In Khaled Hosseini’s novel, The Kite Runner, Baba’s betrayal and Amir’s quest for redemption encompass much of the plot. Amir greatly struggles throughout his childhood to redeem himself to Baba for “killing” his mother during childbirth and for always being a disappointment to his father. Amir learns later in the novel that Baba also betrayed his lifelong friend and servant, Ali. Baba fathered a child, Hassan, with Ali’s wife, Sanaubar. This is also another act of betrayal towards Amir because Baba keeps the secret about Hassan to himself and never informs Amir of his half-brother. Baba’s acts of betrayal towards his son include not accepting Amir for the person he is and withholding the truth about Hassan’s parents, which ultimately lead
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Amir believes that he “killed [Baba’s] beloved wife, his beautiful princess” (19). Baba sees him as the reason his mother died during childbirth. Baba immediately begins to betray Amir as a father because he is not satisfied with how Amir acts as a child. Amir has an intense passion for literature, just as his mother did. However, Baba prefers that Amir participate in sports and enrolls him on soccer teams to attempt to encourage his interest in the sport. When it turns out that Amir has no athletic ability, Baba does not give up and tries to turn him into a passionate spectator. Eventually, Baba can sense his lack of interest and gives up and Amir accepts the fact that he will always be a disappointment to his father. Yet, by the time winter rolls around, Amir devises a plan to redeem himself for being a let down. Each year the city of Kabul hosts a kite fighting tournament: Amir’s key to redemption. Amir believes that if he wins the annual kite tournament he will “maybe, just maybe, finally be pardoned for killing [his] mother” (56). Amir becomes determined to win and bring home the last kite and show his father that he is worthy. In the end, Amir wins the tournament and says that it “was the single greatest moment of my twelve years of life” (66). When Amir looks to Baba on a nearby rooftop, he sees him pumping both of his fists in triumph. Baba was proud of Amir and Amir finally felt
Amir believes that he “killed [Baba’s] beloved wife, his beautiful princess” (19). Baba sees him as the reason his mother died during childbirth. Baba immediately begins to betray Amir as a father because he is not satisfied with how Amir acts as a child. Amir has an intense passion for literature, just as his mother did. However, Baba prefers that Amir participate in sports and enrolls him on soccer teams to attempt to encourage his interest in the sport. When it turns out that Amir has no athletic ability, Baba does not give up and tries to turn him into a passionate spectator. Eventually, Baba can sense his lack of interest and gives up and Amir accepts the fact that he will always be a disappointment to his father. Yet, by the time winter rolls around, Amir devises a plan to redeem himself for being a let down. Each year the city of Kabul hosts a kite fighting tournament: Amir’s key to redemption. Amir believes that if he wins the annual kite tournament he will “maybe, just maybe, finally be pardoned for killing [his] mother” (56). Amir becomes determined to win and bring home the last kite and show his father that he is worthy. In the end, Amir wins the tournament and says that it “was the single greatest moment of my twelve years of life” (66). When Amir looks to Baba on a nearby rooftop, he sees him pumping both of his fists in triumph. Baba was proud of Amir and Amir finally felt