Exploring Subaltern Identity in the Postcolonial Context: Resistance and Agency in Khalid Hosseini's The Kite Runner and A Thousand Splendid Suns

Abstract

Aim of the Study: This study aims to explore the concept of subaltern identity in the two works of Khalid Hosseini, The Kite Runner, and A Thousand Splendid Suns. Drawing on Spivak's "subaltern theory," this paper aims to examine how the characters of both novels interact with their oppressors and express their reactions to the forces that shape the subaltern experience. Methodology: This paper utilizes postcolonial theory to explore the subaltern identity of the characters in The Kite Runner and A Thousand Splendid Suns. It examines how the characters are subjected to a specific form of marginalization and exclusion based on their social status. It looks at how characters' identities are shaped by their religion, ethnicity, and gender. The paper also examines how characters such as Amir and Mariam use their resources to fight for a better future for the subalterns. Findings: Through an analysis of the themes of power, marginalization, and gender, this paper reveals how the characters of both novels navigate the complexities of their subaltern identities and work to resist the structures of oppression they encounter. It shows how the characters are subjected to a specific form of marginalization and exclusion based on their social status, and how they use their resources to fight for a better future for the subalterns. Conclusion: This paper concludes that characters in both The Kite Runner and A Thousand Splendid Suns are able to navigate the complexities of their subaltern identities and work to resist the structures of oppression they encounter. Through an analysis of the themes of power, marginalization, and gender, this paper has revealed how characters use their resources to fight for a better future for the subalterns. The paper has also highlighted how postcolonial theory can be used to examine the subaltern identity of characters in works of literature.