As the psychologist Rollo May once said: "The opposite of courage in our society is not cowardice, it is conformity." Throughout Khaled Hosseini's novel, The Kite Runner, the reader is exposed to the thematic duel between conformity and non-conformity and the effects of both actions on those around him. But can this battle between conforming and not conforming really help change someone's life? Hosseini introduces the reader to the characters of Hassan and Baba, both of whom seem to project that actions of conformity and non-conformity truly decide the course of another's life. Khaled Hosseini's character Baba shows the reader that if one conforms to society's expectations during times of crisis, they will see tragedy strike those around them, while his character Hassan demonstrates that if one acts against social norms during times of crisis he will then save those around him and will be able to bring about substantial changes in his society. This theme finds a parallel in Karl Marx's Communist Manifesto, where Marx shows that substantial social change can only be achieved through the non-conformity of the lower classes. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an Original EssayHassan's character fails to conform to society's expectations in trying to protect those he loves, and henceforth saves and even changes the course of others' lives in doing so. To understand Hassan's nonconformity, one must first understand Hassan's role in Afghan society. Hassan, as a Hazara, is expected to be submissive, to obey and follow the supposedly superior class of Pashtuns, and not to go or act against what they say or do. The Minority Rights Group explains that “Hazara persecution… has existed for centuries when Hazaras were driven from their lands, sold into slavery and denied access to services available to the majority of the population.” Yet, Hassan does not bow to the stereotypes of his Pashtun superiors. For example, he defends Amir (the Pashtun protagonist and friend of Hassan) from Assef (the Pashtun antagonist, enemy of Hassan and Amir). Assef confronts Amir, brazenly threatening to harm him, but Hassan steps in to defend Amir, “[keeping his] slingshot aimed directly at Assef’s face. (Hosseini, 43)” In this way, Hassan intentionally and consciously challenges his place as a submissive member of society. He knows the risk that comes with doing this, but he chooses to do it anyway to save Amir. Later, Hassan passes his rebellious ways on to his son, Sohrab, who once again fails to conform to society's expectations and again saves Amir from Assef. Several years later, Amir once again faces Assef, but this time he does not have Hassan to protect him, but this time Sohrab “pointed the slingshot directly into Assef's face. (291)” Sohrab does this without knowing who Amir is, but protects him anyway as he fails to conform to his supposed role as Assef's subordinate, which should not go against Assef's wishes. The protective actions Hassan takes mostly have positive effects on himself and those he loves. As a result of Hassan's intervention against Assef, Hassan protects both his and Amir's well-being. After Hassan's threats, “Assef took a step back. His disciples followed him. (44)” Defying common principles, Hassan saves Amir and himself from physical attack by Assef and his friends. If he had not defied the racial directives of Afghan society, both he and Amir would have faced severe physical trauma.Hassan's son Sohrab also intervenes against social restrictions and disobeys his superiors to help Amir. After Sohrab follows in Hassan's footsteps and threatens Assef again, he saves himself and Amir from Assef, and they flee Assef's compound, "[Amir] stumbling down the corridor, with Sohrab's little hand on [his ]. (291)” Challenging his place as Assef's subordinate, Sohrab, like his father before him, saves Amir's life and enhances his future (potential) well-being by attacking Assef with his slingshot. However, Hassan's well-intentioned actions equally have terrible repercussions. The harmful effects of acting against society can be seen specifically when Hassan fails to conform to his supposed subordinate place in society and fails to obey the Taliban. This can be seen when old Hassan is tasked with taking care of Amir's house while he is in the United States, and the Taliban come to understand why a Hazara lives alone in such a beautiful house. The Taliban tell Hassan that they “would move there to keep [the house] safe. (219)” However, “Hassan protested again. (219)”. By doing so, Hassan tries to protect his family, who reside in the house, by keeping the Taliban away. Hassan then fails to obey those who are expected, and pays dearly for it. Following Hassan's refusal to comply with the Taliban's demands to let the Taliban enter his home and surrounding area, the Taliban dragged Hassan into the street “and shot him in the back of the head. (219)” Therefore, Hassan’s defiant response resulted in not only his death, but also the death of his family. If Hassan had graciously welcomed the Taliban into his home, they probably would have spared him, but they also probably would have raped his wife and sent his son to fight and die. So, in Hassan's attempt to save himself and his family, he, along with his wife and son, ended up dead. Baba's character conforms to society's expectations and henceforth brings suffering to those around him. First, Baba only accepts a son who matches his own masculinity. He states that “something is missing in that boy. (22)” By saying this, Baba conforms to expectations by requiring his son to have a masculine character and to do only manly things, things that he himself would have done. He refuses to accept his son when he displays anything less than brute masculinity, and therefore follows what society wants him to do. Secondly, Baba acts according to what he believes an Afghan and specifically Pashtun male should be, being strong and refusing medical treatment when he believes he does not need it. He decides “This is a clear answer for me… No chemotherapy. (156)” In this way he conforms to the image of a strong Afghan (which he believes in) who does not need any medication. He refuses to accept advanced medical treatment because he believes it is a sign of weakness, especially when he doesn't believe he needs it. However, if one sticks to what they believe is expected of them, they may see their conformity pay off. This can be seen particularly when Baba refused to let his Russian superiors take sexual advantage of the Afghan people. He tells a Russian soldier that he will “[take] a thousand [Russian] bullets before [letting] this indecency take place. (116)” In doing this, Baba conforms to the Afghan male's role of protecting the female and, in doing so, saves the Afghan woman from rape. Baba's strict adherence to common principles tends to have devastating effects on those around him, but sometimes it proves positive. First, Amir feels unloved and alone, desperately needing the ability to prove his worth. He believes he must “show [Baba] once and for allthat his son was worthy. (56)” due to Baba’s near abandonment of Amir, takes a heavy toll on Amir as he is increasingly hostile and cruel towards others in a desperate attempt to prove his worth to Baba. Secondly, Baba's death comes more quickly. Shortly after Baba refused chemotherapy, Amir put him to bed and “Baba never woke up. (173)” Therefore, Baba's refusal to accept the medicine caused emotional and mental pain to his family due to his death. The ravages of Baba's death are evident on Amir as he references Baba and his mortality throughout the rest of the novel. However, Baba's compliance has some positive impacts, most notably Baba saves the Afghan woman threatened with rape. The woman's husband shows his great gratitude when “he did something that [Amir had] seen many others do before him: he kissed Baba's hand. (117)” Baba's compliance with the defense of women not only saved her but also saved her husband from great distress. He was able to protect her without challenging established principles, and his adherence to those principles turned out, however surprisingly, to be positive. Please note: this is just an example. Get a custom paper from our expert writers now. Get a Custom Essay You can see something similar to the themes of revolt against one's established position resulting in social and economic improvement in Karl Marx's Communist Manifesto. Marx argues that if the lower classes desire change in their society, they must be the ones to catalyze that change, as can be seen in his assertive statements in his work. First, Marx begins by stating that it is the lower class that controls the tide of change. Specifically, Marx states that "the proletariat, historically, [has] played a very revolutionary role." It states that the proletariat, the lower class of society, which is typically subordinate to the upper class, is the one with the ability to create change, and can only do so through non-conformity to the roles the upper class wants them to fill. Secondly, Marx states that the proletariat has the capacity to overturn the natural order of societies through its own non-conformity, specifically that it “ruthlessly severed [the ties] that bound a man to his 'natural Superiors'”. Marx states that the proletariat are those who take the reins through non-conformity towards their "Natural Superiors". He believes that achieving social improvement has historically occurred through the lower class taking control over the upper class, and that this must happen again for society to benefit. Marx believes that conforming not to the desires of the upper classes, but to the aspirations of the lower classes is the way to benefit. Finally, Marx argues that the lower class carries the future of society on its shoulders. He states that it “cannot rise without the entire overlooming beginning of society being thrown into the air.” Therefore, he argues that the proletariat is the class that does not have to conform if it desires change, since it is it that controls the changing tides in its social and political territory. The results of Marx's statements can be seen in the effects of the communist revolution and its subsequent results. First, Marx tells us that following the upheaval caused by nonconformity, the upper classes will fall, and “in their place will come, without competition, the economic and political influence of the proletarian class,” and indeed, this happened when the proletariat took social control during the communist revolution. In their upheaval, the proletariat will gain power as the upper classes are driven from the throne. 2017.