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Dec 19, 2025
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Comparative Analysis: A Thousand Splendid Suns and Wuthering Heights
lizeh ๐ค
@alizeh
1 / 3
Character Analysis: Heathcliff and Mariam as Outsiders
Both Heathcliff and Mariam are defined by their status as outsiders in their respective societies:
- Heathcliff lacks a surname and is described as an "outsider" and even referred to as "it," creating an enigmatic and ambiguous aura around him.
- Mariam is labelled a "harami" (an unwanted thing), suggesting she has "no legitimate claim" to family or acceptance.
- Both characters are condemned by their societies โ Heathcliff by Hindley as a "usurper of his parent's attentions and privileges," and Mariam for her illegitimate birth.
Their responses to rejection differ significantly:
- Heathcliff takes pride in his lack of identity while Mariam longs for love and acceptance.
- Catherine's attitude toward Heathcliff reveals 19th-century views of marriage as a "business" arrangement when she states, "it would degrade me to marry Heathcliff."
Key Concept: Both novels explore how society's rejection shapes individual identity. Heathcliff embraces his outsider status as power, while Mariam's rejection becomes a source of lifelong suffering, reflecting different approaches to social marginalization.
Symbolic elements reinforce their characterisation:
- Mariam's association with the tuberose (white flower) represents purity despite her societal status.
- Heathcliff's lack of origin story creates mystery that becomes central to his character.
Psychological Manipulation and Identity
Both novels explore psychological manipulation but through different narrative approaches:
- In Wuthering Heights, Catherine experiences internal repression, declaring "I am Heathcliff" and "I cannot without my life... my soul," using short, fragmentary syntax that reveals her emotional state.
- In A Thousand Splendid Suns, Rasheed employs direct manipulation, telling Mariam "your brain is empty," while Jalil uses pathos and emotional manipulation: "Goddamn it Mariam don't do this to me."
The narrative voice in both works reveals important contrasts:
- Wuthering Heights was first published under the pseudonym Ellis Bell, allowing Brontรซ to explore themes more freely.
- A Thousand Splendid Suns alternates perspectives, showing both individual suffering and shared female experience.
Symbolic representations of oppression appear throughout both texts:
- The burqa becomes a symbol of oppression, described as "tight and heavy... suffocating."
- Catherine's hyperbolic expressions of distress ("Don't you see I can scarcely stand?") reflect her internal suffering.
Important Comparison: While Wuthering Heights presents love as an all-consuming force that transcends rational thinking ("If all else perished and he remained..."), A Thousand Splendid Suns offers sisterhood as a counterforce to suffering ("Laila began to laugh and mariam joined in"), presenting different paths to emotional survival.
The novels also reflect their historical contexts:
- Victorian England's low life expectancy
- References to the Quran (2:256) in A Thousand Splendid Suns contextualise the cultural setting.
Violence and Symbolic Imagery
Both novels utilise powerful imagery to convey violence and suffering, though with contrasting approaches:
- Water symbolism appears in both texts but with opposite meanings:
- In Wuthering Heights: "his face and throat were washed with rain" suggests moisture and purity
- In A Thousand Splendid Suns: "rockets begin to rain on kabul!" associates rain with war and destruction
Physical violence manifests differently in each text:
- Hindley threatens Heathcliff "with an iron weight" โ a direct physical threat
- Mariam experiences sexual violence: "his sweat on the girls skin" and the threatening sound of a belt that "jingled loudly" followed by her plea "don't do this"
Literary Technique: Both authors use sensory details to make violence visceral for readers. The sounds, physical sensations and visual imagery create an immersive experience that heightens the emotional impact of the characters' suffering.
The fundamental difference in moral frameworks:
- Wuthering Heights explores a "transgression of human law" where characters follow "naturalistic instincts where morals are nonexistent"
- A Thousand Splendid Suns sets violence against a backdrop of cultural and religious expectations, making the transgressions even more shocking
Is reading Wuthering Heights tough? Its exploration of amoral characters and complex psychological states can be challenging, while A Thousand Splendid Suns, though containing difficult content, offers a more straightforward narrative structure that many readers find more accessible.
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I think itโs very much worth it and youโll end up using it a lot once you get the hang of it and even after looking at others notes you can still ask your Artificial intelligence buddy the question and ask to simplify it if you still donโt get it!!! In the end I think itโs worth it ๐๐ โ ๏ธAlso DID I MENTION ITS FREEE YOU DONโT HAVE TO PAY FOR ANYTHING AND STILL GET YOUR GRADES IN PERFECTLYโ๏ธโ๏ธโ ๏ธ
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Knowunity is the BEST app Iโve used in a minute. This is not an ai review or anything this is genuinely coming from a 7th grade student (I know 2011 im young) but dude this app is a 10/10 i have maintained a 3.8 gpa and have plenty of time for gaming. I love it and my mom is just happy I got good grades
Brad T
Android user
Not only did it help me find the answer but it also showed me alternative ways to solve it. I was horrible in math and science but now I have an a in both subjects. Thanks for the help๐ค๐ค
David K
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The app's just great! All I have to do is enter the topic in the search bar and I get the response real fast. I don't have to watch 10 YouTube videos to understand something, so I'm saving my time. Highly recommended!
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In school I was really bad at maths but thanks to the app, I am doing better now. I am so grateful that you made the app.
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I found this app a couple years ago and it has only gotten better since then. I really love it because it can help with written questions and photo questions. Also, it can find study guides that other people have made as well as flashcard sets and practice tests. The free version is also amazing for students who might not be able to afford it. Would 100% recommend
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Best app if you're in Highschool or Junior high. I have been using this app for 2 school years and it's the best, it's good if you don't have anyone to help you with school work.๐๐ฉท๐
Marco B
iOS user
THE QUIZES AND FLASHCARDS ARE SO USEFUL AND I LOVE THE SCHOOLGPT. IT ALSO IS LITREALLY LIKE CHATGPT BUT SMARTER!! HELPED ME WITH MY MASCARA PROBLEMS TOO!! AS WELL AS MY REAL SUBJECTS ! DUHHH ๐๐๐ฒ๐ค๐โจ๐๐ฎ
Elisha
iOS user
This app is phenomenal down to the correct info and the various topics you can study! I greatly recommend it for people who struggle with procrastination and those who need homework help. It has been perfectly accurate for world 1 history as far as Iโve seen! Geometry too!
Paul T
iOS user
The app is very easy to use and well designed. I have found everything I was looking for so far and have been able to learn a lot from the presentations! I will definitely use the app for a class assignment! And of course it also helps a lot as an inspiration.
Stefan S
iOS user
This app is really great. There are so many study notes and help [...]. My problem subject is French, for example, and the app has so many options for help. Thanks to this app, I have improved my French. I would recommend it to anyone.
Samantha Klich
Android user
Wow, I am really amazed. I just tried the app because I've seen it advertised many times and was absolutely stunned. This app is THE HELP you want for school and above all, it offers so many things, such as workouts and fact sheets, which have been VERY helpful to me personally.
Anna
iOS user
I think itโs very much worth it and youโll end up using it a lot once you get the hang of it and even after looking at others notes you can still ask your Artificial intelligence buddy the question and ask to simplify it if you still donโt get it!!! In the end I think itโs worth it ๐๐ โ ๏ธAlso DID I MENTION ITS FREEE YOU DONโT HAVE TO PAY FOR ANYTHING AND STILL GET YOUR GRADES IN PERFECTLYโ๏ธโ๏ธโ ๏ธ
Thomas R
iOS user
Knowunity is the BEST app Iโve used in a minute. This is not an ai review or anything this is genuinely coming from a 7th grade student (I know 2011 im young) but dude this app is a 10/10 i have maintained a 3.8 gpa and have plenty of time for gaming. I love it and my mom is just happy I got good grades
Brad T
Android user
Not only did it help me find the answer but it also showed me alternative ways to solve it. I was horrible in math and science but now I have an a in both subjects. Thanks for the help๐ค๐ค
David K
iOS user
The app's just great! All I have to do is enter the topic in the search bar and I get the response real fast. I don't have to watch 10 YouTube videos to understand something, so I'm saving my time. Highly recommended!
Sudenaz Ocak
Android user
In school I was really bad at maths but thanks to the app, I am doing better now. I am so grateful that you made the app.
Greenlight Bonnie
Android user
I found this app a couple years ago and it has only gotten better since then. I really love it because it can help with written questions and photo questions. Also, it can find study guides that other people have made as well as flashcard sets and practice tests. The free version is also amazing for students who might not be able to afford it. Would 100% recommend
Aubrey
iOS user
Best app if you're in Highschool or Junior high. I have been using this app for 2 school years and it's the best, it's good if you don't have anyone to help you with school work.๐๐ฉท๐
Marco B
iOS user
THE QUIZES AND FLASHCARDS ARE SO USEFUL AND I LOVE THE SCHOOLGPT. IT ALSO IS LITREALLY LIKE CHATGPT BUT SMARTER!! HELPED ME WITH MY MASCARA PROBLEMS TOO!! AS WELL AS MY REAL SUBJECTS ! DUHHH ๐๐๐ฒ๐ค๐โจ๐๐ฎ
Elisha
iOS user
This app is phenomenal down to the correct info and the various topics you can study! I greatly recommend it for people who struggle with procrastination and those who need homework help. It has been perfectly accurate for world 1 history as far as Iโve seen! Geometry too!
Paul T
iOS user
Comparative Analysis: A Thousand Splendid Suns and Wuthering Heights
lizeh ๐ค
@alizeh
A comparative analysis of "A Thousand Splendid Suns" by Khaled Hosseini and "Wuthering Heights" by Emily Brontรซ reveals striking parallels between characters, themes, and narrative techniques despite their different settings and time periods. Both novels feature protagonists who are considered... Show more
Character Analysis: Heathcliff and Mariam as Outsiders
Both Heathcliff and Mariam are defined by their status as outsiders in their respective societies:
- Heathcliff lacks a surname and is described as an "outsider" and even referred to as "it," creating an enigmatic and ambiguous aura around him.
- Mariam is labelled a "harami" (an unwanted thing), suggesting she has "no legitimate claim" to family or acceptance.
- Both characters are condemned by their societies โ Heathcliff by Hindley as a "usurper of his parent's attentions and privileges," and Mariam for her illegitimate birth.
Their responses to rejection differ significantly:
- Heathcliff takes pride in his lack of identity while Mariam longs for love and acceptance.
- Catherine's attitude toward Heathcliff reveals 19th-century views of marriage as a "business" arrangement when she states, "it would degrade me to marry Heathcliff."
Key Concept: Both novels explore how society's rejection shapes individual identity. Heathcliff embraces his outsider status as power, while Mariam's rejection becomes a source of lifelong suffering, reflecting different approaches to social marginalization.
Symbolic elements reinforce their characterisation:
- Mariam's association with the tuberose (white flower) represents purity despite her societal status.
- Heathcliff's lack of origin story creates mystery that becomes central to his character.
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By signing up you accept Terms of Service and Privacy Policy
Psychological Manipulation and Identity
Both novels explore psychological manipulation but through different narrative approaches:
- In Wuthering Heights, Catherine experiences internal repression, declaring "I am Heathcliff" and "I cannot without my life... my soul," using short, fragmentary syntax that reveals her emotional state.
- In A Thousand Splendid Suns, Rasheed employs direct manipulation, telling Mariam "your brain is empty," while Jalil uses pathos and emotional manipulation: "Goddamn it Mariam don't do this to me."
The narrative voice in both works reveals important contrasts:
- Wuthering Heights was first published under the pseudonym Ellis Bell, allowing Brontรซ to explore themes more freely.
- A Thousand Splendid Suns alternates perspectives, showing both individual suffering and shared female experience.
Symbolic representations of oppression appear throughout both texts:
- The burqa becomes a symbol of oppression, described as "tight and heavy... suffocating."
- Catherine's hyperbolic expressions of distress ("Don't you see I can scarcely stand?") reflect her internal suffering.
Important Comparison: While Wuthering Heights presents love as an all-consuming force that transcends rational thinking ("If all else perished and he remained..."), A Thousand Splendid Suns offers sisterhood as a counterforce to suffering ("Laila began to laugh and mariam joined in"), presenting different paths to emotional survival.
The novels also reflect their historical contexts:
- Victorian England's low life expectancy
- References to the Quran (2:256) in A Thousand Splendid Suns contextualise the cultural setting.
Sign up to see the contentIt's free!
Access to all documents
Improve your grades
Join milions of students
By signing up you accept Terms of Service and Privacy Policy
Violence and Symbolic Imagery
Both novels utilise powerful imagery to convey violence and suffering, though with contrasting approaches:
- Water symbolism appears in both texts but with opposite meanings:
- In Wuthering Heights: "his face and throat were washed with rain" suggests moisture and purity
- In A Thousand Splendid Suns: "rockets begin to rain on kabul!" associates rain with war and destruction
Physical violence manifests differently in each text:
- Hindley threatens Heathcliff "with an iron weight" โ a direct physical threat
- Mariam experiences sexual violence: "his sweat on the girls skin" and the threatening sound of a belt that "jingled loudly" followed by her plea "don't do this"
Literary Technique: Both authors use sensory details to make violence visceral for readers. The sounds, physical sensations and visual imagery create an immersive experience that heightens the emotional impact of the characters' suffering.
The fundamental difference in moral frameworks:
- Wuthering Heights explores a "transgression of human law" where characters follow "naturalistic instincts where morals are nonexistent"
- A Thousand Splendid Suns sets violence against a backdrop of cultural and religious expectations, making the transgressions even more shocking
Is reading Wuthering Heights tough? Its exploration of amoral characters and complex psychological states can be challenging, while A Thousand Splendid Suns, though containing difficult content, offers a more straightforward narrative structure that many readers find more accessible.
We thought youโd never ask...
What is the Knowunity AI companion?
Our AI companion is specifically built for the needs of students. Based on the millions of content pieces we have on the platform we can provide truly meaningful and relevant answers to students. But its not only about answers, the companion is even more about guiding students through their daily learning challenges, with personalised study plans, quizzes or content pieces in the chat and 100% personalisation based on the students skills and developments.
Where can I download the Knowunity app?
You can download the app in the Google Play Store and in the Apple App Store.
Is Knowunity really free of charge?
That's right! Enjoy free access to study content, connect with fellow students, and get instant help โ all at your fingertips.
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The app is very easy to use and well designed. I have found everything I was looking for so far and have been able to learn a lot from the presentations! I will definitely use the app for a class assignment! And of course it also helps a lot as an inspiration.
Stefan S
iOS user
This app is really great. There are so many study notes and help [...]. My problem subject is French, for example, and the app has so many options for help. Thanks to this app, I have improved my French. I would recommend it to anyone.
Samantha Klich
Android user
Wow, I am really amazed. I just tried the app because I've seen it advertised many times and was absolutely stunned. This app is THE HELP you want for school and above all, it offers so many things, such as workouts and fact sheets, which have been VERY helpful to me personally.
Anna
iOS user
I think itโs very much worth it and youโll end up using it a lot once you get the hang of it and even after looking at others notes you can still ask your Artificial intelligence buddy the question and ask to simplify it if you still donโt get it!!! In the end I think itโs worth it ๐๐ โ ๏ธAlso DID I MENTION ITS FREEE YOU DONโT HAVE TO PAY FOR ANYTHING AND STILL GET YOUR GRADES IN PERFECTLYโ๏ธโ๏ธโ ๏ธ
Thomas R
iOS user
Knowunity is the BEST app Iโve used in a minute. This is not an ai review or anything this is genuinely coming from a 7th grade student (I know 2011 im young) but dude this app is a 10/10 i have maintained a 3.8 gpa and have plenty of time for gaming. I love it and my mom is just happy I got good grades
Brad T
Android user
Not only did it help me find the answer but it also showed me alternative ways to solve it. I was horrible in math and science but now I have an a in both subjects. Thanks for the help๐ค๐ค
David K
iOS user
The app's just great! All I have to do is enter the topic in the search bar and I get the response real fast. I don't have to watch 10 YouTube videos to understand something, so I'm saving my time. Highly recommended!
Sudenaz Ocak
Android user
In school I was really bad at maths but thanks to the app, I am doing better now. I am so grateful that you made the app.
Greenlight Bonnie
Android user
I found this app a couple years ago and it has only gotten better since then. I really love it because it can help with written questions and photo questions. Also, it can find study guides that other people have made as well as flashcard sets and practice tests. The free version is also amazing for students who might not be able to afford it. Would 100% recommend
Aubrey
iOS user
Best app if you're in Highschool or Junior high. I have been using this app for 2 school years and it's the best, it's good if you don't have anyone to help you with school work.๐๐ฉท๐
Marco B
iOS user
THE QUIZES AND FLASHCARDS ARE SO USEFUL AND I LOVE THE SCHOOLGPT. IT ALSO IS LITREALLY LIKE CHATGPT BUT SMARTER!! HELPED ME WITH MY MASCARA PROBLEMS TOO!! AS WELL AS MY REAL SUBJECTS ! DUHHH ๐๐๐ฒ๐ค๐โจ๐๐ฎ
Elisha
iOS user
This app is phenomenal down to the correct info and the various topics you can study! I greatly recommend it for people who struggle with procrastination and those who need homework help. It has been perfectly accurate for world 1 history as far as Iโve seen! Geometry too!
Paul T
iOS user
The app is very easy to use and well designed. I have found everything I was looking for so far and have been able to learn a lot from the presentations! I will definitely use the app for a class assignment! And of course it also helps a lot as an inspiration.
Stefan S
iOS user
This app is really great. There are so many study notes and help [...]. My problem subject is French, for example, and the app has so many options for help. Thanks to this app, I have improved my French. I would recommend it to anyone.
Samantha Klich
Android user
Wow, I am really amazed. I just tried the app because I've seen it advertised many times and was absolutely stunned. This app is THE HELP you want for school and above all, it offers so many things, such as workouts and fact sheets, which have been VERY helpful to me personally.
Anna
iOS user
I think itโs very much worth it and youโll end up using it a lot once you get the hang of it and even after looking at others notes you can still ask your Artificial intelligence buddy the question and ask to simplify it if you still donโt get it!!! In the end I think itโs worth it ๐๐ โ ๏ธAlso DID I MENTION ITS FREEE YOU DONโT HAVE TO PAY FOR ANYTHING AND STILL GET YOUR GRADES IN PERFECTLYโ๏ธโ๏ธโ ๏ธ
Thomas R
iOS user
Knowunity is the BEST app Iโve used in a minute. This is not an ai review or anything this is genuinely coming from a 7th grade student (I know 2011 im young) but dude this app is a 10/10 i have maintained a 3.8 gpa and have plenty of time for gaming. I love it and my mom is just happy I got good grades
Brad T
Android user
Not only did it help me find the answer but it also showed me alternative ways to solve it. I was horrible in math and science but now I have an a in both subjects. Thanks for the help๐ค๐ค
David K
iOS user
The app's just great! All I have to do is enter the topic in the search bar and I get the response real fast. I don't have to watch 10 YouTube videos to understand something, so I'm saving my time. Highly recommended!
Sudenaz Ocak
Android user
In school I was really bad at maths but thanks to the app, I am doing better now. I am so grateful that you made the app.
Greenlight Bonnie
Android user
I found this app a couple years ago and it has only gotten better since then. I really love it because it can help with written questions and photo questions. Also, it can find study guides that other people have made as well as flashcard sets and practice tests. The free version is also amazing for students who might not be able to afford it. Would 100% recommend
Aubrey
iOS user
Best app if you're in Highschool or Junior high. I have been using this app for 2 school years and it's the best, it's good if you don't have anyone to help you with school work.๐๐ฉท๐
Marco B
iOS user
THE QUIZES AND FLASHCARDS ARE SO USEFUL AND I LOVE THE SCHOOLGPT. IT ALSO IS LITREALLY LIKE CHATGPT BUT SMARTER!! HELPED ME WITH MY MASCARA PROBLEMS TOO!! AS WELL AS MY REAL SUBJECTS ! DUHHH ๐๐๐ฒ๐ค๐โจ๐๐ฎ
Elisha
iOS user
This app is phenomenal down to the correct info and the various topics you can study! I greatly recommend it for people who struggle with procrastination and those who need homework help. It has been perfectly accurate for world 1 history as far as Iโve seen! Geometry too!
Paul T
iOS user