Race and Religion in the Kite Runner

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Religion and nationality proves to be a main theme throughout Kite Runner, and although it may not be the focus in the novel it is always present in Amir’s life. These two factors play a large part in our modern day world in how people are viewed by others. Simply being from a place can cause a group of people to automatically dislike someone, even though they may be a great person. Discriminating or disliking people due to their heritage, religion, or appearance is certainly not a new trend unfortunately. There have been wars based on territorial, racial, and religious issues since the beginning of time. In the Kite Runner we see Baba, Amir, Hassan, and Ali all experience being outcasts due to their religion and nationality, however they are sometimes guilty of ostracizing others due to those same traits. In the first few chapters of the novel, we see Baba (Amir’s father) depicted as a strong willed and strict man who is respected by many, however his moving to America changes that. Although he may not appear as the kindest father, he earns and demands the respect of those around him, including his son. He is a wealthy man, and uses much of the power that he has amassed to help others, whether it be creating an orphanage (despite people telling him it would fail) and saving a woman from being raped by risking his own life. However, when Baba and Amir leave Afghanistan and arrive in California it’s a big change. Baba is forced to take up a job as a gas station clerk, which is a vastly different payroll then what he was used to in Afghanistan. He comes to expect people to treat him the way they did in Afghanistan, however he learns that that is no longer the case in America. When Mr. Nyugen, the owner of a small grocery store that Amir and Baba frequent, asks for Baba’s ID Baba immediately becomes enraged. He exclaims “Almost two years we’ve bought his damn

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