- Stevens the butler in Kazuo Ishiguro's novel 'The Remains of the Day', is an example of an unreliable narrator.
- The presence of an unreliable narrator makes 'The Kite Runner' a postmodern text. Postmodernism attempts to unsettle the reader or examine the further meaning of the text.
- Another novel in which a key event in the narrator's childhood affects the rest of their life is 'Great Expectations', by Charles Dickens.
- Fights with bears are common in literature as a way of showing bravery, or cowardice. Compare Baba and Antigonus in Shakespeare's 'The Winter's Tale', who exits the stage 'pursued by a bear', and is then killed by it.
Saturday, 31 January 2015
The Kite Runner - AO
AO'S in 'The Kite Runner'
The Kite Runner - Betrayal and Redemption
The Kite Runner - Betrayal and Redemption
Amir tells his story as a way of redemption for the mistakes he made as a child.
Amir tells his story as a way of redemption for the mistakes he made as a child.
- Opens with sin endurance: "It's wrong what they say about the past, I've learned, about how you can bury it. Because the past claws its way out".
- "A way to be good again"
- Structure of retrospective narrator. If the novel was linear, we would not have hindsight.
- Once Amir finds out about Baba's sin, he feels as though his entire life has been a cycle of betrayal.
- At the Ghazi stadium when the Taliban announces that every person should have a punishment befitting his sin - when Amir tries to get back at Hassan by telling Hassan to throw pomegranates back at him, it seems as though he believes that in order to be forgiven fur hurting Hassan, Hassan must hurt him.
- When Assef almost kills Amir, he feels "healed" as though now, he has been redeemed.
- When Hassan and Ali leave Baba's house, Amir imagines "I'd chase the car [...] I'd pull Hassan out of the backseat and tell him I was sorry, so sorry" (page 94).
The Kite Runner - Morals
The Kite Runner - Morals - Chapter 18
- "How could I have been so blind?"
- " I wish I could fix my own life as easy"
- "Like father, like son"
- "how was I going to reconcile this new image of Baba"
- "Rahim Khan said I'd always been too hard on myself. But I'd wondered"
- "My brothers face"
- "But how could I pack up and go back home when my actions may have cast Hassan a chance at those very same things"
- "waiting".
Chapter 19: Amir's dream - Amir thinks he is responsible for Hassan's death - his subconscious is torturing him - reflects what he's been through.
The Kite Runner - Rahim Khan
The Kite Runner - Rahim Khan
"My friend Rahim Khan called from Pakistan [...] I knew it wasn't just Rahim Khan on the line. It was my past of unatoned sins". In this first passage (Chapter One), Rahim Khan is the first to be introduced in the novel, and his name is repeated twice. With his name also comes the most significant memory of his life and "past of unatoned sins". This suggests that in Amir's life, Rahim Khan is very central to his past - throughout the novel, Rahim Khan acts as another father figure to Amir.
"...but it's Rahim Khan's pinky my fingers are curled around".
"It was Rahim Khan, not Baba, who had told me that story. I was always learning things about Baba from other people" - this reinforces the dismantled relationship between Baba and Amir, and the idea that Amir has a stronger bond with Rahim than his father.
"-grateful that he's healthy, [...] Children aren't colouring books. You don't get to fill them with your favourite colours".
AO4 - context: The name Rahim means 'compassionate'.
"My friend Rahim Khan called from Pakistan [...] I knew it wasn't just Rahim Khan on the line. It was my past of unatoned sins". In this first passage (Chapter One), Rahim Khan is the first to be introduced in the novel, and his name is repeated twice. With his name also comes the most significant memory of his life and "past of unatoned sins". This suggests that in Amir's life, Rahim Khan is very central to his past - throughout the novel, Rahim Khan acts as another father figure to Amir.
"...but it's Rahim Khan's pinky my fingers are curled around".
"It was Rahim Khan, not Baba, who had told me that story. I was always learning things about Baba from other people" - this reinforces the dismantled relationship between Baba and Amir, and the idea that Amir has a stronger bond with Rahim than his father.
"-grateful that he's healthy, [...] Children aren't colouring books. You don't get to fill them with your favourite colours".
AO4 - context: The name Rahim means 'compassionate'.
The Kite Runner - Settings: America / Afghanistan
The Kite Runner - comparing settings: America and Afghanistan
America (page 167)
America (page 167)
- "a beautiful Sunday afternoon, the sun sparkled on the water where dozens of miniature boats sailed".
This description of America describes a calm, "beautiful Sunday afternoon", with the sun "sparkling on the water". Civilians are out and there is a sense of peace.
Use of long vowel sounds "breeze".
Afghanistan (page 170)
- "smoke-filled taxicab"
- "chain-smoking, sweaty"
- "drove nonchalantly and recklessly, averting collisions by the thinnest of margins, all without so much as a pause in the incessant stream of words spewing from his mouth"
All these build a sense of a loud, busy, bustling and restless environment.
Short lexical vocabulary.
The Kite Runner - Timeline
The Kite Runner timeline, italics refer to actual historical events
- 1915: Baba's grandfather married his 3rd wife and Baba's father was born.
- 1931: Picture of Baba's father with King Mohammed Nadir Shah. He reigned from 1929 to 1933.
- 1933: Baba is born
- King Nadir Shah is assassinated.
- Mohammed Sahir Shah takes throne.
- 1964: Amir's birth
- Sanuabar leaves
- 1973: King Mohammed Sahir Shah, away in Italy, is overthrown by his cousin Mohammed Daoud Khan, ending "the kings forty-year reign with a bloodless coup" (page 36).
- Daoud abolishes monarchy, establishes himself as President.
- 1974: Hassan's surgery
- 1975: Amir wins the kite contest.
- Hassan's rape
- 1976: Amir's 13th birthday party.
- Hassan and Ali leave
- 1979: Daoud is assassinated.
- 1980: U.S boycotts Olympic games in Moscow
- 1981: Russians invade.
- Baba and Amir leave Afghanistan.
- Amir and Baba are in Pakistan.
- 1982/3: Amir and Baba arrive in San Francisco
- 1983: Amir graduates from high school
- 1984: Amir and Baba begin selling at the flea market
- Amir meets Soraya
- Ali is killed by a landmine
- 1985/6: Amir and Soraya marry
- 1986: Rahim Khan goes to find Hassan
- Hassan returns to Baba's house in Afghanistan
- Baba dies
- 1988: Amir has his first novel accepted.
- 1989: Amir goes on book tour
- Amir and Soraya being trying to have a family
- Shorawi (Russians) withdraw from Afghanistan
- Fighting between factions
- Berlin Wall comes down
- Cold war ends
- Tiananmen Square
- 1990: Hassan's mother, Sanaubar, returns.
- Sohrab is born
- 1992-1996: Northern Alliance control of Kabul
- 1995: Sanaubar dies
- 1996: Taliban takes over
- 1998: Incident with Rahim Khan and Taliban at soccer game
- Taliban massacre of Hazaras in Mazar-i-Sharif
- 2000: Hassan and Farzana are killed.
- 2001: Amir gets a phone call from Rahim Khan asking him to come to Pakistan.
- Amir goes to Pakistan and Afghanistan.
- Amir returns home with Sohrab
- 2002: Amir and Sohrab fly the kite. Amir runs the kite for him.
The Kite Runner - Chapter 11
Chapter 11
- The importance of a new setting -
- Cultural contrast
- linguistic signifiers
- Baba's response
- What America means to Amir
Chapters 11-12:
- Flea market
- significance to the Afghan community
- Explore new characters
- plot Amir's behaviour towards and impression of General Taheri
- Amir's response towards Soraya (semantic field associated with love).
The importance of a new setting
- Baba and Amir: America and Afghanistan is a contrast - Baba is struggling to fit in, whereas Amir adopts the American ways.
- "For me, America was a place to bury my memories. For Baba, a place to mourn his" - connotations to death "bury" and "mourn" - shows strength because they don't go back.
- Seeing the value of a strong leader - hanging the photo on the wall (page 110) of Ronald Reagon.
- America is a relief, after everything that happened in Kabul, though it pains him to see his father struggling with their new life in America.
- America - an escape - The Land of Dreams and opportunities, though the theme that the past is inescapable is brought forward: "I wish Hassan were here with us".
Significance of the flea market
- The General and Baba become important again at the flea market.
- The linguistic language creates an atmosphere of Afghanistan, where in which General Taheri and Baba can again, like in Kabul, become powerful - this contrasts to Baba in the gas station.
The Kite Runner - Hassan
Hassan
'The Kite Runner' title, Hassan is arguably the most significant character on the novel. What Hassan represents to Amir and to other characters in the novel, are the crucial driving forced behind the actions of the characters. Hassan appears as a presence, looming over the narrative, rather than play a central character.
Chapter Two - Amir's description of Hassan:
"almost perfectly round face, a face like a Chinese doll, chiselled from hardwood".
"cleft lip [...] where the Chinese doll maker's instrument may have slipped, or perhaps he had simply grown tired and careless".
"flat, broad nose and slanting, narrow eyes"
"eyes that looked, depending on the light, gold, green, even sapphire".
"bamboo"
His physical description here suggests that Amir has spent a lot of time with Hassan, that he knows all of his features in such detail, suggesting that they were very close friends.
The description of a "Chinese doll" suggests he has feminine features. However, it also suggests that his face is perfectly crafted, but man-made and manufactured.
The relation of bamboo to Hassan's physical description also links to the kite making, suggesting that Hassan is a constant reminder of Kabul, especially with the significance of the kite flying.
We get further insight into his character, when Amir tell him to throw pomegranates at him, but refuses, showing that as a child, he is used to carrying burdens and a willingness to take what ever is forced upon him. This is similar to when Hassan and Amir converse about eating dirt, when Hassan says "would you ever ask me to do such a thing, Amir agha?" (page 48).
Throughout the novel, we only hear Hassan's voice directly, once, through the letter. Letters are commonly used to allow other characters to have a voice. Through the use of the letter, Hassan speaks directly, without the filter of Amir's perceptions. The letter opens and closes with religious invocations. Amir has mentioned Hassan's beliefs only slightly, but they are obviously a great importance to Hassan than Amir has put forward. The letter continues with a kind tone, "I pray that this letter finds you in good health", clearly suggesting that Hassan holds no grudge against Amir, and is not weighed down by those actions as Amir is. Hassan ends the letter by signing off as Amir's friend, showing that Hassan's love and loyalty have not waned over the years.
The key quote that summarises Hassan's attitudes and general kind nature and forgiveness towards the past is found very early in the novel: "for you, a thousand times over". Suggesting utter loyalty, devotion and pure emotion.
'The Kite Runner' title, Hassan is arguably the most significant character on the novel. What Hassan represents to Amir and to other characters in the novel, are the crucial driving forced behind the actions of the characters. Hassan appears as a presence, looming over the narrative, rather than play a central character.
Chapter Two - Amir's description of Hassan:
"almost perfectly round face, a face like a Chinese doll, chiselled from hardwood".
"cleft lip [...] where the Chinese doll maker's instrument may have slipped, or perhaps he had simply grown tired and careless".
"flat, broad nose and slanting, narrow eyes"
"eyes that looked, depending on the light, gold, green, even sapphire".
"bamboo"
His physical description here suggests that Amir has spent a lot of time with Hassan, that he knows all of his features in such detail, suggesting that they were very close friends.
The description of a "Chinese doll" suggests he has feminine features. However, it also suggests that his face is perfectly crafted, but man-made and manufactured.
The relation of bamboo to Hassan's physical description also links to the kite making, suggesting that Hassan is a constant reminder of Kabul, especially with the significance of the kite flying.
We get further insight into his character, when Amir tell him to throw pomegranates at him, but refuses, showing that as a child, he is used to carrying burdens and a willingness to take what ever is forced upon him. This is similar to when Hassan and Amir converse about eating dirt, when Hassan says "would you ever ask me to do such a thing, Amir agha?" (page 48).
Throughout the novel, we only hear Hassan's voice directly, once, through the letter. Letters are commonly used to allow other characters to have a voice. Through the use of the letter, Hassan speaks directly, without the filter of Amir's perceptions. The letter opens and closes with religious invocations. Amir has mentioned Hassan's beliefs only slightly, but they are obviously a great importance to Hassan than Amir has put forward. The letter continues with a kind tone, "I pray that this letter finds you in good health", clearly suggesting that Hassan holds no grudge against Amir, and is not weighed down by those actions as Amir is. Hassan ends the letter by signing off as Amir's friend, showing that Hassan's love and loyalty have not waned over the years.
The key quote that summarises Hassan's attitudes and general kind nature and forgiveness towards the past is found very early in the novel: "for you, a thousand times over". Suggesting utter loyalty, devotion and pure emotion.
The Kite Runner - Assef
Assef
- The first thing we find out about Assef is that he comes from a wealthy family, and that his mother is German (page 33, Chapter 5)
- There are frequent Nazi references, and the Aryan race - "blonde, blue-eyed", "Hitler. Now, there was a leader", leading to the belief that Assef has Nationalistic views and ideas, "we are the true Afghans, the pure Afghans [...] they dirty our blood". This contrasts to Baba's ideas and beliefs as he says "Hitler was crazy".
- This all gives us an impression of hum being a "sociopath", where, in fact, he's not just a bully, but has a more dangerous side to his character.
- His "well-earned reputation for savagery" is the first mention of his true cruelty. This reference of being a 'savage' is again mentioned, with his "savage sort of grin". This reference has connotations to being animalistic and ruthless.
- His "obeying friends" give a sense that his friends aren't actually his friends, and are scared of him, with connotations of pets and dogs, obeying their master.
The Kite Runner - Baba
Baba
Chapter 3:
Baba is first introduced to us through a story/rumour - almost like a legend. No one ever doubts any story about him, which shows the respect towards him from the community (the building of the orphanage - his kind nature). This way, he's portrayed to us an the hero and the bear to be the antagonist. However, Amir goes on to add "I can never tell Baba from the bear" this way, it's already reflective of their bad relationship, and that Amir cannot tell whether Baba is the hero or the villain.
Other descriptions of him portray him as a force of light, "sunflowers turning to the sun", everybody is drawn to him. He has the strength, power and the ability of the sun. Another impression from this quote is that the sun is one being, that enables life for those surrounding, as well as connoting a sense of warmth and happiness, suggesting that Baba gives life and warmth - contrasting to Amir's description of him, reinforcing their negative relationship.
"I will never forget Baba's valiant efforts to conceal the disgusted look on his face as he drove in silence".
This difference in description also reinforces the idea that Amir is an unreliable narrator.
Exposition: Baba being a narrative device in this coming-of-age novel (bildungsroman), so that we're able to see their relationship.
Baba could also be seen as a religious figure - "drop the devil to his knees begging for mercy".
Uses figurative language: - "black glare"
- "towering"
- "force of nature"
- "drop the devil to his knees" (this is said by a different character than Amir to reinforce this general opinion).
These show the negative descriptions of Baba, however, there are many contrasts of negative and positive: - "Baba hired the same nursing woman who had fed me to nurse Hassan" (chapter 2)
The narrative techniques used for his descriptions are:
- the rule of three
- alliteration (b's and d's)
- "ing" verb endings - adjectives
A key quote for Baba is Amir's introduction to him, "Lore has it my father once wrestled a black bear in Baluchistan with his bare hands" (page 11).
Chapter 3:
Baba is first introduced to us through a story/rumour - almost like a legend. No one ever doubts any story about him, which shows the respect towards him from the community (the building of the orphanage - his kind nature). This way, he's portrayed to us an the hero and the bear to be the antagonist. However, Amir goes on to add "I can never tell Baba from the bear" this way, it's already reflective of their bad relationship, and that Amir cannot tell whether Baba is the hero or the villain.
Other descriptions of him portray him as a force of light, "sunflowers turning to the sun", everybody is drawn to him. He has the strength, power and the ability of the sun. Another impression from this quote is that the sun is one being, that enables life for those surrounding, as well as connoting a sense of warmth and happiness, suggesting that Baba gives life and warmth - contrasting to Amir's description of him, reinforcing their negative relationship.
"I will never forget Baba's valiant efforts to conceal the disgusted look on his face as he drove in silence".
This difference in description also reinforces the idea that Amir is an unreliable narrator.
Exposition: Baba being a narrative device in this coming-of-age novel (bildungsroman), so that we're able to see their relationship.
Baba could also be seen as a religious figure - "drop the devil to his knees begging for mercy".
Uses figurative language: - "black glare"
- "towering"
- "force of nature"
- "drop the devil to his knees" (this is said by a different character than Amir to reinforce this general opinion).
These show the negative descriptions of Baba, however, there are many contrasts of negative and positive: - "Baba hired the same nursing woman who had fed me to nurse Hassan" (chapter 2)
The narrative techniques used for his descriptions are:
- the rule of three
- alliteration (b's and d's)
- "ing" verb endings - adjectives
A key quote for Baba is Amir's introduction to him, "Lore has it my father once wrestled a black bear in Baluchistan with his bare hands" (page 11).
The Kite Runner - Amir
The Kite Runner - Amir
Amir can been seen as an unreliable narrator because of his biased and skewed personal feelings and memories. The novel should therefore be read with this in mind. An unreliable narrator is common in postmodern writing.
"I never thought of Hassan and me as friends" - suggesting he felt distanced from Hassan. However, throughout the novel, we can see the closeness of their friendship.
Friendship
Hassan is a major influence in Amir's life - he is the second to be named in the beginning of the novel. As well as this, for example, on Amir's wedding day, he wonders is Hassan is married and "whose face he had seen in the mirror under the veil".
Identity
"I became what I am today at the age of twelve [...] in the winter of 1975". - Trapped in guilt, anger and sorrow. However, this 'identity'/what happened to Hassan, was a positive force in his life - the desire to write, trying to redeem himself, saving Sohrab.
Baba
Baba had a significant impact upon Amir's life. His decision to revisit Kabul and save Sohrab can be seen as an attempt to reconcile his feelings for his father. Amir finds a way to become the man Baba always wanted him to be. This is further demonstrated when he returns to the USA and becomes involved in building a hospital in Afghanistan, just as his father had built the orphanage.
Amir can been seen as an unreliable narrator because of his biased and skewed personal feelings and memories. The novel should therefore be read with this in mind. An unreliable narrator is common in postmodern writing.
"I never thought of Hassan and me as friends" - suggesting he felt distanced from Hassan. However, throughout the novel, we can see the closeness of their friendship.
Friendship
Hassan is a major influence in Amir's life - he is the second to be named in the beginning of the novel. As well as this, for example, on Amir's wedding day, he wonders is Hassan is married and "whose face he had seen in the mirror under the veil".
Identity
"I became what I am today at the age of twelve [...] in the winter of 1975". - Trapped in guilt, anger and sorrow. However, this 'identity'/what happened to Hassan, was a positive force in his life - the desire to write, trying to redeem himself, saving Sohrab.
Baba
Baba had a significant impact upon Amir's life. His decision to revisit Kabul and save Sohrab can be seen as an attempt to reconcile his feelings for his father. Amir finds a way to become the man Baba always wanted him to be. This is further demonstrated when he returns to the USA and becomes involved in building a hospital in Afghanistan, just as his father had built the orphanage.
The Kite Runner - Chapter One
Chapter One
This short opening introduces the underlying theme of the past and looking back. From this, we understand that the story is being told from its end point with hindsight. "December 2001" takes us back to the phone call, and then even further back to 1975. The novel is told through a series of extended flashbacks.
"I became what I am today at the age of twelve, on a frigid, overcast day in the winter of 1975" - Present tense, but looking back.
Tells us that an important, significant event happened that changed who he is.
Barthe's Engima Code.
The repetition of "I" in this first paragraph - first person narrative - unreliable narrator - first person perspective = biased.
"Because the past claws its way out", invokes an image of something dead rising from its grave, with it being animalistic and uncontrollable. There is a sense of Amir feeling haunted by this repressed memory, clearly powerful, violent and traumatic. This foreshadows and gives an insight into what is to come.
"There is a way to be good again", one of the most significant quotes from the novel, outlines the general themes of the novel, and its importance to Amir - to atone for his sins.
"Hassan's voice whispered in my head: for you, a thousand times over. Hassan the harelipped kite runner" - A sense that Hassan is always there with the narrator. We are introduced to Hassan's name before any other - suggests importance of character.
This short opening introduces the underlying theme of the past and looking back. From this, we understand that the story is being told from its end point with hindsight. "December 2001" takes us back to the phone call, and then even further back to 1975. The novel is told through a series of extended flashbacks.
"I became what I am today at the age of twelve, on a frigid, overcast day in the winter of 1975" - Present tense, but looking back.
Tells us that an important, significant event happened that changed who he is.
Barthe's Engima Code.
The repetition of "I" in this first paragraph - first person narrative - unreliable narrator - first person perspective = biased.
"Because the past claws its way out", invokes an image of something dead rising from its grave, with it being animalistic and uncontrollable. There is a sense of Amir feeling haunted by this repressed memory, clearly powerful, violent and traumatic. This foreshadows and gives an insight into what is to come.
"There is a way to be good again", one of the most significant quotes from the novel, outlines the general themes of the novel, and its importance to Amir - to atone for his sins.
"Hassan's voice whispered in my head: for you, a thousand times over. Hassan the harelipped kite runner" - A sense that Hassan is always there with the narrator. We are introduced to Hassan's name before any other - suggests importance of character.
The Kite Runner - Afghanistan Key Points
Afghanistan Key Points
Location
Afghanistan is a landlocked country in the Himalayas, and shares borders with Pakistan, China, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan and Iran. Afghanistan is a poor country, and the average lifespan is 45 years.
Brief history
In 642, Afghanistan, then part of the Persian Empire of Alexander the Great, was invaded by Arabs, who introduced Islam.
Genghis Khan invaded in 1219. A succession of princes and chiefs struggled for power. In the late 14th Century, Tamberlane (a descendant of Genghis Khan), incorporated Afghanistan into his own empire of Asia.
In 1747, a Pashtun, Ahmed Shah Durrani, established what is known today as Afghanistan.
20th Century
Until 1973, Afghanistan was a monarchy. King Amandullah initiated reforms such as the abolition of the veil for women and the introduction of co-educational schools. These proved to be very unpopular with tribal chiefs and traditionalists.
In 1973 a a former Prime Miniister, Sardar Mohammed Daoud, seized power in a military coup and declared Afghanistan a republic state.
In 1979, the PDPA (a communist faction) initiated a bloody coup, which resulted in the overthrow and murder of Daoud. The PDPA imposed a brutal form of Marxist rule, imprisoning, torturing and killing members of the traditional elite, the religious establishment and the intelligentsia.
Soviet Invasion
In 197, under the pretext of a field exercise, thousands of Russian troops landed in Kabul. Many Afghans opposed the communist regime. Freedom fighter (the mujahideen) began recieving assistance in the form of weapons and training from the USA and other powers. This led to the withdrawal of the Soviets in 1989.
The Taliban
The Taliban (Taliban means those who study the book - the Koran) rose to power in the mid 1990's in reaction to the lawlessness that occurred after the Soviet withdrawal. In 1994, the Taliban, assisted by the Pakistanis and probably the US, developed enough power to capture the city of Kandahar. They proceeded to expand their control throughout Afghanistan, occupying around 90% of the country by the end of 1998.
The Taliban proclaimed the 'Islamic Empire of Afghanistan' and imposed the strictest form of Islamic law (Sharia). They banned TV, all forms of imagery, music and sports. They also banned the traditional competitive sport of kite flying. A religious police enforced these laws. Stealing was punishable by the cutting off of hands, adultery by death by stoning. The Taliban were particulary harsh towards the Hazaras, an ethnic minority group of Shi'a Muslims.
From the mid 1990's, the Taliban provided sanctuary for Osama Bin Laden.
The position of women
Women were particularly affected by the harsh Sharia laws. They lost their right to vote, work, to attend school, and even the right to chose their marriage partners. They were forbidden from leaving the house without a male escort, seeking help from a male doctor, wearing cosmetics or high heels, playing sports, riding bicycles or motorbikes, wearing brightly coloured clothes, being photographed, appearing on balconies, travelling on the same bus as men.
Shi'a and Sunni Muslims
Following a conflict between two leading clerics over who should be the first caliph, Muslims split into two groups: Sunnis and Shi'as. Approximately 80% of Afghans are Sunni Muslims, whereas the Shi'a population is about 20%. The Taliban are Sunni Muslims.
Pashtuns and Hazaras
The Hazaras are one of the most oppressed and dispossessed ethnic groups in Afghanistan. They have been taunted and subjected to public humiliation and racial discrimination. They are mostly Shi'a muslims, and are clearly distinguishable by their broad, flat faces and narrow eyes, probably a result of centuries of malnutrition. Some Pashtun Afghan leaders, influenced by Nazi ideology, wanted to eradicate the Hazaras and establish a pure Pashtun state.
Location
Afghanistan is a landlocked country in the Himalayas, and shares borders with Pakistan, China, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan and Iran. Afghanistan is a poor country, and the average lifespan is 45 years.
Brief history
In 642, Afghanistan, then part of the Persian Empire of Alexander the Great, was invaded by Arabs, who introduced Islam.
Genghis Khan invaded in 1219. A succession of princes and chiefs struggled for power. In the late 14th Century, Tamberlane (a descendant of Genghis Khan), incorporated Afghanistan into his own empire of Asia.
In 1747, a Pashtun, Ahmed Shah Durrani, established what is known today as Afghanistan.
20th Century
Until 1973, Afghanistan was a monarchy. King Amandullah initiated reforms such as the abolition of the veil for women and the introduction of co-educational schools. These proved to be very unpopular with tribal chiefs and traditionalists.
In 1973 a a former Prime Miniister, Sardar Mohammed Daoud, seized power in a military coup and declared Afghanistan a republic state.
In 1979, the PDPA (a communist faction) initiated a bloody coup, which resulted in the overthrow and murder of Daoud. The PDPA imposed a brutal form of Marxist rule, imprisoning, torturing and killing members of the traditional elite, the religious establishment and the intelligentsia.
Soviet Invasion
In 197, under the pretext of a field exercise, thousands of Russian troops landed in Kabul. Many Afghans opposed the communist regime. Freedom fighter (the mujahideen) began recieving assistance in the form of weapons and training from the USA and other powers. This led to the withdrawal of the Soviets in 1989.
The Taliban
The Taliban (Taliban means those who study the book - the Koran) rose to power in the mid 1990's in reaction to the lawlessness that occurred after the Soviet withdrawal. In 1994, the Taliban, assisted by the Pakistanis and probably the US, developed enough power to capture the city of Kandahar. They proceeded to expand their control throughout Afghanistan, occupying around 90% of the country by the end of 1998.
The Taliban proclaimed the 'Islamic Empire of Afghanistan' and imposed the strictest form of Islamic law (Sharia). They banned TV, all forms of imagery, music and sports. They also banned the traditional competitive sport of kite flying. A religious police enforced these laws. Stealing was punishable by the cutting off of hands, adultery by death by stoning. The Taliban were particulary harsh towards the Hazaras, an ethnic minority group of Shi'a Muslims.
From the mid 1990's, the Taliban provided sanctuary for Osama Bin Laden.
The position of women
Women were particularly affected by the harsh Sharia laws. They lost their right to vote, work, to attend school, and even the right to chose their marriage partners. They were forbidden from leaving the house without a male escort, seeking help from a male doctor, wearing cosmetics or high heels, playing sports, riding bicycles or motorbikes, wearing brightly coloured clothes, being photographed, appearing on balconies, travelling on the same bus as men.
Shi'a and Sunni Muslims
Following a conflict between two leading clerics over who should be the first caliph, Muslims split into two groups: Sunnis and Shi'as. Approximately 80% of Afghans are Sunni Muslims, whereas the Shi'a population is about 20%. The Taliban are Sunni Muslims.
Pashtuns and Hazaras
The Hazaras are one of the most oppressed and dispossessed ethnic groups in Afghanistan. They have been taunted and subjected to public humiliation and racial discrimination. They are mostly Shi'a muslims, and are clearly distinguishable by their broad, flat faces and narrow eyes, probably a result of centuries of malnutrition. Some Pashtun Afghan leaders, influenced by Nazi ideology, wanted to eradicate the Hazaras and establish a pure Pashtun state.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)