Ignorance In The Kite Runner By Khaled Hosseini

Many individuals often wish to selfishly pursue their own desires and as a result, they remain of ignorant of the potential consequences that may ensue. It is through their in-suppressible desires that cause their relationship with others to severely disintegrate. In the novel The Kite Runner, Khaled Hosseini suggests that when individuals have a strong interest they wish to pursue, they begin to remain ignorant of the harm they will cause others as a result of their nationalistic beliefs. This is illustrated through the characters of Amir, Baba and Assef. Amir earnestly wishes to receive Baba’s affection and recognition of his own talents. However, little does he realize that these thoughts put his best friend in significant danger as a result

Because Amir has been raised in Kabul for his entire childhood, he often felt a clear sense of familiarity and freedom with the town due to his intimate relationships with Hassan, Ali, Baba and Rahim Khan. As a result of his nationalistic feelings towards Kabul, Amir secretly coveted to become like his father, a prominent, important figure that is well respected among others in Kabul. In order to achieve a sense of admiration and recognition from his own father, Amir becomes jealous of Hassan who was able to effortlessly receive Baba’s affection. When Amir begins to read his own story to Hassan, Hassan gradually begins to discover a major plot hole in Amir’s story. Upon his unexpected realization of Amir’s mistake, Amir begins to develop hostile feelings for his best friend as he questioned about Hassan’s right to comment on his own work. Amir believes that Hassan will “never be anything but a cook. How dare he criticize [me]?” Even though Amir enjoys Hassan’s companionship, his strong desire to receive the attention of his own father causes him to subconsciously develop these negative thoughts. Amir’s jealousy is further demonstrated when he selfishly “wanted Baba all to [himself].” His overwhelming pressure to maintain his own sense of pride causes him to become blinded within his own desires. It is through his lack of confidence and desire to become exactly like his father that justifies his own selfish actions. Additionally, because Amir is born into an affluent family, he feels the need to maintain his family’s positive, well-respected reputation within Kabul. Unlike Hassan, Amir’s predetermined fate of being born as a Pashtun, as a Sunni Muslim and as Baba’s son instigates overwhelming pressure within himself that continues to grow the older he becomes. Because of the tremendous burden that he must uphold, Amir