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In chapters 1-10 Mariam is the only character we feel sympathy for.…

- - - - Mariam compares the two parental figures in her life, clearly taking a preference to Jalil over Nana. Jalil calls Mariam his 'little flower', which is contradictory to the insult 'harami' in which Nana uses. The noun 'flower' has connotations of joy and pleasure, two emotions that Mariam evidently feels when she sees her father once a week. Due to character alignment with Mariam, the readers feel the same level of delight Mariam does when she meets Jalil. However, Jalil's harmatia soon gets exposed, and the readers perception of him is dramatically changed. At the end of Chapter 2, Mariam compares her parents' recollection of the way they chose her name. Jalil argues that he called Mariam after 'the tuberose' which 'was a lovely flower' Mariam proceeds to ask if it was his 'favourite', and he replies: 'Well, one of'
        
        This is a metaphorical reference to Mariam's illegitimacy, which essentially strips the value from the connotations of the flower. It emphasises that to Jalil, Mariam is just a replica of his other children, that she possesses no special quality, and, consequently, is not his 'favourite'
        
        This is the first time the readers are exposed to the true identity of Jalil, his first mistake in the facade in which he plays of this hero. Later on, when Mariam finally escapes the kolba, which she believes his her first chance for freedom, but is let down by Jalil, who proceeds to marry her off to an unknown man. Despite confrontation of his iniquitous behaviour, he still 'looked down like an overgrown child' This is the final trough in his tragic hero storyline, he recognises his evil actions and therefore, his childlike, deceitful true identity has been brought into the light
        
        As a result of this, Hosseini opens up the question of pity or sympathy. Jalil's heroic complex inbedded within in his mind resulted in his tragic downfall, as he can no longer be with Mariam.
- - - - Mariam thinks about how Jalil left her to 'sleep on the streets like a stray dog' The use of sibilance within this simile really reiterates and mirrors the immense internal pain that Mariam carries around with her. She is too ashamed of her illegitimate origins as a 'harami' and cannot process the way t speak properly, resulting in a slurring of words, exhibited by the sibilance.