in Khaled Hosseini's A thousand splendid suns, the two juxtaposing characters Jalil and Rasheed highlight that when there are patriarchal constructs evident within a society. It leads to the oppression of within their homes. However it is Rasheed unwavering ignorance in his acceptance of fundamentalism that ultimately symbolizes the imbalance within society. When Jalil first faces the problem of an illegitimate child, his first thought was neither of Nana nor of his unborn child but rather himself. His reputation, his business, his status, all things materialistic. This is evident when Nana talks to Mariam about her father, and the truth about of pregnancy. "Jalil didn't have the dil either, Nana said, to do the honorable thing.
…show more content…
He forces Mariam to wear a burqa, and shames other women who don't, he hides her when he has male friends over, and tells her to go upstairs, and uses his excuse of "meeting his needs" to force Mariam into non consensual sex, believing it is her duty as a wife to only please her husband, and meet his needs. This shows to readers that sexist mentality that has already been implemented into Rasheeds mindset, most likely from an early age. The patriarchal constructs that are evident with this part, show that not only are the men in the society taught from a young age that in a relationship a man is in power, and a women must simply comply, but also that women are taught from a young that these constructs exist, and the only thing they can do is simply endure. This is evident when Mariam opens one of Rasheed drawers to find his porn, and actually convinces herself that is her fault he looks at these types of magazines, and that she is not being a good wife, with Nana voice ringing in her head, telling her "‘it's our lot in life, Mariam. Women like us. We endure. It's all we have’” (Hosseini 19) ever since she was young. This showcases how patriarchal constructs not only empower men, but also manage to silence women, and make them believe that is natural that they only be seen and not heard, and sometimes, not even
He forces Mariam to wear a burqa, and shames other women who don't, he hides her when he has male friends over, and tells her to go upstairs, and uses his excuse of "meeting his needs" to force Mariam into non consensual sex, believing it is her duty as a wife to only please her husband, and meet his needs. This shows to readers that sexist mentality that has already been implemented into Rasheeds mindset, most likely from an early age. The patriarchal constructs that are evident with this part, show that not only are the men in the society taught from a young age that in a relationship a man is in power, and a women must simply comply, but also that women are taught from a young that these constructs exist, and the only thing they can do is simply endure. This is evident when Mariam opens one of Rasheed drawers to find his porn, and actually convinces herself that is her fault he looks at these types of magazines, and that she is not being a good wife, with Nana voice ringing in her head, telling her "‘it's our lot in life, Mariam. Women like us. We endure. It's all we have’” (Hosseini 19) ever since she was young. This showcases how patriarchal constructs not only empower men, but also manage to silence women, and make them believe that is natural that they only be seen and not heard, and sometimes, not even