The Kite Runner - Oppression, Religion, Ethnicity, and History Flashcards
A quote from Chapter Two from Amir’s first description of Hassan when the two were children. The metaphorical description of Hassan as a “Chinese doll” who has been “chiseled from hardwood” suggests him to be precious to Amir and a closeness of friendship, but also connotes ownership and is patronising in nature, suggesting the underlying divide between the two due to Amir’s superiority as a higher-class Pashtun, while Hassan is a Hazara in a servile position. His description is exotic, and the idea that the doll maker “slipped” or grew “tired and careless” in creating Hassan demonstrates his reduced status, a figure of neglect by society even from birth - natural as a Hazara
“A Chinese doll chiseled from hardwood: his flat broad nose and slanting narrow eyes like bamboo leaves… And the cleft lip […] where the Chinese doll maker’s instrument may have slipped, or perhaps he had simply grown tired and careless”
Chapter Two, p. 3
A quote from Chapter Two reflecting the vastly different living conditions of the boys, demonstrating the social segregation between Hazaras and Pashtuns within Afghan society
“A broad entryway flanked by rosebushes led to the sprawling house of marble floors and wide windows… Gold-stitched tapestries […] lined the walls: a crystal chandelier hung from the vaulted ceiling”
Chapter Two, p. 4
“I went past the rosebushes to baba’s mansion, Hassan to the mud shack where he had been born… I remember it was spare, clean, dimly lit… a three legged stool, and a wooden table in the corner”
Chapter Two, p. 6
A quote from Chapter Two suggesting that Amir’s, and therefore Pashtuns’, prejudice toward Hazaras is almost instinctive. Further, it is demonstrated that servile Hazaras are unable to speak out, to protest, this oppression and prejudice
“I watched him swing his scraggy leg in a sweeping arc, watched his whole body tilt impossibly to the right every time he planted the foot… When I tried it, I almost fell into the gutter. That got me giggling. Ali […] didn’t say anything. Not then, not ever.”
Chapter Two, p. 7
A quote from Chapter Two when Amir discovers the book belonging to his mother detailing Hazara history. Amir’s shock that a singular chapter is dedicated in its entirety and the fact that all Amir recognises from the book is its description of racial prejudice demonstrates the extent to which the oppression of Hazaras has been enforced within Afghan society
“An entire chapter on Hassan’s people! In it , I read […] the Pashtuns had ‘quelled them with unspeakable violence’… It also said some things I did know, like that people called Hazaras mice-eating, flat-nosed, load-carrying donkeys”
Chapter Two, p. 8
A quote from Chapter Three describing the Mullah and his enforcing of fundamentalist Islamic teachings. The Mullah is described as having a “face full of acne scars and a gruff voice”, an intimidating and undesirable characterisation. The quote describes fundamentalism bordering on abuse. It presence the presence of fundamentalist Islam latent within Afghan society - it is present in schools, but not currently in wider society
“He… made us memorise verses from the Koran - and though he never translated the words for us, he did stress, sometimes with the help of a stripped willow branch, that we had to pronounce the Arabic words correctly so God would hear us better.”
Chapter Three, p. 14
A quote from Baba in Chapter Three in response to the Mullah’s enforcing of fundamentalist Islamic teachings. It reflects Baba’s liberal values, the vice of moral reason, and also foreshadows the fall of Afghanistan into the hands of the Taliban later in the novel - return in Chapter Twenty-One
“‘Piss on the beards of all those self-righteous monkeys… They do nothing but thumb their prayer beads and recite a book written in a tongue they don’t even understand… God help us all if Afghanistan ever falls into their hands.’”
Chapter Three, p. 15
A quote from Chapter Four in which Amir describes the history of Baba and Ali’s relationship, Ali being the orphaned child of a Hazara couple killed accidentally by Pashtuns in a high and drunken state. The “harsh” punishment of enlisting in the army for a year, despite the fact that they should have been conscripted anyway but had avoided this, in comparison to the “st[iking]” and “kill[ing]” of an innocent Hazara couple, orphaning their child, reflects the extent to which Hazaras are oppressed within Afghan society
“High on hashish and mast on French wine, they struck and killed a Hazara husband and wife on the road to Paghman… My grandfather ordered the two young men to go to Khandar at once and enlist in the army for one year… Everyone agreed that the punishment had been perhaps harsh but fair.”
Chapter Four, p. 21
Two KEY QUOTES from Chapter Four reflecting the pervasive nature of the macrocosm of religious and ethnic conflict in Afghanistan, embodied in turbulent friendship between Amir and Hassan. Childhood and games are ultimately lost to war, regardless of the power of interpersonal relationships. The quote emphasises what Amir has lost through his betrayal. The repetition of ‘nothing’ reflects the helplessness of the cultural separation
“Never mind that we taught each other to ride a bicycle with no hands… Never mind that we spent entire winters flying kites. Never mind that to me, the face of Afghanistan is that of a boy […] with a Chinese doll face perpetually lit by a hairlipped smile.”
“Never mind any of those things. Because history isn’t easy to overcome. Neither is religion. In the end, I was a Pashtun and he was a Hazara, I was Sunni and he was Shi’a, and nothing was ever going to change that. Nothing.”
Chapter Four, p. 22
A KEY QUOTE from Chapter Four, introducing the pomegranate tree as a symbol of Amir and Hassan’s friendship, a symbol of beauty, abundance, and richness. Its proximity to the graveyard prefigures the destruction of the friendship to come. The quote reflects the idealisation of Amir’s childhood Afghanistan - though Amir and Hassan are culturally, ethnically, and religiously divided, in their games they stand in equal royalty
“There was a pomegranate tree near the entrance to the cemetery. One summer day, I used one of Ali’s kitchen knives to carve our names on it: ‘Amir and Hassan, the sultans of Kabul.’”
Chapter Four, p. 24
A quote from Chapter Five as Assef is introduced, a stereotypical villain. His joy as a ‘sociopath’ in mindless violence and the suffering of others is reflected here, which will evolve later into his heartless and sadistic slaughter in the Mazar-i-Sharif massacre due to further radicalisation
“I will never forget how Assef’s blue eyes glinted with a light not entirely sane and how he grinned, how he grinned, as he pummelled that poor kid unconscious.”
Chapter Five, p. 34
A quote from Chapter Five as Assef boasts about his father knowing the first president of Afghanistan, Daoud Khan (reflects background of ‘bloodless coup’ - effect on microcosm’), suggesting he will tell him about Hitler’s greatness. The sociopathic radicalisation of Assef is presented early in the novel in childhood, prefiguring his growth into the Taliban in Amir’s return
“‘Do you know what I will tell Daoud Khan the next time he comes to our house for dinner?’ […] ‘About Hitler. Now, there was a leader. A great leader. A man with vision.”
Chapter Five, p. 35
A quote from Chapter Five as Assef threatens Amir with violence due to his being friends with Hassan, reflecting the ethnic and racial prejudice that taints Hassan and Amir’s relationship even from childhood
But he’s not my friend! I almost blurted. He’s my servant! Had I really thought that? Of course I hadn’t. I hadn’t.”
Chapter Five, p. 37
A quote from Chapter Six before the kite running race when Hassan suggests he would rather eat dirt than lie to Amir, and Amir almost requests that he does so. The quote reflects Amir’s cruelty to Hassan in the face of his kindness and devotion, particularly poignant given the life-changing sacrifice Hassan will soon make for Amir
“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.”
Chapter Six, p. 47
A quote from Chapter Seven after Hassan has gone to run the kite for Amir and Amir is concerned that he has not returned, asking a street vendor in the market about his whereabouts. The vendor is cruel and makes critical comments regarding Hazaras and their status, reflecting their low standing in society. It builds tension as the rape approaches
“‘Lucky Hazara, having such a concerned master. His father should get on his knees, sweep the dust at your feet with his eyelashes.’”
Chapter Seven, p. 61
A quote from Chapter Seven when Amir finds Hassan in the alley. The quote highlights Amir’s selfish nature and disregard for Hassan - Hassan is ready to fight to acquire the kite for Amir, demonstrating his devotion, but Amir’s focus is placed entirely on the kite
“Hassan was standing at the blind end of the alley in a defiant stance: fists curled, legs slightly apart. Behind him, sitting on piles of scrap and rubble, was the blue kite. My key to Baba’s heart.”
Chapter Seven, p. 62
A quote from Chapter Seven as Assef taunts Hassan prior to the rape. He points out the brutal truth of Amir’s relationship with Hassan and Hassan’s naivety as the oppressed victim: Amir is not his friend and does not truly care for him, but uses him for sport and for his own ends
“To him, you’re nothing but an ugly pet […] something he can kick when he’s angry.”
Chapter Seven, p. 64
