3. THE DESCRIPTION OF THE SUFFERINGS
3.1 Life of maryam
Maryam was born as a Harami, bastard of a mother named Nana, a servant to his master, who was a businessman named Jalil. Jalil has three wives. They are
Afson, Nargis, and Khadija. They did not want the presence of Nana in Herat, especially in their big house. To cover the shame of his family, Jalil move Nana to
a kolba hovel in Gul Daman, Afghanistan which is located farthest from their homes and away from the city. Finally, she gave birth to Maryam in kolba. Jalil
visited their kolba only once a week on Thursday. The happy moment that is always eagerly awaited by Maryam. Because at that time, the longing to his father
will be alleviated. Her father would bring souvenirs, talked about many things, invited him to play, or fishing in the river. While Nana, after Jalil returned, she
always told the evil about Jalil and subverts all the words on Maryam, and also told Maryam that Jalil would never think of Maryam as his child.
“Learn this now and learn it well, my daughter: Like a compass needle that points north, a man’s
accusing finger always finds a woman. Always. You remember that, Maryam.” A Thousand
Splendid suns, p. 07
On the anniversary of Maryams 15th, she asked a supplication to Jalil to be invited for visiting Jalil’s movie theater to watch a cartoon movie Pinocchio. She
wants to watch with her half-sisters and her half-brothers. Of course, Jalil and Nana did not grant for this supplication. She insisted to fulfill her dream, even if
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Nana had repeatedly warned Maryam and said something serious case of what would happen to him.
“A man’s heart is a wretched, wretched thing, Maryam. It isn’t like a mother womb. It won’t
bleed, it won’t stretch to make room for you. I’m the only one who loves you. I’m all you have in
this world, Maryam, and when I’m gone you’ll have nothing. You’ll are nothing. You are
nothing”A Thousand Splendid suns, p.27
The next day, Maryam decided for coming to the Jalil’s home, because Jalil did not come to pick him up. Maryam did not care about all the words of his
mother, she just thought that everything is just a lie to say her mother because her mother, Nana, did not want Maryam to live happily and Maryam also have to bear
the misery of his mother s life. However, when she got Jalil’s home, Maryam met with resistance and was not at all acceptable that require sleeping outside at the
gates in magnificent Jalil’s home only to find her father. In the reality, her departure to jalil’s home bring disaster for him. After she returned to Gul Daman
to be escorted by one of Jalil’s driver, she had seen his mothers tragic death, hanged himself on a tree limb and in the end, left her alone in this world.
Jalil was forced to bring Maryam into his home. Third wife teamed up to make Maryam immediately out of their house as soon as possible in a way by
marrying Maryam. Finally, she was forced to marry with Rasheed, a shoe merchant from Kabul who is 45 years old and 30 years older than Maryam. After
they married, Maryam moved to Kabul with Rasheed. She left Jalil with full of
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disappointment. Maryam said to Jalil that Jalil is needless to visit her, and she did not want to hear anything about his father again.
Her marriage with Rasheed brought new suffering and torture to Maryam. In addition, Maryam had a miscarriage and made Rasheed became very rough to
him. The days passed very chastisement of Maryam and made her like being in hell. Rasheed began to torture her soul neither insulting words nor physical
punishment. “Get up,” he said. “come here. Get up”
He snatched her hand, opened it, and dropped a handful of pebbles into it.
“Put these in your mouth.” “What?”
“Put these. In your mouth.” “Stop it, rasheed, i’m–
His powerful hands clasped her jaw. He shoved two fingers into her mouth and pried it open, then
forced the cold, hard pebbles into it. Maryam struggled against him, numbling, but he kept
pushing the pebbles in, his upper lip curled in a snair.
“Now chew,” he said. Through the mouthful of grit and pebbles,
mumbled a plea. Tears were leaking out of the corners of her eyes…” A Thousand Splendid
suns, pp. 102-103
Wars in Afghanistan made many victims who died, suffered serious injuries as a result of the rocket falling and leveled by the Taliban-taliban. Every day a lot
of the lives of innocent became victims. It was also experienced by a girl, Maryam’s neighbor, Laila.
The couple of Maryam and Rasheed rescued and cared of Laila. Maryam, who patiently and sincerely caring for Laila was not expect anything. While
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Rasheed otherwise. Rasheed intended to marry that girl who is 15 years old and almost the same as when Rasheed married Maryam.
The marriage of Laila and Rasheed also bring new suffering for Maryam. Maryam was not received by Rasheed act to polygamy himself with laila, and
finally she could not do anything about it. “For you, after all these years, to make me an
ambagh.” “Don’t be so dramatic. It’s a common thing and
you know it. I have friends who have two, three, four wives. Your own father had three. Besides,
what I’m doing now most men. I know would have done long ago. You know it’s true.” A
Thousand Splendid suns, pp. 208-209
With patience, Maryam willingly accept the situation. Broken hearts because of the sacrifice of betrayal by laila is too shortchanged and made him shock. In the
fact, this situation actually made Maryam hate her and hostile with Laila. Maryam thought that Laila was a slut who likes to seize her husband and do not knew how
to thank you. Rasheed treatment to Maryam is so bad than Laila. Laila became malika queen and is always protected by Rasheed while Maryam became dehati
servant in the house. Aziza’s birth, the first daughter of Laila brought them in a friendship
between Maryam and Laila. Maryam was very fond of Aziza, so did Aziza contrary, she was very fond of Maryam. Life of Maryam changed in happiness
since she had and met them. One day, Laila met with her childhood friend named Tariq. Rasheed was
very mad to know that Laila met with Tariq again. Rasheed tortured Laila cruel.
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Maryam was wondering how to separate Rasheed to Laila did not know what to do anything. While Rasheed strangle Laila, Maryam who did not have the heart
and is willing to see Laila tortured by Rasheed, finally took the fight to defend Laila. Maryam took the spade and struck him on the Rasheed head and make
Rasheed died. In the midst of anxiety and fear, Maryam finally took the wise decision.
Maryam will bear the brunt of the Rasheed murder had done by himself. Maryam insists and thought that this is the only way for solving their problem.
“It is fair,” Maryam said. “I’ve killed our husband. I’ve deprived your son of his father. It
isn’t right that I run. I can’t. Even if they never catch us, I’ll never…. Her lips trembled. I’ll
never escape your son’s grief. How do I look at him? How do I ever bring myself to look at him,
Laila jo?” Maryam twiddled a strand of Laila’s hair,
untangled a stubborn curl. “For me, it ends here. There’s nothing more I
want. Everything I’d ever wished for as a little girl you’ve already given me. You and your
children have made me so very happy. It’s all right, Laila jo.This is all right. Don’t be sad.” A
Thousand Splendid suns, p.350
In the end, the existence of Maryam was known by the Taliban who then gave legal punishment to him in prison. Maryam spent ten days in prison and the
rest of her life waiting for the end of the ill-fated life in a place, where the people watched the end of her life in the hands of hangman.
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3.2 Life of Laila
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