A Thousand Splendid Suns as a Re-Representation of Afghan Culture: Power Abuse, Gender Discrimination, and Voices of Resistance Against Forced Islamization

Abstract

This study examines the re-representation of Afghan culture in Khaled Hosseini's novel A Thousand Splendid Suns (2007) through the analytical lens of Cultural Critical Discourse Analysis (CDA). Drawing upon the theoretical frameworks of scholars such as Teun A. van Dijk and Shi-Xu, this paper investigates three interrelated thematic dimensions: the abuse of power at both domestic and geopolitical levels, systemic gender discrimination embedded within patriarchal and theocratic structures, and the literary articulation of Afghan voices as an act of resistance against forced Islamization and Western misrepresentation. The study argues that Hosseini's narrative functions as a counter-discourse that challenges the monolithic, often Orientalist, portrayal of Afghanistan perpetuated by Western media and political discourse — particularly in the aftermath of the September 11, 2001 attacks. By closely analyzing selected textual passages, this paper demonstrates how Hosseini employs literary discourse to reconstruct Afghan national identity, amplify the silenced voices of Afghan women, and contest dominant ideological narratives rooted in colonial and neocolonial frameworks.