The Theme Of Orphanages In 'The Kite Runner'

1119 Words3 Pages

Orphanages A big theme in the story “The Kite Runner” by Khaled Hosseini is fear. Fear was a feeling that swept the country of Afghanistan prior to the Taliban’s infiltration, and it was an emotion that could be found in even the simplest of activities. For example, Rahim Khan once told Amir about his experience at a soccer match, where the hollers of the man beside him resulted in a Taliban soldier hitting Rahim in the face with the butt of his rife. Rahim sat still and remained quiet, in fear of being struck again. (Hosseini) Some people feared for the life of their families, some feared for their jobs, while others feared for their own life. However, the chapters that stuck out the most were the descriptions and events taking place at the orphanage. The hunger and conditions that the children were subjected to seemed bad enough, but the fear of being sold and used by the Taliban soldiers is just as, if not more, horrifying. Although the characters and storyline were created by the author, the conditions and treatment the orphan children were in is not fiction. The …show more content…

Phillip Cameron and his wife are known widely for traveling across Eastern Europe to analyze and stabilize their orphanage systems. His book consists of first hand accounts of the abuse and neglect the children are subjected to in countries such as Romania and Moldova. I was given this book by my mother, who was hoping I would benefit from the religious aspect of Phillip Cameron’s story. When reading “The Kite Runner”, I couldn’t help but think about Cameron’s book and how he could have affected the lives of the Sohrab and the other orphans in Afghanistan. Cameron witnessed living conditions that were quite similar to those described in “The Kite Runner”. He was once asked by a Moldovan orphange director, “Have you ever seen a baby freeze to death?” (Stellasvoice.org) This quote instantly made me remember the child who died in Sohrab’s

Open Document