A List of Parallels Between the Two Stories in The Eight

Parallel Characters

NOTE: This was from 20 years ago, before The Fire was published.

(Most of these are probably not exact parallels.)

• Mireille and Catherine (of course)
• Marat and El-Marad (both are the White King)
• Marat and Sharrif (both are the heroine's main enemy)
• Catherine Grand and Blanche
• Talleyrand and Harry (the Black King)
• Talleyrand and Nim (both are the character that the heroine turns to for help when she's in danger)
• Talleyrand and Solarin (the heroine's love interest)
• Valentine and Lily (the pawn who accompanies the Black Queen)
• Shahin and Kamel

If you can think of any more parallel characters, let me know and I'll add them to the list.

Parallel Scenes

(Again, this list is probably not complete.)

1. In the first chapter, we see Mireille on a mountaintop (where Montglane Abbey is), which is covered with snow; when we first see Catherine, she is on top of a tall building, with snow falling; the place is compared to a mountaintop.
2. When Catherine is in danger, she goes to Nim's house; when Mireille is in danger after the massacres, she goes to Talleyrand's house.
3. Mireille meets Marat for the first time; in the next section of Catherine's story, Catherine meets Sharrif for the first time.
4. Mireille decides to go to Algeria; in the next chapter, Catherine leaves for Algeria.
5. Mireille is dressed as a boy; in the next chapter, Catherine wears pants and everyone stares at her.
6. Mireille goes into the desert with Shahin; in the next chapter, Catherine goes into the desert with Kamel, who, as it turns out, is Shahin's descendant.
7. In the next section of Catherine's story after Mireille kills Marat, Catherine has a confrontation with El-Marad.
8. They both run into a sandstorm in the desert.
9. They both run into a storm at sea.
10. They both discover the secret, in the last chapter (of course).

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Copyright 1997 Vicki Kondelik.