Answer:
Mariam comes across explicit images of women in various poses without clothing in "A Thousand Splendid Suns," and her reaction is one of surprise and discomfort, particularly noting the sacrilegious connotations in some images.
Step-by-step explanation:
In the passage from "A Thousand Splendid Suns," Mariam encounters explicit images of women in various states of undress.
The mention of "tumbled sheets" and the women lying in beds suggests an intimate or suggestive context.
Mariam's observation of the women's explicit poses, with their legs apart, and the reference to the "dark place between" implies a level of detail that makes her uncomfortable.
Mariam's discomfort is heightened by her cultural and religious background, as seen in her association of the images with the sujda, a position of prayer.
The use of phrases like "God forbid this thought" indicates Mariam's internal struggle with encountering content that challenges her beliefs and societal norms.
This moment is significant in the novel as it highlights the clash between traditional values and the exposure to more liberal or explicit content, reflecting broader themes of societal expectations and the challenges faced by women in the story.
Thus,
Mariam encounters explicit images of undressed women in "A Thousand Splendid Suns," causing discomfort due to cultural and religious sensibilities.
Question:
What explicit images does Mariam come across in "A Thousand Splendid Suns," and how does she react to them, as described in the passage you provided?