11/18 Graphic Organizer for pgs. 3-37 (Johanna)

Sultan Khan is the bookseller of Kabul. He is a well-respected man in his tribe and "always gets his way." Even though nobody in his family agrees, Sultan takes a second wife and seemingly replaces Sharifa. At one point the family lives in Pakistan, but when it is safe to return, Sharifa is left to live there with her youngest daughter. Suddenly she has been ousted from her place of respect in society and must follow her husband's wishes-even though he doesn't treat her like a wife. She has no power without him and is incapable of divorce. This demonstrates the male superiority of Afghan culture and the limitations that women experience. On one side, Sharifa is forced to accept Sultan's marriage to another woman and "pull herself together" while he forgets about her. On the other side is Sonya, a girl of 16, who is forced to marry the 50 year old Sultan by her parents. She must also "pull herself together" and become the new wife in the family. Neither one is allowed and opinion or a choice.