The Kite Runner by Khaled Hasseini

The Kite Runner by Khaled Hasseini is an intriguing story of life in Afghanistan

during a time period. Amir and his father, Baba are Pashtun’s living in a successful home

in Kabul, Afghanistan while their servants, Hassan and his father, Ali whom are

considered Hazaras lived in a mud hut on the same grounds of Baba’s property. Since

being a Hazara was discriminated against in Afghanistan, Amir was bullied by Assef and

his friends for hanging out with one. Later, a moment happened when Amir was twelve

that changed everything and as he claims made him the man he is today. The

discrimination of ethnic minorities in Kabul, Afghanistan shows disastrous events in the

lives of two young boys. This story relates to past and present time Afghanistan.

In Afghanistan, a Hazara is a persecuted ethnic group whom came from further

East Asia. Their features are different from other Afghanistan’s because they have more

of an Asian look and flat noses. Pashtuns, are a different ethnic minority and they are

accepted. Pashtuns dislike Hazaras and cause many grief to them. Hazaras are sunni

Muslim, as Pashtun’s are shia Muslim. They claim different features and speak different

languages.

Later, in the 1980’s when the Soviet Union invaded Afghanistan, many fled to

Pakistan. Later in the 1990’s, a group called Taliban’s began making severe changes in

Afghanistan making living their more difficult than ever and harsh. After the 9/11 attack,

they were over thrown but still at risk.

The story begins with Amir living in San Francisco, California in 2001. He

receives a phone call from, Rahim Khan, an old friend of his father’s. He begins

reminiscing about his life in his country with Hassan and Baba, his father. Rahim asks

Amir to come to Pakistan for he is sick and