The shaping of Amir life by larger forces of Afghanistan history and culture

The shaping of Amir life by larger forces of Afghanistan history and culture

The Kite Runner book is attractive due to diversity if its characters who spent most of their childhood in Afghanistan but have different experiences, virtues, and views. The environment shapes the characters’ lives they live in, cultural beliefs surrounding them, and political or economic forces. I picked to analyze how Afghanistan’s history and cultural forces shape Amir’s life. In the novel, Amir is the narrator, protagonist, Pashtun, and Sunni Muslim.

As Amir grows, his life is shaped by the environment that surrounds him, specifically in both Afghanistan and California. Amir is a complex character that why readers pay attention to his actions and how he describes them. Many of Amir’s opinions are developed by people who surround him, whereby the most notable are Baba and Assef. Fathers play vital roles in the lives of their children because their opinion is both valued and respected and looked upon by their children in most circumstances. Amir’s attitudes towards his self-sense are negatively shaped by his father (Baba) since when he is a child. In the novel, it is easy to note Baba unsatisfactory, disapproval, and disappointment nature toward his Amir. These aspects make Amir develop unwanted, ashamed, and unhappiness feelings that cause him to be insecure and have low self-esteem. As a result, Amir frequently seeks his father’s approval so that he can have love and appreciation feeling. For instance, when Hassan is being assaulted, Amir takes the blue kit to Baba to show him he could do something rights. Amir is encouraged by Assef (a violent and harassing character) actions to agree with unjust Afghanistan values and believes that existed during that time. Furthermore, he is inspired by Assef to agree with their social superiority and the community hierarchy of Pashtuns. Amir’s childhood inferiority and childhood emotions are triggered by his father praising Hassan after excelling.

Amir’s life is significantly interrupted by political and economic forces. For instance, Afghanistan soviet war interferes with Amir’s privileged as well as peaceful life, and the fighting forces him to flee to the United States of America. Violence still ravages Afghanistan even after the fall of the USSR, finally, Amir returns but the country is ruled with harsh religious laws by the Taliban. The Taliban leadership give Assef his sadistic tendencies outlet political state. The political state aids Assef and Amir’s final meeting and facilitates the latter redemptive beating..

Culture is another aspect that shapes the Amir’s life.  The personality of a character is judged by culture based on their male relationship strengths and loyalties. The Afghan culture is grounded on Afghanistan people’s beliefs and cannot by politics.  Kite fighting culture significantly improves Amir’s relationship with his father. Amir is determined to win a Kite flying tournament to gain his father’s respect. Before the Baba says Amir “need someone who understands him…I’d never believe he was my son” (Hosseini, p23). Their relationship is temporarily improved after he wins the kite tournament, and Amir says the winning was “the single greatest moment…seeing Baba on that roof proud of me at last” (Hosseini, P66). However, culture destroys his relationship with Hassan. The Afghanistan cultural importance of honor influences Amir’s decisions. He injured Hassan and destroyed his live hood without knowing he was his half-brother.

In conclusion, the Amir’s life rotates around afghan culture, the environment surrounding him, and economic or political factors. These aspects are the forces that determine Amir’s decisions in The Kite Runner novel. People who surround him like his father plays a crucial role in shaping his life. Finally, the Afghan culture and political or economic factors have deeply influenced Amir’s life.

Works cited

Khaled Hosseini. The Kite Runner. Bloomsbury Publishing Ltd, 2018.

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