The_Kite_Runner-_How_Does_Hosseini_Create_the_Character_of_Hassan_

Write about the ways in which two of the writers you have studied create their characters Firstly, Hosseini uses imagery of Hassan’s physical form in The Kite Runner, to portray the diversity of culture and religion in Afghanistan. In this light the form of the novel could be interpreted as one that explores the social conditions in Afghanistan. Hosseini describes how Hassan is deformed by being ‘hare lipped’ and having a ‘cleft lip…where the Chinese doll maker’s instrument may have slipped.’ The metaphor of Hosseini suggesting that Hassan was hand sculptured by a ‘Chinese doll maker’ makes the reader see Hassan as being unrealistic and too perfect to be a member of this corrupt society. Hosseini may have given Hassan the defect, so that he has a disadvantage in Afghanistan, through the inability to progress in society and reach his final goal of happiness. However, a more realistic argument considers that the defect, which makes Hassan abnormal could represent a wider social defect that Hazaras don’t belong in Afghanistan and the hare lip may be symbolic of the continuous persecution. It seems more feasible to believe that the hare lip represents the persecution of the Hazaras as Hassan’s father also has an abnormality of a ‘twisted atrophied right leg’ which causes him to be devalued in society, this clearly reinforces the novel as being a social protest about the bad treatment of Hazaras in Afghanistan. Another way in which Hosseini creates the character of Hassan in The Kite Runner is through portraying him as being an idyllic character as a symbol of Afghanistan. Hassan seems to be a loyal and artificial childhood friend when Amir informs us that he ‘never told on me’ and always ‘asked if something was bothering me.’ Hassan is portrayed as being an ideal friend for doing anything for Amir and appears to be concerned about Amir’s well being. Hassan’s loyalty and purity is established through the narrative gaps prior to the rape scene. In the opening, Amir recalls that he has Hassan’s voice in his head saying ‘for you, a thousand times over.’ The hyperbole of Hassan being willing to do anything for ‘a thousand times’ exaggerates that Hassan will do absolutely anything for Amir and is perfect, this could also support that the form of the novel is about friendships, as the hyperbole seems very childlike and reflects that Hassan is extremely naïve and innocent and needs protection like Afghanistan which needs soldiers to defend the country from the Taliban ruling. Hassan’s beauty of not judging Amir and not seeing class divisions in society could be symbolic of Afghanistan and the perfect country that it maybe was and could be if the invading forces hadn’t have raped and violated the country. Furthermore, Hosseini presents the pure character of Hassan by maintaining his voice through the motif of the twin kites at the beginning and the end of the novel. In this light the form of the novel may be interpreted as one that explores the importance of close childhood friendships to overcome difficulties arising in life. In the opening Hosseini uses figurative language to refer to the kites motion such as the kites ‘soaring in the sky’ and they ‘danced high.’ The use of the dynamic verb ‘soaring’ could suggest that Hassan is free and happy when he is with Amir, which highlights that the novel is about friendships. However, the verb may also create a peaceful/dainty metaphorical image of America to juxtapose with the gun shot cries heard in Afghanistan, which could establish the form of the novel being a social and political protest to oppose to the Taliban invading Afghanistan. In spite of this limited argument a more realistic interpretation about the novel being about friendships can be reinforced by the kites which ‘danced.’ The use of this personification reinforces the freedom that Hassan feels he has when he is with Amir and is symbolic of Amir’s and Hassan’s innocent and naïve relationship. As the positive image of the kites is repeated at the end of the novel when the ‘kites were flying high’, the circular structure creates cohesion, which supports that the form is about friendships and empathises that Amir and Hassan’s relationship will last forever and is always omnipresent throughout the whole novel.