Synthesis Paragraph

Through the use of characterization, Khaled Hosseini reveals that people in Afghan society aim to retain pride and dignity. Baba is a character who has a high opinion of his own dignity. Starting off, while temporarily living in Peshawar, he still likes to invite neighbors for dinner and maintain a festive mood, despite the one-bedroom apartment smelling like “dirty socks and cat droppings” (129). This demonstrates Afghanistan culture as being extraverted and very welcoming, even if there is not much to share or give. It also seems like celebrations raise an Afghan’s social status. This is exemplified when Baba throws Amir a lavish birthday party and many people attend. Later in the story, Amir and Baba settle in America and Baba is offered a stack of food stamps from an eligibility officer who Baba politely refuses. Hosseini then uses a simile in the text when he says that “Baba was like the widower who remarries but can’t let go of his dead wife” (129). The reference to his dead wife is not only literal but also represents his old life in Afghanistan. Even though Amir and Baba have to start a new life in America, Amir feels that America is a place for Baba to mourn. The feelings Baba has towards America are understandable since he has worked so hard to get the luxuries of life in Afghanistan. There he was a rich man who people looked up to and now he struggles working at a gas station. However, Baba’s personality will not allow him to admit this because he knows that he has give Amir a chance at a better life. The Afghanistan culture praises hard work and as Baba calls it, no “free money”. This also shows that Baba is a reasonable man with rational thinking because he knows he has to work hard to gain what he once had and for most people this would be very hard to accept. Amir describes Baba’s hands as grubby and calloused which is due to his hard work at the gas station. It shows that hard work is just as important for the Afghani culture as maintaing pride.