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A major archetype in the novel is Mariam’s setting, she lives in a desert mountain, isolated from the
history and culture of Kabul. This innocence and solitude contribute to her naivety and lack of
education. Her background as an isolated, culturally disconnected person allows Houssini to make a
commentary through her, her fictional story is a reality for many around the world. Additionally,
deserts represent a lack of something: life, water, beauty. Mariam was raised lacking an education,
self-worth (unhealable wound), and cultural presence, she is even unfertile, unable to retain a
pregnancy. The values and strength that Mariam learns will later be compatible with Laila’s
knowledge and lack thereof, being raised with an education, self-worth, and cultural exposure, but
lacking the rugged smarts of Mariam. Through this, Houssini highlights the hope and strength of
those oppressed in similar situations, and makes the point of the value of education: by showing
Mariam’s strength as a victim, and the hope that Laila offers as a future or anti-traditionalist symbol.

The ideas that oppress the protagonists throughout the novel are embodied by the Taliban and those
sympathetic to their ideas. Rasheed represents a specific data point for the overall tendrils of the
unfaced/uniformly portrayed Taliban. They are the classic “dark force” archetype that is also a force
in real life. The idea is that while Laila is an exception to the lack of education regarding women, the
change needs to be cultural, there must be a “light force” to enact change, ending the perpetuation
of the evil experienced by the people of Afghanistan. In the novel, Babi is similar to a mentor-type
archetype, being outspoken in his ideas of the danger of the darkness and the goodness of the light.
Like many mentor archetypes, Babi is killed by said evil and his ideas must be carried through by his
“pupil” (Laila) and her (resistance) counterparts.

Mariam, as a person (neglecting just her setting), plays the role of multiple archetypes. Her major
role being a Christ-like figure, and secondary as the mentor of Laila. Regarding Laila, Mariam is a
mentor, showing by example and giving Laila a different perspective, via Mariam’s troubled
childhood and life with Rasheed, who represents the anti-hero or representative of the dark force.
Mariam’s mentorship is extremely influential on Laila’s world view and propels her to be a force for
good, (the “light cause”). This is evident when Laila says “...Most compellingly for Laila, there is
Mariam...it matters to Laila...suddenly it matters very much”. Laila is compelled to fight for what
Mariam believed, staying to see the reconstruction of Kabul, Afghanistan, and her culture. Started by
Babi and impelled by Mariam, Laila returns, with new ideas which manifests to her work at the
orphanage and her desire to name her child Mariam, symbolically allowing Mariam and her ideas to
live on. This “live-on”/”rebirth” archetype gives off a message of hope and the lasting goodness of
the ideas presented (peace, women's rights, education, a just society). This is particularly potent with
the context of Laila being the carrier or symbolic representation of the “light” or good side.

Mariam’s primary role, however, is as a Christ-like figure. Similar to Christ’s story, Mariam is raised in
the poorest of areas. She is burdened with (unknowingly) a destiny and message, which is carried
out through her followers (Laila and those she represents). She leads a life of hardship and virtue,
silently taking on the dark force. Similar to Christ, she faces the devil (Rasheed) and vice (the
traditionalist culture). Of course her greatest comparison is her sacrificial death. An innocent, willing
death (done gracefully) for the sake of Laila and the other Laila’s throughout Afghanistan.
Additionally, she is somewhat resurrected as her life and death inspire hope and passion for the
ideas that she (Mariam) represented. This is an especially important archetype because the story of
Christ is perhaps the most well known story in the world and is rooted in core values of people
everywhere. Whether the readers know it or not, these ideas are familiar to them, no matter their
background. Unconscious collective.

While Houssini presents a story that is unfamiliar and counter to the beliefs of many, through the
archetypes found in many other cultures, Houssini is able to convey the emotion and reality of the
situation of his home country and of those with similar oppressions. His messages of hope, and the
value of women’s/societies rights/education are driven primarily through the characters of Mariam
and Laila and their realistic experience, wisdom, and strength.