Outline
Rosemarie O’Connor
Thesis: In A Thousand Splendid Suns Khaled Hosseni uses symbolism and irony to show that although religion is used for evil by some, many still find comfort in it.
I. Irony of the use of Religion
A. Rasheed is hypocritical when it comes to religion, double standards
1. Expects Mariam to be traditional and wear Burqa but he has magazines of naked women.
2. Does not observe Ramadan as is tradition and he is obligated to do but berates “modern” afghan’s who seek education and are progressive
3. Expects his wives to be loyal but does not treat them well or equally, in the Quran it state you must treat all your wives equally
II. Symbolism of Quran / Islam
A. Symbolizes contrasting things, good and bad
B. Taliban uses Islam to justify its abuse of women but Mariam still turns to god for strength and comfort
1. Taliban signs off with “Allah Aukbar” when saying they’ll cut the fingers off women who wear nail polish ect.
2. Mariam asks god for forgiveness as she’s about to be excruciated by Taliban, who justify this with religion.
Thesis: In A Thousand Splendid Suns Khaled Hosseni uses symbolism and irony to show that although religion is used for evil by some, many still find comfort in it.
I. Irony of the use of Religion
A. Rasheed is hypocritical when it comes to religion, double standards
1. Expects Mariam to be traditional and wear Burqa but he has magazines of naked women.
2. Does not observe Ramadan as is tradition and he is obligated to do but berates “modern” afghan’s who seek education and are progressive
3. Expects his wives to be loyal but does not treat them well or equally, in the Quran it state you must treat all your wives equally
II. Symbolism of Quran / Islam
A. Symbolizes contrasting things, good and bad
B. Taliban uses Islam to justify its abuse of women but Mariam still turns to god for strength and comfort
1. Taliban signs off with “Allah Aukbar” when saying they’ll cut the fingers off women who wear nail polish ect.
2. Mariam asks god for forgiveness as she’s about to be excruciated by Taliban, who justify this with religion.
Rough Draft
Rosemarie O’Connor
Mrs. Manugo
Dual Enrollment English 112
23 April 2015
Alhamdulillah
“If Allah finds any good in your heart, He will give you something better than what has been taken from you” (Quran, 08:70). In the novel A Thousand Splendid Suns, it’s main character Mariam starts out life with very little. Throughout the course of the novel more and more is taken from her, her mother, father, her pride and eventually her life. Yet, at the end of her road she is still thankful for what she has been given, because it outnumbers the loss she has felt by the thousands. Mariam is so grateful for the life she was given because of her unshakeable faith, even when much of the suffering she felt was under the guise of religious adherence. Weather from the Taliban who caused devastating destruction and justified it by twisting Islamic scripture or from Rasheed who never failed to preach what he himself did not practice; there is no lack of suffering to be had, supposedly in the name of god. Yet at no point does Mariam blame her religion for the Taliban or Rasheed’s actions, she always uses her religion to strengthen her and lift her up. In the novel “A Thousand Splendid Suns” Khaled Hosseni uses symbolism and irony to show that even through the use of religion as a tool of violence by some, other still find comfort in it.
To Muslims, the Quran is their holy book. Its words are believed to be verbatim from god, sent by his messenger the prophet Muhammad. This book symbolizes their religion, Islam, and holds its guiding truths and principals. However, it also symbolizes traditions passed down for generations. A source of strength in times of hardship. Endless love, comfort, forgiveness and knowledge from a higher power. Unfortunately, as seen in the novel, those with ill intentions will seek to abuse this power the religion holds and commit violence in its name. And yet still people hold tightly to their faith in the words of the Quran as those in power subjugate them. This irony is seen in A Thousand Splendid suns, as Mariam prepares to meet her death at the hands of the Taliban she recites “O my Lord! Forgive and have mercy, for you are the best of the merciful ones” (371). This scene comes soon after the Taliban’s Mullah justifies his decision to allow the execution of Mariam by saying, “I am tired and dying, and I want to be merciful. I want to forgive you. But when God summons me and says, But it wasn’t for you to forgive, Mullah, what should I say?” (366). As the Mullah shows his lack of compassion for Mariam, she still holds faith that her god will be merciful to her.
To Muslims Islam may symbolize many things, from a sense of community, tradition or even comfort in times of need. In Khaled Hussanis novel A Thousand Splendid Suns the religion of Islam symbolizes a myriad of things to the characters. Some use their faith for good, while others twist what are meant to be positive words into their own terrible schemes. A prime example of this is the Taliban and Mariam’s and Laila’s husband Rasheed. Rasheed imposes his religious values on his wives but does not follow the scripture himself. Before taking her out in public, he gives Mariam a burqa to wear. “I have customers, Mariam, men, who bring their wives to my shop. These women come uncovered, they talk to me directly, they look me in the eyes without shame. They wear makeup and skirts that show their knees. Sometimes they even put their feet in front of me […] for measurements…” (70). Rasheed claims to be disgusted at these women’s modern nature. He says he is only trying to protect Mariam’s honor and pride, thus protecting his own. However when Mariam is cleaning she finds a pornographic magazine in his drawer, “A woman’s face, he’d said, is her husband’s business only. Surely the women on these pages had husbands, some of them must. At the least, they had brothers. If so, why did Rasheed insist that she cover when he thought nothing of looking at the private areas of other men’s wives and sisters?” (83). Rasheed expects women to follow the tenant of modesty yet he does not “lower his gaze”, another tenant of Islam, meaning one must refrain from looking at forbidden things.
In conclusion, even though some may use religion for malicious purposes others do not lose faith in what they believe to be a positive force. Until her end by the Taliban’s hands she seeks solace in her god, the same one they use to justify her death. This proves that the faith in one’s heart is stronger than the pain in one’s body.
Mrs. Manugo
Dual Enrollment English 112
23 April 2015
Alhamdulillah
“If Allah finds any good in your heart, He will give you something better than what has been taken from you” (Quran, 08:70). In the novel A Thousand Splendid Suns, it’s main character Mariam starts out life with very little. Throughout the course of the novel more and more is taken from her, her mother, father, her pride and eventually her life. Yet, at the end of her road she is still thankful for what she has been given, because it outnumbers the loss she has felt by the thousands. Mariam is so grateful for the life she was given because of her unshakeable faith, even when much of the suffering she felt was under the guise of religious adherence. Weather from the Taliban who caused devastating destruction and justified it by twisting Islamic scripture or from Rasheed who never failed to preach what he himself did not practice; there is no lack of suffering to be had, supposedly in the name of god. Yet at no point does Mariam blame her religion for the Taliban or Rasheed’s actions, she always uses her religion to strengthen her and lift her up. In the novel “A Thousand Splendid Suns” Khaled Hosseni uses symbolism and irony to show that even through the use of religion as a tool of violence by some, other still find comfort in it.
To Muslims, the Quran is their holy book. Its words are believed to be verbatim from god, sent by his messenger the prophet Muhammad. This book symbolizes their religion, Islam, and holds its guiding truths and principals. However, it also symbolizes traditions passed down for generations. A source of strength in times of hardship. Endless love, comfort, forgiveness and knowledge from a higher power. Unfortunately, as seen in the novel, those with ill intentions will seek to abuse this power the religion holds and commit violence in its name. And yet still people hold tightly to their faith in the words of the Quran as those in power subjugate them. This irony is seen in A Thousand Splendid suns, as Mariam prepares to meet her death at the hands of the Taliban she recites “O my Lord! Forgive and have mercy, for you are the best of the merciful ones” (371). This scene comes soon after the Taliban’s Mullah justifies his decision to allow the execution of Mariam by saying, “I am tired and dying, and I want to be merciful. I want to forgive you. But when God summons me and says, But it wasn’t for you to forgive, Mullah, what should I say?” (366). As the Mullah shows his lack of compassion for Mariam, she still holds faith that her god will be merciful to her.
To Muslims Islam may symbolize many things, from a sense of community, tradition or even comfort in times of need. In Khaled Hussanis novel A Thousand Splendid Suns the religion of Islam symbolizes a myriad of things to the characters. Some use their faith for good, while others twist what are meant to be positive words into their own terrible schemes. A prime example of this is the Taliban and Mariam’s and Laila’s husband Rasheed. Rasheed imposes his religious values on his wives but does not follow the scripture himself. Before taking her out in public, he gives Mariam a burqa to wear. “I have customers, Mariam, men, who bring their wives to my shop. These women come uncovered, they talk to me directly, they look me in the eyes without shame. They wear makeup and skirts that show their knees. Sometimes they even put their feet in front of me […] for measurements…” (70). Rasheed claims to be disgusted at these women’s modern nature. He says he is only trying to protect Mariam’s honor and pride, thus protecting his own. However when Mariam is cleaning she finds a pornographic magazine in his drawer, “A woman’s face, he’d said, is her husband’s business only. Surely the women on these pages had husbands, some of them must. At the least, they had brothers. If so, why did Rasheed insist that she cover when he thought nothing of looking at the private areas of other men’s wives and sisters?” (83). Rasheed expects women to follow the tenant of modesty yet he does not “lower his gaze”, another tenant of Islam, meaning one must refrain from looking at forbidden things.
In conclusion, even though some may use religion for malicious purposes others do not lose faith in what they believe to be a positive force. Until her end by the Taliban’s hands she seeks solace in her god, the same one they use to justify her death. This proves that the faith in one’s heart is stronger than the pain in one’s body.