I am nearing the end of one of the most amazing books in my mental library- The Kite Runner. Taking place in Afghanistan at a more peaceful era- though right before war struck- you are literally transported to another world. As I was immersed in this book, I could smell the fresh air, feel the soft grass beneath my feet, and see the shimmering crystal blue lakes of the Afghanistan countryside- before it was ravaged by war.
The Kite Runner foced me to pursue many questions, one of them being "how should family be defined?"
In the book, twelve year old Amir lives with his father in one of the most beautiful homes in his village. Right down the road, his family's "hazara (lowest class of Afghanistan)" servants live in a mud shack. The servants are Ali, and his eleven year old son Hassan.
Hassan and Amir also happen to be best friends.
Amir's and Hassan's families- both of which contain only father and son- are unusually close for servants and masters. Amir's father, Baba, is always as nice as he can be to Hassan espeially, even more so than Amir. But this unusual relationship is the key that unlocks the end of Amir and Hassan's frienship.
At some point in the book, Amir asks Baba "have you ever considered getting new servants?" Baba becomes furous, asking Amir how he dares ask such a question, and tells him that Hassan and Ali are "family."
Besides the fact that later in the book a blood relationship between Hassan and Amir is revealed, they are family to eachother from the beginning. Baba has taught Amir to treat your servants as your family. Amir does not always do this, but he takes away a lot from it.
A few days ago, I made the mistake of adressing family as who you share blood with. I realized my incorrect thought a moment later. What I should have said was that blood defines your physical family. True family should be based on who you love and care about.
And besides that, Amir and Hassan happen to run their kites very similarly.
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gabrielle, not only is this really well-written, but you bring up a really thought provoking topic! living far away from my real family (though i adore them!) has forced me to create a family of friends here in new york. in "the kite runner" (which i also really loved) it becomes so complex as social standing, the past, etc. all get in the way. nice work.
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