AllusionsRaegan Carlstein, Alyssa Bryans, and Molly Kirkland

Pinocchio

Pinocchio Author: Carlo CollodiYear Written: 1883Storyline: Pinocchio is the story of a carpenter

who creates a wooden boy who wants to become a real boy. One characteristic the novel is known for is Pinocchio’s nose which grows longer every time he lies.

The book has had several movie adaptations, such as the 1940 film by Disney, and is referenced often in pop culture.

References in Thousand Splendid Suns

Mariam asks for her birthday to see the movie Pinocchio at Jalil’s theater with Jalil and her half siblings. Jalil never ends up taking Mariam to the movie, since he is ashamed of her.

Laila finds the Pinocchio film in a box Jalil attempted to give to Mariam before he died.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OlnF2PgNQEw

2:35-3;30

Significance The character Pinocchio has many similarities to

different characters in Thousand Splendid Suns. Jalil-The character Pinocchio lies frequently causing his nose to

grow longer. Jalil also lies frequently to Mariam, such as when he promised he would take her to see Pinocchio the movie.

Mariam-The character Pinocchio wants to become a “real boy.” This is similar to how Mariam wanted to feel like a real member of Jalil’s family. She also wanted to feel like a legitimate child and not be a harami.

Women in Afghanistan: Similar to how Pinocchio wanted to become a real boy, the women in Afghanistan wanted to be treated like real members of society. In the novel and in real life, they were frequently denied basic human rights and control over their own lives.

Old Man and the Sea

BackgroundAuthor: Ernest HemingwayYear Published: 1952Storyline: A fisherman fights to reel in a giant

fish. He tries for days and eventually catches it, but once he goes to bring it to shore the fish is torn apart by sharks.

References in Thousand Splendid Suns

Babi reads the book to Laila when they visit the giant Buddhas with Tariq.

SignificanceThe fish the fisherman is trying to capture is

very similar to the city of Kabul. Throughout the novel, several forces are trying to take over the city. Every time the city is taken over, it is split into further pieces and disrupt.

Babi tells Laila about the story while they are sitting near the giant Buddha’s, which are one of the religious symbols that suffer from political disputes for power.

Layla and Majnun

Background Arabic poem

Storyline: A young boy, Majnun, falls in love with a girl named Layla. He asks her dad if he can marry her but the dad refuses. Layla then marries another man but soon after dies of heartbreak from not being able to marry Majnun. Majnun is later found dead by Layla’s tombstone.

The story has had several adaptations in other cultures, such as a Persian adaptation that involves family feuds that prevent Layla and Majnun from marrying.

Another adaptation involves a curse that has Layla bleed instead of Majnun, whenever Majnun gets injured. That version ends with Majnun getting stabbed by Layla’s brother, but Layla dieing instead due to the curse.

Influenced the creation of Romeo and Juliet by Shakespeare.

Significance Rasheed calls Laila and Tariq “Laili and Manjoon”

as they are friends growing up. Foreshadowing as to what happens to Laila and

Tariq later in the novel. The adaptation where Layla bleeds instead of

Majnun everytime he gets injured, could be related to women in Afghan society. They often have to suffer the consequences of men’s actions, such as domestic violence or taking the blame for rape.

Titanic

Titanic1997 FilmDirected by James Cameron Storyline: A couple is on a sinking ship.

ReferencesThe movie Titanic reaches Kabul, and has such a

big effect they call it “Titanic city”People wear Titanic burqas, Titanic perfume, and

there is even a Titanic beggarhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=

cbXu0qHVgcc

Significance“Everybody wants Jack. That’s what it is. Everybody

wants Jack to rescue them from disaster. But there is no Jack. Jack is not coming back. Jack is dead.” –Laila.

This quote relates to how Laila feels about losing Tariq and how he can’t come back to save her, and also the people in the city of Kabul can’t be saved. It’s ironic because even once it is revealed that Tariq is still alive and he comes back, it is Laila and Mariam who save themselves. They stick up for themselves and kill Rasheed, without Tariq or any man’s help.

Kabul

KabulWritten by Persian poet Saib-e-TabriziLine from the poem inspired the title of the book

Thousand Splendid Suns

References

Babi recites the lines “One could not count the moons that shimmer on her roofs, or the thousand splendid suns that hide behind her walls” to Laila as they are about to leave Kabul.

Significance The poems lines “and the thousand splendid

suns that hide behind her walls” could refer to women in Afghan society who are constantly hidden behind burqas and veils, with their beauty and intelligence rarely being seen.

Also could represent the beauty and importance of Kabul to Laila’s family and also the many other people who live there. Although it may be hidden to outsiders, the city has lots of value and potential that the residents can clearly see.