Discussion Questions:
Was Mariam justified in killing Rasheed?
Rasheed treated all women poorly, but Mariam and Laila felt the full force of his rage. He verbally, emotionally, and physically abused his wives. Mariam’s actions were illegal, but justifiable. Although murder is a heinous act, Mariam had no other choice. She did what she had to in order to save Laila. If Mariam had gone to the police, they would have taken the side of Rasheed because he is the man of the house and therefore can do whatever he wants to Mariam, Laila, and the children. Mariam broke the law when she killed Rasheed, but she had understandable reasons for her actions.
Would Mariam be better off staying with her mother instead of marrying Rasheed?
Mariam’s life changed when she married Rasheed. She did her best to become the proper wife, but her infertility kept her from perfecting the role. Staying with Nana would have spared Mariam years of physical abuse from Rasheed, but Mariam would have remained miserable, unhappy, and lonely for her entire life. If Mariam had not married Rasheed, she would never have met Laila and Aziza. Laila and her daughter loved Mariam. They gave Mariam’s life a purpose and a meaning. They gave Mariam the happiness that she thought she never would find.
Was it wrong of Laila to lie to Rasheed about Aziza’s paternity?
It was deceptive of Laila to tell Rasheed that Aziza was his child. However, Laila’s actions are justifiable. If Rasheed had known that Laila was pregnant before they got married, he would have left her on the streets. Laila did what was necessary to protect her child. Laila’s maternal instincts told her that her unborn child’s safety was a top priority.
Would Mariam be better off staying with her mother instead of marrying Rasheed?
Mariam’s life changed when she married Rasheed. She tried to become the proper wife, but her inability from having a child stopped her. If she had stayed with her mother, Mariam probably would have been miserable and unhappy with her life since her mother kept her so sheltered. Mariam would also have to endure more abuse from her mother. If she hadn’t married Rasheed, Mariam wouldn’t have met Laila and Aziza who changed her life. Laila gave Mariam’s life a purpose and a meaning. In order to protect Laila and her children, Mariam did what she felt was right and got herself killed when she turned herself in for killing Rasheed. Mariam might have endured more emotional pain with her mother than with Rasheed, but if she had lived with her mother for longer, she might have had the chance to get into a better marriage. We decided that Mariam made the right decision in marrying Rasheed as it led to her meeting Lalia and Aziza.
Was it okay for Laila to lie to Rasheed about Aziza not being his child?
Laila did lie to Rasheed every now and then, but the biggest lie she told that Aziza was Rasheed’s child. Rasheed knew Aziza wasn’t his and if Laila had told him the truth the outcome would have been disastrous. By tricking Rasheed into thinking Aziza was his, Lalia did what was necessary to protect her child. Laila’s maternal instincts told her that maybe if she lied everything would end up okay. We came to the conclusion that although it was morally wrong for Lalia to lie to Rasheed about this, it was the only way that she could protect Aziza.
Essay Topics:
- How important of a topic are women’s rights?
- Is following the law more important than doing what is right?
- Is acting morally right more important than protecting one’s child?
Was Mariam justified in killing Rasheed?
Rasheed treated all women poorly, but Mariam and Laila felt the full force of his rage. He verbally, emotionally, and physically abused his wives. Mariam’s actions were illegal, but justifiable. Although murder is a heinous act, Mariam had no other choice. She did what she had to in order to save Laila. If Mariam had gone to the police, they would have taken the side of Rasheed because he is the man of the house and therefore can do whatever he wants to Mariam, Laila, and the children. Mariam broke the law when she killed Rasheed, but she had understandable reasons for her actions.
Would Mariam be better off staying with her mother instead of marrying Rasheed?
Mariam’s life changed when she married Rasheed. She did her best to become the proper wife, but her infertility kept her from perfecting the role. Staying with Nana would have spared Mariam years of physical abuse from Rasheed, but Mariam would have remained miserable, unhappy, and lonely for her entire life. If Mariam had not married Rasheed, she would never have met Laila and Aziza. Laila and her daughter loved Mariam. They gave Mariam’s life a purpose and a meaning. They gave Mariam the happiness that she thought she never would find.
Was it wrong of Laila to lie to Rasheed about Aziza’s paternity?
It was deceptive of Laila to tell Rasheed that Aziza was his child. However, Laila’s actions are justifiable. If Rasheed had known that Laila was pregnant before they got married, he would have left her on the streets. Laila did what was necessary to protect her child. Laila’s maternal instincts told her that her unborn child’s safety was a top priority.
Would Mariam be better off staying with her mother instead of marrying Rasheed?
Mariam’s life changed when she married Rasheed. She tried to become the proper wife, but her inability from having a child stopped her. If she had stayed with her mother, Mariam probably would have been miserable and unhappy with her life since her mother kept her so sheltered. Mariam would also have to endure more abuse from her mother. If she hadn’t married Rasheed, Mariam wouldn’t have met Laila and Aziza who changed her life. Laila gave Mariam’s life a purpose and a meaning. In order to protect Laila and her children, Mariam did what she felt was right and got herself killed when she turned herself in for killing Rasheed. Mariam might have endured more emotional pain with her mother than with Rasheed, but if she had lived with her mother for longer, she might have had the chance to get into a better marriage. We decided that Mariam made the right decision in marrying Rasheed as it led to her meeting Lalia and Aziza.
Was it okay for Laila to lie to Rasheed about Aziza not being his child?
Laila did lie to Rasheed every now and then, but the biggest lie she told that Aziza was Rasheed’s child. Rasheed knew Aziza wasn’t his and if Laila had told him the truth the outcome would have been disastrous. By tricking Rasheed into thinking Aziza was his, Lalia did what was necessary to protect her child. Laila’s maternal instincts told her that maybe if she lied everything would end up okay. We came to the conclusion that although it was morally wrong for Lalia to lie to Rasheed about this, it was the only way that she could protect Aziza.
Essay Topics:
- How important of a topic are women’s rights?
- Is following the law more important than doing what is right?
- Is acting morally right more important than protecting one’s child?