Social Norms In Othello And The Kite Runner

“Social norms” refers to the unwritten rules of behavior that are considered acceptable in a group or society. This concept is explored in differing ways by Shakespeare demonstrating in Othello that trust amongst close peers is a prominent component of that society. In the Kite Runner, Hosseini develops the social norm of a negative view upon minorities to move Hassan along in the plot. While both works reveal important details about the experience of social norms, Othello ultimately provides a more meaningful depiction of the concept since it influences the plot and characters in a greater manner.

In Othello, Iago was able to manipulate Othello and his emotions based on the social norms developed by Shakespeare. In Othello trust by close

During when Amir believed to be at one of the peak moments of his life so far, he witnessed his good friend captured by people with horrible intentions. During the moment of the rape, Amir is unable to react, stunned by the reality he is currently facing. Hassan happening to be a minority was left by his friend to withstand the horror that would haunt him for his many years to come. “ I saw the resignation in it. It was a look I had seen before. It was the look of the lamb.” This quote proves that Amir has fallen under the social norms of viewing a minority as lesser of a person. The comparison to a lamb, which tend to be usually weaker and more frequently overpowered by other species emphasized Amir’s view. The following years of Amir’s life included the haunting of what had happened to Hassan when they were younger. Amir then later learns that Hassan was killed by the Taliban because he was a Hazara, a minority amongst the Afghan people. This allowed Amir to reflect upon the way that he treated his friend when he was in a time of need. Amir then proceeds to describe Hassan, “Wolves looking at a flock of sheep.” This shows that Amir still looked upon Hassan as a lesser and weaker person, a minority in Afghanistan. While Amir has remorse for Hassan, he is still not looking to Hassan as equal to him, but instead the social norm during the

“The Kite Runner” develops the social norm of looking down upon minorities and in a way degrading them showing less respect. After Hassan has been killed Amir reflects upon Hassan saying, “Wolves looking at a flock of sheep.” This shows how he was comparing to Hassan as a sheep in a degrading sort of manner portraying him as a weaker individual. In “Othello” there is that social norm of trusting your close peers. This turns around to in the end backfire for Othello since Iago is using his trust to manipulate him into becoming less of a man. When Othello and Iago are arguing Othello says, “ A horned man’s a monster and a beast.” This shows Othello degrading to an animal and a beast from his previous self due to the manipulation of Iago. Both of the social norms degraded the characters in such an aggressive manner, that were compared or compared themselves to animals. The manipulation of trust in Othello allowed for Othello to view himself as a degraded man and compare himself to an animal. This is similar to the kite runner since the social norm of looking down upon minorities made Amir look at Hassan as a degraded human once again comparing him to an animal. Both texts used the ideology of using animals to portray characters as diminished and less than their previous