Themes - Gender Roles

Question 1

Chapter 1

“Like a compass needle that points north, a man’s accusing finger always finds a woman.”

Nana, Mariam

Answer 1

• Mariam has been through so much in her life, and she wants to prepare Mariam for the harsh adulthood she will be sprung into
• The simile foreshadows Mariam’s death, as she is executed for Rasheed’s death

Question 2

chapter 16

“when this war is over, Afghanistan is going to need you as much as its men, maybe even more”

Babi, Laila

Answer 2

• Laila’s father - Babi - tells her how capable she is to do anything she wants to do in her life, whereas Mariam’s father makes her feel ashamed of who she is (“harami”)
• A social commentary on how men are valued more in Afghanistan than women are

Question 3

chapter 23

“By the time we’re twenty […] Giti and I, we’ll have pushed out four, five kids each.”

Laila, Giti, Hasina

Answer 3

• A conversation between Laila and her childhood friends that are all aware of the life they are going to be subjected to - getting married and having children.
• “pushed” - blunt adverbs to describe childbirth shows how nonchalant Hasina is about her fate that she has no say in

Question 4

Chapter 30

“She let her finger bleed on the sheets where they had lain together.”

Laila, Rasheed

Answer 4

• Laila cannot let Rasheed know she is not a virgin or pregnant with Tariq’s child
• A woman who is no longer a virgin is spoiled

Question 5

chapter 51

“But the game involves only male names. Because, if it’s a girl, Laila has already named her.”

Laila

Answer 5

• After so many struggles in her life, Laila can life somewhat peacefully and honour Mariam’s sacrifice
• Despite still being a male-dominatd society, Laila feels safe enough to celebrate the idea of having a baby girl

Question 6

LACNTPN, A MAFAFAW.

Answer 6

“Like a compass needle that points north, a man’s accusing finger always finds a woman.” - Nana

Question 7

WTWIO, AIGTNYAMAINIM, MEM.

Answer 7

“when this war is over, Afghanistan is going to need you as much as its men, maybe even more” - Babi

Question 8

BTTWT […] GAI, WHPOF, FKE.

Answer 8

“By the time we’re twenty […] Giti and I, we’ll have pushed out four, five kids each.” - Hasina

Question 9

SLHFBOTSWTHLT

Answer 9

“She let her finger bleed on the sheets where they had lain together.” - narrator

Question 10

BTGIOMB. B, IIAG, LHANH.

Answer 10

“But the game involves only male names. Because, if it’s a girl, Laila has already named her.”