Whether we identify ourselves as a woman or a man, a middle-classed citizen or part of the elite, a student or a doctor, we are all trying to find where we belong. Sometimes, society places into where they see fit. We must uphold to expectations and pressures that are placed onto us by others. In the Kite Runner, there are two characters that stand out very clearly when speaking of this subject: Hassan and Soraya.
Hassan lives a life of servitude. He must tend to all of Amir's needs. Why is this? Because he was born into it. There is little he could do to change things as he is denied the luxury of literacy and education. Without education, not much can be done to work himself to the top of the societal chain. Therefore, day in and out, he must accept where his place lies. I think the scene that hurt me most was envisioning Hassan serving Assef at Amir's birthday party. And this was after the fact that Assef had taken Hassan's "innocence", after the fact that Hassan had stayed loyal and proved to be a man (not a boy) of great virtues. Assef is a jerk and because he had been birthed from a different class, he was more privileged. Also, Hassan faces discrimination for being a Hazara, who society deems to be lesser. Even Amir feels the pressures and so he treats Hassan inferior. Hassan is stuck with no way out.
Soraya must live with a past she is ashamed of. After running away with a man at a young age, those around her have labeled her sinful. It really take a toll on her because when comparing the roles and expectancies of women to that of men, they are not equal, not one bit. A man can dance and have fun with his friends, then come back to his family afterward. A woman must not even think of doing such things or it will be shameful and another piece of gossip to talk about.
We are born with a curse or a gift, and that makes the world just a speck more unfair.
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