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"As they climbed, Babi told them that Bamiyan had once been a thriving Buddhist center until it had fallen under Islamic Arab rule in the ninth century. The sandstone cliffs were home to Buddhist monks who carved caves in them to use a living quarters and as sanctuary for weary traveling pilgrims" (148). The area where the Buddha statues are located was dedicated to helping people. The takeover by the Islamic Arabs signifies the end of peace and the beginning of war. The Buddhist statues are a symbol of peace and the destruction of the statues is a symbol for war.

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"An unguarded, knowing look. And in this fleeting, wordless exchange with Mariam, Laila knew that they were not enemies any longer" (250). After Laila protects Mariam from Rasheed's beating, her and Mariam begin to bond. After sitting in their yard drinking chai they realize they do not hate each other any longer. The chai represents Laila and Mariam's newfound friendship and allegiance to eachother.

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"You pay a doctor his fee, you want a better answer than 'God's will' " (91). After Mariam loses her child the doctor claims that it was because of "God's will." Rasheed and Mariam are heartbroken after their child's death and hate this idea of "God's will" because they want to have something concrete to blame.

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"When Mariam thought of this baby, her heart swelled inside of her. It swelled and swelled until all the loss, all the grief, all the loneliness and self-abasement of her life washed away" (89). The theme of motherhood is displayed in this book many times between Mariam and Nana and also Mariam and her unborn baby. Mariam loses her child soon after this and it breaks her heart because she loved this feeling of motherhood so much and believed that the baby would help her feel happy again.

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"All she could hear was Nana saying, I'll die if you go. I'll just die" (38). After Nana's death Mariam believes that it is her fault because she left her. This pattern of guilt occurs many times throughout the story.

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"When Rasheed opened the front gate, Mariam found herself in a small, unkempt yard where yellow grass struggled up in thin patches" (58). Rasheed's house is neglected because Rasheed lost his family, and his wife was the one who took care of the house. Rasheed's large house causes him to feel lonely because he remembers the family that he lost that used to take up that space.

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" 'He has servants,' Mariam said. 'He could send a servant.' 'His idea of penance,' Nana said" (13). Jalil believes that he needs to atone for his sins by having his sons build Mariam and Nana a home.

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"He owned a cinema, which Mariam had never seen, but at her insistence Jalil had described it to her, and so she knew that the façade was made of blue-and-tan terra-cotta tiles, that it had private balcony seats and a trellised ceiling" (6). Jalil describes his cinema in great detail to his daughter Mariam. This causes Mariam to admire her father so greatly and also make her jealous of her half-siblings.

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"She walked on a maroon carpet with a repeating blue-and-yellow octagonal pattern, saw out if the corner of her eye the marble bases of statues, the lower halves of vases, the frayed ends of richly colored tapestries hanging from walls" (39). Jalil is one of the richest men in his town and lives in a mansion because of this. Jalil's enormous home causes him to be selfish. Jalil's wealth makes him feel like he has to uphold his reputation, which results in him casting Mariam and Nana out because they will bring shame to his family.

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"She said she wanted to live somewhere removed, detached, where neighbors wouldn't stare at her belly, point at her, snicker, or, worse yet, assault her with insincere kindnesses. 'And, believe me,' Nana said, 'it was a relief to your father having me out of sight. It suited him just fine' " (8-9). Mariam and Nana lived in the kolba, located in an isolated area. They lived here so that they would be away from judgement from the other villagers. Nana believed the kolba was a "rathole" and felt rejected by society and by Jalil. This rejection caused Nana to be resentful toward Jalil and toward the rest of the world.

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"Mammy said that before he left with Noor to join the jihad against the Soviets, back in 1980, it was Ahmad who had dutifully and competently minded these things" (109). Fariba is angry with her husband when he is unable to fix things because her son, Ahmad used to perform these tasks. Fariba's anger toward Babi for the rip in the screen door is a symbol for her anger and sadness that her sons are at war and for Babi letting them leave.

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"She placed the suede coat that Rasheed had bought for the baby in the hole and shoveled dirt over it" (96). After Mariam's miscarriage she decides to have a funeral for the unborn child and buries the coat that was bought for the baby. The suede coat represents the baby Mariam lost. Mariam buries the coat in order to get closure and feel some relief from the grief she is experiencing.

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"His powerful hands clasped her jaw. He shoved two fingers into her mouth and pried it open, then forced the cold, hard pebbles into it" (104). After the loss of their child Rasheed is angry with Mariam and in a way blames her for the baby's death. Rasheed is vengeful toward Mariam because she has not given him a child.

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"Had she been a disappointment to him in this particular regard? And what about all his talk of honor and propriety, his disapproval of the female customers, who, after all, were only showing him their feet to get fitted for shoes?" (82-83). When Mariam finds a magazine filled with naked women in Rasheed's room she is disgusted by the women and afraid that she may not be living up to Rasheed's expectations. Mariam also shows a trait of obedience because even though she is afraid of Rasheed, she is still devoted to fulfilling her wifely duties by making him happy.

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"You know what he told his wives by way of defense? That I force myself on him. That it was my fault" (7). Jalil claims that Nana was the source of the problem and that he was innocent. Jalil shows dishonesty and cowardice as his character traits when he lies about his affair and doesn't accept the blame.

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"'You are a clumsy little harami. This is my reward for everything I've endured. An heirloom-breaking, clumsy little harami" (4). Nana claims that Mariam is a bastard who is her "reward," but she really feels that Mariam is her punishment for the mistakes she's made in life. Nana feels guilt for her relationship with Jalil that resulted in Mariam's birth and believes she is being punished for them with an unruly child.