Amir's Empathy

Now the book starts off showing the happier times of Amir’s life. Of how close he and Hassan are and how they resolve around each other. For example Amir was Hassan’s first word and Amir’s first memory is of Hassan. They had a close connection and the author shows it by describing how

Born in Kabul, Afghanistan, Amir was the son of a wealthy social worker. He was brought up with the son of his servant, and perhaps his only best friend, Hassan. Amir had a rocky relation with his father. At times, it seemed as his father loved him but those moments didn’t lasted forever. He thinks Baba (his father) wishes Amir were more like him, and that Baba holds him responsible for killing his mother, who died during his birth. Despite being best friends, Amir thinks that Hassan is beneath him because he belonged to an inferior cast. He used to mock him jokingly or tried to outsmart him. In all fairness, it was Amir’s cowardly nature that

Amir's entire life had been haunted by what he saw happen to Hassan. Although he was a child at the time, he couldn't accept his shortcoming during a time of need. He was jealous of his father for being able to stand up for himself and others and Hassan's undying loyalty to him. He developed a pattern of behavior - of covering up his mistakes and hiding his past – that he could not rid himself of until he suffered like Hassan did. He made it up to Hassan by saving his son, and he made it up to himself by suffering the way he

As I read through the book it had rhetorical strategies that helps present the guilt that Amir had within himself. When his father started bragging with joy about Amir's victory of the kite fight. Amir isn't matter of fact he is overwhelmed with guilt of event it led to, the rape of Hassan. His lack of courage which prevented him from stopping the rape, it fueled the guilt he already had. While his father is boasting about the kite fight, he thought to himself that he wanted to stick a knife into his eye. This shows pathos by helping the

Khaled Hosseini creates a vivid relationship between Amir and Hassan that actively changes throughout his novel. The way he uses these two children to develop each other is truly a work of literary art.

Throughout the novel, Amir endeavors to be approved by his father, Baba, who is admired by people in Kabul. Unfortunately, Baba believes that Amir, unlike him, is very unmanly “and [that he] never fights back. He just... drops his head ” (Hosseini 24). Since Baba wishes for a son who would stand up for himself, he can’t help but observe that Amir’s friend Hassan, as the guy who “steps in and fends the [bullies] off” (Hosseini 24) is his idea of the ideal son. Though aware of his father’s expectations, Amir is unable to change himself and instead envies Hassan and the fact that Baba treats him like his own son by“[patting]Hassan on the back. [and even putting] his arm around his shoulder [like a fatherly figure]”(Hosseini 15). Despite the manifestation of this hatred in Amir, he continues to recognize the bond that he shares with Hassan, “ brotherhood between people who had fed from the same breast” (Hosseini 11) which is because both their mothers died during birth. The confusing emotions he feels for Hassan has Amir face a situation in which he acts inappropriately and allows the guilt to manifest upon him. After winning a very important kite tournament for the first time and “seeing Baba on that roof, proud of [him] at last” (Hosseini 71) Amir begins to search for Hassan who had gone to run his kite earlier. Finally, Amir finds him in a dark alley and as he “peeks around the corner” (Hosseini 75) he witnesses a sight that eradicated not only his relationship with Hassan but also Baba’s brotherly relationship with Ali, Hassan’s father. Peeking through the corner of the alley, like a bystander, he watches his one and only friend getting raped. The guilt that came upon him was for two reason; one, his lack of courage to stand up to

So this basically adds a violent touch to the story. This is on the contrary smoothened out by the late reveal that Hassan and Amir are even brothers. One might ask oneself if Amir would have acted the same way he did, if he had known about the relationship to Hassan. This insight similarly discredits as a father figure because he was the one who kept this share of gene between Hassan and Amir a secret his whole life. He is the one causing the rivalry through lying and being the one the jealousy is all

Evidently the theme of redemption and healing highlights the book. Amir's growth from beginning to end is so substantial. In the start we see Amir as a selfish brat and in the end he is a kind hearted man with good morals and the ability to sacrifice himself for others. Through clear mind, clear conscious and learning from mistakes characters were able to heal. Amir shows the greatest ability to change for the better, making one hopeful in

Amir was a son of a reputed father and he gets to attain school and he gets to learn and experienced many things. For example, he gets to participate in the poetry recitation where he is much interested in and sports although it wasn’t his choice. Whereas, Hassan as a servant stayed home to do the household work. Hassan made Amir’s breakfast, cleaned his room and did all the household chores while Amie goes to school. Though Hassan desires to get the education but there wasn’t a chance given to him as a servant. Therefore, despite illiteracy he would passionately listen to what Amir would read for him. Additionally, Amir grows up as young child who longs for his father’s love and approval. He lives with inexplicable jealousy of Hassan. Whereas, Hassan grows up as a young child serving under Amir and respecting Amir’s order. Hassan is cheerful, loyal and loving. He always attempt to please and serve Amir. Moreover, Hassan wasn’t privileged like Amir as he had to undergo insult and defamation by other people around

Amir’s mother, Sofia, dies in childbirth; Amir inherits her love of literature and probably her looks to some extent, but, her being dead, never receives any motherly love or guidance, which could have helped him out of the cowardly hole he later digs himself into. Amir’s father’s best friend and business partner, Rahim Khan, tries to give Amir the motherly love he clearly needs, fostering Amir’s love of writing and steadfastly standing up for him when Amir’s father, Baba, criticizes him, but Rahim Khan does not do enough to instill honesty, courage, and strength of conviction in young Amir. Amir’s best friend, Hassan, a servant a year younger than Amir, is everything Amir is not: athletic, brave, loyal, honest, and kind, inciting jealousy in Amir. Assef, a local bully, poses a real threat to Amir, hating Amir for the crime of befriending a Hazara (oppressed ethnic minority), but Amir is protected by Hassan, allowing young Amir to freeze and not stand up for himself in Assef’s presence. Last, but most importantly, is Amir’s father, Baba, and his views on Amir: he blames Amir for Sofia’s death,

Hosseini creates Amir as a complicated protagonist, a protagonist that the reader can sympathize and despise at the same time. Hossenini does this to show that people can have two sides to them. People may seem good and innocent, but in reality they have another "bad" side to them. He wanted a character that could show how life was in Afghanistan for a privileged child, as opposed to how Hassan's life is. He created a character that lives a luxurious life, but still isn't perfect and has struggles like everyone else. There are lots of reasons why the reader can sympathize Amir; his mother died while giving birth to him, his father doesn't appreciate him for who he is, and other experiences he has gone through. On the flip side, there are some

Amir is a young Afghani boy that possesses few differences from any other boys his age. He looks like, acts like, and lives like a young boy, but he has the advantage of living with a wealthy father. Jealousy is a flaw of his, and is one of the reasons he wallows in his own self pity for the majority of the novel. Hosseini does a remarkable job of making this character real and understandable. Amir is not a hero in any factor, but he does find a

Amir tells us about his own family and their losses as well the history of Hassan’s family. Over the length of the novel Hassan’s human dignity is repeatedly violated

“The relationship between Amir and Hassan. It’s so different from any relationship I’ve experienced. Amir and Hassan are as closeas a servant and master can be, yet Amir acts like Hassan, a Hazara, is beneath him. Amir never learns to assert himself against anyone else because Hassan always defends him. I think these factors play into his childhood cowardice of sacrificing Hassan. Hassan however remains loyal, forgiving, and good natured,” replied Jack. “So what do you think of their friendship?”

A big theme in this book is loyalty. Hassan treats Amir so much of respect and that says a lot because that is usually only shown to close family. That displays the bond of brotherhood that is represented throughout the little memories the two shared. The situational irony really proves how close Hassan feels to Amir. Even though Amir continues to distance himself from Hassan, he is still uneasy about their true bond. The quote presents the innocence of Hassan, he may be a child but he acts with pride. Amir is haunted throughout the novel because Hassan is righteous even though the odds were stacked against him.