Why Is The Kite Runner Considered A Classic

Though The Kite Runner has not had as much time to age into being called a “classic” like To Kill a Mockingbird or The Great Gatsby, I argue that yes this book should be brought to classic status. Time be damned! Classics are novels that have received acclaim from the critics as well as the readers, as well as well known. Classics dive into raw and sometimes taboo topics and the author uses a unique style of writing. Khaled Hosseini’s novel The Kite Runner should be brought to classic status, literally speaking, because the novel addresses taboo themes and topics, relatability, and style of the writing. I argue that without a doubt that those qualities in the novel bring it up to classic status. Race, religion, sexuality, gender roles, rape,
and sex in general are all taboos we as americans face and regard as inappropriate to talk about. When these certain topics are addressed in the new or other media outlets, we are quick to join side on which side of the argument we fall. This novel gives a truthful and unabridged side to rape, extramarital sex, and gender roles in general. An event that impacts young Amir’s life that haunts him as he grows, is of course Hassan’s rape. Assef uses rape as a move of power not desire, because he wants to prove to Hassan exactly how useless he thinks he is. “‘I’m letting you keep the kite, Hazara. I’ll let you keep it so it will always remind you of what i'm about to do.’” (Hosseini.75). Assef has previously established himself as a masochist and a sociopath, he uses the rape as a tool of controlling Hassan, and expressing all the evil and hate he has towards the Hazara people all on Hassan. In afghanistan, marriages are arranged, and it is not unlikely for the men to be more educated than the women. Women’s role are to raise the children and do household chores. General Taheri suppresses his wife Jamila Taheri, because all her duties are, are to run the house etc. The general isn't necessarily a bad guy, that is just how he was raised and all he knows about being a husband to his wife. “Even if he did silence the song in her” (Hosseini, 187). Amir is making a connection to Jamila’s past as a well known singer with a unknown voice, but once she married the general, “her song was silenced”. Extramarital sex, or affairs, in most religions around the world are regarded as sins of the worst caliber. An affair plays a large part in the falling action of the plot, because it comes to light that Baba had an affair with Sanaubar, Ali’s wife, which lead to the conception and birth of Hasan. Seeing as Hassan is the illegitimate son of Baba, and half brother to Amir, when Amir learns this news he is thoroughly shook. “‘You bastards,” I muttered. Stood up. “You goddamned bastards!” I screamed. “All of you, you bunch of lying goddamned bastards!”’ (Hosseini, 222). After Aamir learned news that destroyed everything he once knew about Baba, Hassan, and Ali, Amir needs to take the news of his father’s affair which lead to love child, and make what his father did wrong, right. He redeems himself by saving his nephew, Sohrab, and raising him with Soraya.
The struggles that the protagonist of the story, Amir, faces are relatable to modern day America.
Most of my peers and fellow americans all face the same issues Amir does. Amir has a severe case of daddy issues, by which I mean he’s constantly seeking the approval of his father, which he never receives. “Sometimes I sat there for an hour, sometimes two, listening to their laughter, their chatter.” (Hosseini, 5). This heartbreaking neglect by Baba takes a toll on Amir, he’s constantly being pushed away by his father, and for what reason he doesn't know. This leads to Amir’s strive to make Baba proud of him, which he never seems to do until he is grown, which is a vicious cycle for young Amir. Every young and developing child who has a “sibling” fears being overshadowed or not being the favorite child in the household. Growing up Amir and Hassan were as close as brothers (and we soon find out they actually are half brothers) sharing numerous aspects and milestone of their young lives together. This leads to Amir becoming jealous of Hassan and how seemingly easy it is for him to earn Baba’s approval, leading to Amir in turn to become resentful to Hassan. “there was something fascinating – albeit in a sick way – about teasing Hassan. Kind of like when we used to play insect torture. Except now, he was the ant and I was holding the magnifying glass.” (Hosseini, 54). The feeling of superiority that Amir feels over Hassan because he is educated and literate, and Hassan is not, is a sick form of making up for the resentment he has towards Hassan because Baba is nicer to him. Religion in the middle east is most oftenly celebrated in the form of Islam, and those who do practice the teachings of Islam are devout to the word of the Qur'an. Though the ideals and morals of Baba are a new and interesting take on how religion is celebrated in Amir’s household growing up, since it so strongly contrasts other views on the religion. “‘Now, no matter what the mullah teaches, there is
only one sin, only one. And that is theft. Every other sin is a variation of theft. Do you understand that?"’ (Hosseini, 17). This takes on religion and sin by a afgani man in the 1970s is a very interesting and progressive take on the religion of islam, and that progressivism and modernism relates to modern day and how people are taking religion into their “own hands”.
Classic novels and stories are all unique and they all differ from each other. They all offer something different and to the literary field. The unique styles are what set each novel apart and leave the impact on the reader. Hosseini’s style of writing, and by style I mean word structure, plot, point of view of the character, makes The Kite Runner and very rich and educational read. The rich and engaging word structure in the novel is enticing and vividly descriptive. In one of the very first paragraphs of the very first chapter, how Hosseini described him being young with Hassan in the tree is such a beautiful description. “I can still see Hassan up on that tree, sunlight flickering throughout the leaves on his almost perfectly round face, a face like a chinese doll chiseled from hardwood: his flat, broad nose and slanting, narrow eyes like bamboo leaves, eyes that looked, depending on the light, gold, green, even sapphire.” (Hosseini, 3). Amir’s memory of his youth with Hassan is, to me, beautiful and easily imaginable. As I have previously stated, the various aspect of the plot which incorporate society's taboos are very powerful moment in the story. The moment that is most powerful and inquisitive to the plot is the scene of Hassan’s rape by Assef. “He positioned himself behind Hassan. Hassan didn't struggle. Didn’t even whimper” (Hosseini, 75). This moment is so much more than the loss of innocence of the golden lamb that is Hassan, but is a metaphor for the divide between the social classes in Kabul, and also the beginning of the downward slope in Amir’s life in which he loses his “brother”. Amir’s point of view and narration of the story is very informative and good at portraying his emotions and feelings in that moment. “I read him poems and stories, sometimes riddles – though I stopped reading those when I saw he was far better at solving them than I was.” (Hosseini, 28). The pure envy and superiority that Amir feels is clear and pristine, as well as his many other emotions throughout the novel.
Classics in literature impact society with their message and themes. They become classics are powerful enough to impact people in the hustle and bustle in a modernized America. People still read Jane Eyre and Little Women because of the underlying messages and themes and the timelessness of the novels. Classics should not reach the classification of “classic” only on the basis that they have been released for an excess amount of time, but on the message and overall composition of the story, which The Kite Runner has a an excess of. Why The Kite Runner is important and is a classic is because it didn't hold back about addressing what needed to be addressed. The concept of rape and the point of view and narration of a young afghani boy, on life in Afghanistan during the russian occupation and then into the boy’s adult life with taliban rule was exactly the right kind of eye opener for westerners. The Kite Runner is a classic for many reasons, one main one is the resonating messages and themes of rape, gender roles, social classes, and family, these impactful themes resonate equally or even more so than any other regarded classic novel.