Comparing and Contrasting Characters of "A Thousand Splendid Suns"

In Khaled Hosseini's "A Thousand Splendid Suns", two of the main characters are named Mariam and Laila. They have both similarities and differences. Their similarities are that they are both women suffering in the terrible conditions of the middle east. More specifically, they are both married to the same abusive man. The similarities end there. Laila is beautiful, while Mariam is not. Laila comes from a privileged background, while Mariam does not. Laila was educated and Mariam was not. Despite their differences, the two women must depend on eachother to survive the wrath of their husband, Rashed. Rashed can be compared to another character named Tariq. Hardly any comparisans can be drawn since Rashed and Tariq are practically foil characters. This means that they are polar opposites and they exaggerate the other's characteristics. Tariq was Laila's childhood friend, who she later fell in love with. He lost his leg to a land mine, but did not let this slow him down. Tariq is strong and kind, while Rashed is a tyrant. Laila's parents both had very tragic lives, but since they are very different characters, they handled their tragedies differently. After Laila's brothers died in war, Laila's father grieved normally, then returned to his normal life. He displayed tremendous strength. Laila's mother was almost bi-polar. She never left her bed, then she would suddenly be out of bed, acting happy. She did not handle her son's deaths well, and she ignored the child she still had because she was too caught up in her grief. Laila's parents did not have the normal dynamic that most families in that country did. Laila's mother was forceful and Laila's father was submissive. Mariam's parents did not live together as Laila's did. This was because Mariam's mother worked for Mariam's father and they had an affair. Mariam was born out of wedlock as a harami or bastard, and she and her mother were sent to live in an isolated shack so they would be kept a secret. Mariam's mother was bitter because she and Mariam had been sent away, and she took out her frustration on her daughter. Mariam's father visited her from time to time, and he was very good to Mariam and she loved him even though he had sent her away. The main difference between Mariam's parents is that her mother took care of her but was cruel to her, and her father ignored her, but was kind when he visited.411. Laila and Tariq are another set of characters who can be compared and contrasted. They have their love for eachother in common, and they also are suffering the same terrible conditions of their country. They both loose their families because Laila's house was bombed, and his parents died in a refugee camp. Laila and Tariq are both kind and well educated. The difference between the two is that Tariq is stronger. Laila is strong too of course, but Tariq is the one who lost a leg, and Tariq is the one who came to save Laila from Rashed.