Best of Week: Macro-Micro Relationships within Literature

In class this week we delved into the topic of macro-micro relationships within books. What are we talking about here? It sounds like something that belongs in the distant world of economics. So what does this have to do with literature?

In The Kite Runner, the events that a character experiences affects his or her actions in a unique manner; thus, an intense relationship is formed between the event on a macro level and the character’s action on a micro level. This relationship is evident throughout the entire story and spills over to other areas of the story plot. For example, we discussed how Amir seems to fear authority. On a macro level are the multiple events in Amir’s childhood that instilled fear into his mindset; furthermore, still on the macro level is this struggle between fear and superiority. When the Russian soldiers stopped Amir’s truck while he was being transported, Amir resisted Baba’s attempts at being a hero. He was a coward. When General Taheri discarded Amir’s novel, Amir took no action to defend himself. Even a minor authoritarian figure triggers terror inside Amir. In addition, this brings up another point that culture has no borders. Even though Amir’s fear began in his Afghani environment, when he travels to America it continues to be attached to him. The relationship between Amir and General Taheri occurs in the United States, yet that cultural fear is one that originated in Afghanistan. In addition on a macro level is the chaos in Afghanistan that is parallel to the chaos in the relationship between Hassan and Amir on a micro level. When the Taliban are present in Kabul, their presence discourages him from traveling to his childhood home.

This class discussion makes me think about broader relationships in literature. It makes me wonder about the actions of characters in other stories. Is that one action just a paint stroke inside the larger picture? Personally, this idea connects to my religious side. I believe in God. I believe that small acts in the world occur in relation to a greater power. But it also moves beyond religion. Macro-micro relationships are present everywhere we look. Nature. Religion. Society. History. Art. The list continues. I feel that as I am exploring the mysteries held within novels, I overemphasize my focus on the micro aspect of this relationship. I become absorbed into the details, the actions, and the individual words on the page. I never stop to unearth the big picture. I never ask myself, “What does this connect to? Why is it there?” I plan to use this idea as I continue to read The Kite Runner and many more stories to come. I will aggressively hunt for the many internal relationships that form the backbone of the book. In every grand story, there is a smaller message to be found.