Theme Of Discrimination In A Thousand Splendid Suns

In the novel A Thousand Splendid Suns, shame and discrimination against women is a main theme that evolves throughout the novel. Growing up Mariam is always reminded by her mother that she was a harami, an illegitimate child. Her mother tries to hold Mariam back from progressing by reminding her of shame, even when she wants to attend school, Nana claims, ”They will call you a harami. They will say the most terrible things about you.”(19). Despite Mariam motivation to attend school, her mother always finds a way of bringing her down. It was as if she did not want her child to be happy and live in better conditions. Even when her mother, Nana dies, her father’s wives still deal with her as major shame source to the family. They try to