Midaq Alley

I just finished reading A Thousand splendid Suns and the book was amazing. Now I'm starting to read Midaq Alley.

The novel centers around the residents of one of the hustiling, teeming back alleys of Cairo. From Zaita the cripple-maker to Kirsha the cafe owner with a taste for young boys and drugs, to Abbas the barber who mistakes greed for love, to Hamida who sells her soul to escape the alley, these characters vivdly evoke the sights, sounds and smells of Cairo. Long after one finishes reading, the smell of fresh bread lingers, as does the image of men gathering at the cafe for their nightly ritual.

I'm going to be paying close attention to the women in this novel and how they are portrayed in Egypt's society. I Have read about how Marocco has portrayed their women, to seeing how the Afgani women are treated. Now I am entering a new world, a new continent, a new country and a new city. With all new characters.

When there's hope

In Chapter 45 we start to see Laila and Mariam become stronger individuals. This all happens after Tariq shows up after many years. The readers learn that Rasheed paid someone to come to Laila and tell her that Tariq was dead, just so he can marry her. Now Laila is starting to see that maybe their lives can change because Tariq is back and can protect them. The only problem is Rasheed. When Rasheed learns about Tariq coming over, Laila starts to fight him back. Once Maraim sees that he is really hurting Laila and means to kill her, she starts to take action as well. she goes and grabs and shovel that ends up killing him at the end of the chapter. This shows us that these two women do have the power to protect themselves. That all this time if they just stood up to him and showed him who's boss, he would never bother them again.

Starting to Open her eyes to the truth

Had she been a deceitful wife? she asked herself. A complacent wife? A dishonorable woman? Discreditable? vulgar? What harmful thing had she willfully done to this man to warrant his malice, his continual assaults, the relish with which he tormented her? Had she not looked after him when he was ill? Fed him, and his friends, cleaned up after him dutifully?
Had she not given this man her youth?
Had she ever justly deserved his meanness? p. 309

Finally we start to see Mariam open her eyes to how her husband treated her all these years. She now knows he has done nothing but made her life even more miserable. This I believe helps her fight him back to defend Laila and herself. This is what helps her murder the man that is about to kill the only person in her life, who understood her and loved for who she was.

Starvation starts to lead to Murder + Suicide

Death from starvation suddenly became a distinct possibility. Some chose not to wait for it. Mariam heard of a neighborhood widow who had ground some dried bread, laced it with rat poison, and fed it all to seven of her children. She had saved the biggest portion for herself. p. 272

What would you do if you were starving to death? Would you commit the sin of killing not only your self but others as well?

God is dead to Laila

"Titanic City" was born.
It's the song, they said.
No, the sea. The luxury. The ship.
It's the sex, they whispered.
Leo, said Aziza sheepishly. It's all about Leo.
"Everybody wants Jack," Laila said to Mariam. "That's what it is. Everybody wants Jack to rescue them from disaster. But there is not Jack. Jack is not coming back. Jack is dead." p. 270

In this passage it seems like Laila is not really refferring to Leonardo DiCaprios character but is referring to God. She's telling Mariam that God has left Afganistan and is never going to help them. She's telling Mariam that God is dead to her and everyone else. The reason for this is becuase it seems like no one is helping her and everyone else in Afganistan. We start to think is Laila losing faith in God?

Titanic

That was also the summer of Titanic, the summer that Mariam and Aziza were a tangle of limbs, rolling and giggling, Aziza insisting she get to be Jack.
"Quiet, Aziza jo."
"Jack! Say my name, Khala Mariam. Say it. Jack!"
"Your father will be angry if you wake him."
"Jack! and you're Rose."
It would end up with Mariam on her back, Surrendering, agreeing again to be Rose. "Fine, you be Jack," she relented. "You die young, and I get to live to a ripe old age."
"Yes, but I die a hero," said Aziza, "while you, Rose, you spend your entire, miserable life longing for me." p. 269-270

The last sentence that is in bold, basically describes who Mariam is. She connects with Rose in a way. She has suffered her entire childhood waiting for her dad, then being forced to marry a man who sh does not love. She is not exactly like Rose who is longing for a man but she is longing for happiness, freedom, and acceptence.

Laila's Dream: tells the future

In Laila's dream, she and Mariam are out behind the toolshed digging again. But, this time, it's Aziza they're lowering into the ground. Aziza's breath fogs the sheet of plastic in which they have wrapped her. Laila sees her panicked eyes, the whiteness of her palms as they slap and push against the sheet. Aziza pleads. Laila can't hear her screams. Only for a while, she calls down, it's only for a while. It's the raids, don't you know, my love? When the raids are over, Mammy and Khala Mariam will dig you out. I promise, my love. Then we can play. We can play all you want. She fills the shovel. Laila woke up, out of breath, with a taste of soil in her mouth, when the first granular lumps of dirt hit the plastic. p. 268

This dreams seems like it's warning Laila of whats going to happen next to her daughter Aziza. The ironic part about it is later on in the chapter she has to send Aziza to an orphange because she can not afford to feed her. She tells Aziza that it's only temporary and that she and Mariam will come and get her soon. When Aziza is sent to the orphange, it seems that Rasheed didn't care if his daughter went but did not even send his son there. So this shows us the favoriatism he has over his son more than his daughter.

I also, made a connection with Laila's dream that used to happen a lot in the pre-Islamic times and in other countries as well. The Taliban are taking over so much. They restrict everyone from doing anything at all. This connects back to burrying the new born baby girls in the past. Back then if a women bore a baby girl they would have to get rid of the child. So it seems like Laila fears this is what's going to happen next to her child. To her and Tariq's child.

Laila in the novel a thousand splendid suns is a strong character. She always stands up to what her husband has to say. In chapter 40 the reader's start to see the "unfairness" Rasheed has on both his children. He treats his daughter as if she was not his own, while he treats his son like a prince. Laila stands up to Rasheed when he tells her that he is going to put Aziza on the streets to be a "begger". Laila told him no and he ended up slapping her. Laila then defended herself and punched him in the face. For just a moment once Rasheed left the room Laila saw that she might actually have power over him. Until he came back and placed his gun to her mouth.

"The slap made a loud smacking sound, the palm of his thickfingered hand connecting squarely with the meat of Laila's cheek... Then Laila punched him." p.266

This makes me proud when women object to what the men say or do. I was proud of Laila punching Rasheed and defending herself and her daughter. Even though this is going to lead to consequences, this goes to show no matter what the consequences are we should always stand up to what we believe in. And never let those who try to bring or put you down, do so.

We see more of Laila back talking Rasheed.

Fired from the resturant in Taimani because customers complained about the long waits, Rasheed said the cook was slow and lazy.
"You were probably out back napping," said Laila.
"Don't provoke him, Laila jo," Mariam said.
"I'm warning you, women," he said.
"Either that or smoking."
"I swear to God."
"You can't help being what you are."
And then he was on Laila, pummeling her chest, her head, her belly with fists, tearing at her hair, throwing her to the wall. Aziza was shrieking, pulling at his shirt; Zalmai was screaming too, trying to get him off his mother. Rasheed shoved the children aside, pushed Laila to the ground, and began kicking her. Mariam threw herself on Laila. He went on kicking, kicking Mariam now, spittle flying from his mouth, his eyes glittering with murderous intent, kicking until he couldn't anymore.
"I swear you're going to make me kill you, Laila," he said, panting. then he stormed out of the house. p.271-272

Rasheed abusing Laila shows the rage of how men can not control their actions. Beating on women who are weaker than them. This is sad because this really does happen to these middle Eastern women. Most of the men there think they have a right to hit or abuse their wives. What would you do if your husband ever even hit you? Imagine what these women go through everyday living in a society that traps them from everything.

That inner feeling

They shut down the cinemas too. Cinema Park. Ariana. Aryub. Projection rooms were ransacked and reels of films set to fire. Laila remembered all the times she and Tariq had sat in those theaters and watched hindi films, all those melodramatic tales of lovers seperated by some tragic turn of fate, one adrift in some faraway land, the other forced into marriage, the weeping, the singing in fields of merigolds, the longing for reunions. She remembered how Tariq would laugh at her for crying at those films. (p.251 Thousand Splendid suns)

This is ironic because now Laila is living the same life style as the girls in the movies she used to watch with her love, Tariq.

WHY are RULES always HARDER on WOMEN?!?!?

Our watan is now known as the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan. These are the laws that we will enforce and you will obey:
all citizens must pray five times a day. If it is prayer time and you are caught doing something other, you will be beaten.
All men will grow their beards. The correct length is at least one clenched fist beneath the chin. If you do not abide by this, you will be beaten.
All boys will wear turbans. Boys in grade one through six will wear black turbans, huigher grades will wear white. All boys will wear Islamic clothes. Shirt collars will be buttoned.
Singing is forbidden.
Dancing is forbidden.
playing cards, playing chess, gambling, and kite flying are forbidden.
Writing books, watching films, and painting pictures are forbidden.
If you keep parakeets, you will be beaten. Your birds will be killed.
If you steal, your hand will be cut off at the wrist. If you steal again, your foot wiil be cut off.
If you are not Muslim, do not worship where you can be seen by Muslims. If you do, you will be beaten and imprisoned. If you are caught trying to convert a Muslim to your faith, you will be executed.
Attention women:
You will stay inside your homes at all times. It is not proper for women to wander aimlessly about the streets. If you go outside, you must be accompanied by a mahram, a male relative. If you are caught alone on the street, you will be beaten and sent home.
You will not, under any circumstance, show your face. You will cover with burqa when outside. If you do not, you will be severely beaten.
Cosmetics are forbidden.
Jewelry is forbidden.
You will not wear charming clothes.
You will not speak unless spoken to.
you will not make eye contact with men.
You will not laugh in public. If you do, you will be beaten.
You will not paint your nails. If you do, you will lose a finger.
Girls are forbidden from attending school. All schools for girls will be closed immediately.
Women are forbidden from working.
If you are found guilty of adultery, you will be stoned to death.
listen. listen well. obey. Allah-u-akbar.(p.247-249 Thousand splendid suns)

Tell me what you think about this passage. How would you feel if you were under these cercumstances? Any questions? Ask. I'll explain my opinion once I find out your opinions.