Within every person, there exists some type of power, but it is the way one uses it that defines if they are good or evil. Power is always unpredictable, it captivates the worst and corrupts the best. In rough times people need leaders to look up to, a voice to guide them and actions to be taken. This leader can either abuse or use the power correctly. For example, in Afghanistan in the late 1970s and early 1980s, the political conflicts caused many people to flee, but some brave individuals stood around to take over the violent and oppressive rulers. This power isn’t just used in political complications but it is also expressed in social life. It is used in homosexual and heterosexual relationships. Usually, one half feels as though they …show more content…
He always makes sure to use his money for the poor in Kabul and not for selfish reasons. Baba even made the decision “to build an orphanage” for all the parentless kids in the capital (Hosseini 13). His wealth, Pashtun ethnicity, and gender make him almost God like. All of these characteristics make his good deeds seem that much stronger. Although he has all this economic, gender and cultural power he never loses his right mindfulness, believing that stealing is the biggest sin of them all. Presuming that "When you kill a man, you steal a life," Baba said. "You steal his wife's right to a husband, rob his children of a father. When you tell a lie, you steal someone's right to the truth. When you cheat, you steal the right to fairness" (Hosseini 18). He also believes in standing up for people, such as the moment when he stands up to the Russian soldier and almost takes a bullet for a woman who he does not know in order for her not to get violently raped. Research shows that political and social power is not corrupting but freeing to a human being, it gives them confidence and a voice to act on (Resnick). It also turns out “that power does not always lead to bad behavior and can actually make leaders more sensitive to the needs of others”(Hutson). Power can put things in order, without a leader or someone in a higher rank, no one would know who to blame for problems or who to receive answers from. Although all of this evidence portrays how power is used
In the novel The Kite Runner, Khaled Hosseini tells a notable coming-of-age story portraying the actions and thoughts of Amir, a penitent adult living in the United States and his reminiscence of his affluent childhood in the unstable political environment of Afghanistan. Throughout the novel Khaled Hosseini uses character description to display his thoughts on sin and redemption.
The Kite runner is the first novel by Afghan-American author Khaled Hosseini, published in 2003 by Riverhead Books . It takes place before Afghanistan’s revolution and its invasion by Russian forces. The kite runner is a vivid and engaging story that gives a picture of how long Afghanis struggled to triumph over the forces of violence, forces that threaten them even today. In this novel , four themes have been introduced, first of all Redemption is a way to make up sins committed , secondly, Adversities contribute to a person’s personality , thirdly , Fear can lead to severe mistakes and long term consequences, before last, After pain and struggles come survival and lastly, Friendship is the essence of a bond that seek the best mutually.
Baba is clearly presented with lots of wealth as the extensive descriptions of “intricate mosaic tiles, handpicked by Baba in Isfahan” and “Gold-stitched tapestries, which Baba had bought in Calcutta”, present a well travelled, high status member of the Afghan community. Baba is also privileged enough to give back to the community by building an orphanage which at surface level, seems like a selfless and admirable act, however we learn later on from Rahim Khan that he was “a tortured soul” just like Amir, which is why he sought redemption through using his privilege and wealth for the good of others. Amir uses Baba as an example of the good, helping others, and bad, lying to your own children, that can come from the guilt and shame felt towards oneself, which is why the repeated motif “there is a way to be good again”, significantly symbolises both the character’s guilt during the novel, and the actions that can follow, like searching for Sohrab, towards redemption. The revelation of Baba being a “tortured soul” due to the guilt of sleeping with Ali’s wife, Sanaubar, and the shame shown by his decision to hide his affection for his illegitimate son, Hassan, proves the statement ‘with privilege comes guilt and shame’ to be
In the novel ,The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini, the main character Amir is a coward. Amir lives in Kabul, Afghanistan. His best friend Hassan lives with him and is his best friend. In reality Amir is Hassan’s owner. Baba adopted Hassan when he was a baby and he became their servant. Amir becomes very jealous of him and then becomes a coward.
Baba helps the poor and is constantly giving to his community “Helped me build the house in Taimani…found me a job…barely knew me…like a brother to me” (Hosseini, 184). This tells one that Baba is a caring, helpful person and that Baba does not take advantage of his power.
While on a truck, he defended the women. Willing to take the bullet without hesitation, he put his life on the line for the stranger, for his passion had been stronger than his fear of death. Baba acted out of bravery due to his grand stature, level head, and big heart, “when all six-foot-five of him thundered into the room, attention shifted to him like sunflowers turning to the sun” (13). Baba was well respected in Afghanistan, and he knew that his voice would be heard; therefore, he used his power as a way to defend the defenseless. He was willing to sacrifice himself even though his son disagreed with the idea. Amir thought only of himself and that he would be left as an orphan if Baba was shot; whereas Baba wanted to help the woman as long as he was only risking his own life. His heart reached out for anyone needing an extra hand. He loved and cared for so many people, he wanted to help all of them. Baba put in hard work to help the people around him, and they all looked up to him due to “the marks he had left on people’s lives” (174). Baba’s willingness to sacrifice himself for strangers shaped his reputation in Afghanistan.
Every danger in the world needs a hero to fight against it. Even though ideas and interpretations of heroism have shifted throughout the years (from Greek heroes like Odysseus with his wit to Superman with his extraordinary powers), being a hero tends to include altruism, dedication to what is right, and defiance against what is wrong. And even though many heroes are celebrated and have been carved into history, many others have not. Ordinary people can be heroes, which is portrayed in Kite Runner by Hosseini. Amir, the main character, shows the exact opposite traits of how the other heroes around him act. The Kite Runner defines heroism with defiance and sacrifice, while the protagonist fails to meet these qualities and consequently tears his family apart.
This research project is focused on understanding a book, The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini. In addition, the project objective is to understand choices, actions, and processes of characters and what factors led them to arrive to such consequences.
In The Kite Runner, Khaled Hosseini reveals a socioeconomic issue, war, which is still relevant in today’s society. The novel portrays the difference between common life battles and a real revolution during both the nineteen seventies, and two thousand one. The common battles include battling for approval by a role model, overcoming bullies, and finding yourself. Throughout time, war has continually ripped seams all over the world. Hosseini reveals this through war between countries and inner conflicts within a character. Because war still exists today, this socioeconomic element is still relevant in tearing apart countries, allies, and families.
The Kite Runner, by Khaled Hosseini, follows the maturation of Amir, a boy from Afghanistan, as he discovers what it means to stand up for what he believes in. His quest to redeem himself after betraying his friend and brother, Hassan, makes up the heart of the novel. When Amir hears that his father’s old business partner, Rahim Khan, is sick and dying, he travels to Pakistan to say his goodbyes. Rahim Khan tells Amir about Hassan’s life and eventual death; the Taliban murdered Hassan while he was living in Amir’s childhood home. As his dying wish, Rahim Khan asks Amir to rescue Hassan’s son, Sohrab, from an orphanage in Afghanistan. Although Amir refuses at first, he thinks about what Rahim Khan had always told him: “There is a way to be
“The strong were always eating the weak,” James Rollins. Those who have power are more likely to take advantage over those categorized in a lower class. In this fictional novel, The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini, the overall concept of abuse of power and bullying is portrayed. The protagonist, in particular, is constantly dragged into the many conflicts relating to the theme in many situations throughout the novel. The situations associate Amir and Hassan, the antagonist, Assef, and the Hazaras.
Baba’s high expectation influences Amir 's fixed mindset because Baba feels that his son should be more courageous and follow the values that make up a Pashtun man. Throughout Amir 's childhood Baba always sets these high expectations for Amir that leads Amir to believe that one cannot be weak at things. Throughout the story, Amir is a shy insecure boy while Baba is a confident and proud man. Due to Amir 's introverted self, he spends most of his time reading books and poetry; while Baba tries to force his interest onto his son Amir for the purpose that Baba wants Amir to be the great example of what a Pushtun man should be. An example that shows Baba has a fixed mindset was when Amir states, "With me as the glaring exception, my father molded the world around him to his liking. The problem, of course, was that Baba saw the world in black and white. And he got to decide what was black and what was white. You can 't love a person who lives that way without fearing him too. Maybe even hating him a little" (Hossieni15). This quote shows that Baba was a man with a strong personality, and it was his way or the highway. This instills so much fear in Amir that he is afraid of committing mistakes around his
The Kite Runner is a powerful story of love and trust blended with elements of deception and human wickedness at its worst. The full beauty of the story lies in the sundry
From generation to generation, the constant struggle for males to live up to the expectations of their fathers often affects the choices made and actions taken by the sons. Perhaps, the overbearing testosterone levels claim responsibility for the apparent need for sons to impress their fathers, but not all boys consider the realistic consequences of their decisions. In Khaled Hosseini's novel The Kite Runner, young Amir's admiration for his father Baba, coupled with the constant tension in their relationship obscures his mind from making clear decisions as he strives to obtain his father's love and approval.
Khaled Hosseini, the author of The Kite Runner, has a writing style unique to him in a way that the majority of his sentences are short and non-complex. Although there are numerous words in Farsi, most are explained right away to limit confusion. “‘You look khoshteep’, Baba said. Handsome” ( Hosseini 166). Hosseini incorporates an abundance of figurative language in his book, an example of this is repetition. The line, “There is a way to be good again” is said several times throughout the book to show its significance in the novel (Hosseini 2). Figurative language is extremely important because it adds a meaning and value that is much stronger than saying it differently.