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lizeh 𖤐
30/10/2025
English Literature
a thousand splendid suns wuthering heights comparative notes
614
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30 Oct 2025
•
Comparative Analysis: A Thousand Splendid Suns and Wuthering Heights
lizeh 𖤐
@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 – 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 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
- 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" – 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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Stefan S
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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
Best app on earth! no words because it’s too good
Thomas R
iOS user
Just amazing. Let's me revise 10x better, this app is a quick 10/10. I highly recommend it to anyone. I can watch and search for notes. I can save them in the subject folder. I can revise it any time when I come back. If you haven't tried this app, you're really missing out.
Basil
Android user
This app has made me feel so much more confident in my exam prep, not only through boosting my own self confidence through the features that allow you to connect with others and feel less alone, but also through the way the app itself is centred around making you feel better. It is easy to navigate, fun to use, and helpful to anyone struggling in absolutely any way.
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
very reliable app to help and grow your ideas of Maths, English and other related topics in your works. please use this app if your struggling in areas, this app is key for that. wish I'd of done a review before. and it's also free so don't worry about that.
Rohan U
Android user
I know a lot of apps use fake accounts to boost their reviews but this app deserves it all. Originally I was getting 4 in my English exams and this time I got a grade 7. I didn’t even know about this app three days until the exam and it has helped A LOT. Please actually trust me and use it as I’m sure you too will see developments.
Xander S
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 apps acc the goat. I find revision so boring but this app makes it so easy to organize it all and then you can ask the freeeee ai to test yourself so good and you can easily upload your own stuff. highly recommend as someone taking mocks now
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
Best app on earth! no words because it’s too good
Thomas R
iOS user
Just amazing. Let's me revise 10x better, this app is a quick 10/10. I highly recommend it to anyone. I can watch and search for notes. I can save them in the subject folder. I can revise it any time when I come back. If you haven't tried this app, you're really missing out.
Basil
Android user
This app has made me feel so much more confident in my exam prep, not only through boosting my own self confidence through the features that allow you to connect with others and feel less alone, but also through the way the app itself is centred around making you feel better. It is easy to navigate, fun to use, and helpful to anyone struggling in absolutely any way.
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
very reliable app to help and grow your ideas of Maths, English and other related topics in your works. please use this app if your struggling in areas, this app is key for that. wish I'd of done a review before. and it's also free so don't worry about that.
Rohan U
Android user
I know a lot of apps use fake accounts to boost their reviews but this app deserves it all. Originally I was getting 4 in my English exams and this time I got a grade 7. I didn’t even know about this app three days until the exam and it has helped A LOT. Please actually trust me and use it as I’m sure you too will see developments.
Xander S
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 apps acc the goat. I find revision so boring but this app makes it so easy to organize it all and then you can ask the freeeee ai to test yourself so good and you can easily upload your own stuff. highly recommend as someone taking mocks now
Paul T
iOS user
Comparative Analysis: A Thousand Splendid Suns and Wuthering Heights
lizeh 𖤐
@alizeh
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... 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 – 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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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 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
- 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.
We thought you’d never ask...
What is the Knowunity AI companion?
Our AI Companion is a student-focused AI tool that offers more than just answers. Built on millions of Knowunity resources, it provides relevant information, personalised study plans, quizzes, and content directly in the chat, adapting to your individual learning journey.
Where can I download the Knowunity app?
You can download the app from Google Play Store and 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 – 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
Best app on earth! no words because it’s too good
Thomas R
iOS user
Just amazing. Let's me revise 10x better, this app is a quick 10/10. I highly recommend it to anyone. I can watch and search for notes. I can save them in the subject folder. I can revise it any time when I come back. If you haven't tried this app, you're really missing out.
Basil
Android user
This app has made me feel so much more confident in my exam prep, not only through boosting my own self confidence through the features that allow you to connect with others and feel less alone, but also through the way the app itself is centred around making you feel better. It is easy to navigate, fun to use, and helpful to anyone struggling in absolutely any way.
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
very reliable app to help and grow your ideas of Maths, English and other related topics in your works. please use this app if your struggling in areas, this app is key for that. wish I'd of done a review before. and it's also free so don't worry about that.
Rohan U
Android user
I know a lot of apps use fake accounts to boost their reviews but this app deserves it all. Originally I was getting 4 in my English exams and this time I got a grade 7. I didn’t even know about this app three days until the exam and it has helped A LOT. Please actually trust me and use it as I’m sure you too will see developments.
Xander S
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 apps acc the goat. I find revision so boring but this app makes it so easy to organize it all and then you can ask the freeeee ai to test yourself so good and you can easily upload your own stuff. highly recommend as someone taking mocks now
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
Best app on earth! no words because it’s too good
Thomas R
iOS user
Just amazing. Let's me revise 10x better, this app is a quick 10/10. I highly recommend it to anyone. I can watch and search for notes. I can save them in the subject folder. I can revise it any time when I come back. If you haven't tried this app, you're really missing out.
Basil
Android user
This app has made me feel so much more confident in my exam prep, not only through boosting my own self confidence through the features that allow you to connect with others and feel less alone, but also through the way the app itself is centred around making you feel better. It is easy to navigate, fun to use, and helpful to anyone struggling in absolutely any way.
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
very reliable app to help and grow your ideas of Maths, English and other related topics in your works. please use this app if your struggling in areas, this app is key for that. wish I'd of done a review before. and it's also free so don't worry about that.
Rohan U
Android user
I know a lot of apps use fake accounts to boost their reviews but this app deserves it all. Originally I was getting 4 in my English exams and this time I got a grade 7. I didn’t even know about this app three days until the exam and it has helped A LOT. Please actually trust me and use it as I’m sure you too will see developments.
Xander S
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 apps acc the goat. I find revision so boring but this app makes it so easy to organize it all and then you can ask the freeeee ai to test yourself so good and you can easily upload your own stuff. highly recommend as someone taking mocks now
Paul T
iOS user