Comparative Analysis: A Thousand Splendid Suns and Wuthering Heights

Open

lizeh 𖤐

3/9/2023

English Literature

a thousand splendid suns wuthering heights comparative notes

Subjects

English Literature

Poetry II

Identify and Explain the Function of a Metaphor

Comparative Analysis: A Thousand Splendid Suns and Wuthering Heights

Name: Knowunity
Brand: Knowunity

A comparative analysis of "A Thousand Splendid Suns" by Khaled Hosseini and "Wuthering Heights" by Emily Brontë reveals striking parallels between characters, themes, and narrative techniques despite their different settings and time periods. Both novels feature protagonists who are considered outsiders in their societies, exploring themes of identity, love, oppression, and resilience. While "Wuthering Heights" might be considered a tough read due to its complex narrative structure and Victorian language, "A Thousand Splendid Suns" offers a more accessible yet equally profound reading experience. Understanding these two works comparatively provides valuable insights into how literature across different cultures explores similar human experiences.

...

3/9/2023

589

Heathcliff
no surname
outsider
infuenced by her
illusion
tuberose
while purity
Mariam " Your
g
17
name of a so
Bronte's mother.
(1
Heathuiff

View

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 – 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.

View

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 $live$ 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 Brontë 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 $25-41 mortality rate$
References to the Quran $2:256$ in A Thousand Splendid Suns contextualise the cultural setting.

Can't find what you're looking for? Explore other subjects.

Knowunity is the # 1 ranked education app in five European countries

Knowunity was a featured story by Apple and has consistently topped the app store charts within the education category in Germany, Italy, Poland, Switzerland and United Kingdom. Join Knowunity today and help millions of students around the world.

Download in

Google Play

Download in

App Store

Knowunity is the # 1 ranked education app in five European countries

4.9+

Average App Rating

21 M

Students use Knowunity

#1

In Education App Charts in 17 Countries

950 K+

Students uploaded study notes

Still not sure? Look at what your fellow peers are saying...

iOS User

I love this app so much [...] I recommend Knowunity to everyone!!! I went from a C to an A with it :D

Stefan S, iOS User

The application is very simple and well designed. So far I have found what I was looking for :D

SuSSan, iOS User

Love this App ❤️, I use it basically all the time whenever I'm studying

Subjects

English Literature

Poetry II

Identify and Explain the Function of a Metaphor

English Literature

•

589

•

Mar 9, 2023

•

3 pages

Comparative Analysis: A Thousand Splendid Suns and Wuthering Heights

lizeh 𖤐

@alizeh

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

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 – 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.

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

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 $live$ 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 Brontë 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 $25-41 mortality rate$
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" – 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.

Students love us — and so will you.

4.9/5

App Store

4.8/5

Google Play

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 it’s very much worth it and you’ll 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 don’t get it!!! In the end I think it’s worth it 😊👍 ⚠️Also DID I MENTION ITS FREEE YOU DON’T HAVE TO PAY FOR ANYTHING AND STILL GET YOUR GRADES IN PERFECTLY❗️❗️⚠️

Thomas R

iOS user

Knowunity is the BEST app I’ve 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 help🤍🤍

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.😋🩷🎀

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 😍😁😲🤑💗✨🎀😮

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 I’ve seen! Geometry too!

Paul T

iOS user

Stefan S

iOS user

Samantha Klich

Android user

Anna

iOS user

Thomas R

iOS user

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 help🤍🤍

David K

iOS user

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

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.😋🩷🎀

Marco B

iOS user

Elisha

iOS user

Paul T

iOS user

Comparative Analysis: A Thousand Splendid Suns and Wuthering Heights

Character Analysis: Heathcliff and Mariam as Outsiders

Psychological Manipulation and Identity

Similar Content

Can't find what you're looking for? Explore other subjects.

Knowunity is the # 1 ranked education app in five European countries

Knowunity was a featured story by Apple and has consistently topped the app store charts within the education category in Germany, Italy, Poland, Switzerland and United Kingdom. Join Knowunity today and help millions of students around the world.

4.9+

21 M

#1

950 K+

Still not sure? Look at what your fellow peers are saying...

I love this app so much [...] I recommend Knowunity to everyone!!! I went from a C to an A with it :D

The application is very simple and well designed. So far I have found what I was looking for :D

Love this App ❤️, I use it basically all the time whenever I'm studying

Comparative Analysis: A Thousand Splendid Suns and Wuthering Heights

Sign up to see the contentIt's free!

Character Analysis: Heathcliff and Mariam as Outsiders

Sign up to see the contentIt's free!

Psychological Manipulation and Identity

Sign up to see the contentIt's free!

Violence and Symbolic Imagery

Similar Content

Sonnet 43

Walking away annotations

Belonging anthology summaries

Can't find what you're looking for? Explore other subjects.

Students love us — and so will you.

4.9/5

4.8/5