A Thousand Splendid Suns Theme of Education

A Thousand Splendid Suns talks a lot about the importance of education. Yes, we all know that school isn't always the most fun thing in the world, but characters like Laila have to struggle just to get a high school education. First off, there's a war going on, which makes walking to school a dangerous prospect. There's also the pressure against girls going to school and getting educated. Luckily, characters like Laila and Babi know the importance of education and overcome these hurdles whenever they reach them.

Questions About Education

  1. What is the Soviet attitude towards education? How does it compare to the Taliban's view?
  2. How did Laila and Mariam's childhoods differ in terms of their families' views on education?
  3. How do the different ethnic groups of the novel view the importance of education?
  4. What sorts of challenges do girls face when trying to get an education?