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Argument: Authors A Rama Krishna Rao and R V Jayanth Kasyap argue Lahiri's chacters' search for their identities, and the overall immigrant psyche. The author's descibe the various chacters from Lahiri's different novels and how each of them struggle to adjust and find thier own individuality. Evidence: "A union with the outside world would bring happiness and isolation sometimes leads to depression". "Another important factor that affects the psyche is displacement. People who get displaced-geographically, culturally and spiritually-are always ill at ease and display the symptoms of psychological ailment". "Lahiri's novel The Namesake illustrates the optimism required in an immigrant. It shows that it is the willingness of the mind of an immigrant that helps him to assimilate and adapt himself to the alien ethos. Like Bharati Mukherjee, Lahiri focuses on the aspect of the characters shuttling between dual identities" Thoughts: I really like the authors' way of focusing on the psyche of the immigrants and not just thier actions. They include everything from thoughts and interactions with others, especially with family, as well as other personal choices the specific characters make in the stories. Also I find it very interesting how Rao and Kasyup focus on immigrants as a whole, such as when they descibe how immigrants crave affection, and that an immigrant of any generation cannot live in isolation. This helps to put immigration of all types in perspective, not just that of Lahiri's characters.

C. L. Chua analyzes A Thousand Splendid Suns in an attempt to find out if it was as much of a success as The Kite Runner, Khaled Hosseini's first novel. The different literary devices that Hosseini used are mentioned to perhaps give validity to the various arguments Chua makes. A shortfall of the critique is that perhaps not enough emphasis was actually placed on an argument; a majority of the essay was a very well written summary of the novel with only a light touch at the very beginning and end of the essay on the actual argument. "He [Hosseini] felt impelled to tell an Afghan story different from The Kite Runner's. That book had been about men-fathers and sons, male friendship, male treachery. Hosseini now felt drawn to tell a contemporaneous story about Afghanistan's women." Chua uses a clear and logical argument to assert his opinion that Hosseini really delved into the life of an Afghanistan woman in the current times. The critique remains coherent but I wish it was more focused and consistent in the argument. It would have been overall better if Chua has also given more of their insight of this novel. I'm not sure if the author of this article is male or female but depending on their gender, it could create a bias. Another bias that may exist is that the author of this critique really enjoy Hosseini's first novel The Kite Runner so they may be more inclined to say that his second novel was just as good since they are already a fan. "Hosseini's two women are strategic contrasts physically, socially, and psychologically. Socially, Mariam is from the rural lower class; Laila, the urban middle class. Psychologically, Mariam is accustomed to humiliation; Laila, to consideration. Physically, Mariam's features are "unshapely," "flat," "unmemorable," "coarse," while Laila is a green-eyed blond beauty." The stark differences that Chua notes about Hosseini's protagonists help to understand a main theme of the novel which could

Argument: The heated passion within Wuthering Heights is a product of the intense relationship between Heathcliff and Catherine. Claim: Passion is an essential element of a Romantic novel. Catherine is, in some ways, addicted to Heathcliff. Catherine's addiction to Heathcliff is bold, especially for society at the time. Catherine is somewhat reckless. Catherine has an empty soul. Evidence: "Intensity arises out of the bond between Catherine and Heathcliff, a bond which can best be described as an addiction rather than as a 'theme' of a traditional Romantic Gothic novel. The addictive nature of the relationship is illuminated by Catherine's cry of 'I am Heathcliff!' (98). Lacking any inner resources, Catherine attempts to capture Heathcliff's psyche to fulfill the emptiness in her own soul. This then is sexual addiction--the need to possess another being." http://go.galegroup.com.lib.chandleraz.gov/ps/i.do?&id=GALE%7CA18290969&v=2.1&u=chandler_main&it=r&p=LitRC&sw=w