A Thousand Splendid Suns

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“A Thousand Splendid Suns”
Question 1
As a harami (bastard), Miriam was made to feel unwanted her entire life, and even her mother, Nana blamed her for things she did not do like the nature of her birth. While Nana recounts Miriam’s birth, she does so in a way that makes Miriam feel guilty for taking such a long time to come out, and as Hosseini observes, “it did not occur to young Miriam to ponder the unfairness of apologizing for the manner of her own birth” (9). Society had shunned Miriam, and her mother for this mistake since adultery was a sin, and people were supposed to be ashamed of it. This becomes evident in the way Miriam reacts to people’s stares and whispers the first time she goes to the communal tandoor after getting married to Rasheed. “She imagined they all knew that she’d been born a harami, a source of shame to her father and his family” behavior that Miriam thought was her due and natural for people to give (Hosseini 41). Therefore, Miriam lived knowing that although she had nothing to do with the circumstances of her birth, she was not deserving of love because she was unwanted in the community.
Question 2
When Miriam and Laila decided to work together, it was the first time that many things were happening to them. It was the first time that Miriam had done something good for Aziza, the first time Laila had defended Miriam from their husband, and the first time that each one actually …