26 “You know nothing, do you? You’re like a child. Your brain is empty. There is no
information in it” Hosseini, 97 and in the mean time when Mariam asks more he interrupts “Chup ko”. Shut up.” Hosseini, 97. From the findings, it is learned
that Rashed’s level of aggression is increasing from just being silent into responding with hateful manner.
c. Faulting Mariam’s Cooking
Rasheed’s aggressive behaviors over Mariam are also felt in his way undervaluing her work especially passing intimidating judgment of her cooking.
This following fact is taken from the writer narration: Mariam remembered a time when she had enjoyed, even looked forward
to, cooking for Rahseed. Now cooking was an exercise in heightened anxiety. The qurmas were always too salty or too bland for his taste. The
rice was judged either too greasy or too dry, the bread declared too doughy or too crispy. Rasheed’s faultfinding left her stricken in the kitchen with
self-doubt. Hosseini, 99
Rasheed really turns down Mariam’s confidence in preparing food for him. It is so sad for a wife when a husband always finds a problem with the food she
prepared for her husband. The wife likely hurts upon her husband humiliating remark and another possibility is she responds her husband in attacking manner—
to aggress him back. Since Mariam considers that she is the one who makes Rasheed change due to his disappointment of her recurring miscarriages she opts
to give in to Rasheed’s aggression.
d. Hurting Mariam when He Reveals His Intention to Marry Laila
Considering Laila’s early age which is too far from rational—to Mariam’s view—to marry too old Rasheed who is at that moment according to the novel is
over sixty-year-old—“Rasheed had to be sixty or more” Hosseini, 207, Mariam
27 boldly insist against Rasheed’s plea to her agreement. However, Rasheed with his
high tempered tone reproaches her argument “Don’t be so dramatic. It’s common thing and you know it. I have friends who have two, three, four wives. Your father
had three. Besides, what I’m doing now most men I know have done it along ago. You know it’s true.”Hosseini, 209
Rasheed also gives Mariam additional ordeals to puzzle her mind since another choice for Mariam is to let Laila leave their house with the possible
consequence she likely fails to make it due to the difficult condition outside. This is what Rasheed says to threaten Mariam
There is another option, “ he said, scratching the sole of one foot with calloused heel of the other.” She can leave. I won’t stand in her way. But I
suspect she won’t get far. No food, no water, not a rupiah in her pockets, rockets and bullets flying everywhere. How many days do you suppose
she’ll last before she’s abducted, raped, or tossed into some roadside ditch with her throat slit? Or all three?” Hosseini, 209
It is evidently seen that Rasheed wants to attack Mariam compassionate
feeling. He wants to blame Mariam if she lets Laila stay away from their house and die due to war factors. Rasheed successfully soothes down Mariam’s
complain with that difficult choice. Mariam then helps to lure Laila to accept Rasheed’s proposal.
e. Undervaluing Mariam with Unfavorable Comparison to Laila
