Andre Birdsong Kevin Bustillo

Setting Afghanistan – Cities: Herat, Kabul –A couple fictional villages, but most places are real ghetto it soooo hood!!! Story begins in late 60’s,early 70s Ends in 2003 great span of political turmoil in Afghanistan

Women: Before the Taliban take over, women’s role in society was beginning to be equal –Allowed education –Dress code was lightened – could wear just a loose scarf over head, could wear lipstick, nail polish, high heels –Voting rights granted in select areas With Taliban, women basically lose all forms of freedom

Under Taliban: There Aim was to “secure environments where the chasteness and dignity of women may once again be sacrosanct," Forced to wear Burqa – “face of a woman is a source of corruption” Could not be in public without male escort

Mariam Mariam grows up in a small shack outside of the city of Herat. She was brought up to know her place in society as a 'harami,' or bastard child. She is a strong girl who questions authority and dreams of bigger things for herself - far beyond what she finds within the walls of her small shack. Though she is raised by Nana, her mother, she is very fond of her estranged father, Jalil. After falling into deep despair following her mother's death, Mariam is abandoned by Jalil, who marries her off to Rasheed, despite her attempts to remain single. Her childless marriage to Rasheed eventually forces her into a life of submission and misery until close to the end of her life, when Laila provides her with some hope.

Rasheed is Jalil's friend and Mariam's husband. He is a huge man who owns a shoe repair shop, and he is significantly older than Mariam. Rasheed has a troubled past, as his first wife and son have both died. Rasheed is very stern, has a hot temper, and has high hopes for having children, specifically boys. He has very particular hypocrisies for his observance for Islam. For instance, he requires the women in his household to wear burqas when appearing in public, but he does not fast on Ramadan. Rasheed ultimately becomes abusive to his wives and daughter, to the point of near murder

Jalil Jalil is Mariam's father, a rich movie theater owner who lives in Herat. To Mariam, Jalil is an amazing father - and a paragon of virtue - but to Mariam's mother he has neglected his obligations to his family. Jalil has two legitimate wives and ten other children in addition to Mariam. When Nana dies, Mariam is sent to Jalil's house, but his other wives refuse to keep her in the house. Jalil then decides to cast Mariam off, giving her up to marry Rasheed. Later on, Jalil regrets his harsh treatment of Mariam, and attempts to contact her to apologize.