A Thousand Splendid Suns Post A # 6

Vocab
Pragmatic (259)- pertaining to a practical point of view or practical considerations
Alleviating (272)- pertaining to a situation where the pain is lessened

Figurative Language
"Laila remembered standing atop the bigger of the two Buddhas with Babi and Tariq, back in 1987, a breeze blowing in their sunlit faces, watching a hawk gliding in circles over the sprawling valley below (279)." This quote occurs after the reader finds out the Taliban have blown up the two great Buddhas, what Laila calls, "Afganistans two greatest historic artifacts." Hosseni uses IMAGERY like "sunlit faces," and "sprawling valley" to paint a picture of one of Laila's most happiest memories.

"In the morning, the bed was empty. I asked a nurse. She said he [Tariq] fought valiantly (187)." This sentence turns into DRAMATIC IRONY when the reader finds out on page 291 that Tariq is still alive.

Laila- "The man who came to give the new, he was so earnest...I believed him, Tariq. I wish I hadn't, but I did. [...] Otherwise, I wouldn't have agreed to marry Rasheed. I wouldn't have..."
Tariq- "You don't have to do this," he said softly, avoiding her eyes. There was no hidden reproach, no recrimination, in the way he had said this. No suggestion of blame.
Tariq is almost like Jesus in the novel. He is with Laila at the beginning, and she is the happiest she has ever been. When they part ways, Laila endures many hardships, as well as Tariq (his mother and father die of painful diseases). Just when Laila is almost on the brink of death, he returns. She regrets [her sin] leaving him. He completely turns her apology back, and tells her it is okay [forgiving her sin]. SYMBOL

Quote
"I spoke to some neighbors earlier," [Tariq] said. [...] I don't recognize anybody. From the old days, I mean (297)." This quote could mean one of three things. Laila and Tariq's original neighbors died from the bad living conditions, the Taliban killed them, or they fled, fearing the Taliban would kill them. All three scenarios are not happy ones.

Theme
Some things in life are worth the wait, no matter how painful that wait might be.