A Matter of Fate

Throughout the novel, “The Kite Runner” by Khaled Hosseini there are multiple occasions where actual historic events are introduced to the novel and the characters. These events give a little insight to how much the event impacts, either for good or for worse as well as some of the decisions they are forced to make in heated situations. The lives of multiple characters change drastically as these historical events begin and end, ultimately for better or for worse. Examples of character’s lives changing with these historical events include: Baba, Amir and Sohrab.

To begin, Baba’s life after fleeing his home of Afghanistan to America changes at its most critical aspects, one of these being his wealth. Back in Afghanistan Baba was known as very wealthy businessman in the Wazir Khan Akbar district. During Baba’s orphanage’s opening, Amir speaks about Baba’s success and his wealth: “But despite Baba’s successes, people were always doubting him. They told Baba that running a business wasn’t in his blood and he should study law like his father. So Baba proved them all wrong by not only running his own business but becoming one of the richest merchants in Kabul (Hosseini, 16). When the Soviet Union invaded Afghanistan, Baba left the country through a people smuggler along with his son to Pakistan then America. Once in America, Baba lives a poorer lifestyle working as a gas station assistant manager opposed to his business career in Afghanistan. Amir gives insight on their American living conditions saying: “ Our grimy one-bedroom apartment smelled like dirty socks and cat droppings…Six days a week, Baba pulled twelve-hour shifts pumping gas, running the register, changing oil, and washing windshields…face drawn and pale under the bright...

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... with no real power ruling the country, the Taliban stepped in: “In its efforts to control the country the Taliban became as brutal as its predecessors – killing civilians, burning houses, and destroying crops in the villages and towns it has conquered” (Poolos, 2001). Sohrab was born into the Taliban’s brutal regime and would be scared after years of witnessing their brutality. When taken from the orphanage by them, Sohrab is very well of what they can do to him and obeys their orders in fear of being just another statistic.

In conclusion, the historical events that took place in “The kite runner” affected multiple characters in different ways, some had no way of changing the result they are put into while others are given the resources to change their life for the better like never before. However both sides have their lives changed drastically like never before.