What assumptions are made about America in Kite Runner?

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Question:

Khaled Hosseini's book invokes a lot of ideas of america!.!.!. what are some that stand out to you!?Www@QuestionHome@Com

Best Answer - Chosen by Asker:

The narrator talks alot about Baba's reaction to incidents that happen to him, e!.g!. the foodstamps!. There's a bit in the book which says "Baba loved the *idea* of America!.!.!.it was America that gave him an ulcer"

I think America was just a middle point between the growing up there and the going back!. It's like a safe haven!. Amir graduates there, they settle there, they go to those Afghan flea markets to meet other refugees like themselves!.!.!.his books get published there, and he meets Soraya there!. So, there's a lot of appreciation for the country!.

There isn't no much about America specifically, but moreso contrast between Afghanistan and America!. There's loads of quotes you can use, some in chapter 11, Baba's thoughts!. Baba doesn't share Amir's thoughts for America, perhaps being older is not as adaptable as Amir in a new country!.

Off the top of my head late at night, hope this helps!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

A friend once argued vehemently that Hosseini has portrayed America as the liberal answer to an orthodox and conservative Afghanistan!. He even said Hosseini is just another lover of America from the south-east Asian region who is bound to show it as a better place!. I don’t agree with him entirely though things seem to point that way!.

I don’t think that Hosseini is exactly pitting the two countries against each other!. He shows the pre-Russian invasion Afghanistan as a happy, self-sufficient place!. The two kids read Arabic folktales, not exactly Marvel comics!. Besides, whites are not really a major part of the book (except the Russian invaders)!. Most of the characters are Afghan!. And the only prominent (half) white in the book, Assef, is the most evil character in the book, whether he is American or not!.

What Hosseini is doing is contrasting the ruin that Afghanistan becomes after the Russians and the Taliban with America!. To put it in other words, he is simply using our popular imagination of what is conservative to the point of fanaticism and what is liberal and free!. Given that they all settle happily in America in the end!. But Afghanistan is Baba had been strong and happy!. It is also where Amir finds his release!.
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