Unhappiness

One of the most prevalent themes of the book is the unhappiness of the people, especially the women. The women have few rights in Afghan society, especially when it came to marriage. All marriages were negotiated between the families. Women cannot date or be seen in public with men without their families consent. They have to wear the burka which only leaves their eyes exposed. The women are totally under the domination of the men in their family.

In a family like Sultan's, who is so domineering and authoritative, no one is happy and no one dares to disagree or oppose him. Those who do were ostracized from the family, which is what happens to Farid, Sultan's younger brother and, at the end of the book, to his mother, brother and sisters. They disagree with Sultan and are thrown out because they did not give him the respect...