Discussion Topic B

In the novel, A Thousand Splendid Suns, written by Khaled Hosseini, Hosseini develops the recurring motif of gender relations in the novel by utilizing literary elements: characterization and irony. The reader is able to understand the roles of men and women and how both genders are treated differently in terms of freedom and rights. Among establishing this motif, Hosseini also gives the reader insight to one of the major themes in the novel: discrimination on women and the unfairness brought upon them.
Initially, Hosseini introduces characterization by making note that women were inferior to men. The role of women was to act as housewives and produce babies. They had no sense of liberty and independence. They were forced to obey laws that "ordered women to cover, forbade their travel without a male relative, punished adultery with stoning." Women were seen as relatively weak and suffered brutal beatings. For example, "Laila...was talking and the next she was on all fours, wide-eyed and red-faced...It was as if a car had hit her at full speed." Laila was a wife and a victim being treated unfairly. These characteristics enable the reader to understand that, though women looked weak on the outside, they were strong on the inside and looked to persevere with their lives. Men, on the other hand, worked and could have multiple wives. Men would run the show and a woman was their property. For instance, Rasheed implied that "a woman's face is her husband's business only." This implication characterizes that women had little say in what they said or did, and how they had to tolerate their husband's rules. The overall difference between both genders is that women had little justice.
Secondly, Hosseini introduces irony to reveal Rasheed's contradicting views about women. An example of this is when Mariam finds "several magazines" with pages of "beautiful women, who wore no shirts, no trousers, no socks or underpants." This image contradicts Rasheed's earlier statement that "a woman's face is her husband's business only." While he's deceiving himself about the things he says, he is also showing phoniness towards Mariam. Hosseini gives the reader a deep understanding of Rasheed's inner self by revealing he is not as loyal as he assumes he is. Rasheed finds it mandatory for his women to be covered, yet he finds no shame in looking at naked women who belong to other men. This is an absolute contradiction to his moral beliefs.
Ultimately, Hosseini utilizes these literary elements to create importance to the different motifs and themes established in the novel. He builds a connection with the reader in which all can relate. The audience can comprehend that women did not have it easy and had to fight the struggles in their marriages. They should not be inferior, but equal to men. For this, women should be viewed as inspirations.