36 and Laila. The most important thing is that they have a husband who is a Pashtun.
He is not a nice Pashtun. Mariam and Laila know that Pashtun is the majority. Laila has ever been told by her father that Pashtun is a king and other ethnic
groups are slighted Hosseini 138. That is why Rasheed feels stronger. He disparages Mariam and Laila. It is related to the reality of historical background
that the Pashtun is stronger than others. As the majority, the Pashtun has an authority to be the leader and the first one. Mariam and Laila belong to the small
ethnic groups.
c. Pleasant to One Another
Laila is an energetic woman. It is described in the novel that she is cheerful and funny Hosseini 252. Laila always smile and laugh, even in a hard situation.
It makes Mariam do aware that Laila is a good woman, a good friend. “Mariam found it exhausting to watch the girl’s lolloping enthusiasm and her admit, if only
privately, to a degree of admiration.” Hosseini 252. Mariam and Laila are pleasant to one another. They try to forget their
problems by having some routinities. They try to please each other. They have been disturbed by many problems. They need entertainments. So, Mariam and
Laila are pleased by having their togetherness. One ritual that has pleased them is drinking chai. They love that ritual. They can enjoy their life, even just for ten
minutes. Mariam is eager for more cups of chai. Mariam and Laila would share in the yard, a nightly ritual Hosseini 267. Chai is a traditional beverage from
Afghanistan. It is such kind of tea.
37 Mariam and Laila enjoy their togetherness. At least, some little jokes can
release their bad feelings of many problems they have. Aziza, Laila’s daughter entertains them through her actions. Mariam and Laila are pleased. One night,
Aziza passes gas in her sleep. Laila begins to laugh, and Mariam joins in. They laugh at each other’s reflection in the mirror seeing their eyes tearing, and the
moment is so natural, so effortless Hosseini 271. As a friend, they try to please one another. No matter how hard the situation they face, they know how to please
themselves through simple things. According to Maslows’ theory of motivation as cited by Kasschau 143-144, human beings need to have belongingness and love
needs. People need to affiliate with others and be accepted. People need to have a pleasent by having friends.
d. Beneficial to One Another
Aristotle 220 says that one characteristic of friendship which is based on goodnesses is beneficial to one another. Mariam and Laila do not aware that they
benefit to one another. It is also described that they are helpful. Even, they do sacrifice to one another. A common friend will not do it. It trully happens in a
friendship which is based on goodnesses. As a friend, Laila saves Mariam from Rasheed. So does Mariam. They keep one another. This part discusses how they
are beneficial to each other. 1 Laila to Mariam
Laila tries to save Mariam when she is mistreated by Rasheed. Laila does not care about the risk. Laila cares of Mariam by defending her.
38 Rasheed raised the belt again and this time came at Mariam. Then an
astonishing thing happened: The girl lunged at him. She grabbed his arm with both hands and tried to drag him down, but she could do no more than
dangle from it. She did succeed in slowing Rasheed’s progress toward Mariam. Hosseini 255
Laila is much younger than Mariam. However, she has the same destiny as Mariam. Laila regards Mariam as the older one. Laila can be a good friend for
Mariam. Without Laila, Mariam may feel so lonely as Rasheed’s wife. Rasheed is very cruel. Laila wants to escape from Rasheed. She plans everything to escape
far away from Rasheed. She wants a new life. She collects money by stealing Rasheed’s money. However, Laila wants Mariam to go with her. She does not
want to leave Mariam. Laila says “We’re leaving the spring, Aziza and I. Come with us, Mariam”Hosseini 272. Unfortunately, Rasheed can find and he is very
angry. Rasheed starts to punish Mariam, but Laila states that she has planned it all. As the result, Rasheed is very angry.
At the top of the stairs, Laila turned to him.“She didn’t want to do it,” she said. “I made her do it. She didn’t want to go.”
Laila didn’t see the punch coming. One moment she was talking and the next she was on all fours, wide-eyed and red-faced, trying to draw a breath.
It was as if a car had hit her at full speed, in the tender place between the lower tip of the breastbone and the belly button.Hosseini 286
It can be concluded that Laila is beneficial to Mariam. Through Laila’s actions, she helps Mariam. Laila gives the proof of being a good friend.
2 Mariam to Laila One day, Mariam imagines about Mullah Faizullah, her teacher. She
pictures that Mullah Faizullah whispers to her. He says that Laila and her children
39 are destiny which comes from God. Laila and her children are true family for
Mariam. Mariam are asked to save and keep them. ...as Mariam watched the snow coming down, she pictured Mullah Faizullah
twirling his tasbeh beads, learning in and whispering to her in his soft, tremulous voice, But it is God Who has planted them, Mariam jo. And it is
His will that you tend to them. It is His will, my girl. Hosseini 273
Mariam is much older than Laila. That is why Mariam protects Laila as her daughter. She cares Laila. Mariam says “My daughter’s water broke and the baby
won’t come,” Mariam called Hosseini 307. Mariam loves Laila. When Laila gives a birth, Mariam is being panic. She does not want something bad happen to
Laila. She tries to give affection to Laila. “Mariam positioned herself behind the crown of Laila’s head and lowered her face so their cheeks touched. She could
feel Laila’s teeth rattling. Their hands locked together.” Hosseini 312 The beneficial of friendship can be seen through Mariam’s action when she
saves Laila from Rasheed. She dares to kill Rasheed in order to save Laila. Mariam fights againsts Rasheed. However, after killing Rasheed, Mariam still
cares to Laila. Mariam wants to make sure that Laila is already saved. She was being shaken. Are you all right? Answer me, are you all right?
Mariam’s face, engraved with scratches, heavy with worry, hovered over Laila. Laila tried a breath. It burned her throat. She tried another. It burned
even more this time, and not just her throat but her chest too. And then she was coughing, and wheezing. Gasping. But breathing. Her good ear rang.
Hosseini 376
Mariam has been hurted, but she does worry more about Laila. When she looks at Laila’s wounds, she tries to treat Laila. Mariam shows her affection, her
greatest affection for the girl who has stolen her husband. One day, Laila is injured. Mariam says “ Let me tend to your wounds now. You’re all cut up, Laila
jo.” Hosseini 378. Mariam shows her affection to Laila.
40 Mariam calms Laila down. As an older woman, she has positioned herself to
be a wise sister. Mariam faces the hardest thing in this life. She has killed Rasheed, her husband, but she wants Laila to live better. Mariam knows that Laila
has a prospectful life. Laila has Tariq, Aziza, and also Zalmai. Mariam is willing to give her life for Laila’s happiness.
Mariam waited patiently until Laila felt better. Then she had Laila lie down, and, as she stroked Laila’s hair in her lap, Mariam said not to worry, that
everything woould be fine. She said that they would leave. She, Laila, the children, and Tariq too. They would leave this house, and this unforgiving
city. They would leave this despondent country altogether, Mariam said, running her hands through Laila’s hair.....378
Mariam gives her attention to Laila. Through her actions, Mariam shows her beneficial to Laila. Mariam is older to Laila. That is why Mariam has positioned
herself as a good sister for Laila. Mariam cares to Laila.
e. Long Lasting
