The Political Climate in Afghanistan and it's Influence

                The setting of this story holds immense significance because of how Afghanistan factors into the plot and is influential in various ways.  The story is of course framed through the narrator’s eyes, Amir.  Just as Amir undergoes rough patches, hardships, trials and tribulations, so does Afghanistan.  Amir and the state of Afghanistan are correlated.  The book commences as the reader is placed in the “quiet” era when Afghanistan was ruled by a King as opposed to a formal government.  These times in general allow for their citizens to go upon their business, without the tremendous interference of the state that is later forced upon them.  Afghanistan transitions into a period of being a republic.  The republic is interrupted when the Soviet Union barges into the country in efforts of acquiring land in the middle of Britain, itself and France.  Traditional Afghan rebels and revolutionaries combat the intruders and chaos ensues.  Many scholars agree that Afghanistan has been a difficult country to seize, as its mountainous countryside make for difficult combat.  The Afghan natives don’t have any option but to watch in horror or flee their beloved homeland for safe havens such as Pakistan or the United States.  In this sense, the situation can be labelled by Hanna Arendt’s definition of evil; which is an absence of rights. The public has exactly zero say.  No choice.  It’s really stay and risk dying or move.  With the removal of the monarchy and any sort of order, and the republic reigning as the best thing to a governing body, Assef prospers because of his father’s affiliation with the new President.  Assef feels self-empowered and feels dominant in bullying Amir, especially with Hassan and his Hazara background attracting attention.  

                As things escalate, Baba and Amir realize it’s safer to migrate to California, America.  The Taliban garners all authority, and Hassan is killed in the process.  Assef’s connections to the republic and his father’s connections to the Taliban granted Assef a powerful position with the Taliban letting him indulge in his sick and disgusting sadomasochism habits. A scene in the book depicts a disguised General and his Talban soldiers throwing rocks to stone a woman who was raped. This is later revealed as Assef.  We see traces of the scapegoat figure present, as women are now viewed as inherently inferior and not worthy to live like Men.  The times are certainly different pre-Taliban to post Taliban as women who never wore Hijaabs or Burkas would be killed if they were seen without one in the Taliban era.  Women who contribute to society (doctors, teachers, politicians) were instructed to resign or quit and stay home.  Borrowing from Hannah Arendt’s ideology again, a match can be identified in the way Assef conducts himself.  He truly believes his actions are normal when he upgrades to the level of general in the Taliban. The normalcy in his demeanor is terrifying.  Quoting Arendt “The doer of evil needs is ordinary, ‘neither a sadist or perverted’”.  The chain comes full circle when Amir is given the call by Rahim Kahn and is informed of the terrors of the Taliban.  He is forced to gather up every ounce of courage and face a Taliban leader in Assef.  Symbolically Amir represents Afghanistan revolting in search for the peace they once cherished so dearly.