Portrayal of the Divided Self in The Kite Runner - Book Report/Review Example

While Julia is all charged and ready for action, Hassan, by his actions, comes out as an exceptional human being. Julia de Burgos is considered one of the greatest poets of Puerto Rico. In her poem, "To Julia de Burgo", she talks of the great 'abyss' between her true self and the self she shows the world. She says that the world thinks that the poem is not the voice of Julia, but in reality, it is the true voice of the other-self of Julia. She calls the self she shows to the world 'the dressing', and her real self, 'the essence'.

She says "And the most profound abyss is spread between us."( de Burgos) One part of her persona is telling "social lies" to the world, while the other part is "the starburst of human truth".(de Burgos), showing the great gulf between the two parts. One part of the divided self is hypocritical, and always trying to please the world, while the other part of the self is truthful and brave. She says, "You curl your hair and paint yourself, not me; Khaled Hosseini's book, 'The Kite Runner', is set in Afghanistan, where there is a distinct class divide.

Hassan, the illiterate childhood friend of the rich boy Amir, belongs to the oppressed community of the Hazaras. The author gradually builds up the divided personality of Hassan. At first, Hassan seems to be a meek boy, ever ready to do his master's bidding. But we see glimpses of his other self too. When Amir reads out the story written by himself to Hassan, the latter appreciates it greatly. But he asks Amir an uncomfortable question, showing that he could think better than Amir. In another incident, the boys Amir and Hassan are surrounded by the wicked gang of Asseef who want to harm them.

Although Hassan is the younger and weaker of the two, it is he who takes out his slingshot and makes the bullies go away. This incident also throws light on the other self of Hassan, which is truthful and courageous. Hassan's divided self is again seen when Amir falsely accuses him of stealing his watch and money. Hassan admits stealing it although it is not true, just to save Amir. After this incident, Hassan no longer wants to stay with Amir's family. Hassan and his father move away to another city, in spite of the earnest pleadings of Amir's father.

This act shows that although Hassan behaves in a subservient fashion, his other self is proud and independent. Hassan is a "flower of the people", to quote de Burgos., who has nothing and owes nobody anything. De Burgos' words apply to Hassan again when she writes:"You nailed to the static ancestral dividend,and me, a one in the numerical social divider" (de Burgos)One part of Hassan's divided self is stuck to the immovable feudal order, while the other part is free-thinking. Although both the poem "To Julia Burgos " and the book " The Kite Runner" are written by people from different parts of the world, belonging to different cultures, they both echo the same idea- the idea of the divided self of the oppressed.