The Kite Runner - Kahled Hosseini

Thèmes abordés

The Kite Runner, Kahled Hosseini, fall of Afghanistan's monarchy, soviet invasion, Taliban regime, Islamic law

Résumé du document

The Kite Runner is a historical fiction and drama which was written by the Afghan-American author Khaled Hosseini and was published in 2003. The story is fictional but is based on true events as the fall of Afghanistan's monarchy through the soviet invasion in 1979, the exodus of one third of the country's pre-war population to Pakistan, Iran and the United States and the rise of the Taliban regime from 1996 to 2001 which led power in Afghanistan and enforced the Islamic law.

Extraits

[...] Shortly after, Ali and Hassan move away. In March 1981, Baba and Amir have to leave Kabul, which is starting to be invaded by the Soviets and make it to Pakistan. Two years later, Baba and Amir live in Fremont, California. While Baba works at a gas station, Amir finishes high school and goes to college. Both work at a market on Saturdays, where they meet a friend of Baba's who also used to live in Kabul and his daughter in whom Amir falls in love with. [...]

[...] However, we can see Kahled Hosseini's irony in this extract. Baba's way of thinking is totally contradictory to his actions ; we learn later in the book that Baba had an affair with his best friend's wife and that Hassan is Baba's son, something Baba lied about for his entire life. He stole Amir's right to the truth when he lied by omission. This concept of theft as the ultimate crime is the foundation of Baba's expectations of others, though he does not feel compelled to follow his own laws when it is inconvenient. [...]

[...] "There is no act more wretched than stealing, Amir," Baba said. man who takes what's not his to take, be it a life or a loaf of naan . I spit on such a man. And if I ever cross paths with him, God help him. Do you understand?" I found the idea of Baba clobbering a thief both exhilarating and terribly frightening. "Yes, Baba." "If there's a God out there, then I would hope he has more important things to attend to than my drinking scotch or eating pork. [...]

[...] "They do nothing but thumb their prayer beads and recite a book written in a tongue they don't even understand." He took a sip. "God help us all if Afghanistan ever falls into their hands." "But Mullah Fatiullah Khan seems nice," I managed between bursts of tittering. "So did Genghis Khan," Baba said. "But enough about that. You asked about sin and I want to tell you. Are you listening?" I said, pressing my lips together. But a chortle escaped through my nose and made a snorting sound. That got me giggling again. [...]

[...] The excerpt I chose can be found in chapter Amir tells his father about what his Islam teacher taught him, seing his father poring scotch in his glass, that Islam considered drinking a terrible sin : "Do you want to know what your father thinks about sin?" "Yes." "Then I'll tell you," Baba said, "but first understand this and understand it now, Amir: You'll never learn anything of value from those bearded idiots." "You mean Mullah Fatiullah Khan?" Baba gestured with his glass. The ice clinked. [...]