Socioeconomic Values In The Kite Runner

The Kite Runner, directed by Marc Foster and based on the 2003 book by Khaled Hosseini, follows the story of Amir, an Afghan boy, as he grows up and comes to understand loyalty and his culture. As a young boy, Amir was friends with his father’s Hazara servant’s son, Hassan. Although the socioeconomic status is apparent, the two boys are inseparable. Hassan is Amir’s family servant and the class difference shows from the difference in birthday celebrations to how Amir expects Hassan to defend him against other boys. After a citywide kite flying competition that Amir and Hassan win, Hassan chases down a kite as a trophy, but several boys abuse him when he refuses to give up his kite, remaining loyal to Amir. Amir witnesses this and is overtaken by guilt and struggles to understand the meaning of loyalty, one of the main themes of this film. Amir’s guilt eventually leads him to frame Hassan for stealing his watch. Out of loyalty, Hassan takes the blame, but Amir’s father, Baba, forgives Hassan, showing him uncharacteristic towards the servant. However, Hassan’s father leaves the household out of shame for what he believes his son did and takes Hassan with him. Sometime after Hassan moves away, Afghanistan is invaded by the Soviet Union and their government falls. Baba uses the family’s wealth to get him and Amir to Pakistan and eventually to San Francisco, California. They leave a family friend, Rahim Khan, to watch over the house and start new lives in the United States