The Kite Runner begins with the narrator introducing the reader to him. Soon we find out that the narrator’s name is Amir. In the first chapter, Amir reflects briefly on events that happened in his life, and realizes that each event made him who he is today. After the first chapter, the novel turns into a flashback. Amir begins to thoroughly examine his life and analyze how certain events turned him into the person he is.
In order to understand this novel, one must understand the conflicts of the people living in Afghanistan. The Pashtuns, mostly Sunni Islam’s, are considered high class, while the Hazaras are considered low class. In the novel, Amir and his Baba (father) are Pashtuns. Amir’s Baba is a wealthy business man that has two Hazara servants, Ali and his son Hassan. Baba and Ali are brothers because Amir’s “grandfather adopted him [Ali]” and raised him as his own son. Baba and Ali grew up being lifelong companions because they were only a year apart in age, and now both of their sons are growing up together and are also just a year apart in age and motherless. Hassan considers Amir his friend because they do nearly everything together, but Amir cannot decide if Hassan is his friend or servant. Although Amir and Hassan spend immense amounts of time together, Amir still has an internal conflict with whether Hassan is a friend or not, because in the rest of society’s eyes, Hassan is a mere servant because of his Hazara label. The relationship between Amir and Hassan is a microcosm of all of Afghanistan, because of the Pashtuns power and authority over the Hazaras. Will Amir be able to accept Hassan as a friend even though he is a Hazara, or will society’s pressure steer him away from what could be the most valuable relationship in his life?
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