Racial Tension In The Kite Runner

Words: 626
Pages: 3
Open Document
The novel, The Kite Runner, portrays the racial tension between the Hazara and Pashtun tribes in Afghanistan. This inequality is demonstrated through the animosity most Pashtuns display towards the Hazaras because of their religion and ethnic origin, the blatant division of social class between the two tribes stemming from historical conflict, and the mass killings executed by the Taliban. The author, Khaled Hosseini, brings to light the persecution of the minority Hazara people under the oppression of the Pashtun tribe.
Ethnicity and religion is a sensitive issue that is demonstrated throughout the novel. To begin with, the Hazara people are often persecuted for their physical appearance. Amir describes Hassan as having “[an] almost perfectly …show more content…
Assef, who joins the Taliban, voices the resentment and ill-natured thoughts they bear towards the tribe. In reference to the Hazara massacre in Mazar-i-Sharif Assef says, “Door to door we went, calling for the men and the boys. We’d shoot them right there in front of their families. Let them see. Let them remember who they were, and where they belonged […] stood in a roomful of standing targets, let the bullets fly, free of guilt and remorse, knowing you are doing God’s work” (290). For the purpose of “[taking] out the garbage”, as Assef described, the Taliban brutally slaughtered numerous Hazaras. From his statement, it is evident that he truly believes that he is fulfilling God’s work. It is very similar to the genocide of the Jewish People under the leadership of Adolf Hitler. This is indicative of the perpetual cruelty of mankind that cause historical persecution like this to repeat itself. To summarize, there are several incidents in The Kite Runner that demonstrate the oppression of the Hazaras by the Pashtuns; it is evident through their spiteful treatment of the Shi’a Hazara Muslims, the distinction between social classes, and the mass slaughter carried out by the Taliban. All in all, it goes to show the deeply rooted malice the Pashtuns bear towards the Hazaras. The rift between these two tribes is not one that can easily be
Show More

Related Documents: Racial Tension In The Kite Runner

Discrimination In The Kite Runner

There are innumerable ethnic communities who have been victimized for centuries and continue to be exploited. The oppressed group is devalued, tormented and deprived of privileges by the megalomaniac responsible for tyrannizing. Globally, individuals are often unaware of the minorities who are central causalities of persecution in their own country. The Hazara’s and the Rohingya Muslims are two out of the many oppressed ethnic proletariat groups today whom are victims of maltreatment through ethnic…

Words 935 - Pages 4

Gp Essay Mainpoints

GP NOTES 2010 (ESSAY) Content Page 1. Media a. New vs. Traditional b. New: narcissistic? c. Government Censorship d. Profit-driven Media e. Advertising f. Private life of public figures g. Celebrity as a role model h. Blame media for our problems i. Power + Responsibility of Media j. Media ethics k. New Media and Democracy 2. Science/Tech a. Science and Ethics b. Government and scientist role in science c. Rely too much on technology? d. Nuclear technology…

Words 24667 - Pages 99