Society

There is an obvious connection to society in this novel. The novel shows and depicts women and their role in Afghan life. Nana tells Mariam that the only thing she must learn in life is to "endure," instead of learning a formal education. Women are discouraged from learning in Afghanistan and are discouraged from forming any form of relationships since they are nothing but property, it seems. This is interesting as the novel points out several female bonds that occur during the novel, such as Nana and Mariam, Mariam and Laila, and Mariam and an admirer in prison. All of these bonds are shown to prove that women can overcome the power struggle in the worst of times by sticking together.

Another theme that represents society today, especially in the Middle East, is honor of one's family. This is considered the most important in certain cultures to be successful in life. Since Nana had a bastard child, Mariam, she was to live a life in shame for having a child out of wedlock. This shame Mariam has to live with her entire life and ends up killing Nana. This novel is not the first story where this kind of shame ends a family in murder or suicide or a form of exclusion from society.