The Kite Runner: Literary Lenses

The Kite Runner: Literary Lenses

" I learned that Khanum Taheri-whom I called Khala Jamila now-had once been famous in Kabul for her enchanting singing voice...he believed the performing of it best left to those with lesser reputations. That she never sing in public had been one of the general's conditions when they had married"(Hosseini 177).

"' Successful," Soraya hissed. " At least I'm not like him, sitting around while other people fight the Shorawi, waiting for the dust settles so he can move in an reclaim his posh little government position. Teaching may not pay much, but it's what I want to do! It's what I love, and it's a whole lot better than collecting welfare, by the way"'(Hosseini 182).

Based on this quote, the readers can identify that there has been a lot conflict between General Taheri and Khanum Taheri, proud parents of Soraya. The quote demonstrates the concept of feminism and how it plays a bigger role in Afghanistan and the novel itself. Khanum Taheri, wife of General Taheri, obviously has the tendency to express her emotions with singing as her husband has made an arguable rule about not singing when they got married. Mrs. Taheri, being a woman, didn't ask twice as she knew the answer was going to be the same. These hardships are mainly because of General Taheri. In household, he wants everyone to go by his standards and rules every day in which there shouldn't be any arguing with him. Knowing this, Mrs. Taheri "shuts down" as she doesn't get the opportunity to sing when he is around. Her rights are limited due to the man in the house, Mr. Taheri. Other women seen in the book have struggles like this with male dominance including Soraya and Farzana.

Real men didn't read poetry-and God forbid they should ever write it. Real men-real boys-played soccer just as Baba had..." (Hosseini 20).

The readers can infer that Soraya is furious with her parents basically because they don't listen to the decisions that she makes. She tries to explain to them that she is independent and has a right to what she believes is. She doesn't want to be like her father, General Taheri, collecting welfare day after day. She prefers to be a teacher, since that is what she loves to do. She describes that it isn't about the money, rather it's more on the topic on how much the job will help you in life. General Taheri insists that money is key to success and that in order to have a decent life, a good job is essential. Soraya doesn't think that and hisses, saying that teaching don't pay much, but it's one of her favorite things to do. Feminism has played a role in the book with this event because women, especially Soraya, aren't getting their say in things. Constantly, Soraya has been ignored because her parents believe that they know best of her child. The only one that is for Sorya's decision is Amir, who insists that she teaches for a living. Since his mom was a teacher, he goes along with Soraya's decision and supports her.

"' Afghanistan is the land of the Pashtuns. It always has been, always will be. We are the true Afghans, the pure Afghans, not this Flat-Nose here'"(Hosseini 40).

"My father was a force of nature, a towering Pashtun specimen with a thick beard, a wayward crop of curly brown hair as unruly as the man himself, hands that looked capable of uprooting a willow tree, and a black glare that would 'drop the devil to his knees begging for mercy,' as Rahim Kahn used to say" (Hosseini 12).

Assef was the one who said this to Amir, completely and utterly confident with his statement, He strives to get rid of all of the Hazaras, as he has a perspective that they are useless and that Afghanistan isn't their true home. Historical context plays a role in this quote as the relations between Pashtuns and Hazaras have been rough. Pashtuns constantly mistreat and abuse the Hazaras, as well as persecuting and taking away their possessions. These Pashtuns have the upper hand in everything in which Assef tries to convince Amir to leave Hassan and stop playing with him. The cruelness of Assef led to the rape scene, where Assef himself completely mistreated Hassan. This further caused a social problem between Hassan and Amir since they didn't much after that. Assef's opinion made Amir think about life itself and how he was one of the only people to actually treat Hazaras nicely and with enjoyment. He had a blast with Hassan, as he kept thinking about him when he left. The relations between Pashtuns and Hazaras still play a role in the book as the Hazaras are thought to be untrustworthy and weak.

Historical Context

HASSAN

Marxist Lens

This quote is not said, but thought by Amir after he hears Baba's conversation with Rahim Kahn. He, a boy who loves poetry and reading and things that in Afghanistan are considered feminine, is believing that he is less of a man because his father considers him somewhat of a disappointment. Amir believes that for liking poetry instead of soccer that he is less of a man and that his father doesn't love him. This results in Amir making every decision in order to gain Baba's affection. This forces the reader to also look at Amir different because of the stereotype and status quo of Afghanistan.

" It said the Hazaras had tried to rise against the Pashtuns in the nineteenth century, but the Pashtuns had 'quelled them with unspeakable violence'...my people had killed the Hazaras, driven them from their lands, burned their homes, and sold their women...Pashtuns were Sunni Muslims, while Hazaras were Shi'a"(Hosseini 9).

This quote was said by Amir when he was describing his Father and how he got his nickname "Mr. Hurricane." Amir associates Baba with masculinity, especially when he says, "a black glare that would 'drop the devil to his knees begging for mercy'" (Hosseini 13). Baba is the ultimate man to Amir, and this is one of the main reasons why Amir tries so hard to be like Baba and to like and do the things Baba does. Instead of loving what he loves, how Amir views Baba affects how Amir does everything in his life. When one reads the novel, this standard set by Baba affects how one looks at not only Amir, but every character mentioned thereafter.

"You come all the way from America for...a Shi'a?" (Hosseini 267).

"Instead, the war raged on, this time between Afghans, the Mujahedin, against the Soviet puppet government of Najibullah, and Afghan refugees kept flocking to Pakistan. That was the year that the cold war ended, the year the Berlin Wall came down...In the midst of it all, Afghanistan was forgotten"(Hosseini 184).

Amir and Baba, living peacefully in America, are enjoying themselves as Amir informs the readers about the many troubles that Afghanistan is facing in 1989. Historical context is utilized in this instance to describe that Afghanistan is not how it used to be mainly due to the immense warfare in their area. The land all throughout has been destroyed due to the amount of destruction. Afghanistan, as Amir says, is forgotten and its condition is horrific and terrifying. This has an overall affect to the book because when Amir went back to Kabul with Farid in order get Sohrab, everything changed from that moment on. The buildings, roads, shops, etc. were all in ruins and that altered the image of Afghanistan in Amir's head. This makes him realize about his past actions and all that occurred in the winter of 1975. At moments like this, he wished that Hassan had been with him.

Throughout the course of the novel, the readers have seen Hassan as no more than a Hazara, who wishes to become close friends with Amir and do everything with him. This character, a optimistic and motivated person, always is loyal to Amir, even though at times Amir can be harsh to him. He always has a smile on his face, no matter what kind of day it was. The use of Marxist lens plays a role in his book mainly because it divides Hassan from Amir in terms of religion and class distinction. However, this doesn't concern Hassan as he always want to play with Amir after he finishes with the daily prayers and chores around the house. Amir, on the other side, is a Pashtun who has constant thoughts about the significance of their friendship. The author describes Hassan as " a face like a Chinese doll chiseled from hardwood: his flat, broad nose and slanting, narrow eyes like bamboo leaves..."(Hosseini 3). The characteristics of Hassan has an effect on the book since many individuals, mainly Pashtuns, criticize the relationship between Hassan and Amir. For instance, Assef talks to Amir about how Hassan, the Hazara, can be friend to a wealthy Pashtun in Kabul. At that moment, it makes Amir think more and more about this. Based on this quote, the readers can identify that characterization and social class can immensely affect the book. Marxist lens is utilized to show the separation between Hazara and Pashtun and how they have been bitter rivals since the beginning of time.

Marxist lens, in The Kite Runner, has played a major role as it involves class distinctions between Hazaras and Pashtuns living in Afghanistan together. The author describes Baba's land in Kabul, " I went past the rosebushes to Baba's mansion, Hassan to the mud shack where he had been born, where he'd lived his entire life"(Hosseini 6). Social class has influenced this novel in which the author informs the readers about the living conditions between Hazaras and Pashtuns. Hassan, the Hazara, and Ali live in Baba's land, as their home is far more poorer and unstable compared to Baba's grand house. Their differences are on opposite poles, but that doesn't separate Hassan from Amir. Class distinction doesn't play any sort of part in Hassan's mind because he plainly just wants to have fun with Amir. Amir, being a normal Pashtun, always has the tendency to avoid Hassan at times especially after the rape incident. Marxist lens has an effect on the novel since the class distinction also separates Hazaras from Pashtuns in which has caused hatred and major events to happen, like the slingshot event with Hassan and Assef as well as rape incident.

Different religions have played a huge role between Pashtuns and Hazaras as Marxist lens focuses on conflicts like language and social classes. The author talks about the differences between Amir and Hassan," In the end, I was a Pashtun and he was a Hazara, I was Sunni and he was Shi'a, and nothing was ever going to change that. Nothing"(Hosseini 25). The readers are aware that religion is a tremendous aspect in the book, as many Pashtuns have looked down on Hazaras since they believe that they have more authority than them. Hassan, being a Hazara and a Shi'a, doesn't really care about the religion aspect. He simply wants Amir to accept him as a true friend, but Amir has difficulty with wrapping this around his head. Assef and his griup of friends once spoke to Amir about how Afghanistan is for the Pashtuns in which they are given power to rule over this land. They believe that Hazaras are basically their slaves and that they don't belong in Afghanistan. Marxist lens has played a role in this quote since this further divides Pashtuns and Hazaras. They live in the same place, but their distinctions are what cause them to show hatred toward one another. Marxist lens has played a major role in The Kite Runner since it focuses on race, religion, and social classes and how these factors all influence the entirety of the novel.

Historical context strives to examine literary works within their historical text in which it alters the social, political, and cultural forces that were operative during the time the works were written. In other words, it's mainly looking at everything in the text and how it comes together in the end. Based on this quote, the author includes many historical facts on the relations between the Hazaras and the Pashtuns. When reading this quote, the readers can assume that the Pashtuns are the supreme authority, treating Hazaras like plain servants in which they do all the chores and cleaning in the households. This drastically affects the social force since Amir and Hassan are best of friends, but one is Hazara and the other is Pashtun. When Hassan and Ali moved away, Amir still remembered and missed him. He would think of all of the memories they they had together, even though he was just a Hazara. However, other Pashtuns treat Hassan like a lower class member. For example, Assef was so cruel that he even raped Hassan which caused a tear in the relationship between Amir and Hassan since Amir saw it all. Amir was reading his mother's books, and he saw a whole section on the Hazaras. This has played a major role in the book because Amir has thought constantly about whether or not Hassan should be considered a friend. Everyone hates the Hazaras, but it made Amir think about his childhood. He still hasn't forgotten him and never will, even though he is a Hazara and Shi'a Muslim.

Formalism

Fahrid said this quote in response to Amir's mission to get Hassan's son. This shows a Marxist lens because there is a clear class divide between the Shi'a and Sunni Muslims. In the book, it shows the constant divide between Amir and Hassan, suggesting that they are completely different people.

"Lucky Hazara, having such a concerned master. His father should get on his knees, sweep the dust at your feet with his eyelashes" (Hosseini 70).

This quote shows a Merchant describing Hazaras as less than the Pashtuns. Marxist lens is shown because there is a divide between the two main classes, Hazara and Pashtun. As this conflict grows in the book, these groups separate to the point where the Taliban are attempting to completely wipe the Hazara out of Afghanistan.

"' But he's is not my friend!' I almost blurted. "'He's my servant!'" (Hosseini, 41)

Amir thought this quote when they were being terrorized by Assef and his friends. This shows a Marxist lens because this is the moment where Amir realizes that he is almost embarrassed to be with Hassan. This is one of his first experiences where he felt that the Hazara were thought of as less than the Pashtun.

"Come. There is a way to be good again, Rahim Khan had said on the phone just before hanging up." (Hosseini 192).

Gender Lens

"Then Rahim Khan sipped some more tea. Rested his head against the wall and spoke. There were a lot of reasons why I went to Hazarajat to find Hassan in 1986." (Hosseini, 202 and 203).

Formalism treats each literary work as it's own distinct piece. It focuses on more of a structural aspect than a theoretical aspect. Rahim said this in a phone call to Amir asking him to visit him in Pakistan. It shows the theme of redemption because Rahim is giving Amir a chance to redeem himself after he caused Hassan and Ali to leave Kabul, destroying their friendship in the process. Rahim's request for Amir to rescue Hassan's son eventually leads to Amir's change in character. It also shows a formalist lens because it gives the text structure and driving the story forward. This theme makes Amir a better person and gives him the chance to later redeem himself.

Amir first was the speaker, then Rahim was the speaker. This shows a unique structure of point of view with a clear change between who is in first person. This relates to formalism because it show the point of view of the book changing for the first time, switching around the structure. This change in structure allows Rahim to tell the full story about Hassan and leads to why Amir was there.

"But he's always buried in those books or shuffling around the house like he's lost in some dream" (Hosseini 21).

"Hassan was standing at the blind end of the alley in a defiant stance: fists curled, legs slightly apart. Behind him, sitting on piles of scrap and rubble, was the blue kite. My key to Baba's heart." (Hosseini 71).

Amir says this quote in response to Hassan finding the blue kite. This shows a form of symbolism because the kite represents Amir's need to try and win over Baba's love and support. In "payment" to receive the kite, Hassan ends up getting raped. Although the kite may win over Baba's love, Amir loses his best friend. This shows formalism because it focuses on the symbol of the kite.

Feminist Lens

Gender criticism is questioning the differentiation between a man and a woman based on bias or stereotypes. The quote above was said by Baba to Rahim Kahn when they were talking about Amir and how he is not turning into the man that Baba wants him to be. In Baba's mind, being a man does not involve reading books or poetry, two things that Amir loves to do. He believes that being a man involves playing soccer and sticking up for not only yourself but your friends. Baba's stereotypical view of the man shapes the way that one reads the book. Instead of seeing Amir as a young boy doing what he loves, the reader sees that his father is disappointed with him and instead of taking pride in his son, he is filled with disappointment and confusion at how he could have raised someone like this.

" Said the soldier wanted a half hour with the lady in the back of the truck. The young woman pulled the shawl down over her face. Burst into tears...The husband's face had become as pale as the moon hovering above"(Hosseini 115).

Feminism is described as all rights of women being equal to men. This Russian solider, being immensely immature, asked this poor woman to have sexual intercourse with her. This was obviously very offending since she basically cried at that moment. Because of this event, the husband was helpless since he was obviously afraid of the soldier, who has higher authority. Based on this quote, the readers can infer that this is a tense situation in which this woman was being treated below everyone else. Tying it to the book, this event has played an immense part in the overall meaning of some characters and the novel itself. Baba, a wealthy Pashtun from Kabul, stood up for this woman, saying that he wasn't petrified of anyone. He stood up on the truck in which the soldier pointed a gun at this respectable man. He stood right in his place, and he would take a bullet for this woman. Feminism has played a role in this novel since women are being shut down and are asked to do things that they don't want to do. They really can't stand up for themselves because they are afraid that they will be mistreated cruelty.

Created by: Sohan S., Tyler L., and Luke P.