Betrayal In The Kite Runner By Khaled Hosseini

What does it mean to betray someone? Webster’s Dictionary describes betrayal as the act of disappointing the hopes or expectations of someone; being disloyal to someone. At some point everyone has dealt with betrayal. It may have been something small like a friend not keeping a secret, or it may have been something big like being cheated on by a significant other. Regardless, betrayal is never the right thing to do. One should always try to be loyal and trustworthy. In the novel, The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini, betrayal is prevalent. The character Amir betrays many of the people closest to him, including himself.
Marriage is a promise of love, respect, honesty, protection, loyalty and understanding. Getting married can mean different things …show more content…
Freud thought denial was a defense against external truths that threaten ones ego. Many psychologists now argue that it is a defense in the face of terrible news. If everyone was born with a seed nestled deep in their hearts, how many would care for it and let it bloom? What if that seed started to grow into a pine tree but the person saw that everyone else’s seed were becoming palm trees? Would they hide their pine tree in order to fit in? Would they go so far as to kill it? That is what self-betrayal is about. In its worst form it is a type of suicide. People tend to fear being disapproved of by others and being different or alone, so they suppress their heart seed. But the seed is not easily quieted, so many forms of escapism can develop to help quiet it. Working harder to gain money and possessions, love, drugs, alcohol, moving and starting over, or isolating oneself. Amir is constantly trying to be exactly like Baba instead of accepting himself and being who he is. “But I hadn’t turned out like him. Not at all” (19). Another part of this is that a person is who they pretend to be, so one must be careful who they pretend to be. “This isn’t you, Amir, part of me said. You’re gutless. It’s how you were made” (275). Lying to one’s self is a way of seeking comfort, but comfort is overrated. People lie to themselves because they are afraid of what they do not know. It is something that eats away at a person’s soul, causing untold …show more content…
For some people friendship is simply trusting that someone will not hurt you. For others it could be unconditional love, or just companionship. Regardless of the definition friendship is commonly thought of as a mutual and agreeable relationship between two people. Becoming a good friend is the highest of endeavors and the foundation of everything. Unless she is ones servant or roommate, a person’s wife is their friend. Unless they are ones masters or servants, a person’s parents are their friends. If they truly matter even ones enemies are their friends. Loyalty is easily the most important quality in any relationship, and in Afghanistan loyalty and honor are held above all other standards. Hassan’s boundless loyalty to Amir shows just how true a friend Hassan really is. Hassan would do anything for Amir and would never consider hurting him in any way. "For you a thousand times over" (67). Despite everything, Hassan’s loyalty to Amir never wavered. “I dream that someday you will return… if you do, you will find an old faithful friend waiting for you” (218). For all of this Amir only repaid Hassan with betrayal and dishonesty. Amir lies to Hassan constantly. “When it comes to words, Hassan is an imbecile” (29). This is also a slight on Hassan as it shows how little Amir thinks of him. Amir knows he can get away with things like this because Hassan is illiterate. Amir also does this when