comitts suicide. “Then I remember I haven’t prayed over fifteen years, I have long forgotten the words” 2007: 373.
From the beginning of the novel until near the end, Amir refuses to be devoted to God and doing any religious practices. However, it changes at the end
of the novel when Amir faces desperate situation of Sohrab’s suicide. He turns to religion and God as a salvation. “There is a God, there has to be, and now I will
pray, I will pray that He forgive that I have neglected Him all of these years....” 2007: 373. Amir asks God if Sohrab is saved then Amir will be religious and
doing any means possible to worship him. “I bow to the west and kiss the ground and promise that I will do zakat, I will do namaz, I will fast during Ramadan and
when Ramadan has passed I will go on fasting” 2007: 373. Amir and his religion go through different phases in Amir’s life. In his
childhood and some part of his adult life, Amir does not want to be religious. The fact that he has hurt Hassan badly only strengthens his decision not to be
religious. Amir thinks that he is a sinner guilty of bad things. However, at the end, Amir decides to be religious because he is desperate to save Sohrab.Amir sees
religion different from his Baba who is wholly secular, Amir believes in religion because Amir needs it. Amir is also not wholly pious just like the mullah of his
childhood. Amir has his own shares of doubts about God. He does not follow the religion blindly, he questions it, even challenges God, as well. However, at the
end, Amir holds his religion because it salvages him and partly because he needs to fulfill his vow of devotion because Sohrab is saved from death.
2. The Depiction of Baba a. Baba and His Afghan Cultural Background
Baba lives and develops most of his life in Aghanistan. The cultures of Aghan and Pashtun are interwoven strongly in his personality and behaviours.
Afghan culture is also a religious-based one, an Islamic culture. Baba comes from an Islamic society that upholds patriarchal values strongly. Patriarchal society
upholds a view of man-domination and masculinity. Baba was brought up within this construction of partriarchal values. Thus, Baba manifests this value in his
ways of handling his family. Baba, as a man in a Pashtun family, is the leader of Amir’s family. Within the perspective of Amir, Baba owns and directs everything.
Even his mother—Sofia Akrami— is seen as Baba’s possesion. Man is the possessor and controller in a family. Baba sees his wifeasprize of a winner by
calling Amir’s mother “my princess” 2007: 17. People also respects Baba because of his power and his masculinity.
Even Rahim Khan gives a nickname to Baba as Toophan agha or Mr. Hurricane because of his physical strength and power. Rumor has it that Baba has once
wrestled a black bear in Baluchistan with his bare hands. The culture of patriachal works for Baba’s advantage as a man.Furthermore, the concept of masculinity is
also projected through Baba’s character. Baba is seen as a strong powerful man and he puts importance into a man-oriented strength and habit. This view affects
Amir’s childhood greatly since Baba’s expects Amir to be like him. Baba is often disappointed because Amir can not play basketball, skip stones, do fist fight, or
use physical strength in general as a man should do.Baba’s approach on the PLAGIAT MERUPAKAN TINDAKAN TIDAK TERPUJI
concept of manhood puts Amir in suffering since Amir can not fulfill the expectation of a masculine man. Rather than choosing to engage in a fist fight,
Amir lets other children bully him. Rather than playing soccer or any physical sports, Amir chooses to read books and write stories. Baba shows disgust and
dislike when Amir cries over a death of a chapandaz, a horse man. “I remember how Baba’s hands clenched around the steering wheel. Mostly, I will never forget
Baba’s valiant efforts to conceal the disgusted look on his face as he drove in silence” 2007:23.Analyzing further, Afghan culture is also clearly embedded in
Baba’s habits. Afghan society puts an importance into brotherhood and ‘lavish’ events. Baba is a very generous individual who helps others a lot and yet very
reluctant to be paid back. When Amir has his thirteenth birthday, Baba holds a splendid party and invites most people in his community. It is important for
Afghan people to invite people as many as possible when one holds an event. It is used to strengthen the sense of brotherhood and connection. Afghan people feel
insulted when they are not invited to an event. This is why, when Amir and Baba plan to go to Jalalabad, Baba’s ends up inviting dozens of his family.
Afghan people value brotherhood and unconditional favor with their own community and people. Many people give food and services for free in Amir’s
birthday because Baba helps them in the past. “Like the butcher, Del Muhammad—or Dello, as Baba called him—refused payment for his services. He
said Baba had done enough for his familiy already. It was Rahim Khan who whispered to me, as Dello marinated the meat, that Baba had lent Dello the money
to open his restaurant” 2007: 102.This is exactly why when Baba moves to the PLAGIAT MERUPAKAN TINDAKAN TIDAK TERPUJI
US, he is bewildered by the individualistic values there. When Baba wants to buy food using a check because he does not bring money, he is asked to show his ID.
Thus, it results in Baba getting angry and violent because Baba thinks the shop owner knows him well already. Hence, Baba expects them to trust him as a friend.
However, in America, that is it not the case. Afghan people value honor and pride as their utmost priorities as well,
particularly for the men. Henceforth,Baba is a prideful individual even when he goes to the US. He rejects food stamps or any kind of social welfare given by the
US government. Baba hates pity and Baba believes that every honorable Afghan man should work and stand on his own feet.
Baba also upholds highly of his political pride and standpoint. Baba hates the Russian. He takes it to the extreme when he refuses to be treated by a Russian
doctor eventhough the doctor is born in the US. “I do not care where he was born, he’s Roussi” 2007:168.
Baba also follows several Aghanistan traditions that are mostly derived from Islamic culture. Baba still does celebrate several important days in Aghan
culture such as Eid-e-Qorban. Baba follows the tradition by slaughtering a sheep and give it to family, friends, and the poor 2007: 83-84.
In conclusion, Aghanistan is Baba’s throne where all the social and financial privileges work for Baba’s favor and interest. Relationships between
Baba’s and other people in Afghanistan are also strong. The brotherhood and respect are shared mutually.
