Each person represents a unique quality. It is therefore up to the human psyche to invent what the individual represents. Carl Jung's archetypes are interpreted by the characters in "A Thousand Splendid Suns" by Khaled Hossieni. Over the course of the novel archetypes begin to be revealed through the characters' emotions, actions, and ambition. First, Mariam's heroism is demonstrated by her unusual birth circumstances helping others, sacrificing her life, and experiencing traumatic events; secondly Rasheed is portrayed as the shadow that causes others to fear what they once believed was right; finally, Rasheed's self-centeredness and interest in only achieving his goals proves that he is the cheater too. These archetypes not only ultimately evoke the characters' deep emotions, but become part of the human psyche bringing out the good and evil in each of us. Carl Jung justifies a hero as a figure who: “subjects tremendous suffering for some great heroic purpose. Some suffering figures reach a level of heroic transcendence in the victory over adversity in their own limitation.” (Carl Jung) Mariam's scarification of her life to help others and live in fear every day shows the portrayal of the hero. Mariam's character provides emotional attachment and hope. Her actions reflect the daily life that an Afghan woman suffers from on a daily basis. Heroism is first seen when Mariam's mother is found dead. This results in an unfortunate event when she is forced into marriage at 15 to a violent man named Rasheed for the next twenty-seven years. Mariam shows heroism once again when Rasheed's second wife moves in and her name is Lila. Mariam protects Lila from Rasheed, becoming a mother figure with... middle of paper..." (274) Rasheed's desire for power increases after speaking with the Taliban because he believes he is the real master behind everything, making him the true hero to Mariam and Lila. It is ironic that Rasheed believes that he is the true hero because his actions towards Mariam and Lila made them the people they were and brought out Mariam's heroism even more. In conclusion, each person represents a unique quality but yet this is not the case. It is up to the human psyche to determine what the individual represents. This is demonstrated by Mariam's heroism in sacrificing everything she had for those she loves, from the shadow within Rasheed for. transform Mariam into the person she never wanted to become, and from the trickster inside Rasheed who grew up when things didn't go her way. Therefore the human psyche can be very powerful and can only evoke inner emotions, actions and ambitions.