Introduction

My object of survey is The Kite Runner — a fresh by Khaled Hosseini, published by Riverhead Books in USA, 2003. The novel was adapted into a movie in 2007 by the same name of The Kite Runner.

Khaled Hosseini was born on 4th March 1965 in Kabul, Afghanistan. His male parent worked for Afghan Foreign Ministry, and his female parent was a instructor of Farsi and History. When Soviets occupied Afghanistan in 1978, the Hosseini household seek political refuge in the United States of America ( USA ) and moved to San Jose, California. Where Hosseini graduated from High School, and earned biological science grade from Santa Clara University. He attended SanDiego ‘s School of Medicine and completed his Mendelevium in 1993. He started composing The Kite Runner in 2001 while he was a practicing physician1. Hosseinii ‘s Kite Runner is partially based on his childhood experiences in Wazir Akbar Khan in Kabul. While most of the events in the novel are fictional. After populating 27 old ages in USA he returned to Afghanistan in 2003 and was shocked to detect the awful state of affairs at that place, even when he had written a really realistic and elaborate fictional narration of it. He declared that because of fortune and material privilege, he and his household was saved from the Soviets and the Taliban, much like his cardinal figure of the narrative – “ Amir ” .

The principle for taking this novel is that it encourages the reader for penitence, and offers hope in desolation. It is a narrative of friendly relationship and treachery, love and forfeits, written attractively by Hosseini, against the background of Afghan political history.

Background

Afghanistan is a landlocked state in Central Asia. Its economic system is based on agribusiness and provides 70 % of universe ‘s opium and 90 % of Europe ‘s diacetylmorphine, but still one of the poorest states. Among its 28 million people, 50 % of work forces are illiterate and 79 % of adult females. Life anticipation here is 47 old ages. The state has a long history of foreign intervention by the Greeks, Persians, Turks, British, Indians and Russians. Taliban ‘s began as a group of fundamentalist Islamic pupils, were the last interlopers until 2001 when Americans occupied and dismissed them. Because of all these interlopers, there was a great diverseness of civilization and ethnicity in the state. Afghanistan divided into about 20 different cultural groups, which farther divided into tribes 2.

It is inevitable to hold struggles between different groups while life in the same state, because of differences in their ethical motives and beliefs. In Kite Runner Hosseini ‘s chief character Amir is a Pashtun and Hassan, is a Hazara – the two groups do non acquire along in Afghanistan. Harmonizing to Hosseini two things separate Hazara ‘s from other ethnicities, one is that their expressions are different, because they are the posterities of Mongol Empire and secondly, they are Shia Muslims, unlike most Afghans who are Sunni Muslims. Hazara ‘s throughout the centuries have been the laden minority in Afghanistan.

The Kite Runner acquires its name from the ancient game of kite winging known as “ gudi paran bazi ” . Boys make “ combatant kites ” from a bamboo frame together with tissue paper in different sizes runing from one to five pess across. They attach the twine to the kite which is coated with powdery land glass. The end of the battle is to cut the oppositions kite threading with a sawing gesture. The existent battle starts every bit shortly as the enemy ‘s kite subsides and all wait impatiently to see who will acquire the fallen kite, as the kite is a symbol of their pride and glory.A 3

Hosseini symbolises the kite combat to the combat between Afghan authorities and Mujahidin, whose custodies were blooded and bruised, in the same manner as does the custodies of kite circular when the kites threading sears through his custodies. Another manner in which kite winging symbolises with the narrative of Amir and Hassan is the category difference between them, as the male child who controls the kite is Amir ( Pashtun ) , and the other who assists him and run for the fallen kite for him is Hassan ( Hazara ) , who besides served Amir by cleaning and rinsing for him. Although, the kite combat is violent but the lone act of winging kite is guiltless and depicts freedom. Despite their category differences the lone activity which brings the two male childs together is winging kites. A The Kite RunnerA is the narrative of the friendly relationship between two male childs grew up in Kabul, Raised in the same family and shared the same moisture nurse, Amir and Hassan grew up in different universes: Amir is the boy of a outstanding and affluent adult male, while Hassan, the boy of Amir ‘s male parent ‘s retainer, is a Hazara – an friendless cultural minority. The two male childs were really much attached to each other in their childhood and pass perfect clip together by stating narratives, running and winging kites, until that event happened which changed their lives everlastingly. Their lives and their destinies were interrelated, even when Amir and his male parent left the state for a new life in California, Amir thinks that he will bury Hassan, but surprisingly he could n’t. It is a narrative of Amir, his childhood, how he faces all the challenges while maturating into manhood, his friendly relationship with Hassan, love and hatred, father boy ‘s bonding and on the top, about the monetary value 1 has to pay for his trueness and treachery.

Representation of Religion

The novel of Kite Runner is set in Afghanistan, where the bulk of the population are Muslim and there are batch of mentions to Muslims and their beliefs in the novel. For illustration, “ … … the tenth twenty-four hours of Dhul-Hijjah, the last month of the Muslim calendar, and the first three yearss of Eid-ul-Adha, or Eid-e-Qorban, as Afghans call it – a twenty-four hours to observe how the prophesier Ibrahim about sacrificed his ain boy for God. Baba has handpicked the sheep once more this twelvemonth, a pulverization white one with crooked black ears. ” ( p 67 )

As Hayes S. Judi ( 2007 ) writes, “ Hosseini ‘s position point is in many ways secular, when it is spiritual ; the position is from an Islamic universe position, non a Judeo- Christian position. But because Islam, Judaism, and Christianity hold in common at least some of events in the book of Genesis in the Hebrew bible, we will happen much there that informs our reading of THE KITE RUNNER. ”

Religion can be interpreted otherwise by different people harmonizing to their ain values and beliefs. Same is the instance in Hosseini ‘s Kite Runner. Religion in the eyes of Baba ( Amir Father ) is morality, pride, honor and bravery, and in order to be human one has to derive honor and regard in his community. Example of his pride and honor is that when they encountered a Russian soldier, on their manner out of Afghanistan and the soldier demanded “ a half hr with the lady in the dorsum of the truck ” , Baba said, “ Ask him where his shame is. — — — — — — — — — — — — — — -war does n’t contradict decency. It demands it, even more than in clip of peace. “ ( p100 )

Baba was more secular in his positions and did non like the Orthodox spiritual sermonizers, who impose their stiff positions on others and who could n’t even let minor wickednesss and mistakes. His positions on fundamentalists Taliban when he says “ — — — you ‘ll ne’er larn anything of value from those bearded imbeciles — — — -piss on the face funguss of all those self righteous monkeys — — — — God help us all if Afghanistan of all time falls into their custodies — — — — – ” ( p15 ) . While he has his ain secular positions, but he did good workss in order to alleviate his torturing guilt.

“ — — — — — -now, no affair what the Mullah Teachs, there is merely one wickedness, merely one. And that is theft. Every other wickedness is a fluctuation of larceny. Make you understand that? ” ( p16 )

For Amir, Religion is something wholly private ; he was besides influenced by his male parent and did n’t much believe in traditional spiritual values. We merely found him praying twice. First, when his male parent got ill “ … … … … … bowing my caput to the land, I recited half disregarded poetries from the Koran… … … … … … … ..and asked for kindness from a God I was n’t certain existed. “ ( p135 )

Second, when Sohrab tried to cut himself, “ … … … … … … the male child had cut himself profoundly and lost a great trade of blood and my oral cavity begins to mumble that supplication once more ; La illaha Illinois Allah, Muhammad u rasul ullah… … … … … I will make namaz, I will make zakat. I will fast. ” ( p304 )

Stereotypes of Religion

We can see stereotypes of Taliban in The Kite Runner. Assef, the childhood bully, became a Taliban member. Hosseini portray Assef as a Talib merely to give a back land to the narrative. He knew that Taliban are already viewed severely in the western universe. Assef claimed that he ‘s on a mission of God and Amir asked him about his mission, “ What mission is that? … … … … … … … ..Stoning fornicators? Raping kids? Floging adult females for have oning high heels? Massacring Hazaras? All in the name of Islam? ” ( p248 ) . As we can see how their swayers in the name of faith, round, stoned, raped and brutalized adult females. Old ages of war had stripped them of gradualness, kindness and human look, the really facet of faith they allegedly follow and try to enforce. And all in the name of God and faith they have turned their freak on their ain people.

Critics of The Kite Runner

Khaled Hosseini ‘s THE KITE RUNNER faced batch of grasp every bit good as unfavorable judgment. Like all other work of art and literature, people from different subdivisions advanceA The Kite RunnerA with different feelings.

A critic forA The New York Times Book ReviewA describedA The Kite RunnerA as “ A narrative of fierce inhuman treatment and fierce yet delivering love. Both transform the life of Amir, Khaled Hosseini ‘s privileged immature storyteller, who comes of age during the last peaceable yearss of the monarchy, merely before the state ‘s revolution and its invasion by Russian forces. But, political events, even every bit dramatic as the 1s that are presented inA The Kite Runner, are merely a portion of this narrative. InA The Kite Runner, Khaled Hosseini gives us a vivid and prosecuting narrative that reminds us how long his people have been fighting to prevail over the forces of force. Forces that continue to endanger them even today. ” hypertext transfer protocol: //www.sholajawid.org/english/main_english/afghanistan_kite_runner290908.html

“ Written in the back bead of 9/11by an Afghan – born medical physician, The Kite Runner presents a glance of socio political clime in Afghanistan and the Afghan community in northern California. The Kite Runner achieves this by offering a fictional portrayal of recent events manipulated by tribalism and spiritual conservativism and aggravated by foreign interventions but overcome through the humanitarianism and courage, which is fuelled by the sense of community. “ ( Sadat, 2004 )

Some argue that Hosseini has put his finger on really sensitive cultural issues that Afghanis do n’t wish to be discoursing in public. Others accuse him of being secular, who believe in unity of Allah and the Quran.

In my sentiment, Khaled Hosseini took a really bold measure, in order to unwrap and expose such ferociousness and wretchedness, which was practised by Pashtuns, ( Afghanistan ‘s dominant nationality ) , against Hazaras in the name of Religion. The people should hold the apprehension of what ‘s traveling on in the universe, other than theirs, in order to make something for those who are populating in subjugation, either in the name of faith, or in the name of Jihad- where the male chauvinist violate guiltless kids, adult females and work forces.

Decision

The Kite Runner fundamentally in my position is a legendary narrative of people of Afghanistan. The writer provides a really long, descriptive and oculus opening history of Afghanistan ‘s civilization and traditions, along with its people. He portrays a complete image of life in Kabul before Soviets invasion and Taliban to the Western universe as a cosmopolite, artistic and a really rational environment.

Harmonizing to Sadat ( 2004 ) the writer ‘s end “ … … … … ..is to humanise the Afghan people and set a personal face to what has happened at that place. ”

For me The Kite Runner is a narrative of people ‘s scruples that they have to confront during their hard times in life.

The faith of the novel in my position is salvation. Redemption is really of import for those who has scruples and have sinned. The full narrative of The Kite Runner is focused on merely one sentence,

“ There is a manner to be good once more, ” ( p.2 )

Allah says in Quran 12 ; 53

“ And I do non do myself free of incrimination, for the human psyche is inclined to ignorance, except what My Lord has mercy on. Surely My Lord is Forgiving, Merciful. ”

“ Allah accepts the penitence of those who do evil in ignorance and repent shortly afterwards ; to them will Allah bend in clemency: For Allah is full of cognition and wisdom. ” Quran 4: 17.A

The Buddhist, Christian and Hindu rules of redemption are really much in common. Each of them emphasiss on release from wickedness, and alleviation from immorality. Their end is to return back to their former celibacy and felicity. As immorality is everyplace in this physical universe, it is inevitable to perpetrate wickedness doing it inseparable from life. They believe that freedom can be achieved merely by abandoning this universe. Buddhist believes into this philosophy in its purest signifier while Christians and Hindus have adjusted it to some extent, harmonizing to their belief.

Amir is stating us the narrative of his childhood, memories of which are corrupted with shame and guilt. Towards the terminal of the novel we learned to cognize that it is non merely Amir who needs salvation but Baba and Rahim Khan has besides sinned and lived throughout their life in guilt. Amir thinks of himself as the lone evildoer among his friends and household, and his guilt become stronger when he sees Hassan as a righteous individual. Amir had disgraced himself by non coming frontward and assisting Hassan when he was attacked and by lying and making a state of affairs in which Hassan was blamed of stealing and made him and his male parent ( Ali ) to go forth Amir ‘s place. Amir ‘s relationship with Baba was really labored, as his male parent was really hard-driving and demanding. Amir was Desperate for his male parent ‘s fondness and regard, and turns to kite winging athletics, in which he was good from his childhood. At the age of 12, he wins the one-year tourney of kite winging in Kabul with the aid of Hassan.A Amir was really covetous of Hassan and wanted his male parent ‘s love so much for himself, that he hurt Hassan in the process.A A Amir tried continuously to do even with Baba, and did n’t recognize that it is Baba ‘s guilt which made him so hard on Amir and that Baba besides needed salvation. Peoples find salvation when they pay in some manner for their incorrect behaviors and seek to replace the bad things with good 1s.

One twenty-four hours, Rahim Khan, Amir ‘s male parents near friend called him and told him that he needed to come back place and to do things right, that had been done incorrect, “ there is a manner to be good once more ” ( p.2 ) indicated to Amir that it was a right clip to allow the guilt travel off and deliver himself from the wickedness he committed 26 old ages ago. Finally, Amir redeemed himself as Rahim Khan recommended for him in his last missive, “ … … … ..I believe, is what true salvation is, Amir January, when guilt leads to good ” ( p263 ) .

Subsequently on, in the novel we learned that Hassan was his half brother and that he had had a boy. Amir found his manner to salvation by looking after Hassan ‘s orphan boy. He left his married woman and place in America to look for the male child in Afghanistan. Once, Hassan stood up for Amir, now its Amir bend to make something for his boy Sohrab. He had to contend with his childhood enemy, ( Assef ) the adult male who caused him the agony and guilt, in order to deliver Sohrab, and it was Sohrab who saved Amir ‘s life that twenty-four hours who wanted to give his blood for Hassan in the same manner as Hassan did in the back street one dark about 26 old ages ago. When Amir was cruelly beaten by Assef, he laughed and said, “ … … … … .My organic structure was broken-just how severely I would n’t happen until later-but I felt healed. Healed at last. I laughed ” ( p253 ) . These words show that his guilt and anxiousness of happening salvation were truly immense. He felt he deserved to be punched to the point of about deceasing ; he needed to experience penalty for what he did.

The Kite Runner is a beautiful narrative about guilt and forgiveness, fright and salvation. The narrative emphasizes on what happens when there is an overpowering fright which control one ‘s actions, and the manner one deals with this sort of state of affairss.

Rahim Khan carries the novel ‘s conclusive message about forgiveness. God is ever merciful ; and it is people who are non.

He tells Amir in his missive, “ I know that in the terminal, God will forgive. He will forgive your male parent, me, and you excessively… Forgive your male parent if you can. Forgive me if you wish. But most of import, forgive yourself. ” ( P263-264 )