MARIAM'S STRUGGLES FOR HER LIFE IN KHALED ...

MARIAM’S STRUGGLES FOR HER LIFE IN KHALED

HOSSEINI’S A THOUSAND SPLENDID SUNS

A SARJANA PENDIDIKAN THESIS

Presented as Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements

to Obtain the Sarjana Pendidikan Degree

in English Language Education

By

Kirana Cinta Murti

Student Number: 131214022

ENGLISH LANGUAGE EDUCATION STUDY PROGRAM

DEPARTMENT OF LANGUAGE AND ARTS EDUCATION

FACULTY OF TEACHERS TRAINING AND EDUCATION

SANATA DHARMA UNIVERSITY

YOGYAKARTA

2018

PLAGIAT MERUPAKAN TINDAKAN TIDAK TERPUJI

i

MARIAM’S STRUGGLES FOR HER LIFE IN KHALED

HOSSEINI’S A THOUSAND SPLENDID SUNS

A SARJANA PENDIDIKAN THESIS

Presented as Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements

to Obtain the Sarjana Pendidikan Degree

in English Language Education

By

Kirana Cinta Murti

Student Number: 131214022

ENGLISH LANGUAGE EDUCATION STUDY PROGRAM

DEPARTMENT OF LANGUAGE AND ARTS EDUCATION

FACULTY OF TEACHERS TRAINING AND EDUCATION

SANATA DHARMA UNIVERSITY

YOGYAKARTA

2018


iv

Your Time Will Come

Kenya is two hours ahead of Nigeria, but it does not mean that Nigeria is slow,

and it does not mean that Kenya is faster than Nigeria. Both countries are working

based on their own “Time Zone”

Someone is still single. Someone got married and “waited” ten years before

having a child, there is another who had had a baby within one year after

marriage.

Someone graduated at the age of 22 yet waited 5 years before securing a job; and

there is another who graduated at the age of 27 and secured employment just after

national service.

Joyce Meyer started her own ministry at age 41 and still alive today at71 years

old.

Someone became CEO at the age of 25 and died at the age of 50 while another

became a CEO at the age of 50 and lived to 90 years.

Everyone worked based on their “Time Zone”. Some people have everything that

work fast for them. Work in your “Time Zone”

Colleagues, friends, associates, your one(s) might “seem” to go ahead of you. Do

not envy them, it’s their Time Zone”. Yours is coming soon. Hold on, be strong,

and stay true to yourself. All things shall YOU ARE NOT LATE, YOU ARE ON

TIME!

-UNKNOWN

Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or

terrified because of them, for the Lord you God

goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake

you

-Deuteronomy 31; 6


v

This thesis is dedicated to:

My forever motivation, hero, and also first love, Mr. Murdiyono

My guardian angel Ms. Herawati Sitiana Widyaningrum

My beloved brother

Ndaru Khesawa Murti


viii

ABSTRACT

Murti, Kirana Cinta (2018). Mariam’s Struggles for Her Life in Khaled Hosseini’s

A Thousand Splendid Suns. Yogyakarta: English Language Education Study

Program. Sanata Dharma University.

This research analyses a novel entitled A Thousand Splendid Suns written

by Khaled Hosseini. This novel tells about women’s struggle in life as seen in

Mariam’s life. Having a status as an illegitimate child, Mariam often gets unfair

treatments from people around her. This novel also tells about Mariam’s life after

having married with Rasheed and after Laila, a girl who comes to their marriage

life, becomes Rasheed’s second wife.

There are two research questions in this research: (1) “How are Mariam’s

characteristics described in Hosseini’s A Thousand Splendid Suns?” and (2) “How

does Mariam struggle for her life as depicted in the novel?”

This research applies library research as the method to collect the data.

There are some kinds of sources in library research, namely primary and secondary

sources. The primary source of this research is A Thousand Splendid Suns novel by

Khaled Hosseini. The secondary sources are taken from theoretical books in a form

of printed or electronic book which are related with character, characterization,

struggle, motivation, and socio–historical of Afghanistan. The theories are used to

analyze the novel.

Based on the analysis, there are two results of this research. The first result

is Mariam’s characteristics. Mariam’s characteristics can be concluded as naive,

unconfident, religious, and tough. The second results concern the reasons why

Mariam struggle for her life. They are two factors that influence Mariam’s struggle:

a feeling of lack of affection from her father and the tortures that have been done

by her husband. It makes Mariam try to change the situation. She tries to find her

father’s house by herself, so she could feel her father’s love as her other step

brothers and sisters feel. Moreover, Mariam also tries to fight back against her

husband’s tortures which cause her to suffer physically and psychologically. The

peak of Mariam’s struggle to fight back against Rasheed’s bad behavior is when he

tortures people around him wildly. Mariam hits Rasheed with a shovel

spontaneously and kills him.

The researcher also provides some suggestions for future researchers who

are interested in analyzing A Thousand Splendid Suns by Khaled Hosseini. The

researcher also adds some suggestions for the lecturers who use literature work as

their source of learning materials. These suggestions can be adapted to make the

teaching and learning processes more effective.

Keywords: Struggle, characters, Mariam, Afghanistan, illegitimate


ix

ABSTRAK

Murti, Kirana Cinta (2018). Mariam’s Struggles for Her Life in Khaled Hosseini’s

A Thousand Splendid Suns. Yogyakarta: Program Studi Pendidikan Bahasa Inggris,

Universitas Sanata Dharma.

Penelitian ini menganalisis sebuah novel yang berjudul A Thousand

Splendid Suns karya Khaled Hosseini. Novel ini menceritakan tentang perjuangan

hidup seorang perempuan yang terlihat dalam kehidupan Mariam. Karena statusnya

sebagai anak haram, Mariam sering mendapatkan perlakuan yang tidak adil dari

orang-orang di sekitarnya. Novel ini juga menceritakan kehidupan Mariam setelah

menikah dengan Rasheed dan kehadiran Laila seorang gadis yang masuk dalam

kehidupan rumah tangga mereka dan menjadi istri kedua Rasheed.

Terdapat dua rumusan masalah di dalam penelitian ini: (1) “Bagaimana

karakter Mariam dideskripsikan dalam novel A Thousand Splendid Suns karya

Khaled Hosseini?” dan (2) Bagaimana perjuangan hidup Mariam yang tergambar

pada novel ?”

Penelitian ini menggunakan studi pustaka sebagai metode dalam

mengumpulkan data. Ada beberapa jenis sumber dalam studi pustaka, yaitu sumber

utama dan sumber pendukung. Sumber utama dalam penelitian ini adalah novel A

Thousand Splendid Suns karya Khaled Hosseini. Sumber kedua diambil dari buku-

buku teori baik dalam bentuk cetakan maupun elektronik yang berhubungan dengan

karakter, karakterisasi, perjuangan, motivasi, dan latar belakang sosial dan sejarah

dari Afghanistan. Teori-teori tersebut digunakan untuk menganalisis novel.

Berdasarkan analisis yang dilakukan, terdapat dua hasil dalam penelitian ini.

Hasil penelitian pertama adalah karakter Mariam. Karakter Mariam dapat

disimpulkan seperti berikut: naif, tidak percaya diri, religius, dan kuat. Hasil

penelitian kedua adalah alasan perjuangan hidup Mariam. Terdapat dua faktor yang

mempengaruhi perjuangan Mariam: perasaan kurang kasih sayang dari sang ayah

dan penyiksaan yang dilakukan oleh suaminya. Hal tersebut membuat Mariam

berusaha untuk mengubah keadaan. Mariam nekat mencari rumah ayahnya seorang

diri supaya dia bisa merasakan kasih sayang ayahnya seperti saudara-saudara

tirinya. Selain itu, Mariam juga berusaha untuk melawan suaminya setelah banyak

hal yang suaminya lakukan membuat Mariam tersiksa baik fisik maupun psikis.

Puncaknya terjadi ketika suaminya dengan kasar menyiksa dan membahayakan

nyawa orang-orang di sekitarnya, Mariam dengan spontan mengambil sekop dan

memukul suaminya hingga tewas.

Peneliti juga memberikan beberapa saran untuk para peneliti yang

dikemudian hari tertarik untuk menganalisis A Thousand Splendid Suns karya

Khaled Hosseini. Peneliti juga menambahkan beberapa saran untuk dosen yang

menggunakan karya sastra sebagai salah satu sumber bahan ajar mereka. Saran ini

dapat diadaptasi supaya proses belajar dan mengajar menjadi lebih efektif.

Keywords: Struggle, characters, Mariam, Afghanistan, illegitimate


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ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

First of all, I praise and thank Jesus Christ for all of His endless and

abundant love and also His blessing in my life. I thank Him for always staying by

my side in every darkest part in my life and listening to my prayers. I also thank

Him for His guidance in my study, so that I could finish this thesis on time.

My deepest gratitude to Drs. L. Bambang Hendarto Yuliwarsono,

M.Hum for his patience, advices, and guidance in the process of writing and

finishing this thesis. Then, my gratitude also goes to Drs. Y.B Gunawan, M.A as

my academic advisor for always inspiring me with his kindness and patience in

teaching his students. My gratitude goes to all PBI lecturers and staff for their

guidance during my study in Sanata Dharma University.

My greatest gratitude, is dedicated to my beloved family, especially my

wonderful father and mother, Murdiyono and Dra. Herawati Sitiana

Widyaningrum for always loving, caring, praying, and supporting me in any

situations of my life. I would also like to thank my beloved brother Ndaru

Khesawa Murti for his encouragements and helps in during study. My best

gratitude is dedicated for Martasaliya’s family and Atmo Prawira’s family for

their abundant love and also care during my study in Yogyakarta.

My greatest appreciation also goes to my bestfriends in PBI: Inge Bertha,

Monica Adista, Carolina Yuni, and Marcellus Gregorius, I thank them for

laughs, tears, dramas, and loves for the past five years I have experienced. I also

thank Evan Sanjaya, Robert Dasa, Kefas Zebua, Riesna Nur, Roswita Putri,


xi

Alberik Ryan, Alfonsus A. Reinhard, Helena Vita, Irene Melati and all my

classmates in PBI A for their help during my study process in PBI. My biggest

gratitude goes to Guru Sekolah Minggu GKI Gejayan, Peacock “SPD” Team,

Kelas Sabtu Team and EEPro for the new things I have been learned.

My special gratitude goes to my beloved one Christoforus Sigit

Bramaditya for his patience for accompany me during writing this thesis, and also

for being there during my ups and downs. My biggest gratitude is also addressed to

Silvia Tiara, S. Pd., Gracia Vica, S. Pd., Pramesthi Dewi, S.S., Lisanti Nur

Raharja S. Pd., and Ratna Sheina S. Pd. for their help to proofread my thesis.

Last, I would like to thank those people that cannot be mentioned here one

by one for loving, caring, and helping during my study in the university life. May

God bless them all with abundant love.

Kirana Cinta Murti


xii

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Page

TITLE PAGE ............................................................................................... i

APPROVAL PAGES .................................................................................... ii

DEDICATION PAGE................................................................................... iv

STATEMENT OF WORK’S ORIGINALITY .............................................. vi

PERNYATAAN PERSETUJUAN PUBLIKASI ............................................... vii

ABSTRACT ................................................................................................. viii

ABSTRAK ..................................................................................................... ix

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS .......................................................................... x

TABLE OF CONTENTS .............................................................................. xii

LIST OF FIGURES ...................................................................................... xv

LIST OF APPENDICES ............................................................................... xvi

CHAPTER I. INTRODUCTION .................................................................. 1

1.1 Background of Study ....................................................................... 1

1.2 Research Problems .......................................................................... 3

1.3 Significance of the Study ................................................................. 3

1.4 Definition of Terms ......................................................................... 4

1.4.1 Struggle ........................................................................................ 4

1.4.2 Character ...................................................................................... 4

1.4.3 Patriarchy...................................................................................... 5

1.4.4 Afghanistan................................................................................... 5

CHAPTER II. REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE .............................. 6

2.1 Review of Related Studies ............................................................... 6

2.2 Review of Related Theories ............................................................. 9

2.2.1 Critical Approach .......................................................................... 9

2.2.2 Character and Characterization ..................................................... 10


xiii

2.2.2.1 Personal description.................................................................... 11

2.2.2.2 Character as seen by another ....................................................... 11

2.2.2.3 Speech ........................................................................................ 11

2.2.2.4 Past Life ..................................................................................... 12

2.2.2.5 Conversation of others ................................................................ 12

2.2.2.6 Reactions .................................................................................... 12

2.2.2.7 Direct Comment ......................................................................... 12

2.2.2.8 Thoughts .................................................................................... 12

2.2.2.9 Mannerism ................................................................................. 13

2.2.3 Motivation .................................................................................... 13

2.2.4 Struggle of Life ............................................................................. 15

2.2.5 Socio-Historical Background of Afghanistan ................................ 15

2.2.5.1 The Role of Afghan Women ....................................................... 16

2.2.5.2 Taliban Regime .......................................................................... 18

2.3 Theoretical Framework ................................................................... 20

CHAPTER III. METHODOLOGY ............................................................... 22

3.1 Object of the Study .......................................................................... 22

3.2 Approaches of the Study ................................................................. 23

CHAPTER IV. ANALYSIS .......................................................................... 24

4.1 The Characteristics of Mariam......................................................... 24

4.1.1 Naive ............................................................................................ 25

4.1.2 Religious....................................................................................... 28

4.1.3 Unconfident .................................................................................. 30

4.1.4 Tough ........................................................................................... 32

4.2 Mariam Struggle for Her Life .......................................................... 34

4.2.1 Mariam’s Life Background ........................................................... 35

4.2.2 Mariam’s Struggles to Face Her Life ............................................. 40

4.2.2.1 Going to Herat to Meet Her Father ............................................. 41

4.2.2.2 Fighting Against Rasheed’s Bad Behavior .................................. 44


xiv

CHAPTER V. CONCLUSIONS, IMPLICATIONS, AND SUGGESTIONS . 48

5.1 Conclusions ...................................................................................... 48

5.2 Implications ..................................................................................... 50

5.3 Suggestion........................................................................................ 51

REFERENCES ............................................................................................. 52

APPENDICES .............................................................................................. 54


xv

LIST OF FIGURES

Figure Page

2.1 Maslow’s hierarchy of needs .................................................................. 14


xvi

LIST OF APPENDICES

Appendix Page

1. Summary of A Thousand Splendid Suns ................................................ 53

2. Biography of Khaled Hosseini ............................................................... 56


1

CHAPTER I

INTRODUCTION

This chapter is divided into four sections. The first section discusses

research background. It provides related background information to the issues. The

second section discusses research problems that contain questions to be answered

in the study. The third section discusses research significance. It identifies the

contribution of the study. Finally, the fourth section is definition of terms which

specifically defines keywords or phrases used in the study.

1.1 Background of Study

Many people attempt to explain what literature is in different ways. Klaler

(2004) says that works of literature are produced by the author’s imagination. It is

because literature product is not just telling about life experiences. According to

Abrams (1981), literature is also an imitation or reflection of the world and human’s

life. It can be seen as a portrait of human’s life, experience, and life value.

Therefore, literature can influence people emotionally.

Novel as one of literature works is used to share many things. Novel is a

branch of literature that invites people to read, to feel, and then to be involved in it.

Novel becomes something good for people to read because it represents the reality

of life. It also shares many issues that happen in human life, such as feminism,

politics, ethnics, and humanism. As novel represents human life experience which


2

the readers may identify them as their own, the readers can feel the emotion which

appears in the story.

In a novel, some elements support the story line. The elements make the

story line stronger and real. These can help the readers to understand more about

what the author wants to share. Abrams and Harpham (2012) explain that novel is

one of some products from literature that contains some elements. They are

character, conflict, plot and symbol (p. 252). Based on some elements above, the

readers’ feeling and emotion are touched as they are reading a novel.

The object of this research is a novel written by Khaled Hosseini entitled A

Thousand Splendid Suns. The novel shows the struggle of a woman in Afghanistan

named Mariam, to liberate herself from her husband. Mariam’s struggle for her life

is a reflection of woman’s struggle for her freedom from the family rejection of her

and the abuses by her husband after she experiences a miscarriage. This novel also

represents other life values such as why people need to survive in this world.

The researcher chooses this novel as the object of the study because of two

reasons. The first is because this novel presents a real description about women who

live in a country which applies a patriarchy law as the rule. In patriarchy system,

man’s position is higher than woman’s position. Therefore, the woman in there gets

unfair treatment from the society. The second is because the story of the novel may

also happen in a real life and that makes the researcher is more aware about

women’s issues. Nowadays, women’s issues become trendings in some countries.

Women start to fight for their rights, such as the rights for giving opinions, having

better education, and having equal treatments with men.


3

1.2 Research Problems

In analyzing the novel, there are some problems formulated by the

researcher. There are two research problems based on the topic of the research.

They are:

1. How are Mariam’s characteristics described in Hosseini’s A Thousand

Splendid suns?

2. How does Mariam struggle for her life as depicted in the novel?

1.3 Significance of the Study

There are some significances from this study which are expected to give

some benefits to the researcher, the readers in general, and the future researchers

who have the same concern in women’s struggle in their life especially in

Afghanistan. The significances are explained as follows.

The first significance of the study is for the researcher. From this study, the

researcher can improve the understanding and knowledge of women’s struggle in

their life especially in Afghanistan. This study gives understanding about Mariam’s

struggle in her life and things that motivate her to fight for her life.

The second significance of the study is for the readers. This study is

expected to help the readers to understand the novel and improve the readers’

knowledge about culture in Afghanistan. Through this study, the readers can open

their mind about men’s and women’s issues when they struggle to survive in their

life.


4

The third significance of the study is for the future researchers. This study

can be used as a source and reference to help the future researcher to write a research

about women’s issues especially in their struggle in life. Besides, it aims to raise

people’s awareness of women’s issues happening in their life.

1.4 Definition of Terms

Based on the title of the research, this section will define some specific

keywords or phrases that are used in this study in order to clarify concepts and avoid

misinterpretation. Therefore, the readers can have an aid to understand this research

further.

1.4.1 Struggle

Struggle refers to every effort that people face to solve their life. McKechnie

(1987) states that struggle is an effort given to finish something or something that

must be achieved (p. 367). In this research, struggle means fighting against

unfairness because of the major character named Mariam has some problems during

her life. Since she was young she was rejected by her father’s family. Not only that,

when she grows up she also faces her marriage problems with Rasheed. She

struggles to survive and solve her problems.

1.4.2 Character

Character is a major part in a literary work. Character has a function to

present the story lively. Usually, a character in a novel is a human with his or her

life problems. According to Kennedy and Gioia (2010), character is a human

being’s imagination created in a story. Character, especially in a novel, can be


5

described through dialogues, times, and places; so that the readers can understand

the character through their feelings, motives, and intentions (p. 77).

1.4.3 Patriarchy

Patriarchy is a system in which the man becomes the head in the family.

According to Milett, the man also becomes the person who has the highest position

in ruling others. However, patriarchy is not only about a system inside of the family,

but it is also a system that makes men’s position higher than women’s position in

the family (as cited in Eisenstein, 1983, p. 5)

1.4.4 Afghanistan

Afghanistan or officially Islamic Republic of Afghanistan is an Islamic

country which is located in the continent of Asia, within South Asia and Central

Asia (United States, 2018, retrieved on March 16, 2018, from

http://www.un.org/en/member-states/). The area of Afghanistan’s territory is

652,864 km2. Afghanistan is bordered by Pakistan in the south and east, and Iran in

the west. The capital city of Afghanistan is Kabul. The population of Afghanistan

is approximately close to 31.6 million. Afghanistan is a heterogeneous country,

there are four major ethnics: Tajiks, Hazaras, Pasthun, and Uzbeks. The daily

language that used by people is Afghani. Nowadays, the government is under

president Ghani. He replaced Hamid Karzai. Hamid Karzai is the leader of

Afghanistan in Taliban era. President Ghani was inaugurated after Taliban’s era

collapsed by opposition in 2001.


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CHAPTER II

REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE

This chapter is divided into four major parts. The first part is review of

related studies. This part presents the previous studies that used in the similar novel.

The second part is review of related theories. This part mainly provides some

theories that are related to the research. The third part is about the socio-historical

background. It reviews a historical condition in Afghanistan, including the history

of Afghanistan and the influence of Afghanistan society’s tradition to the people

living in Afghanistan during the period. The last part is the theoretical framework.

The theoretical framework explains how the theories are used in analyzing the

problems in this study.

2.1 Review of Related Studies

There are some students from Sanata Dharma University who had

conducted studies on Hosseini’s A Thousand Splendid Suns. Some of them are A

Study of Friendship between Mariam and Laila in Khaled Hosseini’s A Thousand

Splendid Suns by Adhisti (2010); Rasheed Aggression over His Wives in Khaled

Hosseini A Thousand Splendid Suns by Pangarsa (2010); and Family Abuse as

Reflected in the Character of Rasheed in Khaled Hosseini A Thousand Splendid

Suns by Mulyo (2013).

The first study was from a student of English Language Education Study

Program namely Adhisti (2010). The study was entitled A Study of Friendship


7

between Mariam and Laila in Khaled Hosseini’s A Thousand Splendid Suns. It

discussed two problems. First, it was about the kind of friendship developed by

Mariam and Laila. Adisthi (2010) found that the friendship they built was based on

goodness. They shared feeling through their understanding of one another. They

were also good to one another. Mariam and Laila always helped each other

unconditionally. Second, it was about why they maintained their friendship. Adisthi

(2010) found two big causes why Mariam and Laila maintained their friendship.

The first was their family conflicts and the second was the background of socio-

historical of Afghanistan. This study used library research with two sources of data,

namely the main source and secondary source. This study used the psychological

approach, the socio-historical approach, and the feminist approach because the

study dealt with the friendship between two characters, Mariam and Laila. Both of

the characters were related to the psychological concepts, socio-historical

background, and feminism.

The second was entitled Rasheed’s Aggression over His Wives in Khaled

Hosseini’s A Thousand Splendid Suns by Pangarsa (2010). This study analyzed

Rasheed’s aggression as the central attention and intended to reveal what possibility

could generate his cruel behavior toward his wives. It discussed two problems. The

first was about Rasheed’s aggressive behaviors over his wives. In this main point,

Pangarsa (2010) found that Rasheed aggressed against his wife both psychological

and physically. It could be seen by his behaviors. The psychological aggressions

were done by keeping silent toward his wife and by responding to Mariam’s

questions with sarcastic replies and harsh tone. The second was about the reasons


8

of Rasheed’s aggression over his wives described in the novel. Pangarsa (2010)

found that the reason why Rasheed did aggression over his wives was socio-

historical background. In Afghanistan, male domination was in every aspect,

especially in the marriage system and this situation provided the environment for

man to push down the woman as a wife. In solving both of the problems, the

researcher applied psychological approach. The researcher also used theory of

aggression for the kind of aggressions that Rasheed committed on his wives.

The third study was conducted by Mulyo (2013) entitled Family Abuse as

Reflected in the Character of Rasheed in Khaled Hosseini A Thousand Splendid

Suns. This study discussed about a family abuse which happened in Rasheed’s

family. In the beginning of their marriage, they lived happily, but after several

times, Rasheed started abusing. Based on the background, this study had several

problems to discuss. They were about how Rasheed was described in the novel and

how Rasheed abused the members of his family. From several problems above,

Mulyo (2013) found several main points. First, it was Rasheed’s characteristics.

Rasheed’s characteristics were described as selfish, dishonest, and rough. Second,

it was about Rasheed’s family. His family was an extended type of family. Based

on the power of the family, Rasheed’s family was patriarchal family because

Rasheed took control of his wives and children. The method applied in this study

was library study and the researcher used theory of character and characterization,

theory of family, theory of abusement, and socio-historical background of

Afghanistan.


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Meanwhile, this study is different with the previous studies above. This

study focuses on discussing about Mariam’s struggles of life. In this study, the

researcher analyzes Mariam’s struggles to face her marriage problems. Mariam

struggles to search for her freedom from Rasheed’s pressure in her marriage life.

Furthermore, this study emphasizes Afghanistan women’s struggle in their life.

2.2 Review of Related Theories

This part consists of five theories used in this research. The theories help

the researcher to analyze the research problems. The theories are theory of critical

approach, theory of character and characterization, theory of motivation, theory of

struggle of life, and socio-historical approach.

2.2.1 Critical Approach

People apply an approach or approaches depending on what they focused

on to discuss literary works. Rohrberger and Woods (1971) explain that there are

five approaches that can be implemented in the study of literature.

The first is formalist approach. This approach focuses on the literary itself.

All of the focusing elements necessary to the work are connected to the work itself.

The items in the formalist approach are aesthetics parts, such as tone, imagery,

structure, and many else. The second is biographical approach. This approach

focuses on the author’s personal life to analyze his writing. The third is socio-

historical approach. This approach focuses on culture, socio-historical, and ethnic

as the background of study. The fourth is mythopoeic approach. This approach

regards to study on some points such as myth, history, and religion. It studies how


10

human sees religion symbol and nature warning. The last is psychological approach.

This approach studies about humans and their characteristics (p. 5).

In conducting this study, the psychological and socio-historical approaches

were applied to answer the research problems. Applying the psychological

approach helped the researcher got a better understanding about human behavior

and characteristics. According to Rohrberger and Woods (1971), psychological

approach talks about behavior and characteristics of human (pp. 13-15). Applying

this approach, the researcher got a better understanding about the reasons and

motivations behind the actions of Mariam’s. This approach also assisted the

researcher to dig more about the main character’s problems in the novel. Rohrberger

and Woods also state that the socio-historical approach gave a guidance to the

researcher in analyzing the events explained in the novel based on historical facts

(p. 17).

2.2.2 Character and Characterization

There are many elements represented in a literary work, such as theme, plot,

setting, and character. Each element has its own important role in a literary work.

For example, the element of character that the author uses to present his or her idea

are seen from the dialogues or the actions. Abrams (1981) defines character as a

person who is represented in a dramatic or narrative work and is interpreted by the

reader with moral and dispositional qualities that is expressed in what they say and

do in the story (p. 24). Every character brings some interests, desires, emotions and

moral effects that build them in a story. Based on Abrams (1981), there are two

kinds of character in literature. They are major character and secondary character.


11

Major character is defined as a character that is central to the development and

resolution of the story’s conflict. On other hand, secondary character is a character

that is not nearly as interesting as the major characters (p. 27).

According to Murphy (1986), characterization is the way of the author to

explain about the character personalities in the story to the readers (p. 161). Murphy

also states that there are nine ways to explain and convey about character

personalities (pp. 161-173). The characterizations are explained as follows.

2.2.2.1 Personal description

The author can describe a person’s characteristics based on their appearance

and clothing. By looking at the character’s appearance and clothing, the readers can

understand the details of the character (pp. 161-162).

2.2.2.2 Character as seen by another

The author describes the character based on other characters’ opinion. By knowing

another opinion about the character, the readers will get a reflected image itself (p.

162).

2.2.2.3 Speech

Different with another part, in this part, the author describes about the

character by giving the readers an insight into the character in the novel through

what the person says. Whenever the person speaks in a conversation with other

people, and whenever the person puts forward the opinion, he or she is giving the

readers some clues to his or her characteristics (p. 164).


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2.2.2.4 Past Life

The author describes characters in the story by guiding the readers to find

some moments or events in the past and giving the readers some clues by direct

comment, through the person conversation, and through the medium of another

person that help to shape a person’s characteristics (p. 166).

2.2.2.5 Conversation of others

The author shows a person’s characteristics by showing a conversation

between the characters or dialogue of other characters. The clue about the person’s

characteristics through the conversation is based on what other characters say about

the person (pp. 167-168).

2.2.2.6 Reactions

This method explains the characters’ characterization by looking at their

reaction when they are facing some situations in their life. The readers get a clue

from the author to know the character’s characterization by analyzing the way of

the character reacts to the various situations. Based on the characters’ reaction to

the various situations, the readers may conclude the kind of character (pp. 168-170).

2.2.2.7 Direct Comment

The author explains or gives comment on the character directly. The author

usually explains about physical appearance or psychological of the character’s.

Direct comment is easy to analyze the kind of character he or she (pp. 170-171).

2.2.2.8 Thoughts

The author gives the readers clues about a character by showing the

character’s way of thinking. From the character’s way of thinking, the readers can


13

understand about character’s characterization. Every character has his or her own

way of thinking (pp. 171-172).

2.2.2.9 Mannerism

The author shows a person’s characterization in the story by describing the

character’s manners, behaviors and habits. For understanding the character’s

characterization, the readers may be able to find information about the character’s

manners, behaviors, and habits. Thus, they can conclude the characterization of the

character (p. 173).

2.2.3 Motivation

Motivation can influence human’s behavior. According to Maslow (1981)

“human motivation theory explains about motivation that leads people to struggle

to reach a human potential as the base of human motivation. Humans have different

motivation of one and each other between their goals” (as cited in Petri, pp. 302-

304). Maslow proposes a theory of human motivation called Hierarchy of Needs. It

is represented by a diagram like a pyramid that consists of five levels. They are

physiological needs, safety needs, love needs, esteem needs, and self-actualization.

In this pyramid, the needs must be fulfilled one by one from the lowest stage to the

highest stage. If one of the stages is not fulfilled, the other stages cannot be

advanced. Thus, people struggle to fulfill the needs in order to reach their goals in

life. Maslow also states that people have their own satisfaction, although it depends

on how they fulfill their needs (p. 308). Therefore, they do some actions and efforts

to satisfy their needs.


14

Figure 2.1 Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs

Source: https://www.simplypsychology.org/maslow.html

Physiological needs are the basic needs in Maslow’s pyramid of human

motivation. These are primary human needs; when these needs cannot be fulfilled,

our body would react, such as sickness, pain, and discomfort (p. 302).

Safety needs are the second primary human needs. These include personal

security, financial security, safety from illness, and many else. Maslow states that

insurance, secure jobs, and work secure are included to human safety needs (p. 303).

The next are love needs. Based on Maslow’s theory, love needs are one of

the needs which tell about emotionally-based human relationship; they are

friendship and intimacy. Maslow also explains that human needs to feel loved by

others and accepted by others (p. 303).

After love needs are fulfilled, esteem needs are the next that must be fulfilled

by human. Esteem needs are kind of needs to be respected and valued by others.

The esteem needs are divided into two parts, they are high esteem needs and low

esteem needs (pp. 303-304).


https://www.simplypsychology.org/maslow.html

15

The last are concern needs for self-actualization. In Maslow’s pyramid of

human motivations, self-actualization is the highest level of human needs. These

needs have a correlation with individual’s life which is no longer motivated with

deficiencies (pp. 304-305).

2.2.4 Struggle of Life

Life is not always about happiness. Sometimes, problems come up in our

daily life, either very easy or very complicated. People make some efforts to find

ways to solve their problems. Braun, Linder, and Asimov (1979) say that every

person has problems in his or her life without exception. For every person who has

experienced some life events in his or her lifetime, he or she would usually get a

behavior disorder (pp. 478-480). The examples of life problems are divorce, death

of family member or close friends, economic problems, and etc.

In a confined situation, people have to struggle to escape from it. Weiner

(1980) says that human uses strategies to overcome the life problems (p. 250).

People try to apply the best strategies to reach their goals. The effort to reach their

goals is called as struggle. People realize that they have to struggle for their life,

because struggle is very important for them to survive in their own life.

Furthermore, struggle is important to solve life problems and to reach life goals.

2.2.5 Socio-Historical Background of Afghanistan

It is very important to know the socio-historical background of Afghanistan.

It is because the setting of A Thousand Splendid Suns is in Afghanistan. Afghanistan

is one of the Muslim countries in South Central Asia. Kabul, Kandahar, and Herat

are the largest cities in Afghanistan. There are five ethnic groups in Afghanistan,


16

such as: Tajiks, Pasthun, Uzbeks, Turkmen, and Hazaras Persian (United States,

2018, retrieved on March 16, 2018, from http://www.un.org/en/member-states/).

Saikal and Maley (1991) say that from those five big ethnic groups, Pasthun is the

biggest ethnic group in Afghanistan (p. 66).

Afghanistan or officially Islamic Republic of Afghanistan is one of Islamic

countries in the world which has strong traditions. Afghanistan is located in South

Asia and Central Asia, bordered by Pakistan in the South and East and Iran in the

West. The area of Afghanistan’s territory is 652.000 km2. It shows that the

population of Afghanistan is approximately 31.6 million (United States, 2018,

retrieved on March 16, 2018, from http://www.un.org/en/member-states/).

In Afghanistan, women’s right is a strong issue. Women there live under the

pressure of men. They cannot do what they want to do. This situation is caused by

the patriarchal gender system and social relation that influence their life

communities.

2.2.5.1 The Role of Afghan Women

Based on the traditional culture in Afghanistan, Afghan women and men

have different roles in society. Ember and Embers (2001) state:

Male and female roles are strongly differentiated. The public sphere is the

domain of men, the domestic one real of women. Women take care of young

children, cook for the household, and clean the house (p. 7).

From the statement, it means that women are meant to be housewives who

focus on housework. Ember and Embers (2001) also state that Afghan women are

not allowed to be involved in public activities and to give opinions or decisions.


17

However, women have a big responsibility when their male relatives go to war.

Women have a task which is to protect the house and children.

Women have never participated publicly in decision making processes.

They are admonished to be modest and obey the orders of their fathers,

brother, and husbands. Nevertheless, as guardians of family honor, women

have more power. Nomadic and peasant women play and important role in

the domestic economy and are not secluded in the same way as many urban

women (Ember and Embers, 2001, p. 7).

It is clear that women who live in rural and urban areas have different roles.

However, Afghan women in rural and urban areas live under the patriarchal system

because they are controlled by the men. Men have an absolute authority toward

their family members.

Merrill, Paxson, and Tobey (2006) state that in the past the Afghan families

were endogamous. It was because they were permitted to practice parallel and cross-

cousin marriage. It was also because the highest authority was owned by the male.

Another reason was that patrilineal and patriotic cause the inheritance would be

inherited through the male and made the wife moved into the husband’s place after

the marriage (p. 7). They also state that until today Afghan women are the property

for their family because they cannot go without any permission.

A woman belongs to her family and should not be available, in any sense,

to outsiders. The male has the right to make decision that control female

behavior and it is done to preserve male prestige and family honor.

Women’s independence is not encouraged and the families’ social standing

may suffer if the women do not remain dependent and sub massive to her

husband’s rules (Merrill, Paxson, and Tobey, 2006, pp. 7-8).

Afghan women have lots of limitations in their lives. They are meant to hold

the family’s dignity in order to not ruin her own family’s name. Women are also

asked to obey all of the husband’s rules and to lean upon them.


18

Women are able to gain their right to be equal with men in pursuing

education and job after King Amanullah’s first movement towards the Afghan

women’s independency. According to Ember and Embers (2001), women who

lived in urban area had more freedom to seek their rights because between 1919 and

1929, King Amanullah succeeded in promoting female empowerment. During King

Amanullah’s period, many schools, universities, and work places were opened

widely for women. It continued during the Communist government. Many women

who lived in the urban area started to study in many universities (p. 7).

However, the condition about women’s freedom now is different with the

past time. Dupree states women’s freedom was not freely given by the religious

conservative group. Many groups protested toward unveiled woman students in

short skirt at Kabul universities. People threw acid to them. After it happened, urban

women responded it by regrouping as one group to build the anti-government

protests in 1970’s (as cited in Barakat and Wardell, 2011, p. 11).

2.2.5.2 Taliban Regime

Akthar (2008) states that some Pasthun people who declared themselves as

“holy fighter” formed a new group called “Taliban” in the middle of 1990s (p. 56).

Gunderson (2004) states that the Taliban members were the students of Islamic

school or commonly known as Madrassa. Their main goal was to purify their

country to be a pure Islamic nation (p. 35). They made strict laws which were the

combination of “Sharia” and “Pasthunwali”. The Taliban members used their own

conservative ideology and attitude in interrupting the two laws. As a result, their


19

effort created a new law that restrained the freedom for women and men in their

lives (p. 8).

The education of girls a jurisprudential ruling (Fatwa) that would fix its path

and limits. As for women, working outside the house the next concerning

that is clear and the matter is incontrovertible. The issue requires no further

discussion and we have nothing to do but obey (Crew and Tarzi, 2009, p.

141).

The Taliban closed all of the educational places for women because women

were not allowed to educate themselves. It was because there were no verse in

Koran which showed that women were allowed to educate themselves. The Afghan

people noticed that the Taliban were not educated properly. They also knew that

the Taliban were not able to read and write. The Taliban also did not have any

knowledge about other discipline instead of Koran. The reality about the Taliban in

education skills also made many harms to the Afghan people.

The Taliban were able to control Afghanistan by using a system named

“shadow government”. According to the Atlantic Council, it was a parallel political

power structure which could be associated with the official government apparatus.

The Taliban had a total of 60.000-70.000 members that were set to fight (as cited

in Nijseen, 2011, p. 1). By having thousands of armies, the Taliban used their power

to control Afghanistan government.

Nowadays, Afghanistan is under president Ghani’s control. He was

inaugurated after Taliban’s era collapsed. President Ghani replaced Hamid Karzai

to control Afghanistan’s government. Hamid Karzai is the leader of Taliban which

led Afghanistan for twelve years. Officially, President Ghani was elected as

Afghanistan’s president in September 2014.


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2.3 Theoretical Framework

The researcher applies two approaches in this research. They are

psychological approach and socio-historical approach. The approaches are used to

answer the problems which are formulated. Psychological approach is used in this

research to get a better understanding about Mariam’s motivation to struggle and

the reasons behind her actions. Psychological approach also helps the researcher to

reveal Mariam’s characteristics and personality. Whereas, applying socio-historical

approach in this research helps the researcher to get a better understanding about

Afghanistan’s culture that influences Mariam’s way of thinking and how she

survives with her life. This research also uses some theories to support the analysis

such as theory of character and characterization, theory of motivation, theory of

struggle, and socio-historical background of Afghanistan.

Theory of character and characterization is used to answer the first research

problem. The theory helps the researcher to analyze the characteristics of the main

character namely Mariam. In this research, the researcher uses the theory of

character and characterization from Abrams (1981) and Murphy (1986).

Theory of motivation is used to answer the second research problem. This

theory helps the researcher to know Mariam’s motivation and also her reasons

behind her actions to struggle for her life. The researcher uses the theory of

motivation from Maslow (1981). The other theory which is used to answer the

second research problem is theory of struggle. This theory gives information about

the definition of struggle and the reasons of human struggle. The researcher uses

the theory of struggle from Weiner (1980) and Braun, Linder, Asimov (1979). As


21

Mariam’s life is also influenced by the environment, the researcher adds the socio-

historical background of Afghanistan to support the analysis of second research

problem.


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CHAPTER III

METHODOLOGY

This chapter presents the methodology applied in analyzing Hosseini’s A

Thousand Splendid Suns. There are two parts in this chapter. They are object of the

study and approach of the study. The object of the study describes the novel and

some sources that support the study. Meanwhile, the approach of the study

describes the approach that is applied in the analysis.

3.1 Object of the Study

The object of the study is a novel entitled A Thousand Splendid Suns. This

novel was written by Khaled Hosseini, an Afghanistan writer who lives in United

States of America. He was born in Kabul, 4th March 1965. Before becoming a

writer, Hosseini was graduated from faculty of medicine. He wrote some popular

novels like The Kite Runner, The Mountain Echoed, and A Thousand Splendid Suns.

A Thousand Splendid Suns consists of 418 pages in 3 parts in 51 chapters. It was

published in 2007 by the Penguins Group. This research used the paperback edition

published in December 2008.

The story of the novel sets in Afghanistan in 20th until 21th centuries. This

novel tells about Mariam, an illegitimate child. Mariam lives in kolba on the suburb

of Herat with her mother, Nana. Jalil, her father, is a wealthy businessman and lives

in the town with three wives and nine children. Mariam is his illegitimate daughter,

and she is prohibited to live with them.


23

The story of Mariam in this novel attracts Columbia Pictures’ attention and it is

going to be cinematized soon. Steven Zaillin, as the scenario writer, said that Scoot

Rudin will become the producer in this movie. Columbia does not give detailed

explanation about the production timeline.

3.2 Approaches of the Study

In order to reveal Mariam’s struggles to get abundant love from people

around her and also liberate herself from her husband’s torture, this research applies

two approaches: psychological approach and socio-historical approach. The

psychological approach is applied because it focuses on the psychological pattern

of human and also used to identify human characteristic, personality, and behavior.

In this research, psychological approach helps the researcher to analyze Mariam’s

characteristics and personality and also to get a deeper understanding of Mariam’s

struggles for her life. The socio-historical approach is applied in this research

because it focuses on culture, ethnic, and historical background. This novel has a

story line with cultural background influenced by the regime which has power in

Afghanistan on 20th and 21th centuries. It also effects on Mariam’s life, the way

Mariam interacts and how Mariam survives with her life. This approach is applied

to see whether the socio-historical background of Afghanistan influences the

struggle of Mariam or not.


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CHAPTER IV

ANALYSIS

This part consists of the analysis of the story. It is aims to answer the

questions that are stated in the research problems. The analysis of the story is

divided into two parts. The first part is the analysis of Mariam’s characteristics as

found in the novel A Thousand Splendid Suns. Then, the second part of this chapter

analyses Mariam’s struggles for her life.

4.1 The Characteristics of Mariam

This section analyses Mariam’s characteristics described in Hosseini’s A

Thousand Splendid Suns. Mariam is Rasheed’s first wife. According to Henkle’s

theory (1977), Mariam is a major character. Mariam dominates the whole story in

the novel. Mariam is described in every chapter of the novel from the beginning

until the end of the story. Henkle (1977) says that major character is a character

who has the biggest attention from the readers (p. 92).

In the novel, Hosseini tries to make Mariam look as a tough woman.

Hosseini tries to show that fact by showing some signs in every chapter. According

to Murphy (1986) there are ways to learn about character’s characterization by some

signs. Murphy’s theory presents nine ways to describe the character. There are

personal description, character as seen by another, speech, past life, conversation of

others, reaction, direct comment, thoughts, and mannerism. The ways explained


25

before described by Murphy in his theory of Characters and Characterization helps

the researcher to find Mariam’s characters.

4.1.1 Naive

Mariam is a naive person. Naive here means Mariam believes in whatever

people say, without ensuring about the truth. Jalil always visits Mariam in Gul

Daman every Thursday. He tells Mariam about Herat and everything in the city.

Jalil tells Mariam the story about Queen Gauhar Shad. He also describes the green

wheat field in Herat. One day, Jalil tells Mariam about Pistachio tree. He says that

he had visited that place once with Mariam when she was a kid. The novel describes

that Mariam does not remember that moment, but she still believes everything Jalil

says to her. Mariam’s naive characteristic can be seen by her way of thinking in a

quotation below:

“It was true. Mariam didn’t remember. And though she would live the first

fifteen years of her life within walking distance of Herat, Mariam would

never see this storeid tree. She would never see the famous minarets up

close. And she would never pick fruit from Herat’s orchards or stroll in its

fields of wheat. But whenever Jalil talked like this, Mariam would listen

with enchantment. She would admire Jalil for his vast and worldly

knowledge. She would quiver with pride to have a father who knew such

things.” (p. 5).

The quotation above is a sample of evidence that Mariam is a naive person.

It shows Mariam’s way of thinking by believing in Jalil’s story about Herat,

Pistachio tree and their trip around Herat although Mariam never remembers that.

Based on Murphy’s theory of characterization (1972), the quotation above describes

Mariam’s naive characterization based on her way of thinking. The explanation

about Mariam’s naive characterization is supported by another evidence found by

the researcher in the novel. The evidence is a conversation between Nana and


26

Mariam when Jalil leaves them after visiting their kolba. Nana, Mariam’s mother,

convinces Mariam that Jalil is a liar with all things that are done by him towards

Nana and Mariam.

“What rich lies!” Nana said after Jalil left. “Rich man telling rich lies. He

never took you to any tree. And don’t let him charm you. He betrayed us,

your beloved father. He cast us out, he cast us out of his big fancy house

like we were nothing to him. He did it happily.” (p. 5).

Nana tries to make Mariam believe that Jalil is a liar but Mariam still does

not believe what her mother says about Jalil. Mariam never believes Nana and

everything that Nana says to her, Mariam always ignores it. In Mariam’s point of

view, Nana is the true liar not Jalil. “Mariam would not listen dutifully to this. She

never darred say to Nana how much she dislikes her talking this way about Jalil”

(p. 5). Mariam tries to ignore what her mother says to her. She chooses to believe

her father. Mariam admires Jalil as a man who knows everything in the world.

Whereas, Mariam does not know the truth of the story that Jalil tells her. Mariam

never proves it directly because she lives in Gul Daman. It is located on a hill, in a

small city and it is so far away from Herat. The access from Gul Daman to Herat is

very difficult. Mariam should cross a river and pass through the rocky road to go to

Herat. This condition makes Mariam and Nana become isolated from the outside.

Another evidence that supports Mariam as a naive woman is her

conversation between Nana and her. It is about Nana’s condition when she is

pregnant and her experience when she brings forth Mariam, also her struggle to cut

the line that connects between Mariam and her.

“When the pain got bad, I’d bite on a pillow and scream into it until I was

hoarse. And still no one came to wipe my face or give me a drink of water.

And you, Mariam Jo, you were in no rush. Almost two days you made me


27

lie on cold, hard floor. I didn’t eat or sleep, all I did was push and pray that

you would come out.

“I’m sorry, Nana.”

“I cut the cord between us myself. That’s why I had a knife.”

“I’m sorry,” (p. 11)

A conversation between Nana and Mariam above tells about Mariam’s

process of birth which makes Nana feel so tortured. Nana says that she should sleep

on the floor without a mattress for layering her body from the cold weather. Nana

also says that she tries so hard to cut the umbilical cord between her and Mariam

with a knife which is prepared before. Knowing her mother struggles when she

gives birth without another help, Mariam feels guilty and sad. She always feels that

her mother has been in a hard situation because of her. Mariam directly believes all

Nana’s story about her process of pregnancy until giving birth. Actually, the truth

is Mariam was born in a hospital with the help of a good doctor with good facilities.

Jalil comes to the hospital to check Nana and Mariam’s condition at that time. There

is no chance for Jalil to explain what actually happens to Mariam about her process

of birth. Mariam believes Nana more than her father as her mother takes care of

Mariam since her childhood.

Based on the evidences above, Mariam’s naive character can be seen in two

ways. They are shown by thought and conversation of others. Hosseini tries to

explain Mariam’s naive character by showing her way of thinking about Jalil and

his story about Herat. Not only that, Hosseini also uses conversation between

Mariam and her mother to describe the characterization of Mariam.


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4.1.2 Religious

According to Murphy’s theory, mannerism is one of nine ways to do

characterization. Mannerism is the way the author applies to describe a people or a

character by their habits and manners. In this novel, Hosseini describes Mariam as

a religious woman. It is clearly shown by Hosseini’s description. Mariam always

prays five times in a day. She never leaves sholat. In every condition, Mariam never

forgets God. She always asks for help to God. In her sad or happy situation, she

always praises God.

“The first few days, Mariam hardly left her room. She was awakened every

dawn for prayer by the distant cry for azan, after which she crawled back

into bed” (p. 62).

The evidence above explains Mariam’s habit even if she is in the bad

situation. The author shows that Mariam should face a bitter reality about her

mother. Mariam is sad because her mother passes away. Mariam feels guilty

because she becomes the reason why Nana suicides. When she is sad, she still

remembers to pray to God. Even Mariam always stays in her room and does nothing

but praying in there because her sadness of losing her mother so early. She never

forgets to pray. She always remembers what Mullah Faizullah says to her when she

was young “You should always remember to God, whatever happened to you.” (p.

10). The message from Mullah Faizullah above leads Mariam to always hope to

God and do five-time prays.

Another evidence that shows Mariam as a religious woman is her frequent

learning of Koran recitation with Mullah Faizullah. Mullah Faizullah is the elderly

Koran tutor in her village. He visits Mariam several times in a week in Mariam’s


29

Kolba at Gul Daman. Mullah Faizullah usually goes to Mariam’s Kolba

accompanied by his elder son. Mullah brings some candies and biscuits for Mariam

every time he visits Mariam. Mullah not only teaches Mariam about Koran and five-

daily Namaz prayer but also he guides Mariam to write some Arabian alphabets.

Mariam feels happy when Mullah comes to her house and he is one of Mariam’s

favorite persons. It is because she is excited with everything that Mullah teaches to

her.

“But Mariam’s favorite. Other than Jalil of course, was Mullah Faizullah,

the elderly village Koran tutor, its akhud. He came by once or twice a week

from Gul Daman to teach Mariam the five daily namaz prayers and tutor her

in Koran recitation, just as he had taught Nana when she’d been a little girl.”

(p. 16).

Besides learning Koran recitation, Mariam also wears a burqa as a part of

her religion rules. Mariam knows about burqa from Rasheed. He buys a set of burqa

for Mariam, so her body is hidden from others which are not muhrim for her. “With

a corner of her hijab, she dabbed at the moisture above her upper lip and tried her

nerves” (p. 66). The author shows that Mariam always uses burqa every day and

everywhere because of her religion rules which should be done.

After analyzing some evidences above, the researcher has found that

Mariam is a religious person. It can be seen by her manner. Mariam has good daily

habits as a Moslem. She always does five-time prayers and learns Koran recitation

frequently. She also applies her religion law by closing her body with burqa.

Therefore, her body is not exposed to others. Besides that, Mariam teaches Aziza

to recite Koran in their spare time.


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4.1.3 Unconfident

Mariam is an illegitimate daughter of Nana and Jalil. Jalil is one of

wealthiest men in Herat. He has three wives and nine legitimate children. Nana has

been one of the housekeepers in Jalil’s house before her belly swells because of her

pregnancy. This situation makes Jalil’s legitimate wives get angry and Nana is

thrown out from Jalil’s house. As she is an illegitimate child, Mariam is isolated by

her society. Nana and Mariam choose to live in a remote area, so people will not

laugh and judge them. This situation makes Mariam become an unconfident person

when she meets other people that she does not know before. This situation happens

until Mariam gets married with Rasheed. The evidence below shows Mariam’s

unconfident character when she meets her new neighbor while she is standing in a

queue for tandoor.

“In the tandoor line, Mariam caught sideways glances shot at her, heard

whispers. Her hand began to sweat. She imagined they all knew that she’d

been born a harami, a source if shame to her father and his family. They all

knew that she’d betrayed her mother and disgraced herself.” (p. 66)

Based on Mariam’s reaction towards her neighbors’ greetings, it shows that

she is unconfident with the situation. Whereas, Mariam’s neighbor greets her with

a friendly occasion. It shows when Fariba with her warm and friendly attitude

comes to Mariam and introduces herself to Mariam. Fariba also asks Mariam about

Herat enthusiastically. However, Mariam’s reaction makes her neighbor feel

confused with her. This situation makes her neighbor think that Mariam is a nerd

and arrogant person.

Mariam’s characteristic also can be seen in her reaction towards Fariba and

friends when they ask some questions to Mariam, “With a corner of her hijab, she


31

dabbed at the moisture above her upper lip and tried her nerves” (p. 66). For hiding

her unconfident feeling Mariam tries to make herself comfortable with the

condition. She sweeps her sweat in her lips and hides her trembling hands from her

neighbor. She does it to make her neighbors not aware of her unconfident feeling.

Her neighbors start to make a circle and Mariam becomes the center of the circle.

They ask Mariam about everything. They want to know about Mariam’s

background of life and her marriage life with Rasheed. They also ask about Herat

to Mariam, because most of them do not know more about Herat except from the

newspaper.

Day by day Mariam feels more unconfident and it is shown by her reaction

to her neighbors after they ask so many questions to Mariam. Mariam cannot hide

her unconfident feeling anymore. She tries so hard for back away from the circle.

Mariam is very unconfident with the situation at that time. “Let her be!” Fariba was

saying. “Move aside, let her be! You’re frightening her!” (p. 68). Fariba, is one of

her neighbors that can see Mariam’s unconfident feeling from her reaction when

Fariba and the other neighbors make a circle and ask Mariam about everything.

Because of Mariam’s reaction, Fariba tries to help her by reminding her friends not

to make Mariam feel fearful. Mariam tries to run away from her neighbors who see

her with confused feeling. Mariam runs until she finds an intersection and she

realizes that she runs in to the wrong way.

Based on the evidences above, Mariam’s unconfident character can be seen

by her reactions toward her neighbors when they met in tandoor line. Reaction is

one of nine ways to explain character’s personalities based on Murphy’s theory of


32

characters and characterization. Reaction is a way that describes characters’

characterization by looking at the characters’ reaction toward a situation which

happens in their life. This way helps the researcher to conclude that Mariam is an

unconfident person.

4.1.4 Tough

Mariam is a tough person. It can be seen from Mariam’s reaction when her

husband Rasheed does something cruel to her. Tough here means Mariam is

physically and emotionally strong and she is able to deal with harsh conditions like

when her husband starts to torture her. Her husband starts to torture her since they

lost their baby because of miscarriages. Since that time, everything that Mariam

does for Rasheed is always wrong to him. Her husband always hits Mariam with

his belt or slap Mariam’s face. He also kicks and punches Mariam when she does

not follow his commands. Not only by doing physical tortures, but Rasheed also

does verbal tortures to Mariam. He often insults Mariam because of her innocence.

Everything that she does and says always make her husband angry. When Rasheed

starts to torture her again, Mariam just does nothing. Mariam’s tough characteristic

can be seen by Mariam’s reaction when her husband gets angry at her because she

does something wrong.

“Mariam kneeled to the ground and tried to pick up the grains of rice and

put them back on the plate, but her hand were shaking badly, and she had to

wait for them to stop.” (p. 103).

...

“She tried to take a few deep breaths. She caught her pale reflection in the

darkened living-room widow and looked away.” (p. 103).

...


33

“Through the mouthful of grit and pebbles, Mariam mumbled a plea. Tears

were leaking out of the corner of her eyes.” (p. 104)

By analyzing the evidence above, Mariam’s reaction towards what Rasheed

does to her shows that she is a tough person. Her body language shows all of what

she feels at that time. Mariam does not want to fight back; because it can make

Rasheed angrier than before. Therefore, Mariam just hides her feeling away and

tries to calm her emotion to avoid bad things happen to her.

Another moment that shows Mariam is a tough person is when Rasheed

blames Mariam as a person who teaches Laila to rebel him. The evidence below

shows Mariam’s reaction against how Rasheed treats her when Rasheed goes to

Mariam’s room and brings a belt in his hand. She is so scared but she does nothing.

She just crosses over her chest without any resistance. She hides her chest from

Rasheed because it will be the first target for Rasheed. “Her arms instinctively

crossed over her chest, where he often struck her first” (p. 240). Even though

Mariam is not the cause why Laila ignores him, Rasheed still blames and hits her

with a belt which he buys for his wedding ceremony with Laila.

Besides that, Mariam’s characteristic also can be seen from her reaction

when she descends from the truck in Ghazi Stadium to attend the last ceremony

before her execution. From Mariam’s reaction toward the people’s mockery there,

the author wants to show that Mariam is a tough woman. Even though she feels

afraid, she can control her feeling at that time. Mariam does nothing when she hears

people yelling at her. She just focuses on the instruction given by the armies there.

“But when she was made to descend from the truck, Mariam’s legs did not

buckle. Her arms did not flail. She did not have to be dragged. And when

she did feel herself faltering, she thought of Zalmai, from whom she had


34

taken the love of his life, whose days now would be shaped by the sorrow

of his father’s disappearance. And then Mariam’s stride steadied and she

could walk without protest.” (p. 369)

From Mariam’s reaction towards the people who yell at her in Ghazi

stadium above, it shows Mariam’s tough characteristic. She does not fight back

when people in Ghazi stadium yell at her. She just looks down to distract her mind.

Mariam walks steadily to the execution place without any fears. She just remembers

about Zalmai. Zalmai is Rasheed’s and Laila’s second child. Her guilty feeling to

Zalmai makes Mariam tough to face her execution.

After analyzing third evidences above, the researcher can conclude that

Mariam is a tough woman. It can be seen by her reaction toward the situation that

happens in her life. When Mariam is tortured by her husband and yelled by other

people in Ghazi stadium, she is just silent and does nothing. After what happened

in her life, she still has a strong mentality. She can control her emotion well. She

does not want to fight back because it makes the situation become worst.

4.2 Mariam Struggle for Her Life

Problems frequently come up in people’s daily life without exception, either

easy or difficult. It is because life is not always about happiness. Problems can come

from a relationship, society, economic life, and something that people never expect.

Actually, problems come to give people some experiences in life, so they can

choose their decision cautiously. When problems come, people not only surrender

but also they make some effort to find some way to solve their problems. Weiner

(1980) says that strategy that human uses to overcome the life problems is called


35

struggle (p. 250). People struggle to find the best way to solve their problems in life

and to reach life goals. Without struggle, they cannot survive in their own life. For

the people, struggle becomes a hope to keep the spirit to live.

People struggle because of the motivation inside them. Through their

awareness, the motivation makes them struggle to reach what they want. Maslow

(1981) says there are some needs that influence someone’s struggle. Maslow has

divided them into physiological needs, safety needs, love needs, esteem needs, and

needs for self-actualization.

In A Thousand Splendid Suns, Mariam as the major character shows us her

struggle to face her life as a woman. She struggles in many aspects of her life since

her childhood until the day when she is punished by death penalty. Mariam’s life

background influences the way she makes a decision to solve her problem in her

life. Since her childhood, Mariam has to face some of the problems such as poverty,

the death of her babies, family abuse, polygamy, and many else. Her tough

characteristic makes her struggle for her life until she is sentenced to death because

she has killed her husband to save Laila and her children’s life.

This part consists of Mariam’s struggles to face her life. This section is

divided into two parts. The first part is the background of Mariam’s life as seen in

the novel. The second part is Mariam’s struggles to face her life.

4.2.1 Mariam’s life background

Mariam is the major character in this novel. She has been rejected by the

people around her since her childhood because of her status as an illegitimate child.

Mariam is an illegitimate daughter of Jalil and Nana. Jalil is one of the wealthiest


36

men in Herat while Nana is one of Jalil’s housekeepers. In the beginning of their

forbidden relationship story, Jalil and Nana can hide their love story from others

including his wives and his children. In the end, their relationship is revealed. Jalil’s

wives cannot accept the reality. They ask Jalil to throw Nana and her baby out from

Jalil’s house. Jalil’s wives do not let him to be responsible for Nana’s pregnancy.

They also do not want Nana and Mariam to live in the same house with them. Jalil’s

wives consider Nana and Mariam as a parasite for their family. The conversation

between Nana and Mariam below shows about Jalil’s family rejection to Nana and

Mariam and the perception about them.

“To Jalil and his wives, I was a pokeroot. A mugwort. You too. And you

weren’t even born yet.”

“What’s a mugwort?” Mariam asked.

“A weed,” Nana said. “Something you rip out and toss aside.” (p. 8)

Based on Nana and Mariam’s conversation shown above, Jalil’s family does

not like Nana and Mariam. Nana uses parasite as an analogy to represent something

useless like herself and Mariam. They become a burden for Jalil’s family and they

must be thrown away. Jalil’s wives try to throw away Nana and Mariam from their

house. It is because in Afghanistan, when a man and a woman marry, the woman

will move into the husband’s place, and Jalil’s wives do not want to live in the same

house with the illegitimate wife of their husband. They ask their husband to find an

area far away from Herat for Nana and Mariam. There, Jalil will build a kolba for

Nana and Mariam, so they will be isolated from outside. Jalil’s wives do this

because they do not want their friends and colleagues in Herat know about Nana

and their husband’s illegitimate daughter.


37

Another evidence that shows Mariam is rejected by her father and his family

is when Mariam asks Jalil about her birthday present. She asks her father to

accompany her to go to the cinema for watching a new American film with special

kind of effects. The first reaction that Jalil shows to Mariam is shocked but he tries

to set his voice to be calm and in control. He tries to find some excuses in order to

make Mariam not go to the cinema in Herat. He also agrees with Nana’s statement

that forbids her daughter to go to Herat.

“You know,” he said. “The picture quality isn’t that good. Neither is the

sound. And the projector’s been malfunctioning recently. Maybe your

mother is right. Maybe you can think of another present Mariam Jo.” (p. 26)

Jalil tries to find a reason in order to make Mariam not ask him to go to the

cinema. He is afraid if Mariam feels disappointed of him. Jalil tries so hard to make

Mariam believe him about the condition of the cinema at the time but Mariam does

not believe. Mariam tries another way. When her father comes and brings her to the

stream, she tries again to ask her father to bring her to a cinema. Jalil still tries to

reject what Mariam wants and gives her another option like the evidence below tries

to show.

“I’ll tell you what,” Jalil said. “I’ll send someone to pick up and take you.

I’ll make sure they get you a good seat and all the candy you want.”

“Nay. I want you to take me.”

“Mariam Jo---”

“And I want you to invite my brothers and sister too. I want to meet them. I

want us all to go, together. It’s what I want.”

Jalil sighed. He was looking away, toward the mountains. (p. 26)

Based on the evidence above, Jalil has a strong principle in order to make

Mariam not to go to Herat for watching a film in his cinema. However, Mariam still

whimpers at him for the second time. Mariam still wants Jalil to accompany her to


38

watch a movie and eat some candies. She also wants to invite her siblings to watch

the film together. They argue with each other until Jalil stops it. At that time Jalil is

mad because Mariam still tries to force Jalil but he tries to manage her emotion. In

the end, Mariam decides to wait Jalil in the place which is set by herself. Jalil refuses

Mariam’s decision. It makes Jalil angry because Mariam makes a decision without

an agreement from Jalil. However, Jalil does not show his anger, he does not want

Mariam to feel disappointed again. Based on Ember and Embers (2001), women in

Afghanistan are not allowed to give opinion or make decisions because it breaks

the rule which is applied there. The position of women is under men in any aspects

including giving opinions and making decisions.

Jalil’s family rejection towards Mariam and unjust experiences that she gets

since her childhood influence Mariam’s characteristic. She becomes unconfident

woman and she has difficulties in socializing with other people. Her status as an

illegitimate daughter makes the situation become harder for her. Mariam is afraid

when people know about her status as an illegitimate child, they will make a

distance with her.

Not only being rejected by her father’s family but Mariam also experiences

verbal abuses by her mother. Since her childhood, her mother always curses Mariam

by calling her harami. Nana always curses Mariam when she does something

wrong, like breaking Nana’s Chinese tea set. “You are clumsy little harami. This is

my reward for everything I’ve endured. An heirloom-breaking, clumsy little

harami” (p. 4). Mariam breaks the sugar bowl when she prepares the tea set to

welcome Jalil who comes to their kolba. Nana is shocked when she knows about


39

the broken sugar bowl and she starts to curse Mariam. At that time, Mariam does

not understand the meaning of the word harami. When Mariam is old enough, she

realizes the meaning of harami. After knowing the meaning of harami, Mariam

feels so hurt. It is because she feels that her family does not want her.

Not only verbal abusement, Nana also does not let Mariam study in a formal

school. One day, when Mariam and Mullah Faizullah walk around the kolba, she

tells Mullah Faizullah about her dream to get an education from a formal school

like other Jalil’s daughters. Saidah and Naheed are Mariam’s sisters from another

mother who are studying in a formal school at Herat. Mariam asks Mullah Faizullah

to get a permission from her mother so that Mariam can study in a formal school.

However, when Nana hears about Mariam’s dream to study in a formal school, she

feels shocked and does not agree with that. The evidence below shows Nana’s

disagreement towards Mariam’s plan to study in a formal school. Nana disputes

Mariam’s desire. According to Nana, getting an education from a formal school is

not really important, especially for a woman. Formal school does not teach how to

survive in this hard life. They just teach about history, science, and math which

cannot be applied to survive.

“What’s the sense schooling a girl like you? It’s like shining a spittoon. And

you’ll learn nothing of value in those schools. There is only one, only one

skill a woman like you and me needs in life, and they don’t teach it in school.

Look at me.”

...

“Only one skill. And it’s this: tahamul. Endure.”

“Endure what, Nana?”

“Oh, don’t you fret about that,” Nana said. “There won’t be any shortage of

things.” (p. 18)


40

The conversation between Nana and Mariam above tells about Nana’s

disagreement. Whereas, according to Ember and Embers (2001), actually women

had more freedom to find their rights because of the King of Afghanistan, King

Amanullah, reigning between 1919 until 1929. He kept the spirit to promote female

empowerment in his country. Many schools and universities had been opened for

women students, so those who lived in the rural area went to the capital city to get

a good quality of education. This situation happened during the Communist

government. This program had become the first movement towards the Afghan

women’s independency for women to get education. However, this fact does not

change Nana’s argument about studying in a formal school. She still does not give

a permission for Mariam to study in a formal school. Mariam is very disappointed,

but she also does not want to rebel her mother.

Mariam’s life background above which underlies her to struggle means that

actually she has meaning in her life like the people around her. In the end, she tries

to struggle to get her freedom from the pressure done by the people around her

especially her mother and her father’s family.

4.2.2 Mariam’s struggles to face her life

Mariam’s life experiences make her become a naive, unconfident, religious,

and tough person. In a moment of her lifetime, she realizes that her bad experiences

should be finished. She has to stop everything that makes her feels unconfident, not

secure, and not in love. Mariam has to struggle for her life and run away from her

husband’s pressure. In her struggle, she needs a good strategy to reach them. The


41

strategy that she uses are going to Herat to meet her father and fighting against

Rasheed’s bad behavior.

4.2.2.1 Going to Herat to Meet Her Father

Since her childhood, Mariam rarely feels the affection from her parents. It

is because of her parents who live separately. Jalil lives in Herat and her mother

lives in Gul Daman. Even if Jalil visits her once a week, it does not mean that his

father’s affection is enough for Mariam. Her mother’s attitude also makes Mariam

feels unwanted, because she always blames Mariam for what happens to them. It

makes Mariam dream to live with Jalil and his family in Herat.

The situation above motivates Mariam to struggle. Maslow as cited in Petri

(1981) explains that being loved by others is one of human needs. Mariam also

needs the feeling of being loved and wanted from her father. She tries some ways

to persuade Jalil to bring her when Jalil goes back to Herat. She often asks Jalil to

go to Herat with her but Jalil pretends to neglect her. Although Mariam really wants

to go to Herat and watch a movie in her father’s cinema, Jalil never allows her to

go there. It is because her status as an illegitimate and Jalil does not want his

colleagues to know about Mariam. He feels ashamed for having an illegitimate

daughter. Therefore, Jalil never tells her about the reason why she is not allowed to

go. Until one day, Mariam asks Jalil about her wish for her birthday present as an

effort to get Jalil’s affection. She wants Jalil to accompany her to go to his cinema

on her birthday. “I want you to take me to your cinema,” Mariam said now. “I want

to see the cartoon. I want to see the puppet boy.” (p. 26). The evidence shows

Mariam’s struggles to fulfill her love needs from her father. She really wants to go


42

to Herat and she also wants to feel what her brothers and sisters feel, like watching

a cartoon with their parents, eating candies, spending time in Herat and many more.

Mariam always tries to persuade Jalil to grant her request to go to Herat and

accompany her to watch a cartoon. The reason why she does it because she misses

the feeling of being wanted and loved. She struggles a lot with it to get full love and

affection from her parents like other children.

On another day, she tries a little bit harder than before. She forces Jalil to

promise picking her up in the place that has been agreed. “Tomorrow. At noon. I’ll

meet you at this very spot. All right? Tomorrow?” (p. 27). Mariam waits for Jalil’s

answer, but there is no word that comes to his mouth. Jalil just holds her for a long

time. Unfortunately, Mariam thinks that it is an agreement and she believes that

Jalil will keep his promise. Next day, Mariam feels so excited because she will meet

her father’s family and watch a movie together. Mariam thinks that her struggle to

get attention and affection will end because it is one step closer to get all of it. She

prepares herself with her best clothes that she has. She also uses the best scarf for

hiding her hair. Even though the colors of her clothes and scarf do not match

enough, Mariam is still confident with her appearance. After that, she checks the

clock to make sure that she does not late. She waits for Jalil on the spot they have

agreed. Mariam tries to kill the time by drawing an elephant in one strike like Jalil

has shown her. She looks worry when she is waiting for her father. Time pass,

Mariam goes back to her kolba. She tries another way in order to avoid Nana and

makes reason in order to make her mother not suspicious towards her plan to go to

Herat with her father. It is almost one o’clock when Mariam checks the clock again.


43

She tries to think positively and go back to the spot her father and she have agreed.

Her naive characteristic makes Mariam still believe that her father will come to the

spot that they have agreed and he will bring Mariam to Herat. She waits rather long

but Jalil never comes. In the end, Mariam forces her heart to go to Herat alone

search for Jalil’s house.

“She waited until her legs were stiff. This time, she did not go back to the

kolba. She rolled up the legs of her trousers to the knees, cussed the stream,

and, for the first time in her life, headed down the hill for Herat.” (p. 30)

Mariam has a strong motivation to get abundant love from her father. She

needs to fulfill her love needs in her life. It becomes a reason why she decides to go

to Herat. As she is a tough woman she dares to go to Herat by herself. When she

arrives in Herat, she looks so excited with the situation there. No one calls her

harami and no one laughs at her like what Nana has said to her before. Mariam can

hardly believe that she is in Herat. At that time, Mariam realizes that she must find

her father’s house as soon as possible. She encourages herself to greet a man who

drives a gari and asks where is Jalil’s house. Luckily, the driver knows where Jalil’s

house is and he agrees to bring Mariam to Jalil’s house.

Being loved and wanted by others is one of the human needs. Maslow states

that being loved become human’s primary need. Being loved and wanted by others

are Mariam’s motives to struggle. It is shown in some evidences above that the

researcher found. It tells us about Mariam’s effort to persuade Jalil to bring her go

to Herat.


44

4.2.2.2 Fighting against Rasheed’s bad behavior

Since Mariam’s mother is dead, she lives with her father’s family. Even

though she lives with her father, she is not happy. Mariam feels so disappointed

with Jalil and his family because of their reaction when Mariam comes to Herat and

tries to meet them. Every day she just cries of regretting her attitude as she never

trusts her mother. One fine day, one of her stepmothers asks Mariam to get married

to one of their family’s colleagues. Mariam does not agree with the offer. Mariam

asks her father to prevent his wife’s plan to wed her. However, he is just quiet and

does nothing to defend Mariam from his wives’ plan. In the end, she is married to

Rasheed. He is one of her father’s family colleagues. He is a widower and he works

as a shoemaker in Kabul. After their wedding ceremony, Rasheed brings Mariam

to his house in Deh-Mazang.

They look happy at the beginning of their marriage life until they lose their

babies because of miscarriages. Rasheed becomes easy to get angry. He often

tortures Mariam, not only physically and mentally torture but also verbal torture.

This situation makes Mariam want to do something, she feeds up with all of what

Rasheed does to the family. Mariam’s tough characteristic makes her courageously

change the situation and struggle to rebel Rasheed. She wants to live safely and it

motivates her to struggle and rebel Rasheed. Maslow states that safety needs are the

second primary human needs that must be fulfilled. In this case, Mariam does not

want her life to be controlled by her husband and feels insecure because Rasheed

can torture her anytime. She does not want to feel afraid anymore. The evidence

below shows Mariam’s struggle to fight her husband when he starts to torture her.


45

Mariam lost count of how many times the belt cracked, how many pleading

words she cried out to Rasheed, how many times she circled around the

incoherent tangle of teeth and fists and belt, before she saw fingers clawing

at Rasheed’s face, chipped nails digging into his jowls and pulling at his

hair and scratching his forehead. How long before she realized, with both

shock and relish, that the fingers were hers. (p. 346)

Based on the author’s direct comment above, Mariam tries to fight back

when Rasheed starts to do some physical tortures. She does many things to stop

Rasheed’s bad attitude towards Mariam at that time. She wants Rasheed to realize

that Mariam is his wife who has to be loved and treated well and given a sense of

security.

Mariam as Rasheed’s wife does not have power in the family. As a wife she

must agree with all of her husband’s decision. It is because Rasheed uses patriarchy

role as his family foundation. Millet, as cited in Eisenstein (1983) states that

patriarchy is a system in which the man becomes the head of the family and he also

becomes the person who has the highest position to governing others (p. 5).

Although the situation makes Mariam depressed, she does not feel afraid; she is a

tough woman who keeps struggling to find her freedom and feels secure in her life.

She tries to struggle more to reach her goals to get freedom and feels secure in her

life. When Mariam feels like giving up, she starts to pray to God. Her religious

characteristic makes Mariam able to endure the problems that come to her life.

Mariam always does five-time prayers as Mullah Faizullah asks to her. “You should

always remember God, whatever happened to you.” (p. 10). Mariam’s

characteristics above make her able to struggle for security feeling in her life.

Another moment that shows Mariam’s struggle for security in her life is

when Tariq comes to their house. It makes the situation more complicated. Tariq is


46

Laila’s best friend. Besides that, Tariq is also Laila’s first love and Aziza’s father.

The fact that Tariq is Aziza’s father makes Rasheed disappointed. Rasheed is easier

to get angry than before. He is easy to get jealous. He also feels that Mariam tries

to lie at him. Rasheed accuses Mariam that she hides something behind him. Since

that time, what Mariam does to make Rasheed happy becomes something wrong to

him. He often tortures Mariam more. Rasheed likes to hit and pull Mariam’s hair.

Mariam is tired of being pressed by Rasheed. Mariam does not want this situation

to last long.

Mariam steadied her feet and tightened her grip around the shovel’s handle.

She said his name. She wanted him to see.

“Rasheed.”

He looked up.

Mariam swung.

She hit across the tempel.

...

Rasheed touched his head with the palm of his hand. He looked at the blood

on his fingertips, then at Mariam. (p.348)

Mariam’s reaction towards what Rasheed does to her shows that she cannot

take it anymore. She feels tired if she always has to compromise Rasheed’s bad

behavior. She does not want her life to be full of fear and depression. With her

toughness, Mariam chooses to fight back and get her freedom. Her struggle is to

make Rasheed realize that what he has done will make Mariam feel insecure and

afraid. Her struggle still does not work well. Mariam tries harder than before. It is

because her previous effort to fight Rasheed gets no result and she uses another

way.


47

Rasheed’s behavior toward his family is not bearable. Mariam tries to do

another effort. Feeling that her children’s safety is threatened, in the end she decides

to end what Rasheed does to his family. Mariam decides to save her family from

Rasheed because he becomes wilder day by day.

And so Mariam raised the shovel high, raised it as high as she could, arching

it so it touched the small of her back. She turned it so the sharp edge was

vertical, and, as she did, it occurred to her that this was the first time that

she was deciding the course of her own life. And, with that, Mariam brought

down the shovel. This time, she gave it everything she had (p. 349).

Mariam takes a risk to hit Rasheed with all the strength that she has to save

Laila, Zalmai, and herself from Rasheed’s brutality. She hopes that Rasheed will be

unconscious for several times and she can move Laila and her children to a safer

place. Unfortunately, Rasheed is dead. Laila gets panic and she cannot stop crying.

Mariam tries to make Laila calm down and convinces her if everything will be okay.

She convinces Laila that they can live happily and peacefully because Rasheed is

dead, and he cannot torture them anymore. Now, they are free and they can continue

their life peacefully. Even though Mariam feels sad because of the death of her

husband, she does not show it to Laila. She is afraid that Laila becomes shocked

and feels afraid. She chooses to hide her feeling and pretends to be calm so Laila

does not feel worry.

Life full of fear is never pleasing. This feeling motivates Mariam to struggle.

She wants to live comfortably without fear. Maslow as cited in Petri (1981) says

that safety needs are the second primary human needs after physiological needs. It

is because safety needs are important for human to survive in their life. Without

something that can secure them, they will live insecurely.


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CHAPTER V

CONCLUSIONS, IMPLICATIONS, AND SUGGESTIONS

This chapter presents conclusions, implications, and suggestions. This first

section discusses the conclusions of the analysis in chapter four and the answers of

the research problems. The second section discusses the implications of the research

for language teaching and learning. The third section discusses the suggestions for

future researchers.

5.1 Conclusions

After analyzing the novel, the researcher has found several things that can

be concluded from this novel. Firstly, Mariam is the major character in this novel.

She becomes the point of attention from the beginning until the end of the story.

She also dominates all parts of the novel.

Secondly, by applying Murphy’s character and characterization theory

(1972), Mariam’s characteristics can be concluded as naive, unconfident, religious,

and tough. Besides that, Mariam can be described by her appearance. She is a young

woman who always uses a veil when she goes outside her kolba. She is not tall

enough and has long black hair.

Thirdly, Mariam’s efforts to struggle in her life are caused by her family’s

rejection of her, especially from her father’s family. She lacks of affection from her

father because they live separately since she was a baby. This situation makes

Mariam always asks Jalil to take care of her by living with him and his family in


49

Herat. The strong motivation that drives Mariam to go to Herat by herself is to get

abundant of love from her father. Based on Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs (1981),

to feel loved and accepted by others is one of human’s basic needs. Therefore, this

need cannot be separated from human life. Feeling loved and accepted by her father

and his family are two things that needed by Mariam.

Another reason that causes Mariam’s struggle is her husband’s tortures:

verbal abuses and physical abuses. At the beginning, Mariam is an obedient wife.

She never argues her husband. She also never opposes what her husband does. Her

tough and religious characteristics make Mariam survive to lives with her husband.

In the end, she realizes that what her husband does is very harmful to Mariam, Laila,

and his children. Subsequently, she has to try another effort by fighting back when

her husband starts to torture her. This is not only driven by her care for the people

around her, but also by her insecurity. Based on Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs

(1981), safety is one of the secondary human needs that has to be fulfilled after

physiological needs. Without feeling safety people will live with anxiety and it may

offend their socialization processes. Mariam wants her life and the people around

her to be happy without anxiety.

The peak of Mariam’s opposition is when Rasheed starts threatening her

safety by torturing Mariam wildly. She tries to defend herself from her husband by

picking a shovel and hitting her husband. Her husband falls down but he can stand

again after the hit. Influenced by fear that her husband might get revenge, Mariam

decides to hit her husband the second time. The second hit lands directly on

Rasheed’s head and kills him.


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5.2 Implications

Khaled Hosseini’s A Thousand Splendid Suns can be applied in teaching

and learning English, like in prose class, Cross-Cultural Understanding (CCU)

class, and reading class. It is because A Thousand Splendid Suns is an interesting

novel. Students can learn many things from this novel. Firstly, in a prose class the

lecturer can show the students about Mariam’s struggles for her life to get freedom

from her husband tortures. The students can also learn moral values and life values

that they get from the novel. Mariam’s problems are related to real-life experiences.

If the lecturer uses this novel as the material in their learning process, the students

are expected to improve their knowledge. It also helps the students to learn about

their life.

Secondly, A Thousand Splendid Suns can be applied as a source of Cross-

Cultural Understanding (CCU) class. It is because in Cross-Cultural Understanding

(CCU) class, the students learn about differences and similarities between cultures

in the world. In A Thousand Splendid Suns, the students can find and analyze

Afghanistan’s cultures, such as patriarchy law and women’s issues. In Afghanistan

they apply patriarchy law. Men have the higher position than women in every

aspects. This situation makes women in Afghanistan colonized and imprisoned

because their action is limited. They also cannot socialize freely with others who

are not their family. This situation can help students to understand the differences

between cultures. It is also related to women’s issue which happens in Afghanistan.

Thirdly, A Thousand Splendid Suns can be used as the material in reading

class. This novel has interesting storyline related to the real-life experiences which


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can motivate students to love reading. It can help the students to improve their

vocabulary skill. A Thousand Splendid Suns as a literary work provides many

vocabulary terms in literature field.

5.3 Suggestion

A Thousand Splendid Suns is written by Khaled Hosseini, one of the

novelists from America. A Thousand Splendid Suns is a novel that was written based

on women’s issue happening in Afghanistan at that time. This novel tells about

Mariam’s struggles in her life to get freedom from her husband’s torture and also

about Mariam’s struggles to get affection and attention from her father. Besides

that, the novel tells about women’s issue which happens in Afghanistan. Women’s

issue is one of many issues that accept special attention from human right activists.

Unconsciously, this issue also happens in our country, in some areas women

experiences injustice. Their rights like education, health, and dwelling place are not

fulfilled.

This novel is very highly recommended, especially for future research. It is

because A Thousand Splendid Suns is an interesting, inspiring and also entertaining

novel. Future researchers can analyze some points that have not been discusses by

the researcher in this research, such as Mariam’s personality changes and also they

can do a research about Afghanistan culture that influences on what Rasheed does

to his wives.


52

REFERENCES

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Boston: Wadsworth, Cengage learning.

Abrams, M. H. (1981). Glossary of literary terms. New York: Holt, Reinhart, and

Winston.

Adisthi, A. W. (2010). A study of friendship between Mariam and Laila in Khaled

Hosseini’s A Thousand Splendid Suns. (Undergraduate Thesis, Sanata

Dharma University) Retrieved on September 4, 2017, from

http://repository.usd.ac.id/id/eprint/9726

Akhtar, N. (2008). Pakistan, Afghanistan, and the Taliban. Internasional Journal

on World Peace, 25(4), 49-60. Retrived on April 18, 2017, from

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Barakat, S. & Gareth W. (2011). Capitalizing on capacities of Afghan women:

women’s role in Afghanistan’s reconstruction and development. Ganeva:

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Braun, Linder, Asimov. (1979). Psychology today: an introduction (4th ed.). New

York: Random House Inc.

Crew & Tarzi. (2009). The Taliban and the crisis of Afghanistan. London: Harvard

University Press.

Eisenstein, H. (1983). Contemporary feminist thought. Boston: G.K Hall & Co.

Ember, M. & Carol R. E. (2001). Countries and their cultures volume 1 Afghanistan

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Gunderson, C. (2004). Afghanistan’s struggles. USA: ABDO & Daughters.

Henkle, R. B. (1977). Reading the novel: An introduction to the techniques of

interpreting fictions. New York: Harper and Row Publisher Inc.

Hosseini, K. (2008). A Thousand Splendid Suns. New York: Penguin Group (USA).

Inc.

Kennedy, X. J. & Gioia, D. (2010). An introduction to fiction (11th ed.). New York:

Pearson Education, Inc.

Klarer, M. (2004). An introduction to literary studies. London: routledge.



http://www.jstor.org/stable/pdf/20752859.pdf

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McKechnie, J. L. (1987). A webster’s dictionary. New York: Prentice Hall Press.

Print.

Merill, L., Donald P., & Thomas T. (2006) An introduction to Afghanistan culture.

Retrived on July 23, 2017, from

http://www.islamawareness.net/Asia/Afghanistan/.

Mulyo, V. P. A. (2013). Family abuse as reflected in the character of Rasheed in

Khaled Hosseini’s A Thousand Splendid Suns. (Undergraduate Thesis,

Sanata Dharma University) Retrieved on July 3, 2017, from


Murphy, M. J. (1986). Understanding unseens: an introduction in English poetry

and the English novel for overseas students. London: George Allen &

Unwin Ltd.

Nijseen, S. (2001). The Taliban’s shadow government in Afghanistan. Virginia:

Civil Military Fusion Center.

Pangarsa, A. I. (2010). Rasheed’s aggression over his wives in Khaled Hosseini’s

A Thousand Splendid Suns. (Undergraduate Thesis, Sanata Dharma

University) Retrieved on May 24, 2017, from


Petri, H. L. (1981). Motivation: theory and research. Belmot: A Division of

Wadsworth, Inc.

Rohrberger, M. & Woods, S. (1971). Reading and writing about literature. New

York: Random House.

Saikal, A. & William M. (1991). Regime change in Afghanistan: foreign

intervention and the politics of legitimacy. Colorado: westview Press.

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Company.


http://www.islamawareness.net/Asia/Afghanistan/



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APPENDICES


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Appendix 1

Summary of A Thousand Splendid Suns

Khaled Hosseini writes a novel entitled A Thousand Splendid Suns. It tells

about a young woman, Mariam, who experiences injustice and violence by people

around her. Mariam is an illegitimate daughter of Jalil and Nana. Jalil is one of the

wealthiest men in Herat while Nana works for Jalil as one of his housekeepers.

Nana and Jalil have a forbidden relationship until Jalil impregnates Nana. In the

beginning, Jalil can hide Nana’s pregnancy, but her belly becomes bigger. Jalil’s

in-laws and his wives cannot accept the reality. They ask Jalil to kick Nana and her

baby out from their house. Because of Jalil’s guilty feeling, he builds a small kolba

for Nana and their baby. Nana’s baby, Mariam, grows up becoming a kindhearted,

humble and sweet kid. However, her mother often does verbal tortures to her. Her

mother often nags and calls her harami-bastard, illegitimate, and unwanted girl.


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The story begins when Nana is dead and Mariam lives with her father’s

family in Herat. However, her stepmothers never like her existence. When Mariam

is 15 years old, her stepmothers force her to marry with one of their business

colleagues. Mariam rejects the offering, but in the end, she agrees with it because

no one defends her. Mariam’s stepmother’s colleague try to arrange a marriage

between her and Rasheed, a-forty-year-old shoemaker from Den-Mazang. After the

wedding ceremony, Rasheed brings Mariam to his house in Den-Mazang and they

live together. At the beginning of their life marriage, Rasheed treats Mariam as a

queen. He always buys some gifts for Mariam when he goes back home after

working. This situation changes after Mariam gets miscarriages. It happens not only

once, but six times. It makes Rasheed disappointed. He becomes a temperamental

person. Rasheed often tortures Mariam, physically and verbally. When Mariam

does something wrong, Rasheed will hit and slap her.

In April 1992, a bomb hits Fariba’s house. She is one of Mariam’s

neighbors. It makes Fariba and her husband died. The last survivor of the bomb

attack is Laila, their youngest daughter. Rasheed tries to help Laila and brings her

to his house. Mariam and Rasheed take care of her until she feels better. For many

times, a man named Abdul Sharif comes to Rasheed’s house. He admits himself as

Tariq’s friend, they meet in the hospital when Tariq had been hospitalized. Abdul

Sharif comes to bring a news for Laila. He says that Tariq has died of his injuries.

It makes Laila feel sad.

Since Laila lives in Rasheed’s and Mariam’s house, Rasheed’s behavior is

changing. Mariam thinks that Rasheed flirts Laila. She reminds her husband to stay


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away from Laila but Rasheed does not care. He asks Laila to marry him. Laila

agrees with it. She cannot refuse Rasheed because she knows that she is pregnant

and she does not want her child does not have a figure of a father. Mariam is

shocked with what Laila decides for. She protests to Rasheed and asks him that she

cannot accept Rasheed’s second marriage with Laila. A tense situation appears

between Mariam and Laila, especially when Laila says that she is pregnant and her

child is Rasheed's child. Rasheed is enthusiastic after he hears the good news from

Laila.

After the birth, Rasheed feels disappointed because Laila’s baby is a girl.

He blames Laila and starts to torture her. He does not like the sound of the baby

because it is very noisy. He becomes angry when he hears Aziza’s cry. In the end,

Rasheed knows that Aziza is not her daughter. Not only does he blame Laila, but

also he blames Mariam. He beats Mariam and tortures her wildly. Laila tries to help

Mariam with blocking Rasheed’s hand. What Laila does for Mariam makes the

tension between Mariam and her gone. They become friends to each other. Mariam

helps Laila in taking care of Aziza when Laila is busy to do the homework. On the

other hand, Laila helps Mariam to cook. Time by time, Laila has a plan to run away

from Rasheed’s house. She asks Mariam to join her and Aziza. In the beginning,

Mariam is not sure with Laila’s plan but she still joins them. Before they run away

from Rasheed, Laila steals some money from Rasheed’s wallet every day for a

supply while they travel. However, Laila and Mariam are betrayed by a man in the

bus station. It makes them get arrested by the police and returned to Rasheed.


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Rasheed is angry and tortures them. He imprisons Laila, Mariam, and also Aziza

for several days without food and water.

A few years later, Laila gives birth to a baby boy. His name is Zalmai.

Rasheed is very happy with the birth of Zalmai. Rasheed loves Zalmai so much

because he wants to have a son in his family. Zalmai was born when Taliban power

is risen in Afghanistan. The situation becomes harder when Taliban blocks the

access of information. Not only that, women also are not allowed to work. The

distribution of food is also difficult because everything that has come in to

Afghanistan should be checked by Taliban’s Armies. Because of that, many citizens

are starving at that time.

One day, Tariq suddenly appears in front of Laila’s house. She is shocked

when Tariq comes. Laila and Tariq are reunited. Tariq tells Laila about his

experience during in the refugee camp. Laila keeps silent to Tariq because she is

shy of her condition. In the afternoon, when Rasheed comes back home, Zalmai

tells him that there is a man who comes to the house to meet Laila. After hearing

about that, Rasheed starts to torture Laila, he beats Laila with his belt wildly.

Mariam comes to help Laila by beating Rasheed with a shovel and in the end

Rasheed is killed by the shovel. Mariam is imprisoned because of her actions and

Laila goes away with Tariq and both of her children to stay in Pakistan.

Adapted from: www.enotes.com/topics/thousand-splendid-suns#summary

summary-summary


http://www.enotes.com/topics/thousand-splendid-suns#summary summary-summary

http://www.enotes.com/topics/thousand-splendid-suns#summary summary-summary

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Appendix 2

Biography of Khaled Hosseini

Khaled Hosseini is an American novelist who was born in Kabul,

Afghanistan at 4 March 1965. His father is a diplomat for Afghanistan Foreign

Affairs Ministry in Kabul and his mother is a teacher at a girl’s high school, she

taught Persian language and History. In 1970, Hosseini and his family moved to

Iran because his father worked at the Embassy of Afghanistan in Tehran. In 1976,

Hosseini’s father moved to Paris, France. His father also invited the family there.

Two years after they moved to Paris, Hosseini and his family went back to

Afghanistan, but they could not. It was caused by the invasion of the Soviet Army.

After the Soviet War begun in Afghanistan, Hosseini’s family sought political

asylum in the United States and in September 1980 they had a permanent residence

in San Jose, California.


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Hosseini graduated from Independent High School in San Jose in 1984 and

continued his study in Santa Clara University. He got his bachelor’s degree in

biology in 1988. The following year, Hosseini studied at the University of

California San Diego School of Medicine, he got his medical degree in 1993. He

finished his residency at Cedars-Sinai medical center in Los Angeles. Hosseini was

practicing as a doctor for eight years, between 1996 until 2004

In 2003 Hosseini published his first novel entitled The Kite Runner. He

wrote this novel since 2001 while practicing as a doctor. This novel becomes

Hosseini’s debut as an international bestseller writer, it is because this novel was

sold more than a hundred in weeks. This book is also adapted into a movie and it

was released in December 2007. In the following years, The Kite Runners was

adapted into a graphic novel. Hosseini’s second novel entitled A Thousand

Splendid Suns was released in 2007. Compared from the first novel, he used

Afghanistan as the background of the story in his novel. A Thousand Splendid Suns

was the first top charts on the New York Times bestseller list. The movie version

of this novel was directed by Scott Rudin. Hosseini’s third novel which has been

released recently entitled The Mountains Echoed. The third novel, written by

Hosseini, has a positive response from the readers around the world. Hosseini

became a volunteer for the United Nation High Commissioner for Refugees

(UNHCR) in 2006. He worked in a humanitarian guidance for Afghanistan people.

In the following years, Hosseini was inspired to establish a nonprofit corporation

which works in humanitarian guidance for people of Afghanistan named The


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Khaled Hosseini Foundation. This corporation also focuses on education

opportunities and healthcare of women and children.

Adapted from: http://khaledhosseini.com/biography/


http://khaledhosseini.com/biography/

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