Now I would like to add examples of when Assef was the one who was discriminating against the Hazaras. There are several examples of that which lead not only to the tension between the Amir and Hassan. The first example would be the first time when Amir mentions him and also it is the first time in the book when Assef bullies both Hassan and Amir in Chapter 5. This is when both, Amir and Hassan decide to go climb the pomegranate tree and on their way they came across Assef and his friends who then teased Amir for being friends with Hassan, and in the end Hassan pulls the sling shot at Assef who then allows them to leave with a warning that he will get them in the future. The entire scene was not an example of the socail tension but it was …show more content…
more about what Assef though about the Hazaras and now even the people who the Hazaras hang out with were now targets for bullies.This shows that both the classes are like enemies althoguh teir are some poeple who don’t think that but still they are even brought down and bullied because they have connections with the Hazaras.It also shows that the Hazaras are also the p[eopel who won’t go down for the poeple the care about althoguh they might look very innocent, like how Hassan was up to pull his sling shot at Assef if he did not let Amir go.
In the this book there are a lot of example of showing on how Baba and Amir always did not have the social tension between both the classes, but in the end we also find out that this tension lead to the communist as in chapter 22 Assef says that the communist, USSR Officer who beat him and the other prisoner each night was infact a …show more content…
half-hazara. That might have lead to the way the Pashtuns treated the Hazaras, and they thought that the only way to rebel was to join the community while people like Assef thought that the only way to rebel against the Hazaras was by joining the Taliban. Both the Taliban and Communists did have a lot of social differences and now that the Hazaras were joining the Communist and the Pashtuns the Taliban the tension grew higher, which lead to a fight and obviously we know that the Taliban won because they had help from Pakistan and the Pashtun, which were the rich people. Something else that I would also like to add is that Assef is still the person he was before just now because of what happened to him and his mother getting torched everyday by a Hazara made him more violent with goals against the Hazaras as the old Assef just hated the Hazaras but now he wanted to kill them “Massacre the Hazaras(Ch 22)”. That is how worse the tension between both the Hazaras and the Pashtuns has gone so far that it is leading to massacring the other group no matter what the process includes, as for Assef it was sleeping with married women, raping children, and massacring the Hazaras, but for the Half-Hazara it was to beat them up to death There are a lot of a real world connections that one night only going on in the same time as this conflict but they're all so many other different genocides and stuff with that include the social attention that was going on during the same time.
during the 1990s.One example of such conflict between the social tensions and let you a genocide will be there you want and genocide with you included the social tension between the Hutu and the Tutsi, just like the Hazaras and the Pashtuns this tensioned was going on for a very long time but came to play when the after the Rwandan Civil War the hutu took place in the government and their “final solution” to end the crisi was just like World War 2 but here it was massacring the opposite group which was the tutsi. The reason they would be a ethnic tension is because the Hutu had the power of the country while the tutsi were the normal citizens living in peace until the genocide killed around 1 million Rwandans including both hutu and tutsi. Another example of ethnic tension in the world today is between the Bhutan citizens and the Nepalese people living in Bhutan, as they also have a lot of tension going on as Bhutan's government passed a law saying that the Nepalese people can not have their education in the same room as the Bhutanese and they are forced to wear the traditional clothes of Bhutan's on special occasions. This is not only creating tension between the Nepalese people it is also forcing them to leave the country and
flee to refugee camps in Nepal. This is ethnic tension because they follow one religion Buddhism but they have different morals just like the Hazaras and Pashtuns, so just because the Bhutanese have all the power in their hands they are forcing the Nepalese people do follow their morals although they don’t believe in them. I would also like to add that in November 2015 the Hazaras and Pashtun reunited for the second time because 9 Hazaras were murdered by cutting their heads off, and the people of Afghanistan protested against the government saying that they don’t want to have a funeral for those people instead they want to find the killer(s), who they think is ISIS as they warned the government earlier. Even the government agrees with the citizens and they have started looking for who is responsible for those murderers as it was not just them, they were part of other 54 Hazaras who went missing. This is not any connections to ethnic tension, but I wanted to include that because it shows how people are now reuniting against another problem in society ISIS, which could be another ethnic tension as according to them we are the fault in society and they want to fix it. If ISIS is a part of it then even what they did all around the world would count as the tension is between the entire world vs. ISIS, first, Africa they kidnapped girls from school, Middle East, they are bombing places and ancient artifacts, Europe, what happened in Paris, France and the bombings as 6 different social places which the police is finding links to places all over Europe as the people responsible came from countries all over Europe, and lastly North America, they are encouraging the students and teenagers to go work for them on social media. Overall in this world today ethnic tension still continues but for some topic those group reunite to have common goals but sometimes they would not sit still until they would massacre or finish the other group.
In 1994, two Rwandan tribes were fighting each other to the death. One was called the Tutsi tribe and the other was the Hutu tribe. These clans differed only slightly. The Tutsi were taller, had darker skin, and wider noses. The Hutu were shorter, had lighter skin, and thinner noses. This was the difference between them yet they fought for about 3 months until nearly half of the Tutsi were slaughtered. What a happy story.
In addition, Assef raped Hassan at the beginning of the novel and later presumably rapes or sexually abuses Sohrab. Assef’s rape of Sohrab may be inferred when Sohrab says to Amir, “I’m so dirty and full of sin..they did things…the bad man and the other two…they did things…did things to me”
Baba is a very high standing man in Kabul, but seems to be extremely harsh to Amir when he was a child. He is a very large, tough man who was very well known in the town and as Amir stated in the novel, “Lore has it my father once wrestled a black bear in Baluchistan with his bare hands” (Hosseini 12). This small detail of Baba makes it known to the reader that Baba is a man of great courage and strength. Some may think that an honorable man is one with no flaws, but many disagree. Every human being makes mistakes, including Baba. When Amir grows up and goes back to visit Rahim Khan in Afghanistan, he finds out that his father lied to him his entire life about Hassan being his half-brother. He also finds out from Rahim Khan that all Baba had back then “was his honor, his name” (Hosseini 223). He did not tell Amir and Hassan that they were brothers because they had a different mother and that would have made their entire family be looked down upon in the town. He did it for their own good, and wanted for them both to grow up as honorable men, like himself. There is a difference in making mistakes and trying to do what’s best to fix them, rather than making the same mistakes over and over again, which is what Amir seemed to do in the novel. Amir was the exact opposite of his father, which made it very hard for them to have a
Amir had mistreated Hassan in some ways, for example, when he threw pomegranates at the latter, in hopes to receive the same treatment back. He had always thought that since Hassan was a Hazara, he should be looked down upon because he is of a lower class. After the kite running event and when Hassan was raped, Amir spoke to Ali about Hassan’s condition. He did not mention how Hassan was raped, but rather said that he was sick instead. From the way he spoke to Ali, it was noticeable that he was pushing the blame onto Hassan, freeing himself from all castigations he would receive. ““Like I said, how should I know what’s wrong with him?” I snapped. “Maybe he’s sick. People get sick all the time, Ali. Now, am I going to freeze to death or are you planning on lighting the stove today?”” (Hosseini 86) This line displays how Amir used excuses to maneuver his way from the topic of Hassan that day, in order to keep his image and mind clean. In addition to this idea of keeping the image clean towards society and believing in delusions, Baba had taught himself to think that he was a good man. When Amir and Baba were on the truck ride from Kabul, there was a part where a Russian soldier had threatened to kill Baba for protecting the woman. ““Tell him I’ll take a thousand of his bullets before I let this indecency take place,” Baba said” (Hosseini 122). It was apparent from this line, and
Baba saw that something was not right in Amir but never quite was able to tie his head around it. “ Sometimes I look out this window and I see him playing on the street with the neighborhood boys. I see how they push him around, take his toys from him, give him a shove 2here, a whack there. And you know, he never fights back. Never. He just . . . drops his head and . . . “ (22). As Baba see’s this in his own son in a way he has a bit of disappointment. Baba wanted Amir to be as tough as he was he wanted his son to fight back when he was supposed to fight back. To let be known that he was not
Amir takes advantage of Hasan because he is a Hazara and his servant. “When it comes to words Hassan is an imbecile” (29). This is when Amir first starts to belittle Hassan knowing that he is a Hazara therefore illiterate. Instead of helping his friend, Amir chooses to instead downplay him and mock Hassan. “What would you do if I hit you with this?” (92). Amir pelting Hassan with the pomegranate after he asks this question continues his betrayal because Amir knew Hassan would not do anything about it. “A loyal Hazara. Loyal as a dog” (72). Assef of all people acknowledged that Hassan was loyal to Amir. This in some ways makes Amir as disgusting as Assef but it there are worse instances of betrayal by Amir.
Firstly, the characters in the novel display bravery as they protect one another from physical harm. This can be seen in patterns between generations in families. Early on the reader learns that Amir’s grandfather protects Ali by, “[adopting] him into his own household, and [telling] the other students to tutor him” (26). Since Ali’s parents were killed and he is a Hazaras he would have most certainly been discriminated against at an orphanage. Ali is Hassan’s father. The reader learns near the end that he is not his biological father but he is the man who raised him. Hassan defends Amir from being beaten by Assef who has a reputation in Kabul of being a psychopath. When Assef threatens them Hassan does not hesitate to respond saying, “You are right, Agha. But perhaps you didn’t notice that I’m the one holding the slingshot. If you make a move, they’ll have to change your nickname from Assef ‘the Ear Eater’ to ‘One-Eyed Assef,’ because I have this rock pointed at your left eye” (45-46). Later on Amir stands up for Sohrab, Hassan’s son, as Hassan stood up for Amir countless times before. He demands to Assef, "All I want is the boy" (298), to take Sohrab to a safe place where he would no longer be sexually abused. In return, Sohrab is bold and prevents Amir from being slain. He points the slingshot at Assef’s face, "‘No more, Agha. Please,’ he [says], his voice husky and trembling. ‘Stop hurting him’" (304). At this point Assef is a grown man while Sohrab is only a boy. It would take plenty of courage to protect this man he did not even know. Sohrab’s action fulfills the idea foreshadowed earlier of "one-eyed Assef" as Sohrab shoots a metal ball in Assef’s eye. All these characters guarded the physical well-being of individuals that were important to them by demonstrating bravery.
In the beginning Amir is a coward who cant defend himself and through out the book this begins to change and finally he fully changes in the end of the book. Amir never was the type of boy to fight or stand up for himself. For example, Amir over hears Baba say to Rahim Khan, “You know what happens when the neighborhood boys tease him? Hassan steps in and fend them off…Im telling you Rahim, there is something missing in that boy” (Hosseini, 23). Baba is complaining to Rahim and he doesn't understand why Amir lacks the courage to stand up for himself. He puzzles that Hassan is the one to step in and defend Amir. He also is very confused over the fact that a hazara is more courageous than his son. Baba knows that Amir is not violent and he wishes that he would just stand up for himself. Amir overhears this and is very troubled that Baba doesn’t approve of him. To Amir this is a realization that he is a coward and his father notices it. Later in the book, Amir sees Hassan being raped and he is contemplation jumping in and being courageous because he says, “I had one last chance to make a decision. One final opportunity to decide ...
While Baba attempts to live his life according to the Afghan saying, “Life goes on, unmindful of beginning, end.crisis or catharsis, moving forward like a slow, dusty caravan of kochis [nomads]” (Hosseini 356), Amir strays from this traditional perspective. Baba chose to continue his life unmindful of his past, while Amir, eventually decides to confront him. Although both Baba and Amir have acted immorally, the choices they make find redemption affect the success of their individual attempts. In the novel, Amir’s quest for atonement is more effective than Baba’s because he acts virtuously, while his father, acts selfishly. Ultimately, Amir is the more successful of the two because, in opposition to Baba, he seeks holistic atonement and is willing to make sacrifices to achieve redemption.
Amir also committed a sin that affected him negatively throughout his life. This sin occurred when Hassan, Amir’s best friend during his childhood, was getting raped by Assef. This situation occurred when the children were chasing kites. Hassan got the kite first, but Assef insisted that he wanted the kite. Assef also had a racial and religious prejudice against Hassan.
When Amir takes Baba to the doctors, the doctor suggests chemotherapy for Baba to prolong the cancer but Baba did not want any medication. Amir tells the reader, “He had the same resolved look on his face as the day he’d dropped the stack of food stamps on Mrs. Dobbins’s desk” (156). Baba did not want help even if his life was on the line. Baba also starts to take pride in Amir when he tells General Taheri, “Amir is going to ne a great writer,” Baba said. I did a double take at this” (139). Amir is starting to realize that his father who was untouchable and was a legend in Kabul was truly human. When Amir tells Baba that he wants to marry Soraya, Baba calls General Taheri to set up a meeting between the two men. As Amir dropped off Baba at the Taheri’s for the meeting, he says, “Baba was hobbling up the Taheri’s driveway for one last fatherly duty” (163). In this instance, Amir sees Baba as a true father. Amir feels Baba’s acceptance when Baba tells Amir on lafz, “It’s the happiest day of my life Amir” (166). Baba is telling Amir that through everything in his life from him marrying Sophia, to Amir winning the kite tournament, all the way to Amir graduating high school, Baba has never been prouder. After Baba’s death, Amir says, “As words from the Koran reverberated through the room, I thought of the old story of Baba wrestling a black bear in Baluchistan. Baba had
Since September 11, 2001, the Western world’s view of the Middle East, specifically countries like Iraq or Afghanistan, has shifted drastically. Whenever the media portrays the Middle East, they manage to spin a story negatively or violently. Due to these extrinsic influences, the youngest generation of Americans has never known an America that did not express at least some hatred toward certain parts of the Eastern world. Novels like The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini strive to encourage a healthy interest in Afghanistan and the Middle East while breaking the stereotypes that westerners have come to accept as fact about the culture and religion of Afghanistan. Hosseini manages to conjure a universal story line with relatable characters that introduce the world to the everyday people of postcolonial Afghanistan. On a grander scale, in The Kite Runner Khaled Hosseini utilizes his own life experiences alongside his firsthand account of the contemporary history of Afghanistan to craft a novel that breaks down these negative stereotypes and offers a significant contribution to Afghan American literature.
There were ultimately two options: step up to the bullies and rescue Hassan, or run away. Even after hearing Assef say how Amir would never do the same for him, about how he would never stand up for him, he still chose to run away and pretend like he did not just witness what had happened. There is also a scene where Amir is feeling guilty and both the boys are around a pomegranate tree. Amir just starts pelting Hassan with pomegranates and threatens to throw him back. He exclaims, “You’re a coward,” (.).
Throughout his childhood, Amir conforms to society and treats his Hazara servants poorly, but he questions the morality of such treatment. When Amir’s childhood bully, Assef, confronts him, Amir thinks to himself that Hassan works only as a servant for him, and that they have no friendship. Afterward, he thinks, “Why did I only play with Hassan when no one else was around?” (41). Hosseini uses a series of rhetorical questions to accentuate how Amir questions his beliefs about his relationship with Hassan....
One day Amir and Hassan are out playing when they are approached by three older boys, Assef, Wali and Kamal. Assef threatens to beat up Amir for hanging out with a Hazaran boy, but Hassan hits Assef with the help of a slingshot and the two younger boys get away. However later, during a kite-fighting Amir wins and Hassan runs for the losing kite, he is raped by Assef with the help of Wali and Kamal. Amir sees this happen but does not stop it nor confront Assef. After this event happens things are not the same between the two friends. Ali, and Hassan are asked to leave, after Amir frames Hassan for stealing.