Class Differences In The Kite Runner

Afghanistan is a country full of social expectations and boundaries influenced by both class and ethnicity. Amir and Hassan come from polar opposite social backgrounds: Amir, a wealthy member of the dominant Pashtuns, and Hassan, a child servant to Amir and member of the minority Hazaras. Yet, as young children, it seems as though this difference is a mere annoyance rather than a serious blockade to their friendship. This all changes, though, when Amir makes a split second decision, a decision shaped by his unconscious desire to uphold their class difference. Hassan does everything for Amir, most specifically, he runs his kites, and when the town bully wants to steal that kite, Hassan resists even in the face of unspeakable violence. He resists for Amir whom he loves with his whole heart. Amir witnesses this struggle, but he does nothing; he runs away since “he was just a Hazara, wasn’t he?” (Hosseini 77). Amir has always believed, deep down, that his father favored Hassan, a Hazara, the dirt of Afghan society, over him, his own son. Seeing Hassan reduced to that level of baseness is perversely satisfying for him. He is finally better than Hassan, his social conscience is satiated. In that moment, he values his

Their contrasting social conditions shape the way they treat each other and influence their own beliefs and values, making it extremely difficult to maintain a normal relationship. The huge role of Marxism in class conflict greatly affects the decisions and choices that Amir and Hassan make ending in a truly painful estrangement. These boys should be the best of friends; deep down they love each other so very much, but their preexisting economic situations make this love impossible to put on display. Amir manages to repair this broken friendship twenty years later; Hassan may have gone, but Amir can finally forgive himself for the decisions he made as a