The Kite Runner Character Analysis

The average person encounters challenges in everyday life that shapes their character. These challenges are what make up their character and proceed to show the outcome of their life. There are many ways to change your character such as shifting your perspective on others without judgement or learning from prior experiences. In the novel, The Kite Runner, Amir is the character that changes greatly based on the maturity he has gained from his childhood to adulthood. Amir’s character has been shaped by many factors, the two biggest influences involve his best friend, Hassan, and father, Baba. These two influences shaped Amir at an early age. The third character that shaped Amir happens later in his life involving the women that he later ends up marrying. Amir goes from being a selfish child to being a selfless adult.

Once back in Kabul, Amir takes steps he would never have imagined, which truly define his character. On his venture back to Afghanistan he learns the truth about Hassan’s connection with Baba. After hearing this Amir feels robbed of the truth and is angry at how his own father could hold this back from him. Despite his feelings, Amir realizes he must not only pay for his betrayal of Hassan but for Baba’s betrayal of Ali too. Amir knows he must face his fears and he understands this when he reveals, “I remembered Baba saying that my problem was that someone had always done my fighting for me" (Hosseini 239). Following this he undertakes a personal mission to find Sohrab and finds the courage to stand up to the Taliban, nearly dying in the process. During his quest Amir comes face to face with the disturbing Assef and fights him for Sorab, the ultimate sacrifice for his dead half-brother. While he is beaten he begins to laugh, which angers Assef even more. Amir explains that, “What was so funny was that, for the first time since the winter of 1975, I felt at peace" (Hosseini 303). After successfully bringing Sohrab back to California, Amir defends his Hazara nephew when General Taheri insults him. Over the dinner

“ For you, a thousand times over”. This one sentence sums up the immense love, loyalty and friendship Hassan had for Amir.

Baba couldn't demonstrate to me the way any longer; I'd need to discover it all alone." (pg 154) In this Amir is presently acknowledging he was not as autonomous of a man as he thought he was and how he now needs to make sense of what sort of man he needs to turn into. After soothing Soraya after she had felt harmed about not satisfying Afghanistan's social orders principles of the perfect lady, Amir understands his and soraya's disparities inside their general public. Evidence: "As I drove, I asked why I was distinctive.

In The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini, the protagonist, Amir, his father Baba, Ali and his ex-wife Sanaubar are a few of the main characters in this story about Amir’s life. Keeping your self pride and doing what’s right for your family along with redemption are two large factors in decision making. Characters become completely different people when faced with these factors, doing things they never would’ve thought of.

In chapter 13, Amir stated, "Baba hated it when I cried" (Hosseini 172). Though Amir being oversensitive was one of the reasons why Baba was discouraged of him, after years of neglecting Amir, Baba exhibits his love and admiration for him. Throughout the story Soraya is the depiction of honesty and doesn't care about her reputation, while Amir on the other hand, is secretive so his family name isn't butchered. During these 5 chapters, Baba finally shows his appreciation towards the things Amir does, and even approved Soraya as his wife and welcomed her into the family. Though General Taheri approves of his daughter's decision, he is less warm at the idea of Amir as his son-in-law and Soraya finally lets go of her hatred for her

Amir finally satisfies his father after the kite runner competition which makes their relationship stronger. Thirdly, Amir takes care of Baba when he is sick. After Baba’s appointment, Amir tells Baba that “[he wishes] [Baba] [would] give the chemo a chance” (156). Amir wants to help Baba because his father has shaped him and Baba represents everything that Amir is. Amir fears that he might lose his father which makes them close.

Amir had great influences on him as a child; Baba was a brave person, generous to everyone, and should’ve influenced Amir to be the same. On the contrary, Amir was selfish and chose not to stand up for his friend, even when the situation desperately needs it. This is not because of how he grew up, of his environment. Amir’s genetics made him to be fearful and mean, as shown throughout the book. “I knew I was being cruel, like when I’d taunt him if he didn’t know some big word. But there was something fascinating - albeit in a sick way - about teasing Hassan.” (Hosseini 54). Even though Amir had great influences growing up, Hassan took the brunt of his attacks and neglect. Near the beginning of the book, Hassan is raped in the alleys running a kite for Amir. Going after Hassan, Amir finds Hassan while this is going on but does not stop the rapist or stand up for his friend. Instead, Amir ran away and proceeded to abandon Hassan emotionally after the event. Baba was a brave man and would’ve stood up for Hassan, regardless of the danger to him, but Amir was not influenced nearly as much by his positive environment rather than his negative cowardice, or

In the novel The Kite Runner the text explores many different ways the relationships and people surrounding a person can shape one's self, this is most prevalent in Amir. During Amir's childhood, he is constantly vying for Baba's attention and affection. Amir's cowardice is seen through many different examples in the novel, mainly Assef and his violent actions bring forth his cowardice in many forms. Hassan is Amir's best friend in the beginning of the novel, he is also a role model to Amir.

More specifically, courage played a large role in Amir’s decisions, actions and thoughts. Amir was seen as cowardly young boy who was constantly craving attention from his father. Amir began to mature when karma got back to him. He realized how impactful his decisions were on his friend’s and family. He felt the pain that he caused to others. He later redeems himself by fighting for what he believes in and helped Sohrab have a better life than what he would’ve had in Afghanistan. He showed true courage by forgetting his critics and did what he loved, returned to Afghanistan even though it posed many risks and he finally did what was right for others.. He discarded the mindset of winning acceptance from Baba which affected his life since he was a child. Amir was proven to be a brave, good-natured and generous character at the end of the novel, The Kite

One of the major differences between Amir and Baba is that Baba is seen as courageous, while Amir is more cowardly. Amir always seems to let hassan stand up for him, instead of standing up for himself. “‘Self-defense has nothing to do with meanness. You know what always happens when the neighborhood boys tease him? Hassan steps in and fends them off.’” When Amir sees that Hassan is being attacked, he has to make a decision on whether or not to save him. “I could step into that alley, stand up for Hassan – the way he'd stood up for me all those times in the past – and accept whatever would happen to me. Or I could run. In the end, I ran.” He was too scared to stand up for his closest friend. When Baba and Amir were escaping from Afghanistan, they were stopped by some russian soldiers and Baba was faced with a similar choice. “But the Russian soldier shouted something that made the other

However in Amir, it is apparent that his morals change throughout the story, and mostly through his self realization and Baba’s own morals. In the beginning, when Hassan is being attacked by Assef, Amir decides survival is more important in that situation. This creates a lingering atmosphere of regret and self doubt, but also causes Amir

We’ve all heard the terrible stories of war-torn Afghanistan and the havoc that rained by the Taliban. In this setting, the novel Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini is told. Through the many characters in the novel, Baba stands out in the eye. He is a successful business man, even throughout the hardships of life in Afghanistan. Baba was also the father of Amir, who grew up just as successful. Just as Baba was a good businessman, he was also an amazing father. He taught Amir good values sacrificed his life in Kabul for his education, as well as saving his family from harm after having a Haraza child.

Baba’s influence on Amir can be described in two words, tough love. Baba desperately wants Amir to resemble him in everything he does and do things how he would, but Amir struggles to meet these standards. Baba is reminded by Rahim that he does not get to choose the man that Amir will become, “‘Children aren’t coloring books. You don’t get to fill them with favorite colors”’ (21). It hurts Amir that he does not get Baba’s compassion and love but he stays true to himself and does not change for him. Even though Amir stayed true to himself he would still do what he could to earn Baba’s love. When he won the kite flying tournament Baba shows Amir that love because he did something they can both relate to, sports. It seemed Amir would do anything to be recognized by Baba but Baba did not care about Amir’s thoughts on himself. Baba even said to Rahim “If [he] hadn’t seen the doctor pull [Amir] out of [his] wife with [his] own eyes, [he’d] never believe [Amir’s his] son” (23). This obviously would be heart wrenching to hear and hurt Amir deeply, but he did not let that make him stop trying. The two clearly had a rocky relationship.

Although Amir thinks his father, Baba, is angry at him for not living up to his family’s beliefs, Baba does not hate Amir. Baba just wants Amir to be a proud man, so Baba can relate to him and further extend their relationship, but Amir does not live up to his father’s specific expectations. When Baba sees that Amir is not growing up like he did he becomes disappointed in Amir. Baba does not agree with Amir’s love and passion for reading poetry and writing stories, because he believes it shows a lack of courage and this does help their relationship. Amir simply wants to make his father happy and try and live in his footsteps. In the book I believe this relationship is part of the reason why Amir didn’t help Hassan when he was being raped, because he wanted to please his father with the victory kite of the contest. If he were to help Hassan the kite would be taken by Assef, but in actual fact I believe Baba would be happier if he stood up for his friend rather than winning the tournament. Amir could have also left Hassan because he is jealous of his father and Hassan friendship.