Religiontends to be followed by many citizens but may be interpreted differentlyamongst many people in societies. TheKite Runner, written by KhaledHosseini, illustrates how individuals may hurt others with their own personalchoices and beliefs. The book portrayed how the characters were divided intotwo major sects in Afghanistan, the Hazaras and Pashtuns. The culture ofAfghanistan classified the nation into two groups which described the society’sway of living. The distinguishing factor of the two major castes is that Pashtun’srespect and pride are valued.

Their status in Afghanistan is highly recognized.However, Hazaras are regarded as people from a lower-class society who aretreated with hate and are unaccepted for their standard way of living. Althoughthe two sects follow the same religion and beliefs, one’s action may result inchaos due to their individual opinions and class of society. The Kite Runner byKhaled Hosseini illustrates injustice often stems from personal choice, not necessarilyfrom institutions.         The KiteRunner illustrates how Baba’s relationship with Amir is different when comparedto Hassan. Amir and Hassan are both considered to be a part of diverse groups,the Hazaras and Pashtuns. The book depicted how Baba seen more potential inHassan as a successful individual than his own son, Amir. Amir’s abilities toprove his father wrong had failed multiple times in the story.

Baba’s thoughts reflectand alters his beliefs being expressed in the story when comparing Amir andHassan.”Self-Defence has nothing to do with themeanness. You know what always happens when the neighborhood boys tease him?Hassan steps in and fends them off. I’ve seen it with my own boys. And whenthey come home, I say to him, ‘How did Hassan get that scrape on his face?” Andhe says, “He fell down.’ I’m telling you, Rahim, there is something missing inthat boy Amir. (Chapter 3, page 18)I mean that. He needs someonewho.

..understands him, because God knows I don’t. But something about Amirtroubles me in a way that I can’t express. It’s like…

“I could see himsearching, reaching for the right words. He lowered his voice, but I heard himanyway.” (Chapter 3, page 18)        Thisquote clearly expresses how the relationship of Baba is differentiated betweenHassan and Amir. Baba sees more potential in Hassan than his own son Amirbecause of the desire to approach certain tasks in a resolved manner.

In thefollowing context, Amir is eavesdropping Baba who is having a conversation withRahim Khan. “Amir troubles me in a way that I can’t express” shows how Babafeels very concerned with Amir and worried about whether he will succeed as an individualafterwards. This internally effects Amir because he believes he has no valueand brings his self-confidence down due to his father, Baba, being displeasedwith Amir’s lack of quality being a successful individual like Hassan. However,Baba praises Hassan as quoted, “Hassan steps in and fends them off.” This quoteexpresses how Hassan has the abilities which Amir lacks in himself.  Throughout the text, Amir was given manychances by Baba to redeem himself to prove his father wrong that Amir will succeedeventually in different scenarios. However, Amir and failed to do so countlesstimes to prove Baba wrong.

Religion isn’t at fault here because Baba believedin Amir many times (personal choices) however despite being in the same group(Pashtuns) Baba recognizes the potential Hassan has over his own son Amir.  Injustice is being expressed towards Amirbecause it comes from Baba’s personal choices and beliefs, not from institutions.      The book depicted how Amir’s decisions hadcaused a lot of chaos and violence which negatively harmed Hassan. Assef severelyrapes Hassan for refusing to give up the kite when Amir successfully wins theoverall Kite tournament, to which Amir was disturbed and shocked. Assef, aPashtun, believes in chaos and violence. In the following context, he severelyrapes Hassan and mocks Amir for interacting with another Hazara. Although Amirand Assef are Pashtuns, Assef mocks Amir because Assef realizes the importanceof being a Pashtun meant that Hazaras must be treated with hate.

Amir decidesnot to do anything because his personal choices prevented him from intervening.Amir was ambivalent when it came to making an appropriate decision which wasrunning away from the situation or interfering in the fight. This demonstrated thatAmir’s decision to intervene or not came from personal choices, not from institutions.Due to this, Hassan was forced to fight alone against Assef and the boys. “But before you sacrifice yourselffor him, think about this: Would he do the same for you? Have you ever wonderedwhy he never includes you in games when he has guests? Why he only plays with youwhen no one else is around? I’ll tell you why, Hazara. Because to him, you’re nothingbut an ugly pet. Something he can play with when he’s bored, something he cankick when he’s angry.

” (Chapter 7, 106)”I’ve changed my mind,” Assef said.”I’m letting you keep the kite, Hazara. I’ll let you keep it so it will always remindyou of what I’m about to do.” Then he charged.

Hassan hurled the rock. It struckAssef in the forehead. Assef yelped as he flung himself at Hassan, knocking himto the ground. Wali and Kamal followed. I bit on my fist. Shut my eyes.” (Chapter7, 107)         Amir’s personal choices led him to dowhat’s right, according to him (which was entirely wrong because he let Hassanget raped severely). By not intervening, Amir felt guilt for not standing upfor Hassan despite Hassan had stood up for Amir several times based on the philosophythat they are best friends.

This incident illustrates how Amir’s choices had affectedHassan severely. In the following quote, “beforeyou sacrifice yourself for him,” shows how Hassan was practically an “ugly pet” whohad no value in society. Amir didn’t stand up for Hassan because he knew Hassanand Amir stood no chance against Assef and his boys. As Assef was getting readyto harm Hassan, Amir decided not to intervene which resulted in Hassan gettingraped sternly. Amir’s guilt and betrayal were very significant in the book asit portrayed how injustice affected Hassan due to his status in the country(Hazara). Religion had not played a role in Amir’s decision because Amir felt hewould stand no chance alongside Hassan against Assef and his boys. DespiteHassan and Amir being in diverse groups, the decision Amir made was because ofpersonal choices, not because of diversity in the two major sects, Hazaras andPashtuns.

Furthermore, the personal choice of an individual comes from his/her deliberation.       The choice of an individual can severely affecta person’s standard way of living.  Amir’sbetrayal and guilt is expressed as he decides to take Hassan’s birthday money toput under Hassan’s mattress. Amir’s intention was to avoid Hassan by allowingHassan to be accused of stealing money and Amir’s watch.

This will provoke Hassanand Ali to leave the house for falsely being accused of stealing. Baba always tellsAmir that “there is no other act more wretched than stealing.” Amir believes ifAli and Hassan are caught stealing, they’d have to face the consequences. Amir’spersonal decision illustrates the injustice that affects the other individualswho are superior to Pashtuns. ” THEY’DBOTH BEEN CRYING{Ali and Hassan}; I could tell from their red, puffed up eyes. Theystood before Baba, hand in hand, and I wondered how and when I’d become capableof causing this kind of pain.” (Chapter9, page 111)”Baba came right out and asked. “Didyou steal that money? Did you steal Amir’s watch, Hassan?” Hassan’s replywas a single word, delivered in a thin, raspy voice: “Yes.

” (Chapter 9,page 111)”I flinched, like I’d been slapped.My heart sank and I almost blurted out the truth. Then I understood: This was Hassan’sfinal sacrifice for me. If he’d said no, Baba would have believed him because weall knew Hassan never lied.” (Chapter 9, page 111)       Thedecision Amir had made not only affected him, but the lives of two Hazaras (Aliand Hassan).

Amir sensed how “capable” he is “causing this kind of pain.” Itdepicts how his own decisions are ones that he regrets and possibly will regretfor the rest of his life. When Hassan falsely acknowledges that he had stolenthe money and Amir’s watch, Amir felt as if he had been “slapped” and his”heart sank.” This depicted the injustice he created with one decisionaffecting others around him. The decision Hassan made was also significant inthe book because it was a “final sacrifice” for Amir. In the text, Amir recognizeshis guilt 20 years later when he has to rescue Hassan’s orphaned son. Religionwas insignificant in this case because Amir believed his guilt and betrayal wasdifficult to live with.

Despite Hassan having Amir’s back through thick andthin, Amir’s personal choices tells him that he must take action to get Hassanout of his sights. This wasn’t because of Hassan’s status in Afghanistan, butit was because of Amir’s choices which led him to do the wrong thing thataffected Hassan and Ali. Both Amir and Hassan had given justice and injusticebased on their personal decisions which also refers to how injustice andjustice is based on personal choices, not from institutions.          Furthermore, the Kite Runner illustrates thesignificant ways which religion can divide a nation into two major sects. The Kite Runner writtenby Khaled Hosseini, portrayed many examples how injustice and justice can emergefrom personal choices and beliefs. The Kite Runner depicted how therelationship of Baba is differentiated between Amir and Hassan.

The rape ofHassan by Assef and the betrayal from Amir all came from personal choices, notfrom institutions.