War torn Afghanistan challenges all the characters in the Kite runner to forgive themselves and others in the face of war, socioeconomic differences and tense race relations. Both, socioeconomic status and race relations, play a vital role in the key to forgiveness. People lower in the hierarchy pyramid tend to forgive those who are superior easily. The enslavement of Hazaras leads to the mindset that they do not deserve human decency and respect. This prevents them from growing financially and breaking the binds of their past, placing them at the bottom of the hierarchy. This is exemplified by Hazaras only being referred to as servants. Khaled Hosseini communicates the idea that socioeconomic status correlates with the ability to love through Hassan and Amir’s one sided relationship, Baba’s relationship with Amir, and Amir’s relationship with Shorab.
The contrasting socioeconomic status plays a major role in Amir and Hassan’s one sided relationship. Hassan loves Amir unconditionally because of where he stands in society. After Hassan’s rape, Amir
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Amir was unable to love Hassan because society internalized racial prejudice into him. Hassan loved Amir unconditionally , despite his unfair treatment, because his socioeconomic status made injustice appear acceptable. Baba contributed to inhumanity by placing appearances in front of his love for Amir while in Afghanistan. Once Baba and Amir left, however the heavy curtain of expectations were lifted and Baba focused on what was truly important, loving Amir. Amir redeemed himself not loving Hassan by differences aside with Sohrab and treating him like a son. This is illustrated by the stark contrast in Amir’s relationship with Hassan and his relationship with Sohrab. Amir breaks the cycle of hierarchy being placed over love by showing Shorab that his race and former status does not change Amir’s love for