In the beginning of the novel The Swallows of Kabul, written by Yasmina Khadra, the audience is introduced to the character of Musarrat, Atiq’s wife. On first impression, she seems to be a lost cause clinging to any sense of normal life she has left; however, at the end of the novel, Musarrat becomes the unsung hero offering a glimmer of hope for the wretched city of Kabul. Through the use of her unconditional love for her husband, Khadra reveals how Musarrat became an image of hope for the audience, a daisy growing in the dump that is Kabul. In chapters eleven through fifteen, Musarrat’s image is opposite of the characters seen throughout the rest of the novel.
The novel Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini is a poignant story about the main character, Amir, a young Afghan man running from the traumatic events of his past, who travels to America with his father after a Russian takeover, and then back to Afghanistan to confront his demons. For Baba and Amir, America is a chance to escape Afghanistan and change their lives for the better. Baba and Amir’s move to America affects many parts of their life, including differences in their lifestyle, a change in their unstable relationship, and traits that persist throughout their difficult transition. The move to America changes Baba and Amir’s lavish lifestyle to one of minimum wage and social programs.
Doctor Irving Greenberg, a Modern Orthodox rabbi contemplates the question of whether it makes sense to believe in God after the Holocaust in his Cloud of Smoke, Pillar Fire” (1977). Considering the nature of the Holocaust as a historical transforming event and its substantial death toll, that is taking the lives of six million Jewish, several postulations surrounding the subject of God after the Holocaust have emerged, such as the works of Richard Rubenstein, Eliezer Berkovits, and Hans Jonas to name a few. Greenberg’s work explores that when considering the horrible nature of the Holocaust, it may be fallacious to believe in God and moreover disrespectful to its victims. However, despite of this, there are still moments in which God is present,
He has a name and it’s Sohrab” (Hosseini 361). Before this encounter Amir had been timid around his father-in-law and Hazara people were often looked down upon in Afghan Pashtun culture, yet Amir still assertively stood up for his new son. Evidently, Amir was a dynamic character in the novel and Amir’s change in character was used by Khaled Hosseini in order to show
By the story’s end, Amir and Baba become closer. They are in America and times have been difficult. “‘I am moftakhir, Amir,’ he said. Proud” (Hosseini 139). Baba kept pushing Amir to graduate high school and when he did, Baba was very proud.
Lastly, Amir sacrifices his life to accommodate for Sohrab, Hassan’s son, after being taken by the Taliban. Amir resembles Baba because he too takes up redemption for the awful things he did. He understands the great danger Sohrab is in. He risks his life to help Sohrab; this shows loyalty to Hassan. Even though Sohrab is not Hassan saving his son shows that Amir is loyal to him.
This discrimination has become built into society and effects everyday life. As Pashtuns, Amir and Baba have the opportunities to receive an education and start their own business. While the Hazaras, Hassan and Ali, may only work as servants. This discrimination brought on by social hierarchy causes isolation, violence, and guilt, to those surrounded by it throughout the book. These ideas are caused by discrimination and are explored through Amir’s experiences in the book.
This leads to the eventual fallout of Amir and Hassan’s friendship. Despite the fact that Ali and Hassan are ethnic Hazaras, they are able to live as servants in Baba’s house due to the close relationship between Ali and Baba that has grown stronger over the years. As well, after the invasion of the Soviet Army in Afghanistan, Baba grows a deep hatred of Russians and their actions in destroying his homeland. Since living conditions become too unbearable in Afghanistan, Baba and Amir have no choice but to flee to America and build up their new lives. Living in a community such as the Wazir Akbar Khan district portrays wealth and success whereas an impoverished community such as Hazarajat is considered loathsome and disgusting.
Amir’s father was not found of Amir but of Hassan Amir did not know Hassan was his brother. Amir always tried to impress baba. The way Hassan used to play and run after the kite Amir named him The Kite Runner. When baba died he still could face and talk to Hassan when he went to his home town he found out that the Taliban’s had killed Hassan and his wife and their son was in the orphan alone, Amir planned to adopt his son so that Hassan can forgive him and so that he can atone his sin. He always tried to be friends Hassan’s son but he missed his parents and was sad he took him home and treated him as his own son as Amir could not have one of his
Afghanistan is a country full of social expectations and boundaries influenced by both class and ethnicity. Amir and Hassan come from polar opposite social backgrounds: Amir, a wealthy member of the dominant Pashtuns, and Hassan, a child servant to Amir and member of the minority Hazaras. Yet, as young children, it seems as though this difference is a mere annoyance rather than a serious blockade to their friendship. This all changes, though, when Amir makes a split second decision, a decision shaped by his unconscious desire to uphold their class difference. Hassan does everything for Amir, most specifically, he runs his kites, and when the town bully wants to steal that kite, Hassan resists even in the face of unspeakable violence.
Many people in Amir 's life affect the way he sees himself. For example Baba, his father. It is hard for Amir to find out who he really is because he is not the typical male afghan son Baba
However, doctor Luthan makes the claim that is is immoral
This “challenges he meets, the mistakes he makes and his final attempt at redemption”(Two Perspectives on Afghanistan” tells the reader about the suffer Amir is reminded and the “horror under the Taliban of the country of his youth”. (Two Perspectives on Afghanistan). “This sets off a series of fictional events that force Amir to face up to the physical cowardice” (Afghanistan’s Next Chapter). After arriving a week later, Rahim tells Amir about the destruction in Kabul. “The Kite Runner describes the rich culture and beauty of a land in the process of being destroyed .”
Khushwant Singh’s Train to Pakistan recounts the event of the Partition of India, which happened in 1947. Set in a fictional village of Mano Majra, the novel aims to depict the cultural and political clash between the Sikhs, Hindus, and Muslims and, by following the development of the characters, unveil the moral of humanity. Throughout the novel, Singh portrays the experience of conflict that each character, including Juggut Singh, Iqbal Singh, and Hukum Chand, has to deal with. Based on the characters’ development, Singh’s goal is to present the idea that love always conquers the power of violence and ethnic antagonism. Singh starts off with a description of the Partition and of Mano Majra, a habitat for Sikhs, Hindus, and Muslims.
In the short story My Son the Fanatic, the relation between father and son gets tested, when the father Parvez, discovers that his son Ali has developed his religious believes into a more extreme manner. The short story takes place in England, and deals with a father’s desperate attempt to understand his son, and a son’s attempt to find himself, and take a stand on western society and believes through a religious perspective. In this essay I will analyze and interpret the short story, by answering following research questions: The characterization of the protagonist Parvez, the setting in the short story, the relationship between the father Parvez, and his son Ali, and the main theme. Parvez is the protagonist in the short story; he is a Pakistani immigrant, making his living in England, driving the taxi.
