Hosseini’s
use figurative language such as, imagery and diction to communicate how
important cultural values are in Afghanistan. In passage eleven, chapter 33
pages 235-236, Laila is about to give birth and Rasheed and her are on their
way to the hospital. Rasheed is being gentle and holding her by the hand when
Mariam thinks she over hears Rasheed calling her his flower, which upsets
Mariam because he no longer pays attention to her but only to Laila. When Laila
and Rahsheed return the next day Mariam notices that Rasheed storms in and has
a look on his face of disappointment because the baby that Laila gave birth to
is a girl. Laila is trudging in the house with the baby in her arms and other
packages because Rasheed is angry that he did not get what he wanted. In this
scene Hosseini uses diction and imagery to show the reader how important
cultural values and social values are in Afghanistan, for example in the passage it says, "Mariam saw Rasheed enter the yard first. He let the gate go
prematurely, and it almost hit the girl on the face. He crossed the yard in a
few, quick steps.
Mariam detected a shadow on his face, a darkness underlying the coppery light
of dusk" (235-236). Diction is being used in this quote when Hosseini uses
the word "prematurely" to describe how Rasheed let go of
the gate, he let it close quickly not caring that Laila was behind him because
she did not give him what he wanted which was a son. This shows how cultural
values and social values in Afghan are important because male children are valued more than
female children and it is upsetting for Rasheed because he has been wanting a
male child after he lost his other son. Also imagery is being used in this
quote as well when Hosseini uses the words "darkness
underlying the coppery light of dusk" to help the reader picture the
expression that Rasheed has plastered on his face, it's dark and angry.
Diction and imagery are important because without good diction there cannot be
good imagery.
Scarlet Dominguez TSS Project
Wednesday, January 22, 2014
Thursday, January 16, 2014
Pasage from A Thousand Splendid Suns (Chapter 33 – pages 235-236)
A
Thousand Splendid Suns, Passage Eleven (Chapter 33 –
pages 235-236)
Early one morning the
next spring, of 1993, Mariam stood by the living room window and watched
Rasheed escort the girl out of the house. The girl was tottering forward, bentat the waist, one arm draped protectively across the taut drum of her belly,the shape of which was visible through her burqa. Rasheed, anxious and overly attentive, was holding her elbow, directing her across the yard like a trafficpoliceman. He made a Wait here gesture, rushed to the front gate, then motioned for the girl to
come forward, one foot propping the gate open. When she reached him, he took
her by the hand, helped her through the gate. Mariam could almost hear him say,
"Watch your
step, now, my flower, my gul."
They came back early the next evening.
Mariam saw Rasheed enter the yard first.He let the gate go prematurely, and it almost hit the girl on the face. Hecrossed the yard in a few, quick steps. Mariam detected a shadow on his face, adarkness underlying the coppery light of dusk. In the house, he took off his
coat, threw it on the couch. Brushing past Mariam, he said in a brusque voice,
"I'm hungry. Get supper ready."
The front door to the house opened. Fromthe hallway, Mariam saw the girl, a swaddled bundle in the hook of her leftarm. She had one foot outside, the other inside, against the door, to preventit from springing shut. She was stooped over and was grunting, trying to reachfor the paper bag of belongings that she had put down in order to open thedoor. Her face was grimacing with effort. She looked up and saw Mariam.
Mariam turned around
and went to the kitchen to warm Rasheed's meal.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)