Week 1 Post A

Definitions

deflated (p.22)- to depress or reduce (a person or a person's ego, hopes, spirits, etc.); puncture; dash
forlorn (p.25)- desolate or dreary; unhappy or miserable, as in feeling, condition, or appearance.

Figurative language

"To Jalil and his wives, I was a pokeroot. A mugwort."(p.8) Obviously, Mariam is not a type of weed. However, the author uses this metaphor to the point across that she was somebody who wasn't wanted as a child and they actually tried to get rid of her but failed.

"What's the sense schooling a gril like you? It's like shining a spittoon." (p.17) In this quote, Khaled Hosseini, uses a simile to compare the main character to a spittoon. Many people feel as if she isn't worth schooling because she was the result of an affair and the father doesn't want her.

This next quote isn't exactly like a metaphor but it does show the mother's views on Mariam when she tells her that she is nothing and will become nothing. "I'm the only one who loves you. I'm all you have in this world, Mariam, and when I'm gone you'll have nothing. You'll have nothing. You are nothing!" (p.26)

Quote

"You're afraid, Nana. You're afraid that I might find the happiness you haver had. And you don't want me to be happy. You don't want a good life for me. You're the one with the wretched heart."

This is Mariam's way of rebelling against her mother who constantly puts her down and tells her that she is worthless and not wanted by anybody. In a ways, she seems a lot like me, with her cocky attitude against her parents. I have the same attitude with my parents whether I'm just acting tough or pretending I don't care. Why do I do it? To show that I am cooler than they are and that I am in control of my life which freaks my parents out. Most of the time, I end up with some punishment and even being grounded for the weekend. While the punishments do suck, it's worth it to show them that I am the same invincible, cocky, and mischievous boy that they will always have.

Theme

There really isn't a main theme yet because the author doesn't introduce the main conflict until about the 10th chapter. However, I can say that one side-theme is that women shouldn't concede to men just because of their gender.