Emotions In The Kite Runner

But as alienated as Amir felt from Baba as a child and an adult, Amir came to be much the same as his father. “As it turned out, Baba and I were more alike than I'd ever known. We had both betrayed the people who would have given their lives for us” (226). While this is a negative declaration, it can also be seen in a positive light.

We get to know a lot about Amir, a young boy, and his father, Baba Throughout the story we see Baba’s gradual change in character, turning from the cold distant father he was to the loving and caring father Amir wanted him to be. Baba fills the hole inside himself that was dug by guilt in Afghanistan by learning to move on from his sins and build a relationship with his son in America. The loss of his wife, Sofia Akrami, created the hole. After her death and Amir’s birth, he felt such despair that he had an affair with his best friend, Ali’s, wife. This only created more guilt, as he impregnated her with Hassan.

He spends years trying to impress Baba so that he will finally be proud of Amir. However, Hosseini portrays the relationship between Baba and Hassan to be different than his and Amir’s. Baba is always proud of Hassan and wants the best for him. He sees himself in Hassan. When these relationships are put side by side it is clear that Hassan is Baba’s favorite.

In his mind, he believes that Baba will send Ali and Hassan away, and, as a result, he will finally gain some peace. To Amir’s surprise, Hassan confesses to stealing his gifts without hesitation symbolizing “Hassan’s final sacrifice for [him]” (105). At that moment, Amir realizes that Hassan knew of his betrayal, which added to his already guilty conscience. Hassan could have easily told Baba the truth and he would have believed him because”[everyone] knew that Hassan never lied”, which, in turn, would ruin Amir’s relationship with his father (105). He probably knew that Amir was unworthy of his sacrifice, that he was the “snake in the grass, the monster in the lake”, but he lied for Amir’s own benefit

Another quote shows that Rahim Khan shows that he is trying to explain to Amir how Baba was torn between loving two children. Baba has a difficult time trying to show affections toward Amir mainly due to the fact that he is trying to show love to two children, Amir and Hassan. Although Amir’s character traits do play a role in Baba’s liking, Baba is stuck between two worlds trying to love and care for two children, and Amir does not realize this. Amir takes it upon himself, to blame himself, that he is solely the reason why Baba does not like

One of the many aspects that Hosseini added to his novel is the symbol of the kite. Amir takes this kite as a symbol of happiness and also of guilt according to (http://www.sparknotes.com/lit/the-kite-runner/themes.html) (1). Amir goes through a hard time when he is a witness of Hassan’s dignity being taken. Amir at the moment does nothing about it because he feels like it would take all attention away from him by Baba. Baba, being a champion kite flyer feels extremely proud of his son because Amir is following his

(Hosseini, page no.18) .Amir takes his Baba’s affection toward Hassan-Baba’s servants’ son-in the wrong way for Hassan always showed a lot more similar qualities to Baba than Amir ever did. In an attempt to win his Baba’s

Amir, Baba’s son and the main character throughout The Kite Runner, betrays Hassan many times due to the fact of jealousy of the attention Hassan receives from Baba. First, when Amir tries to justify his actions he shows his motivations behind the betrayal. Amir states, “Maybe Hassan was the price I had to pay, the lamb I had to slay, to win Baba” (Hosseini 77). Amir craves Baba’s attention so much that

Lastly, Amir sacrifices his life to accommodate for Sohrab, Hassan’s son, after being taken by the Taliban. Amir resembles Baba because he too takes up redemption for the awful things he did. He understands the great danger Sohrab is in. He risks his life to help Sohrab; this shows loyalty to Hassan. Even though Sohrab is not Hassan saving his son shows that Amir is loyal to him.

Baba shows courage throughout the whole book, when he takes in Hassan, who is not his legitamate son, he is standing up for what he believes in, and he does not care what others will think. “That’s a clear answer, Dr. Amani. Thank you for that’, Baba said. ‘But no chemo madication for me’” (Hosseini, 156).

(Pg.301) This quote suggest that Amir realizes that when Baba was hard on him it was because he wanted him to be a better man than Babe. In addition Baba felt like he needed Amir to be a good man and the only way was to be hard on him. Therefore without Baba and the way he was with Amir, He wouldn't have been the man he grew up to be.

By Rahim Khan saying this, Amir now understands why Baba always tried to do good, because deep down inside he couldn’t bear to know what he’s done. He couldn’t love Hassan the way he wanted to. That’s why he built the orphanage and did so many other great things so he had something to distract him from his mistake and hopefully feel some redemption. Rahim Khan, Amir and Baba all redeem themselves through Sohrab. “I looked at the round face in the Polaroid again, the way the sun fell on it.

Baba and Amir ultimately grew a stronger bond but at the expense of permanent guilt for Amir. The father-son relationship that occurs throughout this story enables the reader to personally connect with Amir, which explains the novel’s universal

Rahim acts as a physical link between the characters and themes of the story, a middleman that deepens the context of the plot. The role of a father-figure, shared by Baba and Rahim Khan is a complex relationship that heavily impacts Amir’s actions and emotions. Whilst Baba is the biological father and role model of Amir, it is Rahim Khan who is the one to provide emotional support, and stability. Amir’s selfish tendencies are a result of the lack of affection that is given to him by Baba, a man who wants to, but struggles to find similarities between himself and Amir.

Baba neglected Amir, which caused him to make poor decisions, while vying for his father’s love. Amir finds his true self and in the end his relationship with Baba helped to form him into the man he was at the end of the novel, one Baba is proud of. A loving and empathetic fatherly figure is necessary in a son’s