"illiterate"

Khaled Hosseini uses the word "illiterate," instead of the word "uneducated," to show that Hassan and Ali receive an education that is different from Amir's. Since Hassan and Ali are servants, they are taught how to be good servants, instead of how to read and write. As a servant, Hassan's main job is to serve Amir. Therefore, Hassan has no need for written words because he only needs to know how to listen and speak to be able to serve Amir. Although the word "illiterate" usually has a negative connotation connected to it, Hosseini has used this word in a neutral sense to mainly show the inability of a servant. This word also establishes a difference between a master and a servant, which is that a servant and a master receive distinct educations according to their social classes.