Social Structure In The Kite Runner By Khaled Hosseini

In sociology, social structures are the organization of relationships, and patterns. This forms the basis for guidelines and cultural norms that can achieve the goals placed on a macro scale within a population. In most cases, Social structure creates a hierarchy in society which dictates the social treatment of people based on their social stratification. The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini stresses the placement of social structures in afghan culture. The social structure devolves beliefs within a society, these values dictate the characters actions and explain the relationship between characters. This is evident, through the gender roles placed on females, the ethnocentric views displayed by afghan culture, and the inequality of power between …show more content…
His hate for the lower class develops because society teaches him to think of anyone not Pashtun as less superior. The education system has biases, as the schooling only targets teaching the Pashtuns. The purpose of that is to increase nationality with propaganda which is the medium society uses to convey the message. Assef not only is influenced by society, but by the books he reads. He idolizes Adolf Hitler and people that have ethnocentric views. In fact, his views are shaped by the past of Shi 'a and Sunni muslims. Shi 'a are the Hazaras, and Sunni are the Pashtuns. The two branches of islam have different beliefs which cause the disputes. Hazaras are a minority in Afghanistan, which shows they have less power. Moreover, Assef points out the distinctive features of a flat nose, this has success in separating the lower class to the higher class. The Pashtun lineage in Afghanistan descents from caucasian ethnicities, in contrast with the Hazaras who come from an asian heritage. More Importantly, the issue is the ethnocentric views Assef is showing. He claims a land to his sub-class, and expresses admiration for forced migration of the Hazaras. Assef 's beliefs clearly align with the views of the Taliban, who implement aggressive acts against the Hazaras. What is ironic about this is that Assef says he is a true Pashtun, but is half german. Moreover, beliefs of the society cause the characters to take matters into their own hands, while positioning the Hazaras to stay as the lower class. Amir overhears Assef saying, " my father says it is sinful... Your father won 't find out. theirs nothing sinful about teaching a lesson to a disrespectful donkey..It 's just a Hazara"(Hosseini 75). Amir witnesses Hassans rape Inflicted by Assef as humiliation on the Hazara. Assef declares his superiority over Hassan in this act of indignity. Assef believes he has the right to teach Hassan a lesson. Furthermore, the