Essay on What Does 'A Thousand Splendid Suns' Mean

Karl Marx, a philosopher, is primarily known for his development of the Marxism theory, which discusses political, social, and economic aspects of society. Marx studied the social constructs of class and their influence on the lives of individuals. Ultimately, he concluded that there are always 'conflicts between social classes and clashes of large historical forces' [1]. The novel 'A Thousand Splendid Suns' by Khaled Hosseini spans over forty years and explores the stories of Mariam and Laila, who are brought together through their tragic lives. Through the dual narration of the two characters, Hosseini analyses the ideas of the proletarians and the bourgeoisie, as well as Taliban control.

Through the novel, Hosseini illustrates the harsh situations faced by Afghan society, where status was most valued. This acts as a reflection of the real living situation in Afghanistan at the time, which was a place concerning extreme violence, merciless wars, and plenty of political coups. The novel's time frame is over forty years, from the early 1960s to the early 2000s to show the endless cycle of entrapment of the lower class. It is important to take note that the Soviet takeover of Afghanistan affected Hosseini directly, as it forced his family to flee to America. The novel may act towards Hosseini's redemption for his family's decision not to return to the country; 'One of the methods a Marxist critic does is to relate to the context of a work to the social class of the author'. [2] Additionally, Hosseini visited Afghanistan for the first time in around 30 years shortly before writing A Thousand Splendid Suns, therefore fragments of real-life stories of Afghani citizens made it into the novel - 'the author is unaware of precisely what he or she is saying or revealing in the text' [3]

The novel begins by introducing protagonist Mariam, who is labeled as a 'harami' (the word in this context means 'bastard'). Categorising Mariam as a 'Harami' suggests she is merely a bastard with very little value, expressing the idea that she is unwanted and only brings shame. Our first impression of Mariam immediately makes us feel sympathy for the poor girl as she is shunned from society. Shortly after, we learn that Mariam is born out of an illicit affair her mother had as a maid in her father's mansion. At a very young age, Mariam realizes she is seen as unwanted and disposable. This is evident by how her father, Jalil, separates her from the rest of his family, 'Mariam grows up in the Kolba, a little mud hut, separated from society with her depressed mother'. This is due to her mother's lower social status and her being an illegitimate child. Despite being aware of that, Mariam still says 'she never felt like a harami around him', implying that she highly respects her father, perhaps more than her mother, and will only speak highly of him. Additionally, this can be interpreted as her grasping for any little thing that makes her feel welcomed, rather than an outcast of society due to her class.

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The Marxist belief of lower-class citizens being exploited, and lives destroyed by the hands of the upper class is evident through the character Jalil – an upper-class man, a bourgeoisie. The difference between Jalil and Mariam's social status is heavily contrasted when she runs away from home to meet her father. However, Jalil refuses to see her, 'he draws the curtain between them', and she is forced to spend the night on the streets. This acts as a revelation for Mariam to the reality of her dreary life compared to her fathers, again because of her social class.

Within its presentation of Afghan society, it is clear that the destruction of the lower class pushes them to fall off the edge. On Mariam's return home, she discovers her mother has committed suicide. Mariam naively believes her father will help her and turns to him for guidance. However, her father is persuaded by his other wives to marry Mariam off instead. Mariam is simply seen as a nuisance who is disposable. Nana's words 'You know what he told his wives by the way of defense? That I forced myself on him. That it was my fault emphasized the idea of the lower-class lacking honor and dignity. It also supports the idea that the upper class has the ultimate power in society, therefore Jalil and his wives would do anything to get rid of Mariam. Due to her position in society, Mariam has no choice or say when Jalil arranges for her to marry Rasheed, a much older and abusive man. Her status defines her as a person and Mariam believes this is what she deserves for being so worthless in society, for being born out of wedlock, for being a 'harami'. Despite her birth being completely out of her control, the injustice she faces for merely existing parallels with the lives of Afghani citizens in real life. What Mariam must endure leaves a permanent mark on her life, forcing the delusion that it is all her fault upon her which corresponds with the coercion that the lower-class citizens face, as they have little to no say. Additionally, this parallels with Nana's words earlier on in the novel, 'this is my reward for everything I've endured. An heirloom-breaking clumsy little harami', as she blames Mariam for everything that has gone wrong, ultimately feeding into the same delusions. Moreover, the idea that this is Nana's 'reward' highlights the Marxist idea that payment is 'owed' by the lower class. Mariam and Nana's words encourage the belief belonging to the upper classes of the poorer, illegitimate citizens lacking basic intelligence and grace. Another Marxist interpretation is that fate is predetermined by one's place in society; it can influence their life and the people one becomes later on.

The lower class is trapped within an endless cycle because of the damage the social division has caused. While the upper class lives lavish lifestyles, the lower class succumbed to countless struggles and suffering each day. Mariam herself is entrapped within that cycle, as Rasheed is also a lower-class man and can only provide her with the necessities. As the days go by, Mariam gradually loses all confidence and optimism, resulting in a quiet mistreated housewife. From a Marxist view, this cycle is a punishment as a result of her mother's status, and the secret affair she had with Jalil. The class system also results in education being considered a privilege rather than the norm. Despite already being given a poor start to life, Mariam's circumstances are worsened when she marries. However, if Nana had a higher social status and Mariam's birth was not out of wedlock, perhaps she could have been educated and given a chance for prospects or happiness. When Mariam voices her desire to attend school, Nana responds with 'What's the sense in schooling a girl like you? It's like shining a spittoon. The sibilance of 's' creates a mocking tone, as if Mariam's wish is ridiculous. Yet again, due to her status, Mariam could never dream of an education, unlike Jalil's other daughters who were already set to go to university. The single sentence imperative, 'There is only one skill a woman like you and me needs in life: tahamul. Endure.' shows the true reality for the lower class, specifically women who must endure so much to survive within their society. Nana's line about endurance, 'tahamul', portrays the entrapment of the lower class. Mariam herself had to endure Rasheed's abuse as it was the only option she was given. Being forced to learn rejection from a young age, is the only thing Mariam is familiar with throughout her entire life. Mariam indeed experiences so many hardships because of her low status, and she cannot escape her ill-fated life.

A Marxist reading of A Thousand Splendid Suns opens up many complex and fascinating meanings. Hosseini demonstrates conflicts between social classes within Afghan society, why they exist, and the consequences individuals such as protagonist Mariam must face. It is clear that the upper class, the bourgeoisie, destroys the lower class which ultimately pushes them to their breaking point as they have no way out.