The relationship between Amir and Hassan
The relationship between Amir and Hassan is viewed upon as very close. From the description of Hassan by Amir during the second chapter you can interpret that there is no menace or anger inside this true friendship, “perfectly round face”. Amir who is the narrator uses the idea of imagery on Hassan to an effective standard that can portray a sense of passion and pride to being his friend, “eyes that looked, depending on the light, gold, green even sapphire”.
However, there is another difference in the relationship. Amir is a Pashtun. Pashtuns are the dominant ethnic group in Afghanistan compared to Hassan, who’s a Shi’a. Shi’as take up a minor 9 percent of the population. They are also looked down upon and seen as a lower class of a person compared to the Pashtun’s, which is in many ways prejudice, creating a division in society; “his people pollute our homeland” demonstrates the Pahtun views to the Shi’as. For example an ethnicity issue is introduced when Hassan is confronted by a group of soldiers, “You! The Hazara! Look at me when I’m talking to you!”. Whilst there is no immediate difference in the way either character acts you cannot interpret that one is more wealthy, or is higher in class as the friendship is built on memories and a strong relationship. However you could argue that Amir takes advantage of Hassan, Amir is well educated and can read and write, nevertheless Amir takes advantage of Hassan as he has no illiterate skills, “when we came across a big word that he didn’t know. I’d tease him, expose his ignorance,” such a comment shows the superiority over Hassan Amir believes he has. The writer uses non-standard sentences to represent a feel of individuality in Amir, “He didn’t say anything. Not then, not ever”.
