Synthesis Page on Independent Reading Book

A THOUSAND
SPLENDID SUNS
BY
KHALED HOSSEINI

Critical Thinking Question: How does this book help you to think about social issues you care about or causes you are committed to?

(Body Paragraph #1) Modern Slavery- Rasheed is the husband of both Laila and Mariam, even though he is at least 20 years older than either of them. He married Mariam in hopes of a son but she could not labor one. So he married Laila to get a son as well and after she labored one, both wives were useless to Rasheed. Instead of being wives, they became slaves. They had to care every need of Rasheed’s beloved son, even if they had to neglect Rasheed's other daughter. They had to cook and clean and feared if they did not, Rasheed would let out his wrath.

(Body Paragraph #2) Abuse- Rasheed has a very bad temper. He hates mistakes and he liked to vent out his anger on his wives and blame them for anything in order to hit them. Once when Mariam cooked rice, Rasheed forced rocks into her mouth and told her to chew, in order to show her how hard her rice was, even though she took care to make it very soft. She lost teeth because of him. Once when both Mariam and Laila couldn't take another day of Rasheed, they tried to leave and made it as far as the train until someone tattled on them and Rasheed was called. He beat them bloody and almost to death as a warning.

(Body Paragraph #3) Sexism- Rasheed is a man of pride and so called religion. He made both Mariam and Laila wear burqas and made them not show their faces to men when they came to Rasheed's house. He said it is sinful for women to expose themselves to men besides their husbands. However, Mariam had discovered playboy magazines in his drawers. He also does not fast during Ramadan, even though it is sinful not to.

Overall, these social issues that I found in A Thousand Splendid Suns made me angry and emotional. I didn't like the fact that Rasheed took advantage of Mariam and Laila and neglected his daughter because she was a girl. I also hated that when Mariam and Laila tried to run away and got caught, they pleaded to the officials that Rasheed was cruel man and would beat them, but their only response was that: “What a man does in his home is his business, not mine.” It enraged me to read this and also showed me the troubles that happen in these third world countries. I know not every situation can be addressed, but most should be helped.