Through “A Thousand Splendid Suns” Khaled Hosseini emphasizes the struggle in Afghanistan’s society between traditional beliefs and progressive changes, specifically as they relate to women’s rights. One aspect of the novel that highlights this struggle is its setting, as it takes place during four time periods each at a different stage in Afghan history. Throughout these unstable decades, the country’s government went through continuous upheavals with each new government advocating different ideals. From the concept of progression against tradition two governments stand out, communism and the Taliban.
While the communist regime emphasizes the ideals of progression and modernization in the country, the Taliban obeys the traditional beliefs of Islamic culture. By examining the laws and practices of these two governments, it is apparent that progressive nature presented in the time of communism cannot coincide with the strict traditions of the Islamic Taliban. To illustrate the progressive nature of the communist regime the author presents several characters who view these changes in a positive light. One such character is Laila’s school teacher, who states “That’s why our Soviet comrades came here in 1979.
To lend a neighbor a hand. To help us defeat these brutes who want our country to be a backward primitive nation” (Hosseini, 112). In addition to Laila’s teacher the reader can see that Laila’s father, Babi, also makes several statements that cast the communist regime in a progressive view. Babi states that “Women have always had it hard in this country, Laila, but they’re probably more free now, under the communists, and have more rights than they have ever had before” (Hosseini, 135). Through these two quotes the reader can determine that the communist regime had attempted to progress afghan culture during their rule.
In addition to the opinions of these characters the reader can see the progressive nature of the time period through the eyes of Laila herself. From multiple aspects within her life, the reader can determine that it was during the communist regime that Laila felt truly free. Laila, as well as the other children, had a right to receive an education and were relatively unrestricted in their day to day life. These progressive rights are noted throughout the story, as Laila is typically able to do anything that she wants to with her friends including going to the movies with Tariq (Hosseini, 156).
Since Tariq and Laila were unmarried, activities such as these were considered scandalous, and went against strict Islamic beliefs (Hosseini, 162). While this freedom seems like a basic right that should have been given to everyone, it is a far cry from the stringent traditional values of Islamic culture. Beyond what Khaled Hosseini presents in his novel, the progressive nature of Afghan communism has also been noted by several others.
Some researchers have stated that the “the communist regime in Afghanistan was an example of what has been termed ‘revolution’ from above, i. . the introduction and imposition of a set of changes by a radical group within the state apparatus committed to a forced modernization of the country. ” (Halliday & Tanin, 1358). During this time period the communist government pushed through several laws aimed at modernization. It has been noted that some laws passed during this time period dealt specifically with progressing women’s rights and roles within society (Zulfacar, 35). Among these laws was Decree No. 7 “which was intended to end the oppressive situation of women in Afghanistan” (Zulfacar, 35).
Through these examples, as well as those from the novel it is evident that the new communist government in Afghanistan sought the reform and progression of Afghan culture. While these progressive movements were admirable, they met heavy resistance within the country, which ultimately led to the downfall of the communist regime (Halliday & Tanin, 1358). While in the novel, some characters, such as Babi, sought out this progressive change, it is noted that many young people favored traditional values and joined the Jihad against the Soviet Union, including Laila’s brothers (Hosseini, 109).
It has been noted that this resistance “was a way of combating external and foreign influences that were labelled ‘westernization’ and ‘communism” (Zulfacar, 39). Although these influences proved to be progressive for the country, the majority of citizens preferred the traditions and beliefs of their homeland, as opposed to those of other nations, and were willing to fight to protect them. Through the resistance to the communist regime, and its progressive attempts in the region, the reader is shown an example of how people fought against forward thinking and progressive changes in favor of traditional values.
Following the collapse of communism in the area and a brutal civil war, the Taliban, an Islamic fundamentalist group, was able to wrest control of the country. With the Taliban in control they sought to assert their own traditional beliefs upon the country. Among their beliefs was a “conservative interpretation of traditional women’s roles and social conducts” (Zulfacar, 42). In association with these beliefs the Taliban passed new, extensive, restrictive laws. Notable among these laws are those that deal with the rights of women.
Historically “under Taliban decrees, women have been forbidden to work outside their homes, except in hospitals and clinics, and then only if they work exclusively with women and girls. Girls have been expelled from schools and colleges, and told that, for now at least, education is for boys only” (Burns, par. 12). Another far reaching law during this period was the need for women to remain in their homes unless accompanied by a man (Burns, par. 13). The wide ranging effects of these laws on the individual are fully explored in Khaled Hosseini’s novel.
Hossieni gives many examples of how these new stricter laws influenced both society, and the individual. One example occurs when Laila gives birth to Zalmai, as she is told that the hospital no longer treats women, and that she would have to go to an all women hospital (Hosseini, 285). Once they reach the hospital they find that it is missing many necessities and that it places undue burdens upon its staff. As an example of these unnecessary burdens, it is noted that the surgeon who has to perform Laila’s C-section is expected to do so in full Burga (Hosseini, 291).
Through this example the reader can see that the effects of the laws had far reaching consequences that unted the progression of society. Another example of how these laws influenced women in Afghanistan was that they were no longer able to leave their homes unattended. This affected Laila at two points in the novel, as she and Mariam were unable to flee from Rasheed, and she was unable to visit her daughter after being forced to place her into an orphanage. The novel also shows how these laws were brutally enforced. As an example, when Laila was discovered outside without the company of a man she was punished.
The novel states that “One day, a young Talib beat Laila with a radio antenna. When he was done, he gave a final whack on the back of the neck and said, “I see you again, I’ll beat you until your mother’s milk leaks out of your bones” (Hosseini, 321). By contrasting these examples with the relatively free life that Laila lived while the country was under communist rule the reader can see the extreme struggle of women in Afghanistan during this time period This novel highlights the struggles that the women of Afghanistan have faced over the past forty years.
The attempts of promoting progressive changes in this society are contrasted with ruthless laws of traditional Taliban. Despite the fact Afghanistan as a whole saw many progressive changes before and during the communist rule, a desire to return Afghani culture to traditional Islamic values saw the degradation of the rights for many members of society. It is through the setting of the novel and the interactions between its characters, that the reader notices these contrasting viewpoints.
Though some people in Afghanistan, such as Laila’s teacher and father, believed that the progressive changes brought about by communist influences were a good thing, there was a majority of society who yearned to return to traditional Afghani values. It was this acceptance of traditional Islamic culture that allowed the Taliban to seize control and pass restrictive laws. Overall through the history of this country, it is evident that strict cultural values and progressive changes cannot coexist.