Character Analysis: The Kite Runner
September 20
“We must remember that one determined person can make a significant difference, and that a small group of determined people can change the course of history.” Sonia Johnson One determined person can make a significant difference. A small group of determined people can change the course of history. This is a very radical idea that Sonia Johnson brings up. Many people would disagree with both of these statements, yet she presents it as fact. Almost as if she knows it to be true. A truth one must never forget. This quote is demonstrated flawlessly by the events of the novel The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini and with the idea behind the poem First They Came For by Martin Niemöller. Without a doubt there will be numerous …show more content…
obstacles to overcome on the path to success; however an indivual or a small group of people both have the capability to cause change.
Individual responsibility is each person deciding whether or not to act in any circumstance. This is a major theme in both The Kite Runner and in First They Came For as the narrator in both must make crucial decisions on whether or not to risk their lives to stand up for others. In First They Came For, the narrator doesn’t stand up for anyone, which in turn left no one to stand up for him. This is a cowardly way to behave and The Kite Runner is the opposite. “... [Amir] realized something: [Amir] would not leave Afghanistan without finding Sohrab.”P268. Amir needed to avenge his and Baba’s past wrongdoings, and by doing so he would end the guilt that had plagued him ever since he witnessed Hassan’s rape. Amir was determined to find Sohrab and would stop at nothing to find him. “There are those in my circle who believe that abandoning watan when it needs you the most is the same as treason. [Assef] could have [Amir] arrested for treason, have [Amir] shot for it even. Does that frighten [Amir]? [Amir is] only here for [Sohrab]” P291. Amir risks his life to save Sohrabs, and Amir brings Sohrab back to live with him and Soraya in San Francisco. Amir gave Sohrab a chance for a new life, and a new start. Amir is one man, who made a world of difference to a child he was determined to save.
Abraham Lincoln (February 12, 1809 – April 15, 1865) was the 16th president of the United States who served as president from 1861 until his assassination in 1865. He disagreed with the slavery of people that was going on south of the Mason-Dixon line. Abraham Lincoln led the Americans through one of their greatest and most important internal struggles with the goal to end slavery- the American Civil War. He was one man, but he managed to have the passage of the Thirteenth Amendment added to the United States Constitution which fully abolished slavery. Martin Luther King, Jr (January 15, 1929 – April 4, 1968) was an active and prominent leader in the African American civil rights movement. Martin Luther King Jr is remembered for his advancement of civil rights in the United States. He followed the teachings of Gandhi and only used nonviolent methods to advance changes. Martin Luther King Jr led the boycott of the Mongomery Bus in 1955, with the plan to oppose the city and states policies dealing with racial segregation on public transit. He continued his leadership and led the March on Washington in 1963 where he made his most famous “I have a Dream” speech. Martin Luther King was one man, yet he was able to effectively end racial discrimination in the United States towards African Americans. One determined person can make a change and both Abraham Lincoln and Martin Luther King Jr, are perfect examples.
The National Socialism party, or the Nazi party, was a German political party that began its ascent to power in 1925 and ultimately formed the government in 1933 until 1945. The Nazi party took the world by surprise by seeking world domination to create the “master Aryan race”. Nazis systematically began killing all races they believed to be inferior (Jews, gypsies homosexuals etc), and started what is now referred to as World War II. This party began with a small group of determined people, who ultimately altered the course of history and by doing so, killed millions of innocent civilians. The Taliban is an extremist political movement that governed Afghanistan for many years as discussed in the The Kite Runner.
They are a religious based government and adhere to a literal interpretation of the Koran. Prior to the rise of the Taliban in Afghanistan, Kabul is described as very peaceful. Children could walk the streets alone, and people seemed content. Kabul was carefree, with its kite flying tournaments every month and with Amir reading Hassan stories daily, under the shade of the pomegranate tree. When Amir returns to Kabul during the Taliban occupation, Kabul is described as being in turmoil. “Rubble and beggars. Everywhere I looked, that was what I saw... Now, though, they squatted at every street corner, dressed in shredded burlap rags...the beggars were mostly children now, thin and grim-faced, some no older than five or six” P257. Public stoning were the halftime show at sports games, and public shootings became amusement for the beard patrol. “They drive around looking. Looking and hoping that someone will provoke them...on those days when no one offends, well, there is always random violence” P260. Collective Responsibility is the responsibility, of every member of a group without regard to an individual member's participation in decision making. If a problem arises in a country, as a group, the people should voice their dissent before the problem alters the course of history. With the example of the Nazis or with the Taliban, the …show more content…
citizens were passive and cowardly which, in both cases, caused huge negative side effects to innocent people. Amir, similar to Martin Luther King Jr, and Abraham Lincoln was courageous in the way he stood up for Sohrab.
The narrator of First They Came For was not courageous and left each group of people to their respective fate. He didn’t stand up for anyone, which resulted in no one being left to support him when he needed it most. This poem is a metaphor for real life. One who stands up for others will in turn have people stand up for them. We must remember that one person can make a
difference.
--------------------------------------------
[ 1 ]. http://thinkexist.com/quotation/we_must_remember_that_one_determined_person_can/220203.html
[ 2 ]. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abraham_Lincoln
[ 3 ]. http://nobelprize.org/nobel_prizes/peace/laureates/1964/king-bio.html
[ 4 ]. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Martin_Luther_King,_Jr.
[ 5 ]. http://www.worldwar2database.com/html/nazis.htm
[ 6 ]. http://www.businessdictionary.com/definition/collective-responsibility.html#ixzz10BNzM5JC
“We must remember that one determined person can make a significant difference, and that a small group of determined people can change the course of history.” Sonia Johnson One determined person can make a significant difference. A small group of determined people can change the course of history. This is a very radical idea that Sonia Johnson brings up. Many people would disagree with both of these statements, yet she presents it as fact. Almost as if she knows it to be true. A truth one must never forget. This quote is demonstrated flawlessly by the events of the novel The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini and with the idea behind the poem First They Came For by Martin Niemöller. Without a doubt there will be numerous …show more content…
obstacles to overcome on the path to success; however an indivual or a small group of people both have the capability to cause change.
Individual responsibility is each person deciding whether or not to act in any circumstance. This is a major theme in both The Kite Runner and in First They Came For as the narrator in both must make crucial decisions on whether or not to risk their lives to stand up for others. In First They Came For, the narrator doesn’t stand up for anyone, which in turn left no one to stand up for him. This is a cowardly way to behave and The Kite Runner is the opposite. “... [Amir] realized something: [Amir] would not leave Afghanistan without finding Sohrab.”P268. Amir needed to avenge his and Baba’s past wrongdoings, and by doing so he would end the guilt that had plagued him ever since he witnessed Hassan’s rape. Amir was determined to find Sohrab and would stop at nothing to find him. “There are those in my circle who believe that abandoning watan when it needs you the most is the same as treason. [Assef] could have [Amir] arrested for treason, have [Amir] shot for it even. Does that frighten [Amir]? [Amir is] only here for [Sohrab]” P291. Amir risks his life to save Sohrabs, and Amir brings Sohrab back to live with him and Soraya in San Francisco. Amir gave Sohrab a chance for a new life, and a new start. Amir is one man, who made a world of difference to a child he was determined to save.
Abraham Lincoln (February 12, 1809 – April 15, 1865) was the 16th president of the United States who served as president from 1861 until his assassination in 1865. He disagreed with the slavery of people that was going on south of the Mason-Dixon line. Abraham Lincoln led the Americans through one of their greatest and most important internal struggles with the goal to end slavery- the American Civil War. He was one man, but he managed to have the passage of the Thirteenth Amendment added to the United States Constitution which fully abolished slavery. Martin Luther King, Jr (January 15, 1929 – April 4, 1968) was an active and prominent leader in the African American civil rights movement. Martin Luther King Jr is remembered for his advancement of civil rights in the United States. He followed the teachings of Gandhi and only used nonviolent methods to advance changes. Martin Luther King Jr led the boycott of the Mongomery Bus in 1955, with the plan to oppose the city and states policies dealing with racial segregation on public transit. He continued his leadership and led the March on Washington in 1963 where he made his most famous “I have a Dream” speech. Martin Luther King was one man, yet he was able to effectively end racial discrimination in the United States towards African Americans. One determined person can make a change and both Abraham Lincoln and Martin Luther King Jr, are perfect examples.
The National Socialism party, or the Nazi party, was a German political party that began its ascent to power in 1925 and ultimately formed the government in 1933 until 1945. The Nazi party took the world by surprise by seeking world domination to create the “master Aryan race”. Nazis systematically began killing all races they believed to be inferior (Jews, gypsies homosexuals etc), and started what is now referred to as World War II. This party began with a small group of determined people, who ultimately altered the course of history and by doing so, killed millions of innocent civilians. The Taliban is an extremist political movement that governed Afghanistan for many years as discussed in the The Kite Runner.
They are a religious based government and adhere to a literal interpretation of the Koran. Prior to the rise of the Taliban in Afghanistan, Kabul is described as very peaceful. Children could walk the streets alone, and people seemed content. Kabul was carefree, with its kite flying tournaments every month and with Amir reading Hassan stories daily, under the shade of the pomegranate tree. When Amir returns to Kabul during the Taliban occupation, Kabul is described as being in turmoil. “Rubble and beggars. Everywhere I looked, that was what I saw... Now, though, they squatted at every street corner, dressed in shredded burlap rags...the beggars were mostly children now, thin and grim-faced, some no older than five or six” P257. Public stoning were the halftime show at sports games, and public shootings became amusement for the beard patrol. “They drive around looking. Looking and hoping that someone will provoke them...on those days when no one offends, well, there is always random violence” P260. Collective Responsibility is the responsibility, of every member of a group without regard to an individual member's participation in decision making. If a problem arises in a country, as a group, the people should voice their dissent before the problem alters the course of history. With the example of the Nazis or with the Taliban, the …show more content…
citizens were passive and cowardly which, in both cases, caused huge negative side effects to innocent people. Amir, similar to Martin Luther King Jr, and Abraham Lincoln was courageous in the way he stood up for Sohrab.
The narrator of First They Came For was not courageous and left each group of people to their respective fate. He didn’t stand up for anyone, which resulted in no one being left to support him when he needed it most. This poem is a metaphor for real life. One who stands up for others will in turn have people stand up for them. We must remember that one person can make a
difference.
--------------------------------------------
[ 1 ]. http://thinkexist.com/quotation/we_must_remember_that_one_determined_person_can/220203.html
[ 2 ]. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abraham_Lincoln
[ 3 ]. http://nobelprize.org/nobel_prizes/peace/laureates/1964/king-bio.html
[ 4 ]. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Martin_Luther_King,_Jr.
[ 5 ]. http://www.worldwar2database.com/html/nazis.htm
[ 6 ]. http://www.businessdictionary.com/definition/collective-responsibility.html#ixzz10BNzM5JC