A Level Edexcel English Literature- Prose exemplar essay marked, comparing presentation of time in A Thousand Splendid Suns and Wuthering Heights, teacher comments added, scored 30/40
Compare the ways in which the writers of your two chosen texts use the
concept of time. You must relate your discussion to relevant contextual
factors. (40)
In both Emily Brontë's Wuthering Heights and Khaled Hosseini's A Thousand Splendid Suns,
the portrayal of women within the societal framework is interwoven with the concept and
passage of time. Set in vastly different contexts, these novels grapple with the expectations
and struggles faced by women within their respective societies across generations. Through
the exploration of the concept of time, both Brontë and Hosseini navigate the complexities
of resilience amidst societal norms and expectations. The representation of women in
Wuthering Heights and A Thousand Splendid Suns examines how the concept of time is seen
through the wisdom gained by female characters and both novels different structures.
The concept of time passing causes the development of wisdom within both novel’s central
female characters. Within Wuthering Heights, this is seen through the character of Catherine
Earnshaw. In her younger, formative years, Catherine is crafted as a spirited woman who
makes naïve mistakes, particularly when it comes to her budding romance with Heathcliff.
Young Catherine prioritises social status over love, despite her intense feelings for Heathcliff,
and marries Edgar Linton. Within Chapter 9, Bronte writes, “He’s more myself than I am.
Whatever our souls are made of, his and mine are the same.” Bronte plays with gothic
conventions and implies a spiritual connection between the two protagonists to
demonstrate their passionate feelings. This encapsulates the strength of their bond although
Catherine chooses to marry another man, knowing she does not truly love him and her soul
differs greatly from his, which demonstrates her lack of wisdom at this young age. However,
in Chapter 15 upon her untimely illness, Catherine attributes her suffering and impending
death as a consequence for her poor, heart-breaking decision that brought great pain to
Heathcliff. She states that “If I’ve done wrong, I’m dying for it. It is enough! You left me too:
but I won’t upbraid you! I forgive you. Forgive me!” The use of anadiplosis by Bronte
particularly highlights Catherine’s growth and development as she admits her failings and
sees her demise as a punishment for her past wrongs. Repeated use of exclamatives
emphasises the conviction she holds in her beliefs and desperation to get her reasoning
across to Heathcliff, reiterating how time has helped her grow.
Similarly, in A Thousand Splendid Suns, the passage of time brings wisdom in the novel’s
female protagonists. Mariam, plagued by the societal degrading label of “harami” from a
young age and her mother’s suicide, was discarded by her family and married off to the
tyrannical Rasheed. After years of mistreatment and infertility, Mariam finds solace with
Laila (Rasheed’s second wife) and her daughter Aziza. Towards the novel’s end, Mariam’s
wisdom is shown through her ultimate sacrifice after Rasheed’s death. Hosseini writes, “For
me, it ends here. There is nothing more that I want… this is all right. Don’t be sad.” Mariam’s
unwavering acceptance of her fate and responsibility for her actions evokes pathos in the
readers, as it is clear that Mariam has matured greatly from the fearful young girl she was to
a wise, fearless woman who sacrifices her life to give Laila another chance in life. Here,
Hosseini demonstrates Mariam as a character who developed great wisdom over time and
various trials. Women in Afghanistan were greatly oppressed and lacked the social freedom
to merely leave their homes alone, and murdering their husband would be unthinkable with
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