The Complexities Of Hassan's Character: Reflecting Afghanistan's Social Landscape In "The Kite Runner

In the novel 'The Kite Runner', Hassan is a representation of the oppressed Hazara minority in Afghanistan. Hassan is the son of Ali, a servant to Amir's father, Baba. Hassan and his father are part of the Hazara ethnic group, who are discriminated against and not allowed an education. They are considered a servant class. Hassan is illiterate and seen as inferior in Afghan society. He is the victim of racism, rape, oppression, and murder. Hassan's character is used to highlight the deep divisions in Afghan society and how these divisions affect the lives of those within it.

Hassan's class and ethnicity

Hassan is a Hazara, an ethnic minority in Afghanistan. The Hazara people are descended from the Moguls and have more Asian than Arabic features. They are Shi'a Muslims, in contrast to the Pashtun, who are Sunni. The Hazara are the poorest and weakest ethnic group in Afghanistan and are persecuted, marginalised, and discriminated against by the Pashtun. They are considered inferior and are often referred to as "mice-eating, flat-nosed, load-carrying donkeys".

Hassan's father, Ali, was adopted by Baba's family when they were children, after Ali's parents were killed. However, as a Hazara, Ali was still considered inferior and became the family's servant. Ali and Hassan are not allowed an education and are seen as a servant class. Hassan is illiterate and is considered inferior in Afghan society. He is the victim of racism, rape, oppression, and murder.

Hassan's mother, Sanaubar, is also Hazara. She abandons Hassan and Ali, but later returns to act as a grandmother figure to Hassan's son, Sohrab, before her death.

Hassan's treatment by Pashtuns

Hassan, the son of Ali, is a Hazara boy who is the servant of Amir, the protagonist of the novel. Hassan is described as having a cleft lip, which is a symbol of his poor status in Afghan society. Hassan is an illiterate kite runner, naturally intelligent, and Amir's loyal best friend. However, due to his social class and ethnic background, he is seen as inferior in Afghan society.

Hassan is subjected to racism, rape, oppression, and murder throughout his life. He is discriminated against and not allowed to go to school with Amir because he is a Hazara. Hassan is also the victim of a racially-motivated attack and rape by Assef, an older boy with a sadistic taste for violence. Assef is half Pashtun and half German and believes that Pashtuns are superior to Hazaras.

In the novel, Amir's father, Baba, is Pashtun, while Hassan and his father, Ali, are Hazaras. Despite Baba's friendship with Ali, there is still a power dynamic between them due to their ethnic backgrounds. Hassan and Ali are considered inferior and are treated as servants by Baba and Amir. After Hassan is raped, Amir's guilt and internalised racism lead him to drive Hassan and Ali away by framing Hassan for theft.

Hassan's relationship with Amir

Amir and Hassan's relationship is at the heart of Khaled Hosseini's novel, 'The Kite Runner'. The two boys, who are the same age, grow up together as close friends, despite their different social classes and ethnicities. Amir is Pashtun, which is the majority Sunni ethnic group in Afghanistan, while Hassan is a Hazara, a minority Shiite ethnic group that is persecuted and marginalised in the country.

Amir is wealthy and privileged, growing up with a sense of entitlement. He is jealous of the attention his father, Baba, gives to Hassan, and this jealousy, along with his internalised racism, causes him to mistreat Hassan. Despite this, Hassan is loyal to Amir, always forgiving him and defending him from bullies.

The boys' friendship is torn apart when Amir betrays Hassan following a kite-flying competition. Amir's cowardice and desire for his father's approval lead him to abandon Hassan when he is being attacked and raped by Assef and his friends. This is a pivotal moment in the novel, and the source of Amir's guilt and his need for redemption, which drives the narrative.

Hassan is eventually murdered by the Taliban, and Amir is only able to redeem himself by rescuing Hassan's son, Sohrab, from an orphanage in Kabul.

Hassan's role in the novel's theme of guilt and redemption

Hassan's rape at the hands of Assef is the central betrayal in the novel, and it is this act of cowardice and selfishness on Amir's part that drives the plot forward and sets in motion Amir's journey towards redemption. Amir's guilt over his failure to intervene during the rape is compounded by his earlier treatment of Hassan, whom he teases and ultimately betrays by framing him for theft in an attempt to drive him and his father, Ali, out of the house. This is because Hassan, as a Hazara, occupies a lower social status than Amir, a Pashtun, and so Amir's actions are also influenced by implicit racism.

Hassan's character, therefore, serves as a foil to Amir's, embodying the qualities that Amir lacks and must strive towards in his quest for redemption. Hassan is selfless, loyal, and brave, as demonstrated by his willingness to stand up for Amir, even when it is difficult or dangerous to do so. This is in stark contrast to Amir, who is initially selfish, jealous, and cowardly. It is only through his journey towards redemption that Amir begins to emulate Hassan's goodness, ultimately risking his life to rescue Hassan's son, Sohrab, from the Taliban.

Hassan's character also serves as a mirror to Amir's, as they are revealed to be half-brothers, both sons of Baba. This revelation adds further depth to their relationship and underscores the theme of guilt and redemption, as Amir is forced to confront the ways in which he has wronged Hassan and seek to make amends.

Ultimately, Hassan's role in the novel's theme of guilt and redemption is to serve as the catalyst for Amir's journey towards redemption and as a foil to Amir's character, embodying the qualities that Amir must strive towards in order to find forgiveness and peace.

Hassan's death at the hands of the Taliban

Hassan, a member of the Hazara ethnic minority, is discriminated against and denied access to education due to his social class. Despite being Amir's loyal friend and half-brother, their relationship is strained by societal expectations and internalised racism. Amir's guilt over his inaction during Hassan's assault by Assef, a Pashtun boy, ultimately leads to Hassan and his father, Ali, leaving.

Years later, after the rise of the Taliban, Hassan and his family return to Baba's house in Kabul at the request of Rahim Khan. However, their presence in a nice house is questioned by the Taliban, who do not believe a Hazara family should live there. When confronted, Hassan refuses to leave, and the Taliban execute him and his wife, Farzana, in the street. Their son, Sohrab, is sent to an orphanage.

Hassan's death is a tragic consequence of the entrenched prejudice against Hazaras and the political strife in Afghanistan. It is a turning point in Amir's journey, as he seeks to redeem himself by rescuing Sohrab from the orphanage. This act becomes a means for Amir to make amends and find closure, as he is unable to apologise to Hassan for his past actions.

Hassan's murder highlights the brutal reality of life under Taliban rule and the devastating impact of ethnic divisions in Afghanistan. It brings together themes of racial prejudice, political turmoil, and the quest for redemption in the novel.

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