Resolution of narratives in WH/ATSS
LOAS:
1- Resolution in the removal of regressive social ideals- Joseph and
Rasheed
2- Death as a resolution- Mariam and Heathcliff
3- Hope and growth in resolution- Laila and Hareton- however,
potentially undermined in both, context of return of Taliban
In both WH and ATSS, death is presented as a form of resolution in
allowing for the dissolution of emotional torment. Hosseini portrays this
through Mariam’s death, which serves as the culmination of her journey
from shame to self-worth, as she is able to finally overcome the shame her
identity as a “harami” garners. Mariam’s identity seemingly renders her
incapable of being loved, as she is excluded from Jalil’s family. In Islam,
sex is intended for marriage only, and therefore Mariam being born out of
wedlock would have been socially frowned upon, which Hosseini points to
in describing her as from ‘illegitimate beginnings’- as such, Jalil marries
Mariam off to Rasheed to safeguard his own status ‘for fear of losing face’.
As such, Mariam is resigned to being the ‘solitary eleventh pebble’, her
isolation a direct consequence of her identity, which drives her suffering in
being both physically and emotionally isolated as ‘solitary’. However,
Hosseini presents Mariam’s death to represent her emotional resolution,
as she reflects on the fact that ‘she was leaving the world as a woman
who had loved and been loved back.’ Here, the epanalepsis of ‘loved and
been loved’ creates a sense of emotional balance in death, symbolising
the emotional closure that Mariam is afforded in her death. Mariam’s
reflection that ‘this was a legitimate end’ is significant in presenting the
resolution of the struggles with identity characterising her life, as the
juxtaposition to ‘illegitimate beginnings’ represents her final reconciliation
in recognising her ultimate sense of worth, dying with dignity rather than
shame and thus resolve her emotional conflict. Bronte similarly portrays
death to be an opportunity for emotional catharsis through Heathcliff’s
embracement of death, which serves as a resolution to his suffering in
being separated from Catherine. Heathcliff expresses his preoccupation
with the notion of reuniting with Catherine in death, stating, “I am
swallowed up in the anticipation of its fulfilment.” His being “swallowed
up” shows his obsession with death, which Bronte extends in the intensity
of his anticipation, as he is described as “pacing to and fro” and being
“uncommonly animated,” attributing to him a restless energy, a physical
manifestation of his emotional turmoil in being apart from Catherine.
Heathcliff presents death as a resolution to this turmoil in saying, “to-day,
I am within sight of my heaven.” In connoting reunification with Catherine
LOAS:
1- Resolution in the removal of regressive social ideals- Joseph and
Rasheed
2- Death as a resolution- Mariam and Heathcliff
3- Hope and growth in resolution- Laila and Hareton- however,
potentially undermined in both, context of return of Taliban
In both WH and ATSS, death is presented as a form of resolution in
allowing for the dissolution of emotional torment. Hosseini portrays this
through Mariam’s death, which serves as the culmination of her journey
from shame to self-worth, as she is able to finally overcome the shame her
identity as a “harami” garners. Mariam’s identity seemingly renders her
incapable of being loved, as she is excluded from Jalil’s family. In Islam,
sex is intended for marriage only, and therefore Mariam being born out of
wedlock would have been socially frowned upon, which Hosseini points to
in describing her as from ‘illegitimate beginnings’- as such, Jalil marries
Mariam off to Rasheed to safeguard his own status ‘for fear of losing face’.
As such, Mariam is resigned to being the ‘solitary eleventh pebble’, her
isolation a direct consequence of her identity, which drives her suffering in
being both physically and emotionally isolated as ‘solitary’. However,
Hosseini presents Mariam’s death to represent her emotional resolution,
as she reflects on the fact that ‘she was leaving the world as a woman
who had loved and been loved back.’ Here, the epanalepsis of ‘loved and
been loved’ creates a sense of emotional balance in death, symbolising
the emotional closure that Mariam is afforded in her death. Mariam’s
reflection that ‘this was a legitimate end’ is significant in presenting the
resolution of the struggles with identity characterising her life, as the
juxtaposition to ‘illegitimate beginnings’ represents her final reconciliation
in recognising her ultimate sense of worth, dying with dignity rather than
shame and thus resolve her emotional conflict. Bronte similarly portrays
death to be an opportunity for emotional catharsis through Heathcliff’s
embracement of death, which serves as a resolution to his suffering in
being separated from Catherine. Heathcliff expresses his preoccupation
with the notion of reuniting with Catherine in death, stating, “I am
swallowed up in the anticipation of its fulfilment.” His being “swallowed
up” shows his obsession with death, which Bronte extends in the intensity
of his anticipation, as he is described as “pacing to and fro” and being
“uncommonly animated,” attributing to him a restless energy, a physical
manifestation of his emotional turmoil in being apart from Catherine.
Heathcliff presents death as a resolution to this turmoil in saying, “to-day,
I am within sight of my heaven.” In connoting reunification with Catherine
