Immigration and emotional impact

The kite runner-Immigration and emotional Impact
Immigrants flee countries of danger and violence all the time, in order to get to their goal of living in a safe place. To get to where they want to go they must go on an extremely dangerous venture. While you are on this venture you will feel many terrible emotions such as; fear, sorrow and anger. Amir and Baba left Kabul looking for safety and freedom in America. Amir, terrified for his life held on with the hope for a new beginning.

Amir was faced with many obstacles. Obstacles such as being held up at the border into Jalalabad with Baba risking his life to a Russian soldier for a woman's dignity. “Do you always have to be the hero? I thought, my heart fluttering. Can't you just let it go for once? but I knew he couldn't- it wasn't in his nature. The problem was, his nature was going to get us all killed." (Hosseini 122) Amir is terrified because his father could easily get him killed. He was also feeling very angry for his father who was risking his life for the dignity of another woman. Amir, during his trip to America had to be very brave. He was in a very dangerous situation and needed to be strong in order to survive.

Amir had to go in to a fuel tank to be taken to America. Amir's life was more at risk then rather than any other time during his journey. He had one of life's greatest gifts working against him, Oxygen. "You want to scream. You would if you could. But you have to breathe to scream. Panic" (Hosseini 128) Amir was surrounded by fear. He could not breathe, he could not see. Amir was not sure whether or not he was going to make it out alive. At this point there was no sadness or anger, but only fear.

Feelings of anguish, regret, anxiety and loss all due to one thing, Danger. Danger referring to life and death. Danger referring to loss of place. Finally danger for what is about to come ahead. Amir, terrified for his life held on with the hope for a new beginning, a good beginning.

The father-son relationship in Kabul

Baba and Amir had some kind of barer between them. Their characteristics were totally different. Baba sure was an admirable person but he wasn’t a great father to Amir. All Amir wanted was Baba’s attention and caring but Baba was too cold to Amir. You can tell Amir wanted Baba’s attention from following examples. When Baba’s friend came over to his house Amir asked Baba if he can sit with them but Baba said. “This is grown-ups time. Why don’t you go read one of those books of yours?” (2.5) as you can see from this line that Amir wants to join the conversation with Baba but Baba think he is too immature. There is another example, when Amir was having a kite fight. He heard the crowd yelling “Cut him! Cut him!” (7.69) and he wondered if Baba was cheering him with them. This shows how much he wants to make Baba proud on anything. After when he sees Baba smiling at him proudly when he won the kite fight.

Most different thing about these two is Baba is brave and he has to stand up for the people who are in trouble. On the other hand Amir can’t even stand up for his own friend, Hassan. This is the difference between Amir and Baba, Amir is very selfish and Baba is very generous. When Baba was trying to stop Russian soldier from raping the woman in the truck, Baba risked his life to stop that. But Amir tried to stop Baba from helping her because he thought he might actually die. Amir said. “Baba, sit down please, I think he really means to shoot you.” (10.122) But Baba refused to stop and said. “Haven’t I taught you anything?” (10.122) and he went on.

These examples show the differences between the two. Baba was wise, generous, and brave but Amir was selfish, not brave, and he was still in the process of learning. But I think that is how much Amir cared about Baba because he almost died trying to save the woman. So I think Baba should’ve been careful and thought about Amir as well.

Rahim Khan

Rahim Khan is an influential part of Amir’s life because he gives fatherly support and advice to him. He has always been there to help Amir and advise him. Amir considered Rahim Khan his first adult friend. So, obviously, Rahim played a large part in Amir’s life as a child. In fact, he has been in Amir’s life the whole time. “I am a baby in that photograph and Baba is holding me, looking tired and grim. I’m in his arms, but its Rahim Khan’s pinky my fingers are curled around,” (Hosseini, 5). Rahim Khan was also very supportive of Amir and his desires. “As always, it was Rahim Khan who rescued me. He held out his hand and favoured me with a smile that had nothing feigned about it. ‘May I have it, Amir jan? I would very much like to read it.’” (Hosseini, 31). Whenever Baba wasn’t there for Amir, Rahim Khan was.

Rahim Khan was genuinely supportive and helpful to Amir when he decided he wanted to be a writer. Rahim Khan never told him what he can and can’t do. He showed support to Amir by buying him a notebook for his stories. He was also a parental figure when he told Amir that he had to go get Sohrab to make up for what he did and to stand up for himself. “’And why you? I think we both know why it has to be you, don’t we?’” (Hosseini, 221). From these, you can infer that the main reason Amir returned to Kabul was because of Rahim Khan. He also probably took some responsibility for Amir pursuing writing. So, he was a very large influence on Amir.

Allison Thomas

Taliban's role in the novel

What is the Taliban? Webster’s dictionary defines the Taliban as “a fundamentalist Islamic militia”, which means they are basic Islamic band of soldiers. They claim to be a religious political movement, and do things because their god, Allah, would want them to. People in Afghanistan were originally very excited with the rise of the Taliban, because the Taliban initially wanted to bring back Islamic values and to make Afghanistan a better place. Soon though, the Taliban’s management slowly turned bad, and the conservative group became a problem for the Afghan people.

The Taliban plays a big role in the novel, “The Kite Runner”, as the story takes place in Afghanistan. This story begins in 1975 before the Taliban takes over the country. There is a boy named Assef; he is a Pashtun who idolizes Hitler, and is disgusted by Hazaras. He commits probably the most unforgiveable and unforgettable sin to Hassan as a child. His sinful acts as a child lead to his role as a member of the Taliban in his future. The things he does to people are horrible and vile. He feels no remorse, and does it because that’s what he thinks Allah wants him to do. “God says that every sinner must be punished in a manner befitting his sin. Those are not my words, nor the words of my brothers. Those are the words of GOD!” (Hosseini P. 270). The Taliban are largely looked down upon, yet people are fearful for their lives that they cannot say anything. Farid whispers to Amir, “And they call themselves Muslims.” (Hosseini P. 271). The Taliban think they are religious people doing good, because – as I said before – it’s what they think Allah wants them to do. Little do they know, it is the last thing He wants.

Kite Runner: Women's Influences- Homaira

Homaira, Rahim Khan's greatest love, was greatly mistreated and in the end separated from him. When he was eighteen, Rahim fell in love with his neighbours' servants' daughter. Her name was Homaira, and she was a Hazara. They would often meet in secret, sneaking away after midnight to ensure that no one would see them. They had many fantasies, and hopes that in the future, they would have a life together. Homaira was a beautiful girl, and such an influence on Rahim Khan that one day he told his father about his feelings. The outraged Khan family shipped off Homaira and her family to Hazarajat the next day! Now, although she is only in the story briefly, we learn a bit about women's roles here. Firstly, the culture makes it a long and difficult process for a man and a woman to be together, especially if the woman in question is a Hazara. Which brings me to my next point, Homaira gives us a unique insight on Hazara women. They get it twice as bad because not only are they women, but also Hazara's, and usually servants.

This means, that they are ordered around by men all their lives, are treated harshly, and basically cannot be with Pashtun men. This is illustrated in the quote, ''It was me and Homaira against the world...", (Rahim Khan, 8, 99). Rahim Khan's words tell us that the entire Afghan society is against Rahim and Homaira's union, simply because culture dictates it must be so. Another valid point that Homaira's role brings up, is that even though there are these injustices and unfair discriminations, as people grow up or are growing up, they "understand" them. Rahim Khan sees what happened as an adult, and says to Amir, "Probably for the best though...she would have suffered.", (Rahim Khan, 8, 99). He says this because now that he is mature, he sees that the union would only have brought pain and sorrow. Women in Afghanistan are mistreated and misvalued, none more so than Hazara women.

Scars as a Symbol in The Kite Runner

In The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini, there are both emotional and physical scars experienced by many characters; the most significant scars in the novel symbolize courage and loyalty.

Hassan’s emotional scar was received in his effort to stand up for what he believed was right, as he was sexually assaulted. He was challenged by Assef in his attempt to bring back Amir’s kite for him. “A loyal Hazara. Loyal as a dog.” (77, Hosseini). Hassan made a courageous and loyal sacrifice to refrain from letting Amir down. He did not give Assef Amir’s kite, and in return, he was scarred for his whole life.

Baba’s over-worked and scraped knuckles symbolize the price he paid for the courageous and loyal act of bringing Amir, his son, to America. “...I’d seen the way he winced and rubbed his wrists on damp days... ‘Besides, I didn’t bring us here for me, did I?’” (137, Hosseini). Baba left his whole life in Afghanistan to assure his son of a great, new life where he could be successful.

Finally, there is Amir’s scar that represents his loyalty to Hassan and Sohrab. With his courageous act of fighting Assef to rescue Sohrab, Amir was beaten drastically and his upper lip was sliced in two. This scar symbolizes Amir’s bravery towards sacrificing his life for Sohrab.

Hassan’s emotional scar due to his assault, Baba’s work-worn and cut-up hands, and Amir’s sliced lip due to his fight with Assef are all representations of these characters’ most courageous and loyal experiences.

Amir Needs Farrid

Amir needed Farrid because he knew the real Afghanistan as opposed to the wealthy upper class one Amir had grown up to recognize. More importantly he knows the Afghanistan that he needs to drive Amir through, the one after the war. From the beginning of Amir’s journey to retrieve Sohrab, Farrid had accepted to drive Amir through dangerous spots like their final destination, Kabul, which is littered with Talaban and the homeless. He knows his way around the streets and he also knows how to stay out of trouble. “Don’t ever stare at them! Do you understand me? Never!” (Hosseini 260) He warns Amir of the Taliban and expresses how urgent it is for Amir to not hold their attention because they are always just looking for another stranger to shoot. Being the taxi driver, he was helpful when searching for Sohrab because he was the one who knew where each location was. He drove Amir to Ghazi Stadium, to the orphanage and even to his brother’s house where he was taken care of for the night and given food, all free of charge. Even if he did not accompany Amir when going to meet the mysterious man with the white shirt and sunglasses (later known to be Assef), he did involve himself by driving him to the hospital and after that, to the bank in order for Amir to obtain money to pay for being fixed. Both situations could have caused Farrid major problems. For one, he helped Amir escape and now Amir has people searching for him and secondly he took Amir to the bank so he could take out a large sum of money which Amir had to walk around with in his pockets. In conclusion Amir needed Farrid to drive him around, because with everything that had occurred since Amir last saw Afghanistan, his ‘home’ is now unrecognizable. “Swervning effortlessly around potholes in the middle of the broken road, Farrid was a man in his element.” (Hoseini 255) Farrid knows and has memorized the roads just as Amir knows and can recite several different poems.