Power In The Kite Runner

Power, a word synonymous with strength, vim and vigor; throughout history the use of power for good has often been praised, characters in fiction such as superman use power responsibly for the benefit of others. However, what happens when someone abuses this power? In Khaled Hosseini’s The kite runner the abuse of power is evident as it affects Amir and Hassan by destroying relationships and lives throughout the book. The tyrannical use of power can be seen in multiple entities in the book the main abusers of power are Assef, a powerful leader in the Taliban who abuses his power by murdering and raping those who have no way to defend themselves. Amir who uses his power to gain respect from his father and frame his friend ruining his life in
Assef is the child of a rich pilot and is a pashtun, this gives him the upperhand in the financially and ethnically divided world of Afghanistan. Assef has power because of this upper hand and is often seen with his group of friends Wali and Kama,l he is also physically bigger than Amir and Hassan. The first time we see Assef truly abuse his power is during the confrontation between Assef and his gang and Amir and Hassan. Brandishing brass knuckles Assef whose “reputation for savagery” is commented on by Amir as being “well-earned “ approaches the two boys and threatens them. Assef uses his physical power, social status and financial status to threaten the boys saying “ It's too late for hitler… but not for us” as well as “i'll ask the president to do what the king didnt … to rid Afghanistan of all the dirty Kasseef Hazaras”. The boys then must defend themselves against asseef something which they wouldn't have had to do should he not abuse his power. Secondly the most symbolic use of power can be seen during what is arguably the inciting incident of the book. This takes place when Amir and Hassan have won the kite flying tournament and Hassan goes to run after the kite. Hassan is then brutally raped by assef. This rape is symbolic as assef is using his power to ruin the lives of both Hassan and Amir. this rape led to the separation