'A Thousand Splendid Suns' - Khaled Hosseini Quotes

Mariam’s status as a Harami influencing her self worth and her own perceived value of her life

“ and what entitled her anyway, a villager, a harami, to pass judgement.” (narration)

Mariam’s perception of her intelligence and lack of ability to comfort Lalia

“But what wisdom did Mariam have to offer?” (narration)

Mariam and the unfamiliar love she receives from baby Aziza. Can also reflect how motherhood is an experience in which Mariam experiences love

“Mariam had never before been wanted like this. Love had never declared to her so guilelessly, so unreservedly” (narration)

Mariam and Jalil’s relationship and Mariam’s perspective of father figures

“But when it came to fathers, Mariam had no assurances to give.” (narration)

Mariam’s distrustful relationship with love and relationships is heavily influenced by her past

“Love was a damaging mistake, and its accomplice, hope a treacherous illusion.” (narration)

Lalia feels guilt, perceiving her suffering as a consequence for her apathy

“Was this her penalty then? Her punishment for being aloof to her own mother’s suffering?” (narration)

Babi’s positive influence on Lalia and part of the reason why she wants to return to Afghanistan

“When this war is over Afghanistan is going to need you.” - Babi

Lalia does not feel comfortable enjoying comfort and peace outside of Afghanistan after the war is over

“Staying here doesn’t feel right anymore.” - Lalia

Lalia’s character and her desire to contribute to the rebuilding of Afghanistan

“I want to do something. I want to contribute.” - Lalia

Lalia decides to let go of her grievances and wants to use her feelings productively, believing that hate will inhibit her ability to create change

“But Lalia has decided she will not be crippled by resentment.” (narration)

Lalia moves on and hopes for a better future in Afghanistan

“Lalia has moved on. Because in the end she knows that’s all she can do. That and hope.” (narration)

The thing Rasheed hates, showing his sexism

“That’s the one thing I can’t stand, the sound of a woman crying.” - Rasheed

Rasheed’s expectation for Mariam

“I expect you to start behaving like a wife.” - Rasheed

Rasheed believes that the role of a husband is to have power over his wife

“It embarrasses me, frankly, to see a man who’s lost control of his wife.” - Rasheed

Nana’s perspective of suffering being connected to womanhood in reference to Jalil’s treatment of her

“This is what it means to be a woman in this world.” - Nana

Nana’s dependance on Mariam

“I’ll die if you go.” - Nana

How Mariam perceives Jalil’s treatment of her

“Jalil didn’t treat her as a weed.” (narration)

Jalil’s final feelings towards Mariam revealed in his letter

“Regret...When it comes to you, Mariam jo, I have oceans of it.” - Jalil

Mullah Faizullah’s teachings to Mariam that help her cope with suffering with religion

“Behind every trial and every sorrow that He makes us shoulder, God has a reason.” - Mullah Faizullah

The death of Fariba’s sons creating her new ‘purpose’

“Mammy was now the curator of their live’s museum.” (narration)

Babi’s perspective of the importance of educated women

“A society has no chance of success if its women are uneducated, Lalia. No chance.” - Babi

Babi’s relationship with Lalia

“I feel like you’re all I have Lalia.” - Babi

Tariq and his dedication to Lalia

“I’d kill with it for you, Lalia.” - Tariq

(Plight and Oppression of Women) The blame always falls on woman

“Like a compass needle that points north a man’s accusing finger always finds a woman.”

(Plight and Oppression of Women) The history of women in Afghanistan

“Women have always had it hard in this country, Lalia.” - Babi

(Plight and Oppression of Women) How easily a women’s reputation can change

“The reputation of a girl…is a delicate thing, Lalia.” - Fariba

(Politics and culture shaping society) Why the war between different groups in Afghanistan doesn’t make sense

“We’re all Afghans, and that’s all that should matter.” - Babi

(Politics and culture shaping society) Resilience of Afghans 

“We’re like those walls up there…battered and nothing pretty to look at, but still standing.”

(Politics and culture shaping society) Different expectations for men and women

“Boys get married and run off. Girls stay behind to take care of you when you’re old.” - Fariba

(Politics and culture shaping society) History of Afghanistan is conflict

“All these people know is war.” - Babi

(Politics and culture shaping society) The subtle impacts of war even after it has ended

“And how sometimes all we see on the surface is a slight tremor.” (on Aziza’s stutter)

(Education) What Babi believes the priority should be for women

“Marriage can wait. Education cannot.”

(Power and Powerlessness/ Power Dynamics) Mariam and her helplessness against Rasheed

“This man’s will felt to Mariam as imposing and immovable…”

(Power and Powerlessness/ Power Dynamics) Men’s perception as people with power in society to women’s rights

“There, men saw it as an insult to their centuries old tradition”

(Power and Powerlessness/ Power Dynamics) Men are protected by the law while women have to suffer

“Of course you do. When it benefits the man.” - Lalia

(Resilience and Endurance) Nana’s perspective on endurance

“Only one skill a woman like you and me need in life.” - Nana

(Resilience and Endurance) Why woman need to endure

“Mariam saw clearly how much a woman could tolerate when she was afraid.”

(Resilience and Endurance) Afghanistan and endurance being a necessity due to war

“Every Afghan story is marked by death and loss and unimaginable grief. And yet, she sees, people find a way to survive.”

(Motherhood) A mother’s inherent sacrifice compared to a father’s

“A man’s heart is a wretched, wretched thing, Mariam. It isn’t like a mother’s womb. It won’t bleed, won’t stretch to make room for you.” -Nana

(Motherhood) Mariam’s initial reaction to the prospect of motherhood - it gives her a sense of purpose

“This is why God had brought her here, all the way across the country.”

(Motherhood) Fariba to Lalia concerning the way she was a mother to Ahmed and Noor compared to the way she is with Lalia

“I haven’t been much of a mother to you.” - Fariba

(Motherhood) Lalia understands the sacrifice a mother needs to make for her child

“Lalia already saw the sacrifice a mother had to make. Virtue was only the first.”

(Motherhood) The difference between Lalia and Nana’s perspective to their children bringing about some form of suffering

“The baby was blameless…Lalia had seen enough killing of innocents.”

(Motherhood) Motherhood gives Mariam purpose and provides value to her life

“A mother. A person of consequence at last.”

(Female Bonds) Relationship between Mariam and Nana

“I’m all you have in this world, Mariam.” - Nana

(Female Bonds) Relationship between Lalia and Fariba as a result of their weak bond and Fariba’s grief

“all she ran into was their absence. And Lalia. Which Lalia believed, had become one and the same to Mammy.”

(Female Bonds) Mariam and Aziza’s connection

“her first true connection in her life of false, failed connections.”

(Female Bonds) Mariam kills Rasheed for Lalia’s sake, showing that she values their bond so much that her first selfish choice is to be selfless

“This was the first time she was deciding the course of her own life.”

(Female Bonds) Mariam and Lalia’s lasting relationship, Mariam’s legacy and importance despite being a harami and part of the reason that Lalia returns to Kabul

“Mariam is in Lalia’s own heart, where she shines with the bursting radiance of a thousand suns.”

(Female Bonds) Mariam’s relationship with Lalia is different than all the others

“Nobody’s ever stood up for me before.” - Mariam

(Legitimacy VS Illegitimacy) Mariam being blamed for being a harami and Nana’s suffering

“It did not occur to young Mariam to ponder the unfairness of apologizing for the manner of her own birth.”

(Legitimacy VS Illegitimacy) Mariam being discarded to her Status as a harami

“She was being sent away because she was the walking, breathing embodiment of their shame.”

(Legitimacy VS Illegitimacy) Mariam and Nana believe that being a Harami means you will never have a better life

“a life in which she would find the blessings that Nana said a harami like her would never see.”

(Legitimacy VS Illegitimacy) Mariam found her own purpose and value in life despite the way she and others feel about her being a harami, she dies with peace in the choice that she has made

“This was a legitimate end to a life of illegitimate beginnings.”