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What does being American mean in The Kite Runner, according to different characters?
Quick answer:
In the beginning, Amir and Baba think that America is everything that Afghanistan is not: strong, powerful, and successful. However, once they immigrate to the United States, they see it differently. While living in America, Baba has a hard time adjusting to life in America. He sees it as a place of mourning rather than one of hope. Amir, on the other hand, appreciates the change of scene and likes the idea of starting over in America. Baba and Amir's different views toward American culture are an example of how people can have different perspectives on the same thing. The two characters have completely opposite opinions toward a particular country based on their experiences with it.At the beginning of the novel, Amir, Hassan, and Baba are enamored with American culture and view it as a land of wealth, opportunity, and secularism. Amir and Hassan continually watch American action movies starring John Wayne and Charles Bronson, and Baba drives around the streets of Kabul in his American Mustang. Amir's following comment gives valuable insight into how most Afghans view America. Amir says,
In Afghanistan, owning anything American, especially if it wasn't secondhand, was a sign of wealth (Hosseini 58).
Unlike most of his neighbors, Baba values American ideals and favors Western civilization over the undeveloped, religious society of Afghanistan. As the novel progresses, the Russians invade Afghanistan, and Baba flees his home country with his son. Baba and Amir immigrate to America, where Baba rents a small apartment and works at a service station. To Baba and Amir, the United States is a land of opportunity, and this gives Amir a second chance at life. Baba views America as a competitive place where he struggles to assimilate and speak English. Despite his struggles, Baba is able to earn a living and reconnect with his fellow Afghan immigrants. In contrast, Amir enjoys America and has an easier time assimilating into the culture because of his youth and education.
Later on, Amir returns to Kabul to save Sohrab and eventually takes him to America, where Amir and Soraya adopt him. While Sohrab is too young to fully understand his situation and is traumatized by his past experiences, America offers Sohrab a new start. Overall, America is perceived as a safe land of opportunity where it is difficult to succeed because of its competitive nature.
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