Wednesday, May 4, 2011
This novel was written in 2001 by Khaled Hosseini, in which he recalls back to 1975 and goes on until 2001.
Setting: Kabul, Afghanistan
Main Characters
Amir:
- Narrator of the novel.
- He is the son of the very wealthy and powerful man in Afghanistan.
- Amir and his father have a very complicated relationship due to their many differences in interests and personality.
- Pashtun and Sunni Muslim.
- Mother died when he was born
Baba:
- Father of Amir.
- Blames Amir for his mother's death.
- Looks down upon Amir due to their many differences.
- Is very disappointed that Amir did not turn out more like himself.
- Pashtun and Sunni Muslim.
- Servant of Amir
- Born with a facial deformity (harelip)
- Born as a Hazara
- Breast fed from same lady as Amir (pashtun)
- Mother ran away which is such a shame It would be if she was dead
- Father of Hassan
- A poor Hazara and a servant of Baba
- Had a severe limp after being ill with Polio
Monday, May 2, 2011
Caste Systems
My name is Junaid Arshad and I am a Sunni Muslim. I chose to read this book because it's setting took place in a region I grew up in and am familiar with. I know the customs and traditions, and I have been a part of them. I also know of the discrimination that goes on through experience.
In Afghanistan there are many ethnic groups. Two main groups are Pashtuns and Hazaras.Ethnic groups in those regions are ranked as in terms of their status in the country. The Pashtuns consider themselves the higher rank. Although the government views them in the same way. They're atleast seven different tribal groups. This includes the Durrani, Ghilzai, Jaji, Mangal, Safi, Mamund, and Mohmand. Pasthuns are Sunni Muslim which is the majority and Hazaras are Shia Muslims which are only a small percentage of the entire Muslim race.
Usually people with more power in these countries have a lot of control in the areas they live in. In the novel, The Kite Runner, Hassan was forced to serve Assef and his friends, although they had raped Hassan earlier in the novel. This just proves the caste system has such control over the lifes of those in lower castes. He was unable to tell on the boys because of the fact that they were of a higher rank.
Social heirarchy has such an effect on society, and those who live in it. This story has taught me to respect those around me, no matter what class they belong to. This story really hits home because I am a Sunni Pasthun. In my home in Pakistan, this same discrimination can be seen. Next time I visit Pakistan, I will remember this incredible novel and how it has changed my outlook on those around me.
Amir and Hassan (from right to left)
The common Pashtun home
A common Hazara home
In Afghanistan there are many ethnic groups. Two main groups are Pashtuns and Hazaras.Ethnic groups in those regions are ranked as in terms of their status in the country. The Pashtuns consider themselves the higher rank. Although the government views them in the same way. They're atleast seven different tribal groups. This includes the Durrani, Ghilzai, Jaji, Mangal, Safi, Mamund, and Mohmand. Pasthuns are Sunni Muslim which is the majority and Hazaras are Shia Muslims which are only a small percentage of the entire Muslim race.
Usually people with more power in these countries have a lot of control in the areas they live in. In the novel, The Kite Runner, Hassan was forced to serve Assef and his friends, although they had raped Hassan earlier in the novel. This just proves the caste system has such control over the lifes of those in lower castes. He was unable to tell on the boys because of the fact that they were of a higher rank.
Social heirarchy has such an effect on society, and those who live in it. This story has taught me to respect those around me, no matter what class they belong to. This story really hits home because I am a Sunni Pasthun. In my home in Pakistan, this same discrimination can be seen. Next time I visit Pakistan, I will remember this incredible novel and how it has changed my outlook on those around me.
Amir and Hassan (from right to left)
The common Pashtun home
A common Hazara home
The Lingering Impact of Guilt
Guilt: A feeling of responsibility for wrongdoing.
“The guilty one is not he who commits the sin, but the one who causes the darkness.”
Victor Hugo
The impact of guilt is a major theme in the novel The Kite Runner. The main character, Amir, is the main victim of guilt. Amir's closest friend is a boy the same age as him, Hassan. Hassan is not only his best friend since birth, but his servant.
The first time in the novel that Amir faces guilt takes place when he and Hassan are playing in the neighborhood and are approached by Assef, a boy with a father similar in power to Amir's, and his two friends. Assef and his friends surround Amir and Hassan and begin to degrade them both. Assef asks Amir in a tone of disgust and anger why he befriends Hassan because he is in a lower caste. Embarassed, Amir almost says that Hassan is not his friend but holds back after thinking twice. It turns out that Hassan stands up for and protects Amir from Assef and his friends, who were planning to beat him. Amir is stricken with guilt when he realizes how loyal Hassan is to him, while he had thoughts of telling Assef that Hassan was nothing but his servant, which could have potentially ended up in the beating of Hassan.
The most significant sequence of events in the novel that support the theme of lingering guilt begins when Amir wins the Kite Fighting Tournament, and Hassan runs off in pursuit of Amir's trophy kite, which is flying away. Hassan is gone long enough to alarm Amir, who begins to search for him. When Amir finally locates Hassan, he discovers that he has been surrounded by Assef and his two friends in an alleyway. Assef and his followers rape and beat Hassan, while Amir just stands there and watches. He doesn't do a thing to help Hassan and runs back home before the attack on him is even over. Amir's guilty conscience is so strong that he cannot bare to even look at Hassan anymore. Amir is under the impression that if he gets Hassan out of sight, his guilt will vanish. He attempts to rid Hassan from his life by putting a large amount of money under Hassan's bed in hopes that Amir's father will discover it and banish Hassan for stealing. When Hassan is confronted about the theft, he apologizes and Amir's father forgives him and allows him to stay. Amir is in disbelief. Hassan's father Ali, Amir's father's servant, is so ashamed of Hassan's actions that he takes his son and leaves forever. Soon after, Amir's guilt is even worse, and he realizes that he made a hug mistake that will haunt him for the rest of his life.
“The guilty one is not he who commits the sin, but the one who causes the darkness.”
Victor Hugo
The impact of guilt is a major theme in the novel The Kite Runner. The main character, Amir, is the main victim of guilt. Amir's closest friend is a boy the same age as him, Hassan. Hassan is not only his best friend since birth, but his servant.
The first time in the novel that Amir faces guilt takes place when he and Hassan are playing in the neighborhood and are approached by Assef, a boy with a father similar in power to Amir's, and his two friends. Assef and his friends surround Amir and Hassan and begin to degrade them both. Assef asks Amir in a tone of disgust and anger why he befriends Hassan because he is in a lower caste. Embarassed, Amir almost says that Hassan is not his friend but holds back after thinking twice. It turns out that Hassan stands up for and protects Amir from Assef and his friends, who were planning to beat him. Amir is stricken with guilt when he realizes how loyal Hassan is to him, while he had thoughts of telling Assef that Hassan was nothing but his servant, which could have potentially ended up in the beating of Hassan.
The most significant sequence of events in the novel that support the theme of lingering guilt begins when Amir wins the Kite Fighting Tournament, and Hassan runs off in pursuit of Amir's trophy kite, which is flying away. Hassan is gone long enough to alarm Amir, who begins to search for him. When Amir finally locates Hassan, he discovers that he has been surrounded by Assef and his two friends in an alleyway. Assef and his followers rape and beat Hassan, while Amir just stands there and watches. He doesn't do a thing to help Hassan and runs back home before the attack on him is even over. Amir's guilty conscience is so strong that he cannot bare to even look at Hassan anymore. Amir is under the impression that if he gets Hassan out of sight, his guilt will vanish. He attempts to rid Hassan from his life by putting a large amount of money under Hassan's bed in hopes that Amir's father will discover it and banish Hassan for stealing. When Hassan is confronted about the theft, he apologizes and Amir's father forgives him and allows him to stay. Amir is in disbelief. Hassan's father Ali, Amir's father's servant, is so ashamed of Hassan's actions that he takes his son and leaves forever. Soon after, Amir's guilt is even worse, and he realizes that he made a hug mistake that will haunt him for the rest of his life.
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