Father Son Relationships In The Kite Runner By Khaled Hosseini

“The apple doesn’t fall far from the tree” is a well-known expression that holds true for most father-son relationships. However, in the novel The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini many father son relationships fall apart due to the event of their son following their footsteps not taking place. This is most evident in the relationship between Baba and his two sons, Amir and Hassan. When a child lacks an empathetic fatherly figure and healthy father-son relationship, consequences can arise due to the actions taken to achieve this relationship. This can lead to emotional distress and cause the individual to feel unwanted or not good enough. Amir experiences emotional distress because Baba sees more of himself in Hassan, Baba doesn’t see a connection and doesn’t put forth effort in forming a good father-son relationship, he is not empathetic towards Amir’s feelings, and finally, doesn’t provide Amir with the father he needs.

To begin, the strained relationship between Amir …show more content…
“If [he] hadn’t seen the doctor pull him out of [his] wife with [his] own eyes, [he’d] never believe [he was his] son” (Hosseini 25). Baba has very little emotional attachment to Amir aside from lineage. He doesn’t put forth much effort towards forming a bond with Amir during his childhood, which forced Amir to feel like he was a disgrace and look for Baba’s approval in everything he did. Horrible events take place during Amir’s early childhood years including the loss of his mother during his delivery as well as the lack of a healthy relationship with his father. Baba is a good man at heart however, is unable to share the same interests as his son, and ultimately neglects him because there is a lack of the true father-son connection that he feels him and Hassan have. This causes Amir to feel unwanted and as though he needs to earn Baba’s