Sharing One Husband

Sharing One Husband

  • Submitted By: adzo05
  • Date Submitted: 01/04/2009 3:20 PM
  • Category: Psychology
  • Words: 457
  • Page: 2
  • Views: 670

The relationship between Mariam and Laila begins when a decision is made that both Mariam and Laila will be wives of Rasheed. Sharing one husband would naturally cause tension between two ladies; ironically, this is what initiates the everlasting friendship between Mariam and Laila. Mariam and Laila are forced to live in a house and interact with one another daily. This creates a commonality between the two ladies—Mariam and Laila can easily relate to one another because they are in the same predicament, “Mariam and Laila did their chores together. They sat in the kitchen and rolled dough, chopped green onions, minced garlic…” (Hosseini 225). The two ladies have similar expectations from Rasheed—to be a housewife, and a housewife only. Rasheed also treats both of his wives with disrespect. Because of the abundant amount of time spent together and the endless similarities between the two, Mariam and Laila become emotionally attached to one another, “Somehow, over these last months, Laila and Aziza [Laila’s daughter]… had become extensions of [Mariam], and now, without them, the life Mariam had tolerated for so long suddenly seemed intolerable,” (229). Mariam’s core values change—family becoming a top priority. As Mariam and Laila spend more time together, their friendship develops. “Two new flowers [Laila and Aziza] had unexpectedly sprouted in [Mariam’s] life,” (229); these flowers are evidently becoming more important to Mariam. Laila and her daughter, Aziza, are becoming Mariam’s true family.
As family becomes more important to Mariam, her relationship with Laila matures into a mother-daughter relationship. Mariam is significantly older than Laila, and as she ages, she becomes more protective of Laila. Mariam is very caring and treats Laila as her own daughter. When Laila is in labour (with her second child), she and Mariam arrive at the Malalai hospital, only to realize that the hospital does not accept women (due to social standards). Instead, they travel...

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