Method of Study METHODOLOGY

such as Amir’s birthday and a family gathering, the way the adults talk to Amir always project good manner and affection. “...plus Kakas and Khalas who were going to bring me gifts and congratulate me for having lived to thirteen” 2007:102. “Some of them tousled my hair and shook my hand too. I was so proud of Baba, of us” 2007: 16. They give special attention to Amir, as well. “ People raised their heads from their platters, called out their congratulations. Kaka Faruq patted my back with his clean hand” 2007:93.Culturally speaking, Afghan culture of respecting wealthy people puts Amir in a big advantage because of his father’s influences. Thus, it entails into set of solicitous social treatments by the people around Amir. Not only Amir is blessed by a wealthy background, his ethnic cultural background is also considered superior in the society. Amir is a Pashtun. His childhood life is considerably more fortunate because he is a Pashtun. In Afghanistan, particularly in Kabul, Pashtun society is seen as a more civilized and educated ethnic group. Furthermore, Amir’s bloodline is one of the noble families. His grandfather, Baba’s father, is an honorable judge in Kabul who even has met the King and Amir’s mother is one from royal family2007: 16. As a result, culturally, Amir is placed in a superior place in society. Meanwhile, a Hazara usually lives under poverty without education. The common occupation of a Hazara is being a servant of a Pashtun family. In the novel, Amir and his Baba have a Hazara servant family consisting of Hassan and his father, Ali. The society in general degrades Hazaras. They usually mock the physique of Hassan and Ali by caling them “flat-nosed” since they have the PLAGIAT MERUPAKAN TINDAKAN TIDAK TERPUJI characteristics of Mongoloid features. “...like people called Hazaras mice-eating, flat-nosed, load-carrying donkeys. I had heard some of the kids in the neighborhood yell those names to Hassan”2007:10.How the relationship between Amir and Hassan works also confirms that hierarchy. Amir and Hassan come from different ethnicities. Pashtun people look down on Hazaras people. It can be seen from the response of Amir’s teacher when Amir shows the book of Hazara’s history. The following week, after class, I showed the book to my teacher and pointed to the chapter on the Hazaras. He skimmed through a couple of pages, snickered, handed the book back. “That is the one thing Shi’a people do well,” he said picking up his papers,” passing themselves as martyrs.” He wrinkled his nose when he said the word Shi’a, like it was some kind of disease 2007: 10. The construction of ethnic hierachy demands Hassan to serve Amir. The beginning of the novel shows how Hassan is always the one who serves Amir’s necessity. “I woke up to find toasted bread, brewed tea, and a boiled egg already on the kitchen table. My clothes for the day were ironed and folded, left on the cane seat chair in the foyer...” 2007: 86.It builds an environment where Hassan always depends on Amir’s goodwill and whims to get certain benefits. Hassan can only get a chance to hear a story when Amir is willing to read it for him. Hassan can only play outside when Amir wants to. Hassan can only eat good food, watch movies, get presents when Amir wants to or at least when Baba commands so. The Hazaras’ life and survivability typically are contingent toward the goodwill of the master, a Pashtun. In a nutshell, Amir comes from a culture where he is a PLAGIAT MERUPAKAN TINDAKAN TIDAK TERPUJI privileged individual who get superior advantages through the construction of class and ethnic hierachy. However, the superiority and priveleges Amir attains based on his cultural background are exactly the reasons of his sufferings. Amir, as a boy, always feel that he is out of place—the standard and hierarchy that on the surface favor him become the means to bring pain into his life. First is the Afghan patriarchal culture that upholds masculinity and male- domination. It is presented through how Baba educates Amir. As a result, Baba’s education to Amir is also distinctly masculine, just like the culture of Pashtun men. In his childhood, Amir is the sole child of a wealthy bussinessman. Thus, he lives a lavish life. However, as a child pampered by material things, Amir suffers from the indifference and distance between him and his father, Baba. Baba is disappointed because Amir does not seem strong and masculine. Throughout the beginning of the novel, Amir is described as a meek, introverted, not masculine child, a coward compared to Baba who is strong, masculine, brave, and hard- headed. Of course, marrying a poet was one thing, but fathering a son who preffered burying his face in poetry books to hunting...well, that wasn’t how Baba had envisioned it, I suppose. Real men—real boys—played soccer just as Baba had when he had been young 2007:21 Amir internalizes a perception that he is an unwanted and a disappointing child to his Baba since Amir builds the perception of himself by mirroring Baba’s opinions of him. Thus, Amir becomes a child who is too hard on himself, constantly trying to win Baba’s love and affection, however, most of the times