"She noticed every time she breathed out, the surface fogged, and she disappeared from her father's table"

            After the wives are reassured that Jalil will not defend Mariam, they resume to push Mariam to quietly agree to the marriage they arranged for her. As it dawns Mariam that she cannot fight them, she looked down and "noticed every time she breathed out, the surface fogged, and she disappeared from her father's table"(50). Khaled Hosseini's use of symbolism further illustrates that Mariam is losing her sense of identity and place because of Jalil's restrictions. Hosseini says "she disappeared from her father's table", indicating that Mariam's reflection is disappearing. Mariam's reflection represents her identity which is disappearing because of the constraints Jalil is putting on her. Her identity was being with Jalil and in Herat but now, she does not know who she is because Jalil has betrayed her trust and is sending her away.