Resistanceagainst Stigma in Khaled HosseiniThe Kite Runner

Abstract

Khaled HosseiniThe Kite Runnerdeconstructsthe binary between those who suffer andthose who cause suffering. In the novel, Amir, who is the privileged member of Pashtun group uses his supremacy to dominate, humiliate and make fun of Hassan, who is the son of his father’sservant. Assef, member of the samePashtun group also uses his power to abuse and brutalize Hassan and Sohrab too. Ali, Hassan and Shorab suffer stigma because they belongs to the marginalized Hazara group and are poor as well as abused. Nobody is free from stigma. Their stigma transmits to Amir bringing remorse and self-reproachment which have transformative power. As a result,he becomes successful to resist the stigma with the little smile of Sohrab, who has imposed himself in the dark.