Conclusion

Hosseini purposely uses literary devices like figurative language and connotation to show the separation of ideas about social issues and cultural values between the traditional and modern areas of Afghanistan. More specifically, there is a different amount of acceptance of women's rights in these two areas because of the different things they value. For instance, in the quote, "The women in this part of Kabul were a different breed from the women in the poorer neighborhoods like the one where she and Rasheed lived, where so many of the women covered fully," Hosseini uses figurative language to show how different women are in these different neighborhoods (74). In the poorer neighborhoods, women are forced to wear burqas, whereas in this modern area, women are allowed to wear anything they want, as well as makeup. They are so different that Hosseini even calls them, "a different breed" from one another. He purposely uses this term to emphasize that they can be considered to be different breeds from one another because of how different and separate they are. The poorer neighborhoods and richer neighborhoods of Afghanistan have different views on this social issue because of how they think. For instance, the poorer neighborhoods are typically more traditional, whereas the richer neighborhoods are typically modern. So, while the traditional neighborhoods value religion and men dominance, the modern neighborhoods value equality and other modern ideas. So, finally, through calling them different breeds, Hosseini is showing that they are so different because of how that specific area values different kinds of rights like women's rights. Another quote that supports this idea is "Mariam watched them cantering uninhibited down the street...", which uses connotation to show the difference of how men treat women in these different areas (74). Hosseini implies through the words "cantering uninhibited" that women are more independent in modern areas of Afghanistan, specifically Kabul in this case. The word "cantering" is like a fast-paced walk, which shows the women are in a rush to get somewhere, because they work, rather then stay at home to cook and clean. The word, "inhibit," means to restrain or prohibit, which is typically done to something one has control over. So, when Hosseini describes these women as "uninhibited," it shows that these women have more control over themselves and are therefore more independent. Since women in modern areas are more independent, it shows that modern areas value equality more because they don't follow traditional beliefs like the poorer areas.