Monday, March 21, 2011

Discussion number three m'lord! (please say you get the reference)

In "A Thousand Splendid Suns", author  Khaled Hosseini uses his mastery of story telling to convey the severity of human relationships with the past and the resulting effect on the present. Even the latest and youngest character mentioned in the novel provides significant affirmation of this concept. Zalmai is brought into this world carrying the burden of his parent's past. At the age of two he is forced to witness the reality of his mother's sins as his father calls her "whore,"  relenting "'You think I didn't figure it out? About your harami?'" Foolish and naive Zalmai had pridefully disclosed what he found to be a harmless tattle-tale about Laila and Tariq's rekindled relationship. Zalmai's father of course becomes enraged (blah blah he gets died). Fatherless Zalmai blames himself for the "disappearance" of his father asking his mother "Did Baba jan leave because of me? Because of what I said, about you and the man downstairs?" Even Zalmai, full of naivete and bereft of experience, is able to relate his actions of the past to his present reality. Amazingly, this two year old is flung into a situation where he contends with his past and realizes the negativity of his actions. Poor Zalmai in truth is partially to blame for his once idolized father's demise. This is a truth that his mother Laila must shield innocent Zalmai from "again and again" until his "questions dry up."

4 comments:

  1. Btw guys I'm totally totally sorry I couldn't sight my quotes. If you read the book you should know they're legit PLUS tear paragraphs don't call for specific text so don't say anything. :p

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  2. J.Macha
    Solid 8!
    i really love your use of text evidence and also the fact that you chose a minor character in the book, but realy dont say "Blah blah he gets died" actualy thats incorrect so i say a... SOLID 7!

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  3. This comment has been removed by the author.

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  4. P.Ha
    Score: 8
    Your analysis is superb!
    Work on giving your conclusion a bit more depth.

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