What has Changed? And How Has it Changed? A Study of Courage, Cowardice, and Resistance as Dynamics of Change in Khalid Hossein's The Kite Runner

Abstract

Abstract

Hosseini's The Kite Runner 2003, is argued to be a narrative account of man and change. The novel whether directly or indirectly relates and depicts the different stages of transition and change in the life of man, Amir and Hassan in this case. The novel deals with change as a key concept, and addresses its variant forms; be them social, political, ethnic, religious, or psychological. In addition, The Kite Runner, through its major characters, traces the different manifestations of change in relation to the different age phases of its characters. It shows how man changes in different respects, how he forms perceptions and impressions of people and reality, and how man reacts to himself, the world around him, and to people of different backgrounds. Through Amir and Hassan, the novel presents its readers with vivid portrayals of change from the time of their childhood, through their adulthood, and all the way up to their manhood. The current research paper, however, will confine itself to studying certain manifestations or qualities of change. It is therefore intended to explore certain dynamics of change in the life of Amir and Hassan, such as changing cowardice to courage to generate change. It thus will investigate some dynamics of change, more particularly certain character qualities that would bring about change; the courage to change, and the fear of change and thus resisting it. In view of that, the paper will shed light on what has changed, how it has changed, what has not, and how change has happened.