Social Concerns in the Novel The Kite Runner

In the novel The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini, there are plenty of examples that prove this to be correct, walking through the life as an upper or lower class citizen, dealing with tough situations. As upper class citizens, it is much easier to receive a proper education due to the fact that it isn’t necessary for one to get an occupation to help support their family because no additional support is needed. Since upper class citizens can have the luxury of being able to read and write, they are more likely to become successful, for example,

Amir, a young boy who is born into the wealth of his father, Baba, talks about how he is using his education to excel in language arts, “In school, we used to play a game called Sherjangi, or “Battle of the Poems. ” The Farsi teacher moderated it and it went something like this: You recited a verse from a poem and your opponent had sixty seconds to reply with a verse that began with the same letter that ended with yours. Everyone in my class wanted me on their team, because by the time I was eleven, I could recite dozens of erses…One time, I took on the whole class and won” (17). This example shows how Amir has the advantage over most kids, who aren’t as fortunate to receive an education and is able to excel by becoming one of the most prominent students in poetry of his class. It also shows that Amir has a good chance of being a success by using this education to advance him for when he’s older. Rahim Khan, Baba’s best friend, also notices that Amir is becoming more knowledgeable in language arts when he reads Amir’s first story, “I enjoyed your story very much.

Mashallah, God as granted you a special talent. It is now your duty to hone that talent, because a person who wastes his God-given talents is a donkey. You have written your story with sound grammar and interesting style. But the most impressive thing about your story is that it has irony. You may not even know what that word means. But you will someday. It is something that some writers reach for their entire careers and never attain. You have achieved it in your first story” (28). This again further displays that because Amir is able to receive a good ducation, he is able to write impressively. Not only does this example show that he is a good student, but it also shows that if one is given the chance to be educated and takes advantage of it they can become successful. People in the upper class have the opportunity to gain an education because they have the wealth to be able to do so, however people in the lower class aren’t as fortunate. People who are in the lower class are forced to work hard for what they have because, they haven’t been blessed with the luxury of being born into a wealthy family.

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This is true for Hassan, Ali’s friend and servant, who must stay with his father and work at Ali’s home to earn a living and isn’t able to educate himself by going to school, however Hassan learns to appreciate life and everything that is given to him, for example, Amir describes a normal day for Hassan and himself, “During the school year, we had a daily routine. By the time I dragged myself out of bed and lumbered to the bathroom, Hassan had already washed up, prayed the morning namaz with Ali, and prepared my breakfast.

While I ate and complained about homework, Hassan made my bed, polished my shoes, ironed my outfit for the day, packed my books and pencils. I’d hear him singing to himself in the foyer as he ironed, singing old Hazara songs in his nasal voice. Then, Baba and I drove off in his black Ford Mustang” (23). This excerpt shows very wonderfully, how Hassan is a hard working young boy, in the lower class, who appreciates things and makes the best of his situation, he is awake bright and early, full of energy, singing and enjoying the day he has before him, happy to be alive.

It also shows the fact that people in the lower class are able to enjoy the little things in life much more than that of the upper class, because they have to work hard and appreciate the things they work hard for. However people in the upper class may become snobby and take for granted the things that they have, for instance, when Amir is reading to Hassan, and Hassan stops him to ask a question, “what does that word mean? ‘which one? ’ ‘imbecile’ ‘you don’t know what it means’ I said, grinning. ‘Nay, Amir agha. ’ ‘But it’s such a common word! ’ ‘Still, I don’t know it. ‘Well everyone in my school knows what it means’, I said. ‘Let’s see. ‘Imbecile. ’ It means smart, intelligent. I’ll use it in a sentence for you. ‘When it comes to words, Hassan is an imbecile’(25). This shows that Amir doesn’t appreciate the fact that he is able to be so educated and demeans Hassan for not being able to have an education. However, Hassan shows that he is eager to learn more and appreciates the stories that Amir reads to him and wants to have the full understanding of the story, thus showing that people of the lower class usually show reater appreciation for what they have and earn. Some may like to think that living life prosperously is always a good thing, and to most it is a very positive experience because it represents hard work that one has done in order to earn that rich lifestyle, but to others who come into prosperity without earning it find it hard to deal with the struggles one finds in life. People, such as Baba, know what hard work is and are generous to others who are less fortunate because they know what its like to work hard to become successful, for example, Rahim Khan refers to Baba’s enerosity when speaking with Amir,”I think that everything he did, feeding the poor, giving money to friends in need, it was all a way of redeeming himself. And that, I believe, is what true redemption is, Amir Jan” (302). This shows how Baba, although wealthy, is very caring and shows a true commitment to helping others who need it. It also displays the character that Baba has been instilled with through life experiences, such as trials and tribulations, which help him to appreciate what he has earned. However to others, such as Amir, who is born into prosperity, don’t know the meaning of hard ork or how to deal with problems they are faced with, for instance when Baba is discussing his son’s inability to deal with problems, such as bullies, with Rahim Khan he says, “Self-defense has nothing to do with meanness. You know what always happens when the neighborhood boys tease him? Hassan steps in and fends them off. I’ve seen it with my own eyes. And when they come home I say to him, ‘how did Hassan get that scrape on his face? ’ And he says, ‘he fell down. ’ I’m telling you, Rahim, there is something missing in that boy” (20). This is a good example of how Amir is unable to esolve matters on his own while Hassan is able to deal with situations and predicaments because of his tough upbringing. It also shows that Amir is incapable of working with conflicts because he has always been protected and dependant on others, unlike Hassan who hasn’t had that luxury of having things handed to him and has always fought for everything he has. In closing, the lifestyle of the upper class can be very fulfilling if the hard work that goes into it is understood, however if it isn’t and one becomes spoiled, it can be detrimental to one’s life and personality.

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