A Thousand Splendid Suns
Laila
Mariam
Rasheed
Tariq
Beliefs
Relationship with Mariam
Past
As Mariam is unable to give him a child, due to the miscarriages, he abuses her verbally and physically
He believes that his wife is completely devoted to him and should not look at any other man
He is a widowed shoemaker who lived in Kabul for many years
He does not want to see Mariam cry after her miscarriage
He is very optimistic about how Mariam should be acting around him, and how she should behave when his friends come over, she has to hide away from Rasheed’s friends.
He believes an ideal wife should be: subservient, obedient, and fertile.
He is very optimistic about his beliefs regarding how women should dress, and how a wife should be completely devoted to their husband
He meets Mariam’s father Jalil. And talks about getting married to his daughter Mariam
He lost his first wife and son prior to the marriage with Mariam
He always wants to see his wife in a burqa
Beliefs
Childhood
Marriage
Nana
Nana is Mariam’s mother. She had been working for Jalil until she got pregnant with his baby. Jalil kicked Nana out of his place and built her another home, in which she and Mariam live.
She is always unhappy and has a negative vibe around. She always talks ill about Jalil to Mariam, and ask her to stay away from.
Nana really loves her daughter. She suicided when Mariam went in search for Jalil
Jalil
Jalil is Mariam’s father. He lives in Herat and is a rich movie theatre owner. He is loved by his daughter Mariam but is despised by Mariam’s mother because he did not give importance to them. He has 10 other children and 2 wives.
Jalil never wants Mariam to come to visit him in Herat. He regrets the way he had treated Mariam and Nana and hopes it could change someday.
After she had the miscarriage, she became completed devoted to god and believed that God and faith in religion is really important for everyone
Mullah Faizullah
Mullah Faizullah, also known as Mariam’s koran tutor. Mariam is very close to him, and he always treats her with respect.
He always encourages Mariam to get a proper education.
She got married to a widowed shoemaker, Rasheed, at the age of 15
Her husband had many rules for her to follow
Her husband was very abusive physically and verbally due to her having a miscarriage
About her
One of the female protagonist.
She is an Illegitimate child of a rich movie theatre owner, Jalil
Daughter of Nana
Adulthood
Childhood
Tariq lives in Kabul and is the childhood of Laila
When he was young, he lost his leg due to stepping on a landmine
He takes his disability as his strength rather than a liability
As children, he was best friends with Laila, and as they grew up to be teenagers, they became lovers
He is forced to flee from Pakistan with his parents
He beats up a kid who tried to defame Laila
He is sent to prison, for smuggling Hashish
After his jail time, he goes back to Laila, to prove his loyalty towards her
Childhood
Adulthood
Laila is the second female protagonist
As she becomes a teenager, she falls in love with Tariq, unfortunately Tariq and his parents are forced to flee from Pakistan
Laila is the second female protagonist
She is the daughter of Hakim and Fariba
She has a very close friend named Tariq
Her parents are killed due to a rocket
She marries Rasheed
She gives birth to a child, keeping in mind that the child is for Tariq
Her relationship with Mariam deepens and becomes stronger
She understands the limitations and sacrifices needed to make in order to be a strong women