"Sometimes I talk with flowers
And I know they hear me.
Most people don't know
That flowers can hear us.
Flowers are always quiet
Because they are listening."
-Madia, age 14
And I know they hear me.
Most people don't know
That flowers can hear us.
Flowers are always quiet
Because they are listening."
-Madia, age 14
Skeeter in The Help and Mariam in A thousand Splendid Suns
Skeeter is a young woman living in her parents’ home after she has graduated from college. Skeeter wants to have a career and independence from her family, yet her mother has certain expectations of how Skeeter should proceed with her life after she graduates from college. Skeeter’s mother believes that Skeeter should seek a husband and participate in the local women’s groups in Jackson, Mississippi. Skeeter feels that she disappoints her mother when she chooses a hairstyle or clothing that her mother does not approve of. Skeeter feels the pressure of her mother’s and society’s expectations and feels stifled by the fact that what she wants to achieve does not directly line up with her mother, friends, and society’s expectations for her.
Mariam, a young girl growing up in a rural area of Afghanistan is also feeling the pressure of her mother’s expectations. Mariam’s mother has been deeply disappointed by her own situation, when she (Nana) becomes pregnant by a married man who she is working for as a housekeeper. Mariam’s mother, Nana, raises Mariam in a rural hut, in poverty and disillusionment. This disillusionment is transferred as pressure to Mariam. Mariam wants to achieve certain things in her life, yet the voice she hears from her mother and from her society is limiting. Mariam’s father disappoints her as well and when her mother commits suicide Mariam in temporarily taken in by her father, yet his three wives plot to marry her off to an older man who further mistreats her and makes it impossible for Mariam to reach any of her personal goals.
When comparing these two characters, it is difficult to feel sorry for Skeeter, since her family and society are much more forgiving of any expectations that are transferred to her. Mariam’s parents and society are much more rigid and unforgiving and the comparison feels weak and difficult to view side-by-side. The differences between these two characters parental and societal pressures are dramatic when we look at them and the setting, the United States vs. Afghanistan and how different an influence they provide on how these characters adjust to any adversities they face. How can we compare these two characters and their dreams when we have such diverse settings?
Skeeter is a young woman living in her parents’ home after she has graduated from college. Skeeter wants to have a career and independence from her family, yet her mother has certain expectations of how Skeeter should proceed with her life after she graduates from college. Skeeter’s mother believes that Skeeter should seek a husband and participate in the local women’s groups in Jackson, Mississippi. Skeeter feels that she disappoints her mother when she chooses a hairstyle or clothing that her mother does not approve of. Skeeter feels the pressure of her mother’s and society’s expectations and feels stifled by the fact that what she wants to achieve does not directly line up with her mother, friends, and society’s expectations for her.
Mariam, a young girl growing up in a rural area of Afghanistan is also feeling the pressure of her mother’s expectations. Mariam’s mother has been deeply disappointed by her own situation, when she (Nana) becomes pregnant by a married man who she is working for as a housekeeper. Mariam’s mother, Nana, raises Mariam in a rural hut, in poverty and disillusionment. This disillusionment is transferred as pressure to Mariam. Mariam wants to achieve certain things in her life, yet the voice she hears from her mother and from her society is limiting. Mariam’s father disappoints her as well and when her mother commits suicide Mariam in temporarily taken in by her father, yet his three wives plot to marry her off to an older man who further mistreats her and makes it impossible for Mariam to reach any of her personal goals.
When comparing these two characters, it is difficult to feel sorry for Skeeter, since her family and society are much more forgiving of any expectations that are transferred to her. Mariam’s parents and society are much more rigid and unforgiving and the comparison feels weak and difficult to view side-by-side. The differences between these two characters parental and societal pressures are dramatic when we look at them and the setting, the United States vs. Afghanistan and how different an influence they provide on how these characters adjust to any adversities they face. How can we compare these two characters and their dreams when we have such diverse settings?