In 1,000 Splendid Suns we see a very complicated culture that surrounds the main characters of the novel. The unique culture of Afghanistan is the byproduct of hundreds of years of invasions by other nations. These waves of invasions produced a resilient population that had the ability to adapt to the situation. Afghanistan's history can be seen in the novel through the budist statues in the mountains and by the western culture inside the cities. It shows how the people of the country are able to adapt. Another example can be seen in the novel when the Soviets invade since there are people that see good in the Soviets and are somewhat willing to accept them. Then when the Taliban take over many of the people of the country are also willing to accept the extreme interpretations of Islam.
This kind of adaptive nature of the afghan culture is both a blessing and a curse. For example after the end of World War 1 the Afghanistan allowed women the right to vote because of the influence that the British had over their country. Since Britain had so much power over them they learned to adopt many parts of western culture. The same thing occurred when Al-Qaeda left Iraq and entered Afghanistan after the Iraq war. The afgahn culture adapted to many of the terror groups beliefs and thus put the country in the lime light of the war on terror. Since the war on terror is still an active conflict the country is split into two because the West and the Islamic extremist are tugging on the population.
The point I am trying to make is that the adaptive culture found in the novel can be seen in present day Afghanistan as we see the county sway from one ideology to another as the times change. Sadly the country is in crippling turmoil right now due to the governments war against the Taliban that has left thousands dead.
