Kite Runner Lessons

Between rape, murder, the Taliban, and a strained father-son relationship, The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini is an emotional rollercoaster with many lessons to discover. The lessons I have gained from this novel is that politics and society should not affect our relationships, rape needs to be more of an open topic, and there is always redemption for those who search for it. Politics and society can affect how we interact with each other. In Afghanistan there are two major ethnic groups: the Pashtun and the Hazara. Both groups stem from different forms of Islam, which then causes both groups not to get along. For many generations the Pashtun have felt they are superior to the Hazaras. Therefore, it is effortless for Amir to take advantage of Hassan. At one point in the novel the two boys are conversing and Amir was curious as to whether or not Hassan would eat dirt for him. Amir thinks, “I knew I was being cruel, like when I'd taunt him if he didn't know some big word. But there was something fascinating – albeit in a sick way – about teasing Hassan. Kind of like when we used to play insect torture. Except now, he was the ant and I was holding the magnifying glass” (Hosseini page #). …show more content…
Rape is one of the most heinous crimes. As a society, rape is a voodoo topic; not many people want to discuss it in a serious manner. Therefore, when this crime is committed, it is not dealt with properly. Amir witnesses Hassan get raped by Assef. This event destroys their relationship. While Hassan desires to mend the friendship, Amir draws further into himself, so much so that he causes Hassan abandon his one and only home. If society had spoken of ways to handle rape, Amir and Hassan’s lives would have played out differently. Hassan might not have died and Assef might have ended up in prison. This novel shows us that if society spoke about rape, more victims would get the justice they