Tuesday, September 29, 2009

Connection: The Kite Runner and Harry Potter

When you first hear Harry Potter and The Kite Runner, you must be thinking,"How in the world are these two related?" One's about Harry saving the wizarding world (my five word summary definitely doesn't give enough credit to the well crafting of the book) while the other's about Amir trying to get redemption and closure for his actions, or lack of. However, if you look close enough, there is a definite connection and relation between the two due to their characters.


Voldemort/Assef
The relation between Assef and Voldemort is rather clear-cut. They are both the villains of the novels. But it goes beyond that in their 'structure of evilness.' Voldemort uses both fear as well as gain to attract his followers, or Death Eaters. They fear that if they don't join him, bad things will happen to them or they will be killed. He also promises them that if they join him, when evil triumphs, they will be honored in society. Assef uses similar tactics. Wali and Kamal are afraid that it they don't follow Assef's orders, they will end up in trouble next. This is demonstrated in the rape scene when they think it's wrong to rape Hassan, yet Assef convinces, or forces, them to hold Hassan down. They do so because it's rather Hassan than themselves. Also, Assef uses personal gain to convince Wali and Kamal, just like Voldemort. Since he's a Pashtun and in the higher social class, Wali and Kamal follow so they can also be looked upon, whereas if they were 'defending' or even 'friends' with a Hazara, they would be spat upon in their society. Both characters, Voldemort and Assef, should inform each other by showing that ruthless leaders don't always tell the truth to get to their position. Peter Pettigrew had to sacrifice himself after he transfigured back into a human to make up for lost years with Voldemort. But in the end, the good side triumphed anyway. Kamal experienced a similar case because was raped and killed too, showing that evil isn't the right way. And Sohrab shot Assef with a slingshot in the eye, so it shows that he was toppled, just like Voldemort.

Draco Malfoy/Amir
Malfoy and Amir have a more complicated relation. What is the balance of good and evil in each of the characters? Malfoy was supposed to kill Dumbledore according to Voldemort's plan, but he couldn't because he didn't have the guts to commit such a horrible crime. However, he didn't do anything to stop Snape from killing Dumbledore because he was too afraid of what would happen to him. This was a similar case for Amir. He didn't actually rape Hassan, but he didn't do anything to help or stop it either. In addition, both set up the scenarios for the crime to take place. Malfoy protracted (vocab word!) Dumbledore's stay in the Astronomy Tower, and this bought time for the Death Eaters to arrive. In the same way, Amir set up Hassan because he had to be rescued by Hassan, which built up tension between the two sides. In the end, because Assef couldn't do anything to Amir, he did it to Hassan instead, as a reaction to what he felt about Amir and his hatred. The two characters can learn to balance their actions with their environments, which can lead to a better outcome, with a more positive effect. They should inform that one's actions do play a large role, and that one should think before they act, so a drastic change doesn't negatively affect the lives of those around them.

'Good Wizard'/Hassan
One problem with Hassan's relation to a Harry Potter character is how they are viewed. I began typing Harry, but realized that Harry is looked up to as a hero, while people in Afghan societies would've looked down on Hassan according to the novel. He could be Harry in the sense that he keeps on saving Amir and getting him out of trouble, but I didn't think this covered all sides of the relation. So I tried to connect him to Ron next. Unfortunately, the problem here was that Ron and Harry are best friends, and I didn't see Amir as the benevolent/rescuer from the Dark Wizards sort of character. So I guess if anything Hassan would be like Neville Longbottom (except that minor detail that Hassan isn't clumsy). He always has his friends' backs in the end, just like Neville, who although couldn't execute everything perfectly, he worked hard, and came through for his friends. Then I say an even better relation between the characters. Neville could've been the chosen one. Hassan could've been the 'chosen one' too. Neville could've grown to save the wizarding world and be the hero in the end. Just like Hassan. He was also Baba's son, so he could've been the perfect son in all the ways he is, as well as being 'socially correct' too, for lack of a better term. This insight is quite important because it shows that there are deeper connections beyond the obvious that I learned through digging around a little, as well as you may not look to be the obvious choice or talented one, but inside everyone, there is something that is worth a whole lot more. There's always a star-like quality, even though you may not be the prized possession or main hero.

1 comment:

  1. First of all, I just want to say that this is interesting and hilarious. Second,
    this also reminds me of Joseph Campbell and the hero's journey, which we discussed a little last year with Mr. Morgan. It essentially says that a lot of fictional heros take the same paths and go through the same things. I think this is evident in The Kite Runner and Harry Potter because of the parallels you pointed out. Good job!

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