Hassan And Amir's Friendship In 'The Kite Runner'

2. Hassan & Amir’s friendship is the focal point of the novel and the fundamental force which allows major plot events to unravel. Long before they knew of their friendship, Hassan and Amir are close as brothers, and are virtually inseparable. Even though they are close there are external factors that undeniably effect the structure of their relationship and their respective feelings towards each other. The biggest external driver being that they are a part of two opposite social classes. Hassan is the son of Ali and they are servant to Amir and Baba. Hassan and his father are Hazaras. Eventually Amir learns from one of his mother’s old history textbooks, that Hazaras tried to rise against the Pashtuns in the nineteenth century, but the Pashtuns persecuted and oppressed the Hazaras. Hazaras stand as the lower working class of Afghanistan whom are in poverty. Pashtuns are the upper crust of Afghan society who live in big houses and own success businesses. Other factors distinguish Hazaras from Pashtuns such as their distinctive Hazara Mongoloid features and their dedication to being Shia Muslims instead of Sunni Muslims. Hassan, like many other Hazaras, is seen and treated as lower class citizens in Afghan society. People constantly reinforce this ideal. Such as Assef, a bigoted and privileged green-eyed bully. He sums up the societal view of Hazaras best by saying the Hassan and Amir in a confrontation,” Afghanistan is the land of Pashtuns. It always has been always will be. We are the true Afghans. The pure Afghans, not this Flat-nose
In the beginning of the novel, Hassan and Amir are depicted as playing and reading under the pomegranate tree. Other than Baba’s house, this is a monumental place where many of fond memories of Hassan and Amir’s friendship lie. This is where Amir read to Hassan great stories including “Rostam and