A Thousand Splendid Suns by Khaled Hosseini — Ganiyat Ogundele
A Thousand Splendid Suns chronicles thirty years of insurgency of the Soviet and revolution in Iran that led to the Muhajideen invasion of Afghanistan (a mountainous country located near South and Central Asia). Kabul, the largest city with green vegetation and landlocked mountains witnessed constant sporadic invasions that left thousands homeless, killed, maimed, etc; thus, becoming a shadow of her self.
This fictional piece of work takes us on a journey, through the eminent destruction and travails of the various ethnic groups that made up the Muhajideen, the emergence of the Taliban in government which suddenness brought about a higher level of oppression and further destruction of the political structure of a once peaceful Afghanistan.
Within these crises, Mariam and Laila struggle with life threatening issues of identity and survival in a chauvinistic country whose norms and tradition subject the women as second fiddle. Mariam, a young girl rejected by her father, who she had great respect for, and married off to Rasheed, a shoe cobbler and widower. She couldn't bear a child for Rasheed due to miscarriages, and out of desperation he sees every opportunity to punish her for his childlessness until she decides to put an end to the constant battering and torture by killing him.
Laila, the protagonist, a strong intelligent girl with some form of education was forced into a marriage of convenience. She lost her parents during the war and apparently was pregnant with Tariq’s child, her childhood friend and lover as at the time Rasheed married her. Rasheed deceives her into marrying him by cooking up a lie that Tariq died during the war. The truth comes to light about Laila’s daughter Azisa’a father and Rasheed’s master plan was ruined.
Laila represents the resilient woman of today who faces life challenges with a brazen heart of strong will and love. Maraim submissiveness and lack of confidence made her suffer for twenty seven years until Laila restores her consciousness with happiness that was long dead. The novel reflects the damaging and demoralizing effect of domestic violence and war. Mariam and Laila represent two generations of struggles, shattered hopes and unrealistic dreams in which Khaled gives great attention to and expresses that beyond the travails and destruction, there is a renewed hope and an opportunity to keep marching on
Khaled Hossieni captures this beautiful piece with great invocation of emotion through his laced words, rhyme, imageries and symbolism that gives an in depth meaning and pictures of characters which ultimately transfix the reader to the story. A thought-provoking story of betrayal, greed, violence and hope.
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