Beyond Cultural Essentialism: A Critical Re-evaluation of Muslim Representation in The Kite Runner

Abstract

This current study examines the representation of Muslims in The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini through a qualitative research approach. Drawing upon Samir Amin’s concept of Eurocentrism and Hamid Dabashi’s notion of the native informer as its theoretical framework, the research critically investigates how the novel constructs Muslim identities within a Western ideological lens. The analysis explores how certain characters reinforce stereotypes of Muslims as violent, irrational, and culturally backward, while simultaneously privileging Western values as progressive and humane. By applying textual analysis, the study highlights how internalized perspectives within the narrative contribute to the reproduction of dominant Western discourses about Islam and Muslim societies. Furthermore, it evaluates the role of the authorial voice in mediating these representations and questions the broader implications of such portrayals in shaping global perceptions of Muslims, particularly in a post-9/11 context. The findings suggest that the novel, while offering a compelling personal story, also participates in a discourse that aligns with Eurocentric assumptions and the logic of the native informer, thereby reinforcing stereotypes and potentially influencing readers' understanding of Muslim identities in a way that may perpetuate existing biases.

Keywords: Representation, Eurocentrism, native informer.