my research project

The Kite Runner

            Khlad Hosseini’s The Kite Runner is a beautiful story that depicts important aspects of not only literature, but of life as well. This story is narrated by Amir, the main character, who gives insight to the reader about the culture in the Middle East during the “last days of the Afghanistan monarchy,” as Lisa Winkler puts it.  The story of Amir and his childhood best friend is a tale of friendship, culture, strength and courage; it exemplifies the drastic transition of an Afghan boy who learns how to cope with the struggles of his adolescence as he faces the challenges of adulthood. 

Lisa Winkler is a writer and a critic; she explains in an article/hand guide the historical events that the Middle East, Afghanistan specifically, was going through.  This type of historical background is essential to any reader who happens to be a non-native to Afghanistan.  As Californians we are introduced to the history of our state in the 4^th grade, and as Americans we are taught the history of our country. This national history is taught throughout the entirety of our public educational career; however, the history of Afghanistan is not thoroughly emphasized.  Winkler offers an additional insight to the historical aspect of the story, as well as additional information about the author, Khaled Hosseini.  Although The Kite Runner is not an autobiographical story, there are compelling similarities between Amir and Khaled Hosseini.  For instance, in the story Amir and his father are forced to leave Afghanistan because of the violence the country is undergoing as a nation and eventually came to the United States; this is similar to Hosseini’s scenario who came to the U.S. in 1980.  Both Hosseini and his narrator, Amir, are very well educated and have very strong and loving relationships with their wives.  It is because of these similarities that, I believe, Hosseini identifies with Amir in the hardships of growing up in Afghanistan, the hardships of identifying with the Afghanistan culture while becoming an “American” and while gaining a sense of success. 

Frederic Lyman Wells explains in his article, A Statistical Study of Literary Merit, that literary merit can be determined “according to their importance to the fulfillment of the highest function of literature” (27).   These “fulfillments” of literature are also what Arthur N. Applebee refers to as basically what is being taught across the nation. Applebee argues in his article, Stability and Change in the High School Canon that for the most part the English Curriculum is “Eurocentric” or in other words focuses narrowly on white males and excludes minorities such as women and ethnic studies.  The Kite Runner offers a huge emphasis on ethnic studies and the Afghanistan culture.  Even though the story doesn’t contain many female characters, it still contains historical background, an insight to Afghanistan culture and allows readers to engage in the life of a Middle Eastern immigrant.  Hosseini’s novel also deals with the concepts of trust and friendship; each of which he takes for granted and later learns to regain as an adult.  Even though there is vulgar language and graphic scenes that include homosexual intercourse, The Kite Runner offers moral ideals such as honesty, integrity and courage. 

The Kite Runner might not yet be considered canon but I think that it should at least be recommended to other AP literature students because not only is it an engaging story, it is also very well written.  There are patterns and examples of stylistic writing that Khaled Hosseini uses repeatedly throughout the story.  For example, Hosseini uses a metaphor to create an illusionistic style of a new change coming.  He writes, “"Because when spring comes it melts the snow one flake at a time, and maybe I just witnessed the first flake melting" (Pg. 372).  This quote is on the very last page of the book and it is referring Sohrab smiling for the first time.  At this point in the story Amir has literally physically fought for Sohrab and eventually brings Sohrab home.  He and his wife Soraya take care of Sohrab like a son, who ironically is Hassan’s (his late best friend) son.  There is a cyclical ending in the story where Amir finds humbling strength in Sohrab.  It is because of Hosseini’s writing style and thoughtful metaphors that The Kite Runner should be read by all student writers. 

Another reason why The Kite Runner should be read by or suggested to AP literature students is because it broadens a reader’s knowledge on “foreign” literature. Timothy Aubry, a professor of English at Baruch College believes that reading foreign fiction such as The Kite Runner helps Americans understand history “Through its evocation of everyday life in Afghanistan and its frequent use of Farsi vocabulary, The Kite Runner foregrounds its foreignness” (Aubry, pg 26). This type of “foreignness” displays how culturally different pieces of literature, such as The Kite Runner, can be to Americans. 

It is possible that the lack of knowledge that some Americans have for different cultures can basically paralyze their outlook on literature. I think after reading The Kite Runner students would be able to grasp an understanding of foreign literature and realize that although cultures may differ in beliefs, they as human beings still endure the same type of emotions and struggles that Americans do.  These emotions can include love, redemption, honor, guilt, etc. and are shared by all human beings.  Not only does foreign literature, specifically The Kite Runner, help students become historically well rounded, but it is extremely well written as it uses analogies, metaphors, illusions and archetypes to engage the reader with the text.