Answer :
Final answer:
The theme of maternal sacrifice reflects Mariam's realization of the extent of sacrifices a mother makes for her children, compromising personal decency and well-being. Literature and history echo this theme through women enduring financial, emotional, and social hardships. It highlights the complex navigation of familial norms after significant life changes.
Explanation:
The excerpt from the novel indicates a reflection on the notion of sacrifices a mother makes, particularly Mariam's realization of the extent of these sacrifices in terms of personal decency and well-being for the sake of others' needs. This theme is reiterated throughout various pieces of literature and history, where women endure financial hardship, emotional strain, and social expectations, often compromising their status, health, and personal goals. The maternal instinct to protect and provide, even at great personal cost, and the social implications of returning to familial norms after significant life changes, are complexities that these women navigate, demonstrating acts of profound sacrifice and resilience.
