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.
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ReplyDeleteThis post shows a lot of understanding for the rights the woman have in Afghanistan. Which is to say they barely have any. And worse than that is that the Hazara women, as Ale had said, are indeed treated with less respect than anyone because of the discrimination against their sex as well as their religion. They are limited in every way possible. From who they can marry to where they can work, they will never have the same freedom the Pashtun men have.
ReplyDeleteThis was a really good example to use for this subject as the feelings that Rahim Khan had for Homaira (a Hazara servant) allow him to understand the relationship that Amir shares with Hassan. For Amir really does love Hassan but he believes he won't be accpted if tells others of that. This was a really good way of relating the book to the womens roles because it related to the book in a small way for Homaira is not a main character in the book. Also Homaira being sent away shows that people care more about their images then their son's happiness.
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