The Kite Runner Religion Theme

The increase stolon Religion ThemeIntroductionMy object of plain is The increase Runner a wise by Khaled Hosseini, published by Riverhead Books in the States, 2003. The refreshing was adapted into a film in 2007 by the same adduce of The increase Runner.Khaled Hosseini was born on 4th walk 1965 in Kabul, Afghaniistan. His scram worked for Afghan Foreign Ministry, and his mother was a teacher of Farsi and Hi bol wizardy. When Soviets occupied Afghanistan in 1978, the Hosseini family seek political asylum in the unite States of the States (USA) and moved to San Jose, California. Where Hosseini graduated from High School, and earned biology pointedness from Santa Clara University. He attended SanDiegos School of Medicine and completed his MD in 1993. He st deviceed writing The kite Runner in 2001 while he was a practicing physician1. Hosseiniis Kite Runner is partly base on his puerility experiences in Wazir Akbar caravansary in Kabul. While close of the purge outts i n the novel argon pretended. After living 27 years in USA he re playing perioded to Afghanistan in 2003 and was shocked to discover the terrible situation thither, even when he had written a rattling realistic and detailed fictional narrative of it. He decl ared that because of luck and material privilege, he and his family was salvage from the Soviets and the Taliban, a great stilt like his central figure of the narrative amir.The rationale for choo viciousnessg this novel is that it encourages the reader for repentance, and offers hope in devastation. It is a business relationship of friendship and betrayal, make fill out and sacrifices, written beautifully by Hosseini, a move inst the background of Afghan political hi yarn. earthAfghanistan is a landlocked country in Central Asia. Its economy is based on agriculture and provides 70% of worlds opium and 90% of Europes heroin, but still unmatchable of the poorest countries. Among its 28 million people, 50% of men are ill iterate and 79% of women. Life expectancy here is 47 years. The country has a enormous history of foreign interference by the Greeks, Persians, Turks, British, Indians and Russians. Talibans began as a radical of fundamentalist Islamic students, were the last intruders until 2001 when Americans occupied and dismissed them. Because of all these intruders, there was a great diversity of culture and ethnicity in the country. Afghanistan divided into some 20 different ethnic groups, which further divided into tribes 2.It is inevitable to book conflicts amongst different groups while living in the same country, because of differences in their morals and beliefs. In Kite Runner Hosseinis main character amir is a Pashtun and Hassan, is a Hazara the dickens groups do not get along in Afghanistan. According to Hosseini two things separate Hazaras from other ethnicities, one is that their looks are different, because they are the descendants of Mongol Empire and secondly, they are Shia Muslims, unlike most Afghans who are Sunni Muslims. Hazaras throughout the centuries withstand been the oppressed minority in Afghanistan.The Kite Runner acquires its mark from the ancient game of increase ephemeral eff as gudi paran bazi. Boys make fighter kites from a bamboo frame in concert with waver paper in different sizes ranging from one to five feet across. They attach the wander to the kite which is coated with powdered ground glass. The goal of the fight is to truncated the opponents kite string with a sawing motion. The real fight starts as shortly as the enemys kite subsides and all wait impatiently to see who forget get the go kite, as the kite is a symbol of their disdain and glory.3Hosseini symbolises the kite fighting to the fighting between Afghan judicature and Mujahidin, whose work force were blooded and bruised, in the same mood as does the hands of kite flyer when the kites string sears through his hands. Another way in which kite flying symbolis es with the story of ameer and Hassan is the class difference between them, as the boy who controls the kite is emeer (Pashtun), and the other who assists him and run for the fallen kite for him is Hassan (Hazara), who also served amir by cleaning and washing for him. Although, the kite fighting is violent but the solitary(prenominal) act of flying kite is acquitted and depicts freedom. Despite their class differences the exactly activity which brings the two boys together is flying kites. The Kite Runneris the story of the friendship between two boys grew up in Kabul, Raised in the same household and shared out the same wet nurse, emeer and Hassan grew up in different worlds Amir is the son of a prominent and wealthy man, while Hassan, the son of Amirs fathers servant, is a Hazara an outcast ethnic minority. The two boys were real much attached to each other in their puerility and spend perfect time together by telling stories, running and flying kites, until that event h appened which changed their lives forever. Their lives and their fates were interrelated, even when Amir and his father left the country for a new life in California, Amir thinks that he will forget Hassan, but surprisingly he couldnt. It is a story of Amir, his childhood, how he faces all the challenges while maturing into manhood, his friendship with Hassan, love and hate, father sons bonding and on the top, around the price one has to give in for his loyalty and betrayal.Representation of ReligionThe novel of Kite Runner is bushel in Afghanistan, where the majority of the population are Muslim and there are lot of references to Muslims and their beliefs in the novel. For example, the 10th day of Dhul-Hijjah, the last month of the Muslim calendar, and the first three days of Eid-ul-Adha, or Eid-e-Qorban, as Afghans call it a day to celebrate how the prophet Ibrahim almost sacrificed his stimulate son for immortal. Baba has handpicked the sheep again this year, a powder white one with crooked black ears. (p 67)As Hayes S. Judi (2007) writes, Hosseinis view point is in many ways secular, when it is religious the perspective is from an Islamic world view, not a Judeo- Christian perspective. entirely because Islam, Judaism, and Christianity hold in common at least some of events in the book of Genesis in the Hebrew bible, we will find much there that informs our reading of THE KITE RUNNER.Religion can be interpret differently by different people according to their own set and beliefs. Same is the case in Hosseinis Kite Runner. Religion in the eye of Baba (Amir Father) is morality, pride, honour and courage, and in raise to be human one has to gain honour and respect in his community. Example of his pride and honour is that when they encountered a Russian soldier, on their way out of Afghanistan and the soldier demanded a half(prenominal) hour with the lady in the back of the truck, Baba said, Ask him where his shame is.war doesnt liquidate decency. It demands it, even more than in time of peace.(p100)Baba was more secular in his views and did not like the orthodox religious preachers, who impose their rigid views on others and who couldnt even allow minor sins and errors. His views on fundamentalists Taliban when he says youll never detect anything of value from those bearded idiots-piss on the beards of all those self clean-handed monkeysGod religious service us all if Afghanistan ever falls into their hands(p15). While he has his own secular views, but he did unsloped deeds in order to relieve his tormenting guilt.now, no matter what the Mullah teaches, there is completely one sin, only one. And that is theft. Every other sin is a variation of theft. Do you perceive that? (p16)For Amir, Religion is something entirely private he was also influenced by his father and didnt much believe in traditional religious values. We only comprise him praying twice. Firstly, when his father got sick bowing my head to the ground, I r ecited half bury verses from the Koran..and asked for kindness from a God I wasnt sure existed.(p135)Secondly, when Sohrab tried to contend himself, the boy had cut himself deeply and lost a great deal of blood and my mouth begins to mutter that prayer again La illaha il Allah, Muhammad u rasul ullahI will do namaz, I will do zakat. I will fast. (p304)Stereotypes of ReligionWe can see stereotypes of Taliban in The Kite Runner. Assef, the childhood bully, became a Taliban member. Hosseini portray Assef as a Talib just to give a back ground to the story. He knew that Taliban are already viewed deleteriously in the western world. Assef claimed that hes on a mission of God and Amir asked him about his mission, What mission is that? ..Stoning adulterers? Raping children? Flogging women for wearing high heels? Massacring Hazaras? All in the name of Islam? (p248). As we can see how their rulers in the name of religious belief, beat, stoned, raped and brutalized women. long time of war had stripped them of gentleness, kindness and human expression, the very aspect of devotion they allegedly follow and try to impose. And all in the name of God and religion they produce turned their monstrosity on their own people.Critics of The Kite RunnerKhaled Hosseinis THE KITE RUNNER faced lot of appreciation as well as criticism. Like all other work of art and literature, people from different sections advanceThe Kite Runnerwith different feelings.A critic forThe New York Times Book ReviewdescribedThe Kite Runneras A story of barbaric cruelty and fierce yet redeeming love. Both transform the life of Amir, Khaled Hosseinis privileged new-fashioned narrator, who watchs of age during the last peaceful days of the monarchy, just before the countrys diversity and its intrusion by Russian forces. But, political events, even as prominent as the ones that are presented inThe Kite Runner, are only a part of this story. InThe Kite Runner, Khaled Hosseini gives us a vivid and lo vely story that reminds us how long his people have been struggling to gloat over the forces of violence. Forces that continue to threaten them even today. http//www.sholajawid.org/english/main_english/afghanistan_kite_runner290908.htmlWritten in the back drop of 9/11by an Afghan born medical doctor, The Kite Runner presents a glimpse of socio political climate in Afghanistan and the Afghan community in northern California. The Kite Runner achieves this by offer a fictional portrait of recent events manipulated by tribalism and religious conservatism and aggravated by foreign interferences but overcome through the humanism and bravery, which is fuelled by the sense of community.(Sadat, 2004)Some argue that Hosseini has grade his finger on very sensitive cultural issues that Afghanis dont like to be discussing in public. Others bear down him of being secular, who believe in oneness of Allah and the Quran.In my opinion, Khaled Hosseini took a very bold step, in order to disclose and expose such barbarousness and misery, which was practised by Pashtuns, (Afghanistans dominant nationality), against Hazaras in the name of Religion. The people should have the understanding of whats going on in the world, other than theirs, in order to do something for those who are living in oppression, either in the name of religion, or in the name of Jihad- where the male chauvinist violate innocent children, women and men.ConclusionThe Kite Runner basically in my view is a legendary story of people of Afghanistan. The author provides a very long, descriptive and eye opening account of Afghanistans culture and traditions, along with its people. He portrays a complete picture of life in Kabul before Soviets invasion and Taliban to the Western world as a cosmopolitan, artistic and a very intellectual environment.According to Sadat (2004) the authors goal ..is to humanize the Afghan people and put a personal face to what has happened there.For me The Kite Runner is a story of peoples sense of right and wrong that they have to face during their difficult times in life.The religion of the novel in my view is redemption. Redemption is very important for those who has conscience and have sinned. The entire story of The Kite Runner is focused on just one sentence,There is a way to be good again, (p.2)Allah says in Quran 12 53And I do not make myself free of blame, for the human soul is inclined to ignorance, except what My captain has tenderness on. Surely My Lord is Forgiving, Merciful.Allah accepts the repentance of those who do evil in ignorance and repent soon afterwardwards to them will Allah turn in mercy For Allah is full of knowledge and wisdom. Quran 4 17.The Buddhist, Christian and Hindu principles of buyback are very much in common. Each of them stresses on judgment of dismissal from sin, and relief from evil. Their goal is to return back to their former chastity and happiness. As evil is everywhere in this physical world, it is inevitable to commit sin making it inseparable from life. They believe that freedom can be achieved only by deserting this world. Buddhist believes into this doctrine in its purest form while Christians and Hindus have adjusted it to some extent, according to their belief.Amir is telling us the story of his childhood, memories of which are corrupted with shame and guilt. Towards the end of the novel we learned to know that it is not only Amir who needs redemption but Baba and Rahim Khan has also sinned and lived throughout their life in guilt. Amir thinks of himself as the only sinner among his friends and family, and his guilt become stronger when he sees Hassan as a righteous person. Amir had disgraced himself by not coming forward and service of process Hassan when he was attacked and by lying and creating a situation in which Hassan was blamed of stealing and made him and his father (Ali) to leave Amirs home. Amirs relationship with Baba was very strained, as his father was very hard-drivi ng and demanding. Amir was Desperate for his fathers affection and respect, and turns to kite flying sport, in which he was good from his childhood. At the age of 12, he wins the one-year tournament of kite flying in Kabul with the help of Hassan. Amir was very jealous of Hassan and cherished his fathers love so much for himself, that he hurt Hassan in the process.Amir tried continuously to make even with Baba, and didnt realize that it is Babas guilt which made him so hard on Amir and that Baba also needed redemption. People find redemption when they pay in some way for their wrong doings and try to replace the bad things with good ones.One day, Rahim Khan, Amirs fathers close friend called him and told him that he needed to come back home and to make things right, that had been done wrong, there is a way to be good again(p.2) indicated to Amir that it was a right time to let the guilt go away and redeem himself from the sin he attached 26 years ago. Finally, Amir redeemed himsel f as Rahim Khan recommended for him in his last letter, ..I believe, is what true redemption is, Amir jan, when guilt leads to good (p263). afterward on, in the novel we learned that Hassan was his half brother and that he had had a son. Amir found his way to redemption by looking after Hassans orphan son. He left his wife and home in America to look for the boy in Afghanistan. Once, Hassan stood up for Amir, now its Amir turn to do something for his son Sohrab. He had to fight with his childhood enemy, (Assef) the man who caused him the low-down and guilt, in order to rescue Sohrab, and it was Sohrab who saved Amirs life that day who wanted to sacrifice his blood for Hassan in the same way as Hassan did in the alley one night about 26 years ago. When Amir was cruelly beaten by Assef, he laughed and said, .My body was broken-just how badly I wouldnt find until later-but I felt healed. Healed at last. I laughed (p253). These oral communication show that his guilt and anxiety of fin ding redemption were really huge. He felt he deserved to be punched to the point of almost demise he needed to feel punishment for what he did.The Kite Runner is a beautiful story about guilt and acquitness, fear and redemption. The story emphasizes on what happens when there is an overwhelming fear which control ones actions, and the way one deals with this kind of situations.Rahim Khan carries the novels conclusive message about pardonness. God is ever merciful and it is people who are not.He tells Amir in his letter, I know that in the end, God will forgive. He will forgive your father, me, and you too Forgive your father if you can. Forgive me if you wish. But most important, forgive yourself. (P263-264)