count minus quote 220)

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