Summary: In these chapters, much of the war is documented. A new group, the Taliban, took over Kabul and made new rules. They killed many people and made new laws, including laws against the women. Rasheed did not mind the Taliban, but they were brutal to the people and especially women. Laila became pregnant with Rasheed’s child, and almost terminated her pregnancy
As Laila was about to have her baby, they went to the women only hospital, and encountered difficulties. The hospital was severely under supplied and yet they still did surgery to help save Laila’s baby. The baby was positioned the wrong way, and the nurses had no anesthetic to give when they performed surgery on Laila.
Analysis: The Taliban represent the chaotic nature of Afghanistan and their bans impose further on women’s rights. This shows the reduced status of women and the constant power struggles that occur in Afghanistan. Rasheed’s like of the Taliban shows his heartless nature, as they kill and rape, pillage and burn. The actions of the Taliban portrayed in the novel are also for the purpose of showing the reduced status of women in Afghanistan. Laila’s refusal to terminate her pregnancy shows her loving nature and caring manner, revealing that the women are also good, and condemning their lower status.
This chapter, thirty nine, almost solely shows the deprivation that women went through in Afghanistan. They had no medical supplies for women, and women were mistreated and condemned. This chapter though, through Laila’s determination, shows that some women stood strong, such as Mariam and Laila, against the prejudicial onslaught.
