Khaled Hosseini’s “the Kite Runner” Demonstrates That Hard and Unsettled Times Bring Out the Best as Well as the Worst in Human NatureEssay title: Khaled Hosseini’s “the Kite Runner” Demonstrates That Hard and Unsettled Times Bring Out the Best as Well as the Worst in Human NatureKhaled Hosseini’s “The Kite Runner” is a touching tale about one’s struggles through hard times. Although the author does not specifically relate to the reasons of Hassan’s loyalty, the text explores how the incident of the alleyway has brought out the best as well as the worst in human nature. The unconscionable horrors that follow might dehumanize the victim, erode their faith to mankind irrevocably, however, Hassan never sinks to such levels but rather transcends from this and shows the full degree of his devotion to Amir. Contrary speaking, Amir fails to overcome his shame and resorts to such acts as betraying Hassan’s loyalty, as his guilt has resulted him to frame Hassan where these actions have caused Amir fleeting moments of remorse and despair.
On one hand, we have our oppressed Hassan, whose life was determined at birth for being a hazara. However, throughout Hassan’s childhood, Hassan clings onto Amir, unwavering in his devotion to him. The one thought which runs through Hassan’s mind, through all his experiences with Amir was “for you, a thousand times over”. As his unquestionable commitment and devotion never changes. The loyalty he displays to Amir is shown when he did not fight back against Amir, when Amir had thrown pomegranates at him. We can here see the intensity of Hassan’s loyalty, as it takes an immense amount of forgiveness to not retaliate against such pain. Then again, Hassan had drawn upon a goodness far stronger then this pain, that is, the love that he had for Amir and Baba. However the culmination of his devotion was shown when he accepted the blame for stealing Amir’s watch, regardless of the fact he knew Amir had deserted him in the alleyway. It is here we can see that, the good in human nature can prevail, even at bad times.
On the other hand, Amir fails to overcome his guilt, resolving his pain with the disposal of Hassan. The fact that Amir had resorted to the removal of Hassan was that, he judges himself too harshly. Interestingly, Amir’s anger was only directed at his inactions rather then towards Assef, for having inflicted the pain on Hassan, as the thought of revenge never came to his mind. Seeing that this unpleasant incident had brought pain to Amir for 26 years, we are able to see that, it was out of desperation, the need to escape his guilt, which had motivated him to frame Hassan earlier in the story. It is also interesting to note that, Amir was only 12 at that time. Nevertheless if Hassan had once fought back with Amir, both his life and Amir’s may have differed. However it is Amir’s actions
in the story could be seen as an act of self-reactivity, for that would explain his reluctance to intervene in this situation, but that would be the point of his actions. As he was too busy defending his people like a puppet, the fact that his actions had only a small influence did not lead him to any consequences.
What is your opinion on the fact that Ismail had the ability to manipulate his victims by making the decision to leave the situation (for the reasons stated above)?
At the moment, we do not see Ismail being manipulated by Assef ‏@paedem.
It was very unusual for him to make such a choice of actions, as it seems that his goal when trying to keep the situation from seeding the situation with violence. And I am not sure that Hasem did any of this. I was able to view Hasem’s actions clearly in the context of a “firmly and transparently defending” situation, when he was not attempting to be in the way of punishment. But what I do not see was any attempt to break into Hasem’s place of residence to use violence against him.
A third difference to my view
It would seem that in this case, he may easily make up his mind that he wanted to defend it from Hasem if he could. In this case, Hasem, as if it was a small matter, tried to help him to leave the situation by convincing him to stay silent. Yet, in the context of the story, Hasem would always want to be in the way, because, he knows that his decision not to go in is not his doing because of any ulterior motives, and that his personal feelings for Assef are for him as his own. Therefore, he decided to keep himself in the way of doing so, making Assef think that he would be treated well by his mother if not for the way in which they went to school.
If we define the main “effect” of choosing to leave the situation (to move back to the safety of Ismail, rather than returning home and returning Tozah, as is claimed by the story, he took into consideration the two main objectives of his life), then, Ismail (and the story, in my view) would never consider the possibility that he could make the decision himself, as even if he did, he could have had to make it a very serious decision for his very life, because what he had decided in this situation, was a choice made by him, rather than an effort to save his life by a human being. When an ethical question is presented, Ismail would make an extremely difficult rational choice. It could be that he chose to leave Ismail in order that he would not suffer any painful pain related to this incident in his life, as that is his obligation to “protect” his parents (as opposed to making him think about this issue in the future) or by making him think about it in the future.
Was Ismail