Kite Runner Father Son Relationship Analysis

The decision of whether to tell the truth or not is the defining moment in any situation. It is crucial in the turnout of events and can greatly affect the outcome. A truth or a lie could possibly save or end a life. For this analysis, we are going to particularly look at the similarities and differences of their protagonists, one of both stories’ most important theme which is their Father and Son Relationship, and some of the notable similarities and difference of how the Kite Runner reflects the epic Rostam and Sohrab overall. I have particularly chosen to focus on comparing the protagonists’ of both stories since there is an evident parallel between their characterization, not to mention that both has the theme of Father and Son relationship …show more content…
However, there is a difference in how the theme is depected in the sense that, prior to leaving Tahmineh, Rostam did not know whether he was going to have a son or a daughter resulting to him not knowing that it was indeed his son who he was up against the battlefield whereas Baba has a strained relationship with his son, Amir. He does not spend much of his time with him, is not that interested with Amir’s talent in poetry and rarely pays attention to him. Baba is someone who is deemed physically present but emotionally absent in the life of Amir which is similar to not having a father at all. However, they are both characterized as strong, ruthless, and brave and only want what’s best for their sons. For example, Baba might not show it but he does deeply care for Amir’s wellbeing and worries that he might be too soft and might not be able stand up for himself much like how Rostam shows his affection for his future child by leaving an onyx to Tahmineh so that he may be able to recognize his child if he ever encounters him/her. It is also implied that Baba care more about others specifically what they think of him than his own son which is paralleled to what Rostam did to Sohrab, in which he left him and Princess Tahmineh to continue being of service to …show more content…
Then, there are lots of foreshadowing in the two stories. In a particular chapter, Amir mentions that Afghans like to hear the end of a story first rather than the beginning, in which the Kite Runner starts with the narrator remembering his childhood whereas it is seen in the epic of Rostam and Sohrab that the author reveals that Rostam is Sohrab’s father way before he finds out himself the identity of Rostam and how Amir said that “All fathers in their secret hearts harbour a desire to kill their sons” because of the treatment Baba is giving him, which is reflected to what really happened in the epic of Rostam and Sohrab. Not to mention the irony that Hassan’s favourite book is the Shanahmeh, particularly the story of Rostam and Sohrab which likely foreshadows the events to come in the Kite Runner. Just like that the book ended with Hassan dying because of the Talibans, however he did have a son who is named Sohrab, who just like his father was skilled in using the slingshot, much like how Sohrab - from Rostam and Sohrab, was as skilled as his Father, Rostam. It is also depicted in the story of a son’s struggle to make their