Amir and Hassan:
The most profound contrast relevant in the Kite Runner would be that of Amir and Hassan. Although they are of the same blood and raised practically under the same roof the differences could not be greater. Amir endured a life of luxury, he was privileged enough to receive a thorough education and belonged to the most prestigious and respected clan in Kabul (Pashtuns). Hassan grew up less fortunate. He did not enjoy a true education, and was unable to read or write. He was bound to always serving Amir and Baba with his own father Ali. Hassan belonged to a clan oppressed by the Pashtuns (the Hazaras); he was born with imperfections such as cleft lip and his family disgraced by his mother who fled when he was young. Hassan’s father was constantly bullied by the neighbourhood children and provided little material goods for his son. There were also personality differences; Amir was constantly troubled, eager to impress others and seek love and acceptance from his father. Hassan enjoyed life and hoped for nothing more than what he already possessed. To sum up the differences between Amir and Hassan; Amir was a troubled individual who grew up privileged and elite, and Hassan was content as well as satisfied with his own life. He did not yearn for much even though he grew up oppressed, bound to labour, and belonging to the lowest status.
America and Afghanistan:
Although
broad, recognizing juxtaposition between America and Afghanistan is quite
simple. America throughout the story is perceived as the place where one could
become lost, lost in the relative freedom from judgement and superficial
responsibilities. Amir was no longer bound to cultural judgements and moral
values he once had to uphold in Afghanistan. He lived in comfort without fear
for his life, and did not strive so much to impress others as he once did.
America was also a place to forget, dilute the painful memories that plagued
his thoughts and drove him to madness, even depression. Amir was given
opportunity in America, and a setting to initiate new opportunities for
himself. On the contrary, Afghanistan was quite the opposite. In Afghanistan
Amir was always prone to judgement; he could not escape the gossip and his true
ideas and perceptions, even past to some extent from being ridiculed. The
constant fear of shame among Afghans was strong, and drove them to create false
images of themselves, and false perceptions. Oppression was common,
pre-conceived thoughts were made of a person depending on what religion or clan
they belonged to. Violence occurred frequently, people were always under threat
from ruling body that retained ultimate power over the populace. And
opportunity was scarce due to constant instability. If an individual was to
create a diagram of the differences America and Afghanistan would be on the
opposite side of the spectrum. Afghanistan was a place to pay dearly for your mistakes;
America was a place to escape from the mistakes of the past.
Loyalty and Betrayal:
One of the big juxtapositions within The Kite Runner is loyalty and betrayal between Amir and Hassan. Hassan has always been loyal to Amir ever since our knowledge of Hassan, one instance is when Amir asked Hassan if he would “Eat dirt if [Amir] told [Hassan] to” (pg. 57) and Hassan responded “If you asked, I would” (pg. 58). Another occasion when Hassan was being loyal to Amir is when he got raped by Assef so that he can keep the blue kite (he was supposed to get for Amir). This comes to show how loyal Hassan is, the fact that he would eat dirt if Amir asked him to or get raped to bring a kite back; this makes you question what would Amir do? On that account, Amir did not show loyalty to Hassan rather he betrayed him. When Hassan was being raped, Amir could of jumped in at any moment to try and stop what the were doing but he didn't. Amir ran away in the end betraying his true friend although he didn't even consider him a friend. Hassan would have done everything in his power to save Amir; unfortunately Amir didn't have the balls or courage to do so.
