Discussion Leader-Lesley-4/30/10

1. At the end of "Third-Rate Wedding" the blood covered cloth is brought up. The cloth must be given to Shakila's mother Bibi Gul by Wakil's aunt and it said that without the bloody cloth Shakila would have been the one returned to Bibi Gul instead. What is the significance of this bloody cloth?

I didn't realize it at first, but as I wrote this question, I understood. The bloody cloth is used to prove that Shakila was still a virgin prior to being married. If she had not bled, she would have been a shame to the entire family.

2. Sultan obviously appreciates the nicer things in life, and he has the money to afford them. So why is it that he seems to choose to not provide his family with some of the nicer things that he could provide them?

Personally, I am not quite sure why Sultan chooses not to get his family things like beds or other furniture. My only idea is that it is out of fear that if he gets these things they will only end up being stolen or damaged by the Taliban or others. I also feel like he could simply be selfish, because he is the only one with a nice piece of furniture, his bookcase, and he just doesn't want to get his family nicer things.

3. How does the "middle class" in Kabul at the time compare to the "middle class" we see here in the United States?

I believe that the two are very different, I think that the middle class in America would be considered the upper class in Kabul. They think that living in rundown apartment buildings is middle class simply because they have running water, but for us living in one of these war scorned apartments would be considered just above homelessness. It just shows how much culture and luxury varies based on the environment that you are accustomed to.