Religiontends to be followed by many citizens but may be interrupted differentlyamongst many people in societies.
The Kite Runner, written by Khaled Hosseini, illustrates howindividuals may hurt other with their own personal choices and beliefs. Thebook portrayed how the characters were divided into two major sects inAfghanistan, Hazara’s and Pashtun’s. The culture classified the nation into twogroups which elucidated the society. When distinguishing between the two major casts,being a Pashtun meant that their respect and pride is valued and is kept withthem. However, being a Hazara meant the society is lower class who are treatedwith hate and are unaccepted by their standard way of living. Although the twosectors follow the same religion and follow the same beliefs, one’s action mayresult in chaos due to their individual opinions and class of society. The KiteRunner by Khaled Hosseini illustrates justice and injustice often stems from personalchoice, not necessarily from institutions.
The KiteRunner illustrates how Baba’s relationship with Amir is different when comparedwith Hassan. Amir and Hassan were both considered to be in diverse groups, theHazara’s and Pashtun’s. The book depicted how Baba seen more characteristics inHassan as a successful individual than his own son, Amir. This is because Baba’sthoughts reflect and alters his beliefs being expressed in the story whencomparing Amir and Hassan.”Self-Defence has nothing to do with themeanness. You know what always happens when the neighborhood boys tease him?Hassan steps in and fends them off. I’ve seen it with my own boys.
And whenthey come home, I say to him, ‘How did Hassan get that scrape on his face?” Andhe says, “He fell down.’ I’m telling you, Rahim, there is something missing inthat boy Amir. (Chapter 3, page 18)I mean that. He needs someonewho…understands him, because God knows I don’t.
But something about Amirtroubles me in a way that I can’t express. It’s like…”I could see himsearching, reaching for the right words. He lowered his voice, but I heard himanyway.” (Chapter 3, page 18) Thisquote clearly expresses how the relationship of Baba is differentiated betweenHassan and Amir.
Baba sees more potential in Hassan than his own son Amirbecause of the desire to approach certain tasks in a manly-type manner. In thefollowing context, Amir is eavesdropping Baba who is having a conversation withRahim Khan. “Amir troubles me in a way that I can’t express” quotes how Babafeels very concerned with Amir and worried about whether he will succeed as a individualafterwards.
Baba praises Hassan as quoted, “Hassan steps in and fends them off.”This quote expresses how Hassan has the abilities which Amir lacks in himself. Injustice is being expressed towards Amirbecause it comes from Baba’s personal choices, not from institutions. Assef severely rapes Hassan for refusing togive up the kite when Amir successfully wins the overall Kite tournament.
Amirwas disturbed and shook with what he was witnessing. Assef, a Pashtun, believesin chaos and violence. In the following context, he severely rapes Hassan andmocks Amir for interacting with another Hazara. Amir decides not to do anythingbecause his personal choices prevented him from intervening. The followingtheme illustrates that injustice can come based off a person’s personal choice,not from religion. “But before you sacrifice yourselffor him, think about this: Would he do the same for you? Have you ever wonderedwhy he never includes you in games when he has guests? Why he only plays with youwhen no one else is around? I’ll tell you why, Hazara. Because to him, you’re nothingbut an ugly pet.
Something he can play with when he’s bored, something he cankick when he’s angry.” (Chapter 7, 106)”I’ve changed my mind,” Assef said.”I’m letting you keep the kite, Hazara.
I’ll let you keep it so it will always remindyou of what I’m about to do.” Then he charged. Hassan hurled the rock. It struckAssef in the forehead.
Assef yelped as he flung himself at Hassan, knocking himto the ground. Wali and Kamal followed. I bit on my fist.
Shut my eyes.” (Chapter7, 107) Amir’s personal choices led him to dowhat’s right. By not intervening, Amir felt guilt for not standing up forHassan. In the book, Hassan had stood up for Amir several times based offthinking that Amir and Hassan are best friends. This incident illustrates how Amir’schoices had affected Hassan severely. In the following quote, “before you sacrifice yourself forhim,”shows how Hassan was practically a “ugly pet” who had no value in society. Amirhad not stood up for Hassan because his personal choices told him to. As Assefwas getting ready to harm Hassan, Amir decided not to intervene which resultedin Hassan getting raped.
Amir’s guilt and betrayal was very significant in thebook as it portrayed how injustice effected Hassan due to his status in thecountry (Hazara). Furthermore, the personal choice of an individual comes fromhis/her deliberation. Amir’s betrayal and guilt is expressed as hedecides to take Hassan’s birthday money to put under Hassan’s mattress. Amir’s intentionwas to avoid Hassan by allowing Hassan to be accused for stealing money andAmir’s watch.
This will provoke Hassan and Ali to leave the house for falselybeing accused in stealing. Amir’s personal decision illustrates the injusticethat affects the other individuals who are superior to Pashtuns. ” THEY’DBOTH BEEN CRYING{Ali and Hassan}; I could tell from their red, puffed up eyes. Theystood before Baba, hand in hand, and I wondered how and when I’d become capableof causing this kind of pain.” “Baba came right out and asked.
“Didyou steal that money? Did you steal Amir’s watch, Hassan?” Hassan’s replywas a single word, delivered in a thin, raspy voice: “Yes.””I flinched, like I’d been slapped.My heart sank and I almost blurted out the truth. Then I understood: This was Hassan’sfinal sacrifice for me. If he’d said no, Baba would have believed him because weall knew Hassan never lied.” (Chapter 9 Thedecision Amir had made not only affected him, but the lives of two Hazaras. Amirsensed how “capable” he is “causing this kind of pain.
” It depicts how his owndecisions are ones that he regrets and possibly regret for a lifetime. WhenHassan falsely acknowledges that he had stolen the money and Amir’s watch, Amirsenses he’d been “slapped” and his “heart sank.” This depicted the injustice hecaused with one decision affecting others around him. The decision Hassan hadmade was also significant in the book because it was a “final sacrifice” forAmir. Both Amir and Hassan had given justice and injustice based off theirpersonal decisions which also refers to how injustice and justice is based offpersonal choices, not from institutions. Furthermore, the Kite Runner illustrated thesignificant ways which religion can divide a nation into two major sects.
The Kite Runner writtenby Khaled Hosseini, portrayed many examples how injustice and justice can emergefrom personal choices and beliefs. The Kite Runner depicted how therelationship of Baba is differentiated between Amir and Hassan. The rape ofHassan by Assef and the betrayal from Amir all came from personal choices, notfrom institutions.