Social Class In The Kite Runner

Citizens of Afghanistan have always dealt with a tough life, whether it be automatically labelled as terrorists by foreigners or characterized based on decisions they have made in life from their own people. When one hears “Afghanistan” it is usually with negative thoughts or comments regarding the nation. However, perception of Afghanistan once revolved around different aspects of classification. In Khaled Hosseini’s, The Kite Runner, labels and characterization are easily identified and result in a problem for many of the characters. Decisions, actions, events, and overall outcomes are all negatively impacted by concepts of ethnicity, social class and race or religion Firstly, portrayal of the negative influence of ethnicity is evident

As of recent times, the gap between rich and poor Afghanistan citizens has widely increased. “The gulf between rich and poor is most acutely apparent in terms of electricity. Most residents have no more than five hours of power every second night, if they are lucky. As temperatures plunge below zero, poor families huddle around wood stoves and make their way to bed by candle light. In wealthy neighborhoods, diesel generators roar into action” (SFGate). Afghanistan isn’t the same as it was once perceived to be and drastic changes have occurred including the involvement of the United States of America and Canada. Since then, cities of Afghanistan such as Kabul have prospered. In 2007, the USGC have discovered 1 trillion dollars’ worth of mineral deposits in Afghanistan. However, Afghanistan still remains one of the poorest countries in the world. The rural population of Afghanistan has about 45% of its citizens being poor, compared to the 27% of the urban population. Poverty in the rural areas can be linked to high illiteracy rates and dependence on livestock for income. Social classes from Afghanistan can be compared to the depiction of contrast in wealth between Baba and Ali. The difference of wealth between Baba and Ali is well known, “Everyone agreed that my father, my Baba, had the most beautiful house in the Wazir Akbar Khan district… On the south

“The little group, calling itself the Taliban – literally students of Islam, more poetically seekers of knowledge – set out to bring vigilante justice to the city. Its vow to bring peace, law and order and “pure” Islam to Afghanistan” (The Taliban Troubles). What started off as a group of saviours went south really quickly. The Taliban had promised security, peace, and law, but instead abused their power. The Taliban have blocked television, music, and disallowed girls aged 10 and up from going to school. Just like the real world, the Taliban’s influence provoked some major novel altering moments. The presence of the Taliban, with their religion extremity have had lasting impacts throughout the novel. “He learned towards me, like a man about share a great secret. ‘You don’t know the meaning of the word ‘liberating’ until you’ve done that, stood in a roomful of targets, let the bullets fly, free of guild and remorse, knowing you are virtuous, good and decent” (Hosseini 290). The major antagonist from the beginning is Assef. Assef is a playground bully, who picks on Hazaras and anyone who stands up for or with them. The quotation talks about Assef’s involvement within the Mazar-i-Sharif massacre of the Hazaras. Assef’s involvement in the Taliban affects the events which take as if it was anyone else, he would’ve killed Amir and Sohrab or let them go.