Privilege In The Kite Runner Research Paper

The Echoes of Privilege In the novel The Kite Runner, the theme of privilege plays a focal role in shaping the trajectory of its characters. By studying characters who possess privilege, those with a relation to it and those who are deprived of it, it is clear how societal views and connections can determine a character's life. The novel intricately explores the profound ramifications of privilege by dissecting the experiences of the impoverished citizens of Afghanistan, Hassan, and Amir. Characters who do not possess privilege, such as the Hazara community, illustrate the impact of social marginalization. Hazaras are denied the opportunity to obtain an education. This is proven when Amir states “Every morning, I watched from my bedroom window as their Hazara servant shovelled

With the continuous cycle of no education, the only option is for Hazaras to stay at the bottom of life’s hierarchy. Therefore, it further exemplifies how the absence of privilege confines people to poverty. Subsequently, Hassan’s relation to power, since he does not have it himself, highlights another aspect of its influence. By being the servant to a respected man in Kabul, Hassan lives in the periphery of privilege. He benefits from his power, yet by being his servant and a Hazara, there is a clear boundary. In support of highlighting how Hassan profited from being near privilege is when it was said that “Baba never missed Hassan’s birthday.So every winter Baba picked something out for Hassan” (Hosseini, 48). This demonstrates how Baba’s wealth provided Hassan with toys and presents, yet Hassan had to clean up after Baba. Hassan’s lack of true privilege shows his inability to escape his determined societal position. In addition, after Amir and Baba fled Afghanistan, Hassan lost his tie to power. The original ranking of the hierarchy was restored and unfortunately, he was killed due to his