A Thousand Splendid Suns is a fiction novel set in Afghanistan during Operation Enduring Freedom between the 1960s and early 2000s. This novel is based on two young women, Mariam and Laila, who face the struggles of an underdeveloped culture that discriminates against women. Afghan-American author Khaled Hosseini wrote A Thousand Splendid Suns based on his knowledge. The song in question takes place after Mariam marries Rasheed and begins to deal with her duties as a wife. This particular passage is set in Kabul and the author explains Mariam's new life as a married woman through various themes; however, I believe the most important theme would be gender roles regarding male dominance. Hosseini further develops the theme of gender roles and uses the motif of the burqa, a traditional outer garment for Islamic women, to symbolize the paradox of freedom in prison. The author also outlines the theme through the comparisons and lexical field of oppression throughout this passage. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an original essay To express the theme of gender roles in this passage, Hosseini paints “a feeling of shrinking. To Mariam, this man's will seemed as imposing and immovable as the Safid-Koh mountains looming over Gul Daman." Mariam's inner thoughts highlight the authority men have over women in Afghanistan. The simile comparing the "will ” by Rasheed to the “mountains” unequivocally demonstrates that Mariam believes it is useless to react. Furthermore, Hosseini refers to the mountains that “loom over” the city that Mariam has known since she grew up there. Hosseini uses this reference to describe how men in the culture Afghans have reliable control and, it seems, will continue to control women, just as the mountains will always be there. Furthermore, the burqa itself becomes a symbol of mistreatment and oppression as it is forced upon her a symbol of Rasheed's will and control, and destroys what little affection Mariam had for Rasheed Hosseini describes “the suffocating way the pleated fabric kept pressing against his mouth.” This quote shows how the author portrays the problematic idea of ​​patriarchal culture through the silence of women. However, Hosseini combines them with soft consonants, reflecting the softness of the fabric and how continued oppression can even become comforting, as in Mariam's case. The personification, however, reveals that the burqa is simply a tool of patriarchy; “presses” as if it had a mind of its own “against his mouth” and “chokes”, making breathing, speaking and rapid movements more difficult. This passage also sheds light on the relationship between Mariam and Rasheed. As they travel through Kabul, Mariam finds Rasheed's closeness increasingly relaxing and comforting. During her first meal at a restaurant, Mariam overcomes the familiarity of eating among strangers by finding comfort in what she knows: Rasheed. Mariam accepts his orders without any resistance and seeks comfort under the Burqa which becomes a veil to protect her from the outside world. “It was like a one-way window. Inside, she was an observer, protected from the scrutinizing eyes of strangers. He no longer cared about people knowing…all the shameful secrets of his past.” This sentimental habit acts as a shield against wandering glances and protects her from her past worries. In fact, Mariam's situation, even if she wore the burqa, makes her submissive to her spouse as was expected; it equally gave her a feeling of comfort. The narrator.