Power In The Kite Runner

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"Power is of two kinds. One is obtained by the fear of punishment and the other by acts of love" is a powerful quote by Mahatma Gandhi. In the Kite Runner, power is shown to be predicated upon authority and control. The theme of power among the personal, social and religious groups, show the main power struggle of superiority. The power struggle of superiority is evidenced in the Kite Runner, through Amir, the Taliban and Assef. The Taliban is a construction of power that is the more superior over anything else. The Taliban are shown to hold power over others because they possess it and others do not. “The only people in Kabul who get to eat lamb now are the Taliban.” (Hosseini 247). Taliban members would get special privileges…show more content…
He has a sociopathic nature even as a boy and admires Hitler for what he had done in eliminating the Jews. He wants to emulate the evil German by destroying all the Hazaras. As a young boy, Assef is able to display power in the social classification that places him, above someone like Hassan. His superiority over Hassan is what compels him to rape Hassan. "It's just a Hazara," Assef said. But Kamal kept looking away. "Fine," Assef snapped. "All I want you weaklings to do is hold him down. Can you manage that?" [.....] Assef knelt behind Hassan...(75) The rape is representative of how Assef has power that Hassan lacks. "You're part of the problem, Amir. If idiots like you and your father didn't take these people in we'd be rid of them by now. They'd just all rot in Hazarajat where they belong."(41) Amir to a certain extent is on the same social level as Assef but since he hangs out with Hassan,who is not in their level, he is treated as if he is a Hazara. "You should know something about me Hazara... I'm a very patient person. This doesn't end today believe me. This isn't the end for you either... someday, I'll make you face me, one on one."(43) This foreshadows the future event, when Amir and Assef fight to save Hassan's son. Assef's superiority issues are what drive Amir to stand up for himself at the end of Kite Runner, instead letting someone else fight…show more content…
One reason for this was because of the difference between them which was Hassan is a Hazara and Amir is a Pashtun. For this reason the Afghan society has classified Hassan as a lower human being and he, along with his father, were in servitude towards Amir and his family. Amir's lack of self-confidence throughout the novel hinders his ability to have a true friendship with Hassan. Amir ruins his chance for friendship between himself and Hassan because he is jealous of Hassan, and has bitter resentment towards him. Amir snapped at Hassan and told him to mind his own business, evidencing the hatred in Amir even though Hassan had just been raped. Hassan's great relationship with Baba, Amir's father, causes Amir to feel he must have superiority over Hassan. "He asked me to fetch Hassan too, but I lied and told him Hassan had the runs. I wanted Baba all to myself."(14). Since Hassan has Baba's love, Amir wants alone time to make a relationship with his father. "One time at Gharga Lake, Hassan and I were skimming stones and Hassan made his stone skip eight times. The most I managed was five. Baba was there, watching, and he patted Hassan on the back. Even put his arm around his shoulder." (15) This is one of many times when Amir was jealous. "If I changed my mind

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