A Literary Critical Study of Cultural (Mis)Representation of Pashtun and Farsi Speaking Characters in Khaled Hosseini's Novels

Abstract

The study analyzes (mis)representation of two ethnic groups of Pashtun and Persian (Farsi speaking) characters in the novels of an Afghan-American writer, Khaled Hosseini. His novels included in the study are The Kite Runner (TKR), A Thousand Splendid Suns (ATSS) and And The Mountains Echoed (ATME). The ethnic groups belong to Afghanistan which has been pushed into a new war after the event of 9/11. The characters are analyzed in the framework of Mahmood Mamdani’s theory of “good” vs. “bad” Muslims and Fernando Ferrara’s ‘Theory and Model for the Structural Analysis of Fiction’ which has three layers of analysis i.e. surface structure, middle structure and deep structure. The analysis shows that Pashtun characters are portrayed with traits of cowardice, selfishness and immorality. Some Pashtun characters are portrayed as “good” Muslims due to Americanization/Westernization and hostility toward Taliban. Others having sympathy with Taliban are depicted as “bad” Muslims. They are more under influence of their code of life called Pashtunwali. They are shown as rich who exploit other ethnicities. Many Pashtun and Farsi-speaking characters challenge Pashtunwali for the reason that Pashtun cultural values are the main factors of disturbance and backwardness of people in the country. Farsi speaking characters are depicted as brave, loyal, victimized, exploited and oppressed (traits). They are shown as poor and helpless people who suffer under dominating influence of Pashtuns in Afghanistan. They are depicted as “good” Muslims either because of being modern and Westernized or due to their hatred for Taliban. The presence of Americans is justified in the name of civilizing “bad” Muslims through Westernization and Americanization. However, Westernized/Americanized characters misrepresent cultural values of Afghanistan.