Immigration In The Kite Runner

Immigration is a common sacrifice many parents give for their children. The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini takes place in Afghanistan when peace turns into turmoil and chaos after the Soviet Invansion and evuntaully the takeover of the Taliban. Fleeing the war, Amir and Baba arrive in America, a country presented as free of oppession and inequality. Amir and Baba’s journey to America adds to the overall meaning of the story because it represents the common immigrant struggle, adjusting to a new environment , and sets in motion the the difficult choice Amir has to make of choosing to stand up for what is right to protect family.

Baba’s new life in America represents the common struggle of refugees to adjust to life in a unknown country.

He misses the close-knit community of Kabul, as well as his old status and wealth. In Kabul, Baba was an important man who worked a high paying job which earned him a lot of respect. Now, moving to America, Baba has lost his status and must work a menial job as a gas station worker to survive. Hosseini writes “ I glanced at him across the table, his nails chipped and black with engine oil, his knuckles scraped, the smells of the gas station dust, sweat, and gasoline on his clothes” ( Hosseini 108). Baba works very hard to provide Amir with a good quality of life. When Amir gets married, Baba spends his life savings on the wedding. ( Another way that Baba’s life in America changes from Afghanistan is the community. He feels that those in America do not hold the same trust or respect that Afghani’s have for each other. An example is Baba’s outbreak at the convenience store. . One day, Baba is asked to give his I.D at the local convenience store after writing a check. He is so angry, he flips over a magazine rack. He is furious because he knows the owners well and is insulted at

Feeling the guilt of his betrayal to Hassan, he looks at America as a place to forget about his past wrongdoings. To Amir, “America was different. America was a river, roaring along, unmindful of the past. I could wade into this river, let my sins drown to the bottom, let the waters carry me someplace far. Someplace with no ghosts, no memories, and no sins. If for nothing else, for that, I embraced America ( Hosseini 114). Amir knows what he did to Hassan was wrong and cowardice, so he choses to forget it, embracing America for its ability to distance Amir from Hassan. He turns his attention to his education, completing high school and college and becomes a successful writer. (Insert