What is the importance of setting to the story "The Kite Runner"?We need to know the importance of the setting to the meaning of the story, and i...

The story begins in a country as foreign to America as
America is to it.  The settings are important because they tell about what is happening
in the country.  The Afgahanastan that Amir lives in as a child is settled at first with
little political strife that he is aware of.  However, there are the prejudices against
the Hazaras. 

There are several ways to look at the
relationship of Afgahanastan to America.  In chapter 11 in my book it
states;

"Baba
loved the idea of America.  It was living in America that gave him an ulcer." 
(125)

Baba suffers from an
ulcer from having to work so hard in America, adjust to the changes, and lack of
respect.  In Afghanistan he had bee wealthy and a man of
prestige. 

In America Baba has to run a flea market booth
to make money.  In his country of origin he made money by use of his business skills but
lived a much better life with more money. 

readability="8">

"Then early Sunday mornings we drove to the San
Jose flea market off Berryessa, rented a spot, and sold the junk for a profit."
(137)

Afghanistan has been a
country of turmoil.  When Hassan remained behind he lived in a time when the place was
being bombed as the Taliban fighters began to take control.  The setting was pivotal as
this leads to his eventual death. 

readability="9">

"On those days when the rocket fire eased up a
bit and the gunfighting was light, Hassan would take Sohrab to the zoo to see Marjan,
the lion, or to the
cinema."(212)

When Hassan
writes to Amir he tells him of the changes to
Afghanistan.

readability="12">

"In Kabul, fear is everywhere, in the streets,
in the stadium, in the markets, it is part of our lives here, Amir
agah."(216)