Identity In The Kite Runner

Identity is who a person is, identity is based off of how a person thinks or acts. An example might be if you are a mean or cruel person, your actions reflect your thoughts and thus is the creation of identity. A popular but undeniable symptom of destructive thinking- be it your own or someone significant, is a lack of self esteem or identity. Amir as a child demonstrates the lack of identity, and Baba acts as the core of destructive thinking. Baba is mentioned as someone who views the world in black and white (16) and Amir never fit into that view. How limiting and destructive must one's view be to exempt their own child? Their view must be very limiting and abusive. Hosseini reasons a positive change of identity through the loss of destructive thinking, demonstrated with the death of Baba, shown in the significance of Amirs growth- returning to Afghanistan and the rescue of Sohrab.

Back then he didn’t risk his life, why should he now? That is what shows a significant change, that Amir defines himself by that moment and yet he is willing to risk his life for someone he doesn't even know. Considering that Amir doesn't feel that positive about Kabul in the first place, going in while it is war torn was a huge leap out of his comfort zone and he makes this explicitly clear, “I have a wife in america, a home, a career, and a family. Kabul is a dangerous place, you know that, and you’d have me risk everything for…”(233) this also proves that with Baba he never would’ve done that. If Baba were there Amir wouldn't have thought twice about not going, especially if his health were still declining, or even if Baba were in good health. Amir wouldn't have gone. But with Baba gone and the absence of abusive parental thinking, Amir thinks about the trip, and eventually goes to save Sohrab, and bring on a positive change in