A Thousand Splendid Suns Post A # 5

Vocab

Upend(ed) (231)- To have been sat or turned on one end

Erratic (251)- varying from the usual or proper course in conduct or opinion



Figurative Language

"It is my responsibility, you see, to maintain order [...] As a matter of policy, we do not interfere with private family matters, hamshira (238)." Situational Irony The police officer says it is his duty to protect the city from disorder, but he doesn't bother to think about matters such as abuse.

"It made a sound like dropping a rice bag to the floor (267)." Simile

"'I swear you're going to make me kill you, Laila,' he said, panting (272)." Foreshadowing

Later on, Mariam actually kills Rasheed.

Quote

"It's a matter of qanoon, hamshira, a matter of law," Rahman said, injecting his voice with a grave, self-important tone. "It is my responsibility, you see, to maintain order (238)." A police officer is talking to Laila after Mariam, Aziza, and she try and run away. They are caught, and are now talking to the police. Rahman says this after Laila tells him to release them, to not send them back to their home. "We are not criminals (238)." First of all, the fact that women must be accompanied by their husband whenever they step outside, is an unjust law. Second of all, the fact that a man sold them out, just so he could suck up to the military police, is wrong in so many ways. I could tell the officer had a bit of an ego, and was really "excited" to have caught three "criminals" in the act. In the quote, Hosseni describes Rahman's manner of speaking as, "with injected garveness, and a self-important tone." It seems to me that Rahman just wanted to flex his muscles, when he caught Laila, Mariam, and Aziza.



Theme

It is important to not lose sight of the small details, when looking at the big picture. An example of this happens when Officer Rahman is questioning Mariam. He says, "I am forced to send you back to your husband, or put you in jail." She tells him that her husband is an abusive man who will greatly hurt both her and Laila if they return. Rahman is not swayed by that. Mariam proceeds to refer to him saying how it is his responsibility to maintain law and order, and asks him, "Will you be there to maintain order?"