Assignment3: Amir and Hassan

After reading chapters 5, 6 and 7 of THE KITE RUNNER, I consider the relationship between Amir and Hassan as much more like master and servant than brothers and friends, from the latter part of the novel, via Rahim Khan, we can learn that they are indeed brothers, just born from different mothers, though .In addition, they are breast by the same woman and grows up together.

As for me, friends are based on mutual respect, one should respect another, no matter what classes they are in. However, from the way that Amir treats Hassan, it is undeniable that they are master and servant. Amir likes to play tricks on Hassan, only to show off his knowledge from textbook in school, because Hassan has never gone to a school. On the other hand, Hassan can read Amir well and his amazing born talent is running for the kite properly, which make Amir envious and worries that his excellence will claim the love from Baba, making Baba and Amir a deeper gap. Besides, he likes to talk to Hassan in a order voice. When they won the kite tournament, he wanted Hassan to run the kite for him. “Hassan! Come back with it!” he said. They are not equal at all. Amir gets accustomed to Hassan’s loyalty and service, without any appreciation. Hassan serves Amir every morning for his breakfast. He could prepare Amir the drink, even blows to cool it. Flagitiously, he takes advantage of Hassan’s loyalty to relieve his shame and anxiety in return. When Hassan was teased and punched by Assef and another two boys, which resulted from going against Assef to save Amir last time and not giving away to hand in the blue kite which is the winning prize for Amir this time, Amir only stood behind and saw what happened. He even thought that nothing was free in this world and maybe Hassan was the price to win Baba. How can a child so mean and cruel?! Moreover, Assef and Amir himself both realized that Amir never viewed Hassan as friends. Because Amir only plays with Hassan when there is no guest around. For Amir, Hassan is only a tool to kill time. In terms of the background of that time, the temporal people would not recognize that Hazara can be their master’ friends, just like the merchant who gave Amir Hassan’s direction, who said “He is? Lucky Hazara, having such a concerned master. His father should get on his knees, sweep the dust at your feet with his eyelashes.” The prejudice on serious class system also prohibits the pure friendship.

As a result, Amir and Hassan relate more like servant/master.