Religion & Ethnicity

Amir’s religion 3 RELIGION & ETHNICITY

• Like his father, not a devout Muslim

• Only times he prays is moment of extreme fear

• However his background form key parts of the narrative

Amir & Baba as a Afghan 3 RELIGION & ETHNICITY

• Although Amir’s is mostly a journey of redemption it is closely tied with what it means to be an Afghan

• Part of a problem with A & B relationship - is Baba idea of what a man should be like

• Baba considers himself as a Afghan always → why he is brave to soldier, and upset at American store

Amir in American society 4 RELIGION & ETHNICITY

• Suggestion of Amir not fitting in as a Afghan is reinforced by ease of fitting into American society

• Shown by passages of his success as a writer in university

• Amir tells Farid he feels like a tourist

• However Farid’s respect coincides Amir finally feeling more comfortable

Tension between Pashtun & Hazara RELIGION & ETHNICITY

• Forms a thread throughout the novel

• bullying of Ali & Hassan because of ethnicity

• the befriending of Hazaras by Baba & Amir puts them on the wrong side of ethnic divide

• Amir isn’t confident enough to act on Baba’s liberal beliefs until end → When he tells father in law to call Sohrab by name rather than Ethnic group

Hosseini Views on Ethnic Divide RELIGION & ETHNICITY

• The suggestion Hosseini is making is the lack of respect for different people that underlies all the problem in Afghanistan