Cultural Context with evidence of research

The Taliban

(Afghan mujahidin or holy warriors)

Cultural Context

In The Kite Runner, Khaled Husseini has tried to give the reader a clear idea of what life looks like in Afghanistan. So the author has devoted a part of his book to the discussion of the rule of a group of mujahidin (or holy warriors) known as the Taliban.

The Taliban ruled Afghanistan from 1996 to 2001, before they were ousted by the US in the wake of 9/11 terrorist attacks in New York. In fact, this religious group appeared in Afghanistan as early as the Soviet occupation of Afghanistan in 1979 and has lived on ever since that time.

During the rule of the Taliban, Sharia Law was used and a very strict 
interpretation of it was made. As a result, Afghans have started seeing the spread of public executions and floggings in soccer stadiums. In addition, the tradition of kite-flying has been banned, for it is declared non-Islamic. There was also a strict ban on TV watching, listening to music, and the use of the Internet. What’s more, as far as the treatment of people is concerned, the Taliban strictly required men to wear beards, whereas girls were not allowed to go to school and women were prohibited from working outside their homes or leaving home without being accompanied by a male relative. This treatment is shocking to many.

Looking at another facet of their life, the Taliban have also been involved in illegal activities like smuggling, opium cultivation, and corruption.

In the Kite Runner, readers have various examples of how the Talibs governed Afghanistan. For instance, we have seen how Amir, acting on the advice of Farid, had to wear a fake beard when he was going to Kabul to search for Hassan’s son, Sohrab. He did that in order to avoid being punished by the Taliban. There is also that scene where a man and a woman are stoned to death in a stadium. Furthermore, Assef’s taking of girls and boys from the orphanage directed by Zaman is a good example of the corruption of the Taliban. I believe that what we know about the Taliban gives us a better understanding of the events in Khaled Hosseini’s The Kite Runner. 

SOURCES

1. http://www.infoplease.com/spot/taliban.html
2. http://awwproject.org/2011/07/i-saw-taliban-near-kabul/
3. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-south-asia-11451718
4. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Taliban
5. The Kite Runner, Khaled Hosseini

Loyalty Vs Betrayal

2. Loyalty: 2 examples with support

Example 1: Throughout the novel, Hassan remained the same: loyal to his friend Amir, whom we will learn later in the novel that he is Amir’s illegitimate brother. Although he was mocked by Amir for his ignorance and was played tricks on, his love of and loyalty to Amir remained unshaken. He even defended Amir against his enemies.

Example 2: When Amir put the wad of money and his watch under the mattress of Hassan in order to make Baba believe Amir's story that Hassan stole money and the watch, Hassan admitted that he did that for fear that Baba would criticise or punish Amir. That was a great sacrifice that Hassan made for Amir. 

3. Betrayal: 2 examples with support

Example 1: When Hassan ran the kite of Amir, he found himself in a difficult situation that led to his rape by Assef and his two friends. Hassan's fate could have been avoided if Amir had done something to save him, but he did not. Amir chose not to intervene when he saw the rape scene because he saw in Hassan a person who snatches Baba's attention and love from him. 

Example 2: Another example of betrayal in The Kite Runner is examplified in the illegitimate relationship between Baba and Ali's wife, Sanaubar. By establishing that relationship with Sanaubar, Baba betrays Ali, just as he has betrayed his illegitimate son Hassan. 

Introduction

In the Kite Runner, Khaled Hosseini, gives his readers a clear idea of life in Afghanistan in the past, before the Soviet occupation, and the present, with the Taliban still influencing events in the country. The characters and the themes the author has used have made the realities of Afghans' life clear to the mind of the reader. Furthermore, history and culture are deeply felt in the novel and these make it very appealing.

The events in the novel take place first in Afghanistan, and then in  Pakistan, and finally in the US, when Amir and Baba left their own country. 

In the Kite Runner, Khaled Husseini deals with various, important themes depicting Afghan life. These include loyalty, betrayal, redemption, love and tension between fathers and sons, and the persistence of the past.