What does Laila represent in A Thousand Splendid Suns?

Laila represents the new modern face of Afghanistan. Her father, Babi, is a well-educated teacher who holds progressive views about politics and women's rights. Education has always been a priority in Laila's life, and she has always received encouragement from her parents to achieve her dreams.

How is Laila presented in A Thousand Splendid Suns?

Laila, the second female protagonist, is the youngest child and only daughter of Hakim and Fariba. The absence of both of Laila's older brothers, who have gone to war, makes her mature for her age and fills her with a sense of purpose.

What does the name Laila mean in A Thousand Splendid Suns?

Info. Meaning of the names: Tariq (ta-REEK): name of a star, evening caller; Laila (LIE-lah): born at night, night beauty; Maryam (MAYR-ee-um): Arabic form of Mary, uncertain, maybe bitter; Rasheed (rah-SHEED): rightly guided, wise; Aziza (ah-ZEE-zah): powerful, beloved; Zalmai (ZAHL-my): youthful.

How did Laila stand up for Mariam?

A couple of days later, Laila finds a stack of baby girl clothes outside her door and thanks Mariam for the generous gift. Mariam explains that she has no use for them, having made them years ago when she was pregnant. Mariam also thanks Laila for standing up for her, explaining that no one else had ever done so.

Why did Laila cut her finger?

Laila feels incredibly guilty for her choices and cannot look Mariam in the face during the wedding ceremony. That night, after she and Rasheed have intercourse, she grabs the knife she's hidden under the mattress and pricks her finger to sully the sheets, just to perpetuate Rasheed's belief that he married a virgin.

'A Thousand Splendid Suns' by Khaled Hosseini: Ultimate Revision Guide | Narrator: Barbara Njau

Is Laila pregnant with Tariq's baby?

Devastated and realizing she's pregnant with Tariq's child, Laila agrees to marry Rasheed. Mariam is initially hurt and threatened by Laila's presence and refuses to have anything to do with her.

Why does Laila have a hard time putting herself in her mother's shoes?

Why does Laila have a hard time putting herself in her mother's shoes? She did not know her brothers as well as her mother had and does not feel grief on the level her mother does. The deaths of Laila's brothers debilitate Fariba.

What does Laila sacrifice in A Thousand Splendid Suns?

You can hit me all you want, but i'll keep going there” P.G 313 – After Rasheed refused to take Laila to visit Azizi, Laila sacrifices her safety, from both the Taliban and Rasheed's beatings, as a result of her standing up to him, in order to go see her daughter, leaving the house by herself risking her life as the ...

How does Laila help Mariam?

Laila's inspiration helps Mariam take control of her own destiny. Rasheed has been an awful, abusive husband to her, but up until this point, she's never defended herself. But when she sees Laila being strangled to death, she finally understands the need to fight back.

What does Laila plan do?

It turns out that Laila said yes to Rasheed's proposal because she's pregnant with Tariq's child. Her plan is to stay with Rasheed until she can save enough money to escape to Pakistan. Pretty sneaky, sis.

What does Laila symbolize?

Laila represents the new modern face of Afghanistan. Her father, Babi, is a well-educated teacher who holds progressive views about politics and women's rights. Education has always been a priority in Laila's life, and she has always received encouragement from her parents to achieve her dreams.

What is Laila's relationship like with her mother?

Laila, like Mariam, is definitely influenced by her mother's behavior. For instance, at times both girls resent their mothers, but at other times they are empathetic, even loving, toward their mothers.

How are Laila and Mariam connected?

Mariam is an illegitimate child who faces a broken childhood and grows up to be given to a man named Rasheed for marriage. Laila is a child who lives across the street from Mariam and Rasheed. After a tragedy, Laila is taken in by Mariam and Rasheed as Rasheed's second wife.

How does Laila endure?

The daughter of Laila has endured physical abuse from her father and an unwanted relinquishment from her mother for a short time. Her undesired relinquishment gives her a high percent chance of having PTSD when paired to the injustices committed by Rasheed.

Is Laila a dynamic character?

Laila is the dynamic character because in the beginning she was immature, naive and always interacting. After marrying and having two children, surviving the war, losing Mariam she became responsible and independent.

Why does Laila have such a strong connection to her father?

Why does Laila feel such a strong attachment to her father? Laila's father is an educated man who feels strongly that women should be educated. He encourages Laila to complete her education before she finds a husband which is uncommon for fathers to want for their daughter.

What is the turning point in Mariam and Laila's relationship?

Chapter 33 marks a turning point in Laila and Mariam's relationship. First, Mariam finds herself warming to Laila because of Aziza's presence. She respects Laila's mothering instincts and that respect begins to replace any jealousy she may feel.

What does Laila find her shocks?

After returning home from one of these visits, Laila is shocked to find Tariq standing at her doorstep. Laila learns that Rasheed had hired Abdul Sharif to convince her that Tariq had died. She tells Tariq about Aziza, and he promises to come back for her the following day.

Why do Mariam and Laila have their first fight?

She had raced upstairs, missing her parents desperately. Suddenly, the baby had kicked for the first time. While Mariam and Laila have for the most part managed the simmering tensions in the household, their first fight allows them to explicitly voice the pain and resentment that each of them feels.

How Miriam become a symbol of Kabul for Laila?

1. How has Mariam become a symbol of Kabul for Laila? Laila believes that Mariam is in Kabul. In the walls, the kids' laughter, and in her own heart.

Is Laila pregnant at the end of A Thousand Splendid Suns?

Laila is so grateful that she leaves her comfortable life in Pakistan and dedicates herself to the children of Kabul. Mariam has a hand in this, too, because Laila uses her inheritance to fund the orphanage. This leads us to the revelation that Laila, now a teacher, is pregnant with a child.

Why does Laila wake up in Mariam and rasheeds house?

We return to Kabul in the spring of 1987, now following Laila, Fariba's daughter, instead of Mariam. A nine-year old Laila wakes up in a grumpy mood because her best friend Tariq is gone on a thirteen-day trip with his parents.

What does Laila learn in school about her country?

At school, Laila's teacher (a staunch Communist) stresses to the children that men and women are equal, therefore women should not cover themselves. The teacher encourages her students to spy in support of the Communist cause, even though the Soviet Union seems to be losing its grip on Afghanistan.

What did Laila's teacher forbid?

Take your daughter and run away.

What character from earlier in the novel is Laila's mother?

Laila's mother. She was originally a curious, joyful woman but, by the time Laila is growing up, she is increasingly depressed at the departure of her two sons to fight in the Mujahideen.