Abstract：A Thousand Splendid Suns is the second novel of Khaled Hosseini which has won him great reputation. Because he is an American Afghan, most of his works are concerned with the painful suffering of ordinary Afghans under such a dog-eat-dog society. The novel is about the dreams of two feminine protagonists---Mariam and Laila, the humiliation they bore, the resistance under great pressure and spiritual salvation. The author narrates respectively from the angle of the two heroines which seems plain but more touching, profoundly revealing the awakening of female self-consciousness and revolt against the inequality. 

Women live in the lowest position in the patriarchal Afghan society especially under the control of Taliban. They are not allowed to go outside unless be accompanied by a male relative, and they are not allowed to show their faces under any circumstances. For women, cosmetics are forbidden, jewelry is forbidden, schooling is forbidden, and working is forbidden.

Based on previous researches, this thesis will analyze the awakening of the two heroines and how they rebel against the political repression and distortion of patriarchal society from the feminist perspective in order to reveal women’s tragedy as an inferior group, meantime to call for the global women’s liberation movement and build a gender equality society.

Keywords:  A Thousand Splendid Suns  -feminism  -awakening  -rebellion

Contents

Abstract

中文摘要

Chapter One Introduction-1

1.1 An Introduction to Khaled Hosseini-1

1.2 An Introduction to A Thousand Splendid Suns-1

1.3 Literature Review-2

Chapter Two Feminism-3

2.1 Origin and Definition of Feminism-3

2.2 Feminism as a Literary Theory-4

Chapter Three Opressed Consciousness of the Heroines-5

3.1 Being Oppressed by Social System-5

3.2 Suffering from Domestic Violence-6

3.3 Self-denial and Submission to Fate-7

Chapter Four Awakening and Revolts of the Heroines-8

4.1 Awakening of the Heroines-8

4.1.1 Sisterhood Established between Mariam and Laila-8

4.1.2 Mariam’s Awakening-9

4.1.3 The Urgent Need to Be Freed-9

4.2 The Revolts of the Heroines-10

4.2.1 The Heroines' Failed Escape-10

4.2.2 Mariam's Killing Rasheed-11

4.2.3 Laila's Leaving and Returning to Her Native Country-12

Chapter Five Conclusion-13

References-14