Maternal Influence And Female Identity in A Thousand Splendid Suns

Abstract

In patriarchal societies where women’s roles are socially restricted and culturally defined, motherhood has long been recognized as a central factor in the formation of identity.  In literary studies, the analysis of mother daughter relationships offers valuable insights into the psychological mechanisms through which identity is constructed, transmitted, and transformed. Feminist, socio political, and postcolonial frameworks has been widely examined in the novel A Thousand Splendid Suns by Khaled Hosseini.  Gender oppression, war, and female resilience primarily draw attention of scholars. Nevertheless, relatively minimal attention has been paid to the psychological dimension of maternal influence, particularly the ways in which maternal narratives are reflected and later reconcidered by female characters. This study argues that maternal influence is not just a fixed social role, the novel operates it as a dynamic and evolving psychological system. It illustrates how maternal models represented by Nana, Fariba, and later Mariam herself shape the identities of Mariam and Laila during processes of internalization, resistance, and transformation.  Combining literary analysis with psychological theory, the novelty of this research lies in its interdisciplinary approach, particularly the concepts of intergenerational trauma, internalized maternal voice, and surrogate motherhood. This article highlights the internal psychological mechanisms that determine how female characters perceive themselves and make life decisions.