MaryPrutton

Mrs.Linnerth
ENG3UI
December30,2015

CloudsThatHideTheSun

Humanbeingsarefragile,eachonedeservestohavetheirrightsprotected.Yet,in
A
ThousandSplendidSuns,
therearemanyhumanrightviolations.Theseviolationstakean
immensetollonthewellbeingofthecharacters.Thosewhohavetheirrightsmostaffectedare
thethreemainfemalecharacters,Mariam,AzizandLaila.

DuetothemanyhumanrightviolationsMariamfaces,herwellbeingisgreatlyimpacted.
WefirstseeanexampleofthiswhenMariamisforcedtomarryRasheed,whichviolatesher
righttoconsenttomarriageandcausesbadbloodtoarisebetweenherfatherandherself.When
theideaofmarriageisfirstproposed,MariamsaysIdontwantto...ShelookedatJalil.Idont
wantthis.Dontmakeme.(Hosseini.44)AsMariamsfatherbreakshertrust,shebecomes
filledwithgriefandstrugglestodealwiththeseemotions.Herqualityofexistenceand
wellbeingarenegativelyimpactedasshetriestoadjusttohernewemotionsandenvironment.
Afterseveralyearsofmarriage,herhusbandbecomesabusive,treatingherwithcrueltyaswell
asviolatingherrighttobetreatedhumanely.Astheabusecontinues,Mariamstatesthat
She[lives]infearofhisshiftingmoodshewouldresolvewithpunches,slaps,kicks.(89)
Shenowslivesinconstantfearofherhusband.Eachdaysheiswithhim,herwellbeingis
almostconstantlyatrisk,whethermentallyorphysically.FurthemoreMariamisstuckinawar

ravagedcountryandhasnowaytoescape.TheTalibanhaveforbiddenwomentotravelwhich
deprivesthewomenoftherighttoleavetheirowncountry.WhenMariamandtheotherfemale
charactersarecaughttryingtoescape,aTalibanguardsays,Youdorealize,hamshira,itisa
crimeforawomentorunaway.Weseeitalot.Womentravellingalone.(237)Mariamis
forcedtostayinAfghanistan,puttingthequalityofherlifeindangerandleavingherdisturbed
bythehorriblethingssheendures.Finally,attheendofthenovel,Mariamcommitsaserious
crimeandsincesheisawomenshedoesnotreceiveapropertrial.Mariamdescribestheunfair
trialbysaying,Therewasnolegalcouncil,nopublichearing,nocrossexaminingofevidence,
noappeals..theentirethinglastedlessthanfifteenminutes.(323)Althoughshefreelyadmitted
thatshecommittedthiscrime,theviolationofherrighttotheappropriatetrialhasthegreatest
impactonhersincethisishowshelostherlife.TherearemanytimeswhenMariamhasher
rightsviolatedandherwellbeingaffectedbythosewhobelievetheyaresuperiortoher.

Azizaisanotherfemalecharacterwhosewellbeingisoftenjeopardized,asaresultofthe
numeroustimesherrightsareviolatedthroughoutthenovel.Duringherchildhood,Azizalives
inpovertyandoftenfindsherselffacingstarvation.Once,whentimesgetparticularlyhardfor
herfamily,thenovelstatesthat,deathfromstarvationsuddenlybecameadistinctpossibility
Azizasribsbegantopushthroughtheskinandthefatfromhercheeksvanished.(272)During
thistimeofherlife,Azizasrighttohaveaproperstandardoflivingisviolatedandshealmost
losesherlife.Thisleavesbothherphysicalandmentalwellbeinginruinsasshetriestocope
withthehorrorsshefaced.Tocontinue,whentheTalibantakeoverthecountry,theyputlimits
onalmosteveryrightthatwomenhave,includingtherighttoeducation.Inthenovel,Azizatells

hermotherofthesecreteducationsheisreceiving.Shesays,KakaZamanmadeitapointto
teach[us]somethingeveryday...butwehavetopullthecurtains...sotheTalibandon'tseeus.
(286)WiththeTalibanforbiddingwomentobeeducated,Azizaschancetohaveasuccessful
andprosperouslifeisputatrisk,afflictingherwellbeing.Withthemanyrestrictionsplacedon
Azizashumanrights,herwellbeingfacesgreatopposition,bothphysicallyand
psychologically.

Lailaswellbeingisalsodamaged,asaresultoftheviolationsagainstherhumanrights.
Tobegin,Lailalivesinacountrystrickenwithwarwheresheseesandhearsmanyhorrible
things.Herlifeisfilledwithhorror,inthenovelitsaysthatLailalearnedthatNila,Gitis
mother,hadrunupanddownthestreetwhereGitiwaskilled,collectingpiecesofherdaughters
fleshscreechinghysterically.(160)Lailaistraumatizedbytheterriblethingsthathave
happenedtoherandlivesinfear.Shehasrecurringnightmaresandthisaffectshermental
wellbeing,leavingherwithanxiety.Inaddition,likeMariam,LailaalsomarriesRasheedand
beginstoexperiencehisabusivetendencies.Oneday,whenLailawasenduringherhusbands
anger,itsaysthat,shewasbeingdraggedbythehairhereyeswateredandshefeltthetoe
ofhisshoeconnectwithherleftbuttock.Shehowledwithpainasheslammedthedoorshut.A
keyrattledinthelock.(240)AsLailaandherbabyarelockedinaroomforseveraldays,it
revealsthetrueextentofRasheedscruelty.Bothherownlifeandherdaughtersareputonthe
line,andshewouldnowliveinfearofherhusbandduetothementallyscarringneardeath
experience.Finally,astheTalibantakeover,theyrestricttherightwomenhavetoadequate
medicalcare.Lailaisgreatlyaffectedbythisviolationwhensheisinneedofacaesarianand

receivesnoanesthetics.WhenLailaistalkingtothedoctor,thenovelstates,Whatdoyouwant
metodo?TheywontgivemewhatIneedthedoctortookabreath,thentoldLailathatthe
hospitalhadnoanesthetic..ifwedelay,youwillloseyourbaby.(259)AtthistimeLailadoes
notgetthehealthcarethatsheneeds.Shewasnotgivenmedicationtoeasethesurgeryandleft
mortifiedbytheunbearablepainsheendured.Lailashealthandwellbeingsuffered
tremendously,underthecopiousamountofviolationsthatgoagainstherrights.

AsMariam,Aziza,andLailastruggletogetherinanabusivehome,tosurviveinwar
strickenAfghanistan,theirwellbeingsfaceagreatamountofadversitydueoftheviolations
againsttheirrights.Eachofthefemalecharactersundergotremendousamountsofoppression,
andareleftscarredbothmentallyandphysically.Azizaisleftwithsevereanxiety,Lailaisleft
traumatizedbythethingsshesawandeventualMariamsacrificesherownlife.Itisobviousto
seethatviolatingsomeonesrightscanleavethemdamagedandhavetremendouslonglasting
effectsontheirlife.

WorksCited

Hosseini,Khaled.
AThousandSplendidSuns
.Toronto:PenguinGroup,2007.Print.16Jan.2016
6.,