Social Norms In Othello And The Kite Runner

“Social norms” refers to the unwritten rules of behavior that are considered acceptable in a group or society. This concept is explored in differing ways by Shakespeare demonstrating in Othello that trust amongst close peers is a prominent component of that society. In the Kite Runner, Hosseini develops the social norm of a negative view upon minorities to move Hassan along in the plot. While both works reveal important details about the experience of social norms, Othello ultimately provides a more meaningful depiction of the concept since it influences the plot and characters in a greater manner.

In Othello, Iago was able to manipulate Othello and his emotions based on the social norms developed by Shakespeare. In Othello trust by close

peers is a prominent social norm in Othello’s society. In the book, Iago is trying to deceive Othello by claiming that his wife is sleeping with another man. “But, oh, what damned minutes tells he o’ er. Who dotes, yet doubts,” (Act III; Scene; III Line 173-4). Iago is demonstrating the distress that Othello would be in if he were to doubt her faithfulness yet still be in love, emphasizing the “disloyalty” of Desdemona. Through this line, Iago is using his trust of Othello to in turn manipulate him causing him a great deal of distress with Desdemona and himself. Later on, in the book, Othello is having a raging fit over being cheated on by Desdemona with who he believes to be Cassio. Iago tells Othello to go hide since Cassio is coming. “ As he shall smile, Othello shall go mad. Nad his unbookish jealousy must construe. Poor Cassio’s smiles, gestures and light behavior,” (Act IV; Scene I; Lines 97-99). Here Cassio is attempting to create a strong sense of anger for Othello as he will be in turn misunderstanding the emotions of Cassio believing them to be furthering the proof of Iago that he had slept with Desdemona. Cassio is once again using the trust that he has established within Othello to manipulate Othello’s views on Cassio and to stir up the anger inside of him.

In “The Kite Runner”, Khaled Hosseini develops the concept of social norms through the way in that minorities are treated as lesser people.

During when Amir believed to be at one of the peak moments of his life so far, he witnessed his good friend captured by people with horrible intentions. During the moment of the rape, Amir is unable to react, stunned by the reality he is currently facing. Hassan happening to be a minority was left by his friend to withstand the horror that would haunt him for his many years to come. “ I saw the resignation in it. It was a look I had seen before. It was the look of the lamb.” This quote proves that Amir has fallen under the social norms of viewing a minority as lesser of a person. The comparison to a lamb, which tend to be usually weaker and more frequently overpowered by other species emphasized Amir’s view. The following years of Amir’s life included the haunting of what had happened to Hassan when they were younger. Amir then later learns that Hassan was killed by the Taliban because he was a Hazara, a minority amongst the Afghan people. This allowed Amir to reflect upon the way that he treated his friend when he was in a time of need. Amir then proceeds to describe Hassan, “Wolves looking at a flock of sheep.” This shows that Amir still looked upon Hassan as a lesser and weaker person, a minority in Afghanistan. While Amir has remorse for Hassan, he is still not looking to Hassan as equal to him, but instead the social norm during the

time he knew Hassan in Afghanistan of looking down upon a minority was still prominent in his thoughts.

Both texts, “The Kite Runner” and “Othello” have strong similarities that reflect upon the social norms in that current social environment.

“The Kite Runner” develops the social norm of looking down upon minorities and in a way degrading them showing less respect. After Hassan has been killed Amir reflects upon Hassan saying, “Wolves looking at a flock of sheep.” This shows how he was comparing to Hassan as a sheep in a degrading sort of manner portraying him as a weaker individual. In “Othello” there is that social norm of trusting your close peers. This turns around to in the end backfire for Othello since Iago is using his trust to manipulate him into becoming less of a man. When Othello and Iago are arguing Othello says, “ A horned man’s a monster and a beast.” This shows Othello degrading to an animal and a beast from his previous self due to the manipulation of Iago. Both of the social norms degraded the characters in such an aggressive manner, that were compared or compared themselves to animals. The manipulation of trust in Othello allowed for Othello to view himself as a degraded man and compare himself to an animal. This is similar to the kite runner since the social norm of looking down upon minorities made Amir look at Hassan as a degraded human once again comparing him to an animal. Both texts used the ideology of using animals to portray characters as diminished and less than their previous

selves.

Social norms are a major part of understanding characters. Without the inclusion of social norms, it may be difficult to understand how and why characters develop through time and the reactions of other characters. Social norms are in place to move characters along the plot in several different manners but overall allows the reader to understand why the character is in that position and be able to relate more to the character drawing the reader further into the piece of literature.