Looking back on the good ol' days... before the times of research papers

The first quarter of high school went surprisingly well. It’s constantly been go, go, go in the classroom, so it’s refreshing to have some time to reflect. Despite acclimating myself to nightly homework assignments, the ease into high school has been pretty smooth. I’m starting to enjoy language arts more too! Besides being so far from my brother’s parking spot, it’s nice having class with Ms. Froehlich in the morning; I’m able to start the day in a more calm and creative environment. My classmates are brilliant and supportive, so it’s nice to know I will have helpful feed back from my peers no matter the assignment or situation. While the classroom maybe conducive to learning, writing is still impossible. It takes me hours of scrutiny to pick words worthy of even being typed. I’m clueless on how to fix this issue. Along with word choice, I’m still struggling with my ideas. I know the steps to creating a thesis, but for some reason the thesis just doesn’t come out as great as I imagined it in my mind. Although I’m still struggling with my writing, I now feel confident in using MLA format, finding credible sources and paraphrasing.
Oh by the way, I loved the photography and film unit! I felt that finding the meaning in certain shots was like piecing a puzzle together. That unit definitely changed how I’ll perceive all photographs now.

Mariam & Laila vs. Rasheed (ATSS 5)

Another conflict that reoccurs throughout the novel, A Thousand Splendid Suns, is the struggle for freedom. Mariam and Laila are constantly being oppressed by Rasheed’s cruel verbal and physical abuse. Together the wives dream of the day they escape Rasheed’s grasp and are able to start tranquil lives together. The narrator explains Laila’s imagination of this ideal new life, “They would live in a small house on the edge of some town they’d never heard of… They would make new lives for themselves- peaceful, solitary lives- and there the weight of all they’d endured would lift from them, they would be deserving of all the happiness and simple prosperity they would find (315).” The women use this dream to help them achieve temporary freedom from Rasheed and his unethical treatment. Mariam also finds a way to achieve a more permanent freedom from Rasheed, she kills him. It is not a plotted murder, but more of a spur-of- the-moment type. Mariam kills Rasheed as he’s about to strangle Laila to death for talking to a dear friend. Although the wives maybe free of Rasheed, they now are locked down by the guilt of taking Zalami’s father away from him.
This novel shares the question of when it is right to listen to one’s personal morals versus society’s with the film, On the Waterfront. When Mariam kills Rasheed she realizes that this action will be frowned upon by the government, but on the other hand she believes that it would be worse to let Rasheed live because he would probably do more damage to society. Mariam’s thinking is exposed in the novel, “If she let him walk now, how long before he fetched the key from his pocket and went for that gun of his upstairs in the room where he’d lock Zalmai (311)?” Just like Mariam, Terry must make a very difficult decision of whether exposing the mob will improve the union at the loading dock, or just get more people killed. I feel like there will never be an answer to this question because all societies and people are different.

Laila vs. Mariam: Wife to Wife (ATSS 4)

The war between Russia and the Afghanis has ended but now a civil war within in Afghanistan has started. Once Laila’s mother finally agrees to leave the dangerous Kabul, a missile hits the family’s house, killing Laila’s beloved Babi and Mammy. Laila is found by Rasheed, and agrees to marry him, and become his second wife. Laila agrees not only to have shelter and protection from the vicious rapists on the streets, but also so her and Tariq’s child, now six weeks along, will be able to grow up in a comfortable environment.
Now that Mariam must share her husband with Laila, conflict arises between the two women. This conflict is mostly caused by Rasheed’s disrespect for Mariam and his adoration of Laila. Rasheed makes Mariam his wife of eighteen years feel like an outsider when at the dinner table he says, “We are city people, you and I, but she is dehati. A village girl (199).” In front of Mariam, he tries to make himself and Laila appear more compatible by saying they are above Mariam. Then Rasheed goes on to compare his wives to cars. He metaphorically says, “If [Mariam] were a car, she would be a Volga...You, on the other hand would be a Benz (199).” So not only does Rasheed marry another wife, but he also takes every opportunity possible to make the old wife feel inferior to the new one. Because of all this cruel treatment from Rasheed, Mariam begins to resent Laila. Mariam is cold to Laila and even says “I have no use for your company. I don’t want it. What I want is to be alone. You will leave me be, and I will return the favor. That’s how we will get on (202).” I thought Mariam would enjoy some company after living with the horrid Rasheed for eighteen years, but I guess Mariam would rather be alone than be degraded, even if unintentionally. Although Laila makes many attempts, it is not until months after her baby is born, that she and Mariam finally resolve the tension between them. They reconcile one night when they are both up tending to the baby. During this time they begin to discus how they have both failed Rasheed, Mariam by not being able to give birth and Laila by having a girl. It is not until this discussion that Mariam and Laila learn they can only rely one another because Rasheed no longer cares for either of them.

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Welcome to Laila's Land (ATSS 3)

The setting of the story has abruptly changed to a house down the street form Mariam and Rasheed, and the main character of this story is a nine-year-old girl, Laila. Laila lives with her mother and father, and has two brothers, but they are currently off at war fighting the Soviet invaders. I believe Laila is a very fortunate daughter because she lives with fairly liberal parent who allow her, a girl, to attend school. In fact her father believes education should be the most important pillar in her life. With education and the changes happening during the war between the communists and capitalists, Babi believes that Laila is destined for great things. He even confides to her “.., it’s a good time to be a woman in Afghanistan. And you can take advantage of that (121).” Not only does Babi believe Laila will lead a successful life, but so do her friends. They claim “By the time we’re twenty, Giti and I, we’ll have pushed out four, five kids each. But you, Laila, you’ll make us two dummies proud. You’re going to be somebody. I know one day I’ll pick up a newspaper and find your picture on the front page (149)."
Along with Laila’s ambitions and education, Tariq is another important part of her life. Tariq is two years older than Laila, and they have played together for as long as either of them can remember. As Tariq and Laila grow up they begin to have feelings for each other, romantic feelings. At first it’s just a just a flirtatious look here and there, but then the relationship grows to be more. The two are about to proclaim their love for one another when Tariq announces that his family is moving to Pakistan. Thinking it will be the last time they ever see each other, the two do the dirty deed right then and there on the living room carpet. Although Tariq moves to Pakistan, Laila soon realizes that in nine months she will have here own part of Tariq to savor forever.

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SPANKY

Rasheed (ATSS 2)

Mariam has just gone to live with Rasheed, the shoemaker, in Kabul. Fortunately for Jalil, Kabul is 250 km from Heart, so he won’t have to be reminded the shame of his illegitimate daughter. After the first viewing of Rasheed’s “sly cheeriness” and his “watery, bloodshot eyes” (49), Mariam rightfully doubts any positive outcomes of this marriage. Rasheed is a controlling, and a religious man.
Rasheed is always in control of his possessions, especially his women. Rasheed explains to Mariam, “Where I come from, a woman’s face is her husband’s business only. I want you to remember that (63).” He rarely lets Mariam leave the house alone. Rasheed also forces Mariam to obey him in the house. Rasheed orders Mariam to cook when he is hungry, and when he is unhappy with his rice he forces Mariam to eat rocks.
Not only is Rasheed controlling, but he is religious as well. Rasheed is a Muslim who abides by its laws. When Mariam first arrive at Rasheed’s home, he explains his disdain for men who are more lenient with their wives, “They think nothing of strangers touching their wives bare feet!... They don’t see that they’re spoiling their own nang and namoos, their honor and pride (63).” The idea that women should lives should be spent in the household with their husbands often reoccurs in the Qu’ran. To help hide his wife from society, Rasheed forces Mariam to wear a burqa outside their home. Also Rasheed strong religious devotion is shown in the way he prays to Allah five times a day. Although Rasheed’s controlling ways may not make him seem like the ideal husband, he does provide Mariam with shelter and food which is all some women wanted during this time of raging war.

Why the Memoir...

The main reason people write memoirs is for themselves. They remember every last detail of a situation, so they may have a story to savor for a lifetime. When writing memoirs, people use their time to reflect on the situation, like what emotions they might have been feeling at the time of the story or why they acted in such a way. Others use writing a memoir to help themsemvles deal with their feelings, like coping with loss or letting out frustration. While I think this selfishness lies at the bottom of every memoir, some claim to write them to for others’ enjoyment. Some memoirs are written to persuade people or to educate about a culture while others help to teach a lesson. Sure authors might claim the memoirs are meant to be enjoyed by others, but they will be the ones enjoying their own work the most.
Memoirs seem to be powerful writing tools because they very casual. This relaxed attitude in a story allows for voice and feelings to come through in a story which can help readers to better understand the overall idea of the memoir. Also the stories told are often easily relatable to, so people can almost feel as if they are experiencing the story.

Meet the Characters of A Thousand Splendid Suns (1)

The novel I’m reading, A Thousand Splendid Suns by Khaled Hossen is about life in Afghanistan in the past thirty years. The main character of the novel, Mariam, is naïve and optimistic, but she quickly learns about the harsh realities outside of her home in rural land between Hurat and Gul Daman. Mariam is constantly torn between the opposing stories of her parents, but often she believes her father’s interpretation of the situation. Mariam probably thinks her mother is just over exaggerating due to her bitterness of being kicked out of the house, and also Mariam probably prefers to hear more positive stories about how great her early life was rather than negative ones. Mariam soon regrets her admiration for her father when she realizes he only cared for her when it was convenient and out of the public eye.
Other characters are Mariam’s mother, Nana and Mariam’s father, Jalil. Nana is bitter about how Jalil threw her away once she became pregnant. Because of this, Nana’s life is consumed with hatred for Jalil and finding revenge. The narrorator describes he futile attempt at revenge, “Nana yelled at the boys (Jalil’s sons) as she carried bags of rice inside, and called them names Mariam didn’t understand (15).” Jalil only visits Mariam once a week for an hour because she is not a legitimate daughter. Mairam looked forward to Jalil’s visits more than anything; the narrorator explains, “The anxiety set in on Tuesday nights. Mariam would sleep poorly fretting that some business entanglement would prevent Jalil from coming on Thursday (19).” It is crazy that Mariam spends half of her week dreaming about the hour with her father. Mariam thinks the world of Jalil because when they have conversations Jalil is away from others so he may tell stories that need not be verified. Once seeing city life, Mariam quickly learns that Jalil is a selfish man who only cared about Mariam when it was convenient. Mariam has just been forced by Jalil to marry a forty five year-old shoe maker who I am anxious to learn about.

Richard's Famine

Richard hungers for many things in life, the most obvious being food. Richard constantly speaks of how his daily meals consisting of mush, lard gravy and a plate of greens are never filling enough and how he yearns for the grumbles in his stomach to be stopped. While at first Richard’s empty stomach is painful and keeps him from focusing on school, eventually his appetite makes him get a job. With a job Richard is able to become more independent and is able to gain more insight into the relationships of blacks and whites in the community. Richard also hungers for acceptance. He picks fights at the beginning of school terms, so he will be respected enough to become one of the guys. At the same time though, he becomes part of the church. Although Richard has no spiritual feelings and joins to keep his friends, Richard also pleases his mother in doing so. Richard also hungers for knowledge. This leads him into trouble as his endless questions usually lead to annoyance and in turn beatings. Richard’s search for knowledge also allows his to develop aspirations that will get him past oppression.

Richard... the Bad Boy??

Richard is not a bad boy by any means, he is simply curious. When Richard lights the curtains on fire, is he attempting to burn down his house? No, he just wants to see what fabric would look like aflame. Who could have possibly known his family’s greatest monetary possession would be lost? Again when Richard spends his days outside the saloon, it’s just to see what excitement lies behind those moving doors, not to score free booze. Richard asks Ella about literature, not to anger his grandmother, but to explore the magical world which lies in the words of a book. Richard is not a bad boy, but sometimes his actions are frowned upon by others. Who is to blame for these actions?

Richard’s surroundings are definitely to blame for his actions, but they cannot take the entire burden. Richard must also take some responsibility for his life. Growing up Richard was rarely educated by his parents so naturally he took an interest in the things he knew nothing about. Lighting the curtains on fire, standing out side the saloon and writing the four letter words from school were all situations that could have been avoided if his parents had taken the time to answer some of Richard’s questions. On the other hand if Richard wasn’t so darn adventurous he probably wouldn’t put himself in these situations either. Richard also grew up in an environment where he learned violent was acceptable which is probably why it was so easy for him to kill the kitten. Although Richard makes all these bad decisions, he is not a bad boy because he doesn’t realize that his actions are wrong. Once someone explains to him that what he did was unacceptable, he is horrified at himself. Richard’s actions are mostly due to the environment that surrounds him, but that added to his personality creates a mischievous combination.

Hi I'm Alex. I figure the most important thing you should know about me is my favorite color. So here it is... orange. I don't like the color for any particular reason. It doesn't symbolize any emotion or anything. I just like orange.