Themes
What central theme involves the struggle of Afghan women in the book?
Gender roles and the oppression of women
Who is the main character raised by her mother in a kolba outside Herat?
Mariam
Who becomes Rasheed's second wife after a tragic bombing kills her parents?
Laila
Which country does the novel primarily take place in?
Afghanistan
What piece of clothing does Rasheed make Mariam and Laila wear to conceal them in public?
The burqa
Which theme is illustrated through the complex relationship between Mariam and Laila as they go from rivals to friends?
Female friendship, support, unity...
What is the name of Laila's childhood friend who later becomes her husband?
Tariq
What is the reason Mariam is sent to live with Rasheed in Kabul?
After her mother’s death, her father forces her into an arranged marriage.
What regime takes control of Afghanistan during the latter half of the novel, imposing strict rules on women?
The Taliban
What does the burqa symbolize in the novel?
The oppression and control of women under Rasheed and the Taliban.
How does the theme of war and its effects manifest in Laila's life?
Laila’s family is torn apart by the ongoing conflict in Afghanistan, and she loses her parents to a bombing during the civil war, forcing her into marriage with Rasheed.
Which character is a former teacher and father to Laila, known for his progressive views on education?
Hakim (Babi)
What major event leads to Laila deciding to flee Kabul with Tariq?
Rasheed’s growing abuse and the political instability caused by the Taliban's takeover.
What global superpower invaded Afghanistan in the late 1970s, triggering political instability in the region?
The Soviet Union
What does Mariam’s childhood home, the kolba, symbolize in her life?
The kolba symbolizes Mariam’s isolation, shame, and the limitations placed on her as a harami (illegitimate child).
What theme is represented by Mariam’s journey from feeling powerless as a harami to her final act of bravery?
The theme of personal sacrifice and redemption (murder of Rasheed).
Who is the abusive cobbler and husband of both Mariam and Laila?
Rasheed
How does Mariam ultimately free Laila and herself from Rasheed’s abuse?
Mariam kills Rasheed with a shovel after he tries to strangle Laila.
How are women affected by the Taliban's rule in Kabul, especially regarding dress and public behavior?
Women are forced to wear burqas, cannot leave the house without a male escort, and are denied education and employment.
What do the pebbles that Mariam collects and arranges in her childhood represent?
The pebbles represent Mariam's longing for a family and the connection she wishes she had with her father, Jalil.
How does Khaled Hosseini explore the theme of hope and endurance through the character of Laila, especially after Rasheed's death?
Laila represents hope for a better future, as she rebuilds her life after Rasheed’s death, returns to Kabul to help rebuild the city, and holds onto the dream of educating the next generation, showing the resilience of the human spirit despite adversity.
What is the name of Mariam’s half-sister who visits her in the kolba and talks about their father's wives?
Niloufar
What happens to Mariam after she confesses to killing Rasheed?
She is executed by the Taliban.
During which real-world event does Laila's family plan to leave Kabul, but a tragedy prevents their escape?
The civil war in Afghanistan following the Soviet withdrawal, specifically during the shelling between warring Mujahideen factions in Kabul.
What do Laila's visits to the Bamiyan Buddhas with her father symbolize in the context of the novel's themes?
The Bamiyan Buddhas symbolize the rich history and culture of Afghanistan, as well as the hope for a future of education and progress that Laila’s father believes in, contrasting the destruction and oppression that follows under the Taliban’s rule.