The Kite Runner by: Khaled Hosseini - Book Report/Review Example

Book Report/Review, English Topic: The Kite Runner by: Khaled Hosseini Introduction: “The Kite Runner” by Khaled Hosseini is an extraordinary plot. The contents of the book explain human relations at its best and worst and make the reader wonder whether this country, Afghanistan, has a Constitution? It contains several stories within the story. The people have taken suffering for granted as the part of their lives and the cramping social norms and religious practices rule the society. Attempts to run away from the chocking social atmosphere are severely punished. Suffering seems to be the accepted virtue of this land and the emotions of the readers are tested on an on as one turns the pages of the book. The two important characters in the story are Amir and Hassan. As young boys they live in the world of innocence, and they are not aware how they are different in societal terms. They grow up together in Afghanistan of the 1970s. Amir is from a rich business family of Kabul and in terms of ethnicity, he is a Pashtun. Hassan is a Hazara, a persecuted ethnic minority, has no social standing and he is a servant to a Pashtun family. Baba, Amir’s father treats the boy and his father Ali well. The boys are much attached to each other, they grow up as intimate friends, and what cannot be obliterated from their relationships is the inequality in social standing. Hassan is illiterate and that inferiority complex is showing during important events and play. The author depicts a definite turn in plot, taking an important event in Afghanistan, the kite-fighting tournament that occurs in winter of 1975. Amir wins the competition, and Hassan assists him as his kite-runner, the assignment of such persons is to pick up the floored kites of the opponents and get it as an award for the winner. During one such errand, Hassan does not return in the final phase of the game when he chases the defeated kite, and worried Amir goes in search for him, and observes a scene where Hassan is being challenged by Assef with his two friends. These Pashtun boys often taunt Amir for being friendly with Hazaras and for always concentrating on studies. Assef rapes Hassan and Amir watches this disbelief but does not go to assist his friend and eventually pretends as if nothing has happened. The story goes on and on with several twists and turns. Khaled Hosseini’s debut novel relates to the story of trapped humanity not only due to political upheavals, but with the social customs and traditions. It is the story of courage and brotherhood. The author is an Afghani-American. The theme of the book is the conglomeration of both aspects of the above qualities. It relates to the period before the military coup. Russian invasion shakes Afghanistan and the social life and the landscape of beautiful Kabul is changed forever. Cultural issues dominate the story, and other issues are just like the sidekick in the dramas. Amir’s personality is like the double-edged sword. The love-hate drama between the father and son, and the deft handling of that relationship is the unique strength of the story. Amir is filled with awe with the disposition of his father. Similarly he is jealous of his talented friend Hassan, though born in an inferior ethnic community. His relationship, is therefore, is constantly on the edge. The author elucidates the complex and problematical relationship of Baba’s household. The story takes a big leap, and with Afghanistan in political turmoil, Amir and Baba flee the country to take asylum in America. Next it takes a sociological turn, Hosseini depicts the life of migrants under duress and the emotions-shattering experience of having to leave homeland in desperate circumstances. Baba’s authority, dignities are gone as the things have totally changed. He finds a job in a gas station, whereas it is not much of a problem for the literate Amir to integrate in the new culture and he takes up English major later and becomes an appreciated writer. The plot takes a full circle Amir shakes from his happy life in Northern California and returns to Afghanistan and comes to the rescue of Hassan’s orphaned son. As the story goes with some expected and some stage-managed episodes created by the author, Amir gets the boy to America after releasing him from the clutches of his torturers, but what is expected of him does not happen. The boy turns silent and develops suicidal tendencies as he is unable to put on with American lifestyles. He longs to be part of his old land and Amir watches these developments helplessly and repents that he is responsible for ruining his life. The author’s language is simple, without any cliches and he handles the complex emotions of different characters well, and builds relationships that seem authentic. In retrospect the main issue dealt with in the novel is sin which is a significant word. That it remains at par with divinity, though on the wrong side, indicates its importance. The pages of religious scriptures of all the religions deal with sin extensively and inform to the followers measures to cope up with and escape from sin. Sins of an individual and sin in societal terms have much to do with theology. Baba, the main character, gives his version of the sin to his son Amir, in a tone of warning and caution, “That there is only one sin. And that is theft….When you tell a lie, you steal someone’s right to tell truth”. (225) In substance, sin is an act or behavior that causes pain to one’s self or others. The author picks up three types of sins, murder, lust and greed and argues about their co-relation to the universal sin of theft. To steal one’s property is theft. When you kill someone, you steal the life of the affected individual. Therefore, murder is equivalent to theft. Baba goes on to explain to Amir this concept further, “Forgive? But theft was the one unforgivable sin, the common denominator of all sins. When you kill a man, you steal a life. You steal his wife’s right to a husband; rob his children of a father.”(106) Baba describes murder as a derivative of theft. According to Baba, after-effects of a murder are equivalent to theft. The author associates murder with the character of Aseef, a violent individual. Baba propounds this view when he elucidates, "There is only one sin, only one. And that is theft. Every other sin is a variation of theft....When you kill a man, you steal a life. 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." (18) But Baba does not stand up to his professed conviction in his own case. Amir comes to know that Hassan is his half-brother which means Baba has stolen Amir’s right to truth throughout his youth and till this fact comes to his notice. The issue has further serious dimensions. Baba’s sexual relationship with another man’s wife is equivalent of committing the universal sin of theft, because Afghan society views Baba’s conduct unacceptable and the sinful act has to be hidden from it. Conclusion Sin stands against the opposite side of divinity. They have independent existence and are considered as the pair of opposites. The former is harmful for the accepted social personality of an individual. The author depicts the theme of sin brilliantly in the novel, and the hair-splitting arguments that he does in favor or condemnation of sin, stand the test of reasoning. The concept of sin varies between two different cultures. Individual views about the sin may also vary according to the situational demands. Turn the pages of history; one will come across many sins committed in the cause of so-called defense against the sins. The author has achieved the objectives of depicting the social, economic, religious life in Afghanistan, while also making a mention of America by taking pot-shots at its political maneuverings. His political beliefs are intelligently incorporated in the interactions between the characters. I thoroughly recommend this novel and the combustible younger generation of America and Afghanistan must read it. Works Cited Hosseini, Khaled. The Kite Runner. Riverhead Trade; 2004.Print Read More