The Dangers of Loyalty
Over time, loyalty has been one of the most influential qualities one can possess, contributing largely to the development of wars and the destruction of relationships. In the novel The Kite Runner, by Khaled Hosseini, one dependable boy sacrifices himself multiple times in order to protect and serve a close friend, proving himself to be a loyal companion. In being loyal to Amir, Hassan’s actions have harmful long-term effects on himself. While loyalty is an important quality to aspire for, being too loyal has deleterious effects on one’s own health, both physically and psychologically, which can be proven through the analysis of Hassan’s character, as well as through the symbol of the kite.
The above theme, based on …show more content…
For example, after Hassan dashes off after the blue kite, he encounters the reprobate Assef who asks for the kite, but Hassan refuses and says “Amir agha won the tournament… This is his kite” (Hosseini 72). When Hassan runs into a dangerous bully that he avoids through sacrificing the blue kite, he keeps the kite because he believes that it rightfully belongs to Amir. Hassan would never betray Amir by giving away his kite, even though it means that he will be assaulted by Assef and his friends, because he only aspires for Amir’s approval in his actions. Next, when Amir frames Hassan for theft, Hassan and Ali risk being forced to leave by Baba and yet Hassan lies to Baba, giving a false confession to the theft of Amir’s belongings (105). Admitting to the theft effectively saves Amir from Baba’s wrath. One of the most important relationships to Amir is his relationship with Baba, which Hassan realizes, so Hassan protects Amir and puts himself and Ali in a bad position just so that Amir’s father will give him attention. Lastly, when Amir …show more content…
For instance, when Hassan finds himself threatened by Assef and his posse, Hassan raises his slingshot in defense of Amir, who cannot effectively stand up for himself at this point in time (42-43). It is because of Hassan’s boldness in browbeating Assef to save Amir that he is later attacked. At this point in the novel, Hassan believes that Amir’s immediate safety is more imperious than his own long-term safety. Later, Amir asks Hassan if he would eat dirt as long as Amir asked him to, to which Hassan answers “‘If you asked, I would’… looking right at [Amir]” (54). Amir is like an older brother to Hassan in that Hassan would gladly do anything that Amir asks of him, even if he does not particularly want to, because of Hassan’s fierce cupidity for Amir’s approval. As referenced in the novel, if Amir were to ask Hassan to do something as disgusting as eating dirt, Hassan would obey, with full devotion to Amir. Towards the end of the novel, Hassan’s mother who betrayed Hassan and Ali returns, and in response Hassan “...nursed her back to health” (210). Hassan’s mother deserves nothing from Hassan, especially not his hospitality, as she left him and his father when he was a young child. However, Hassan wishes only to help his mother, though she did not raise him, through feeding her and providing her with a
Over time, loyalty has been one of the most influential qualities one can possess, contributing largely to the development of wars and the destruction of relationships. In the novel The Kite Runner, by Khaled Hosseini, one dependable boy sacrifices himself multiple times in order to protect and serve a close friend, proving himself to be a loyal companion. In being loyal to Amir, Hassan’s actions have harmful long-term effects on himself. While loyalty is an important quality to aspire for, being too loyal has deleterious effects on one’s own health, both physically and psychologically, which can be proven through the analysis of Hassan’s character, as well as through the symbol of the kite.
The above theme, based on …show more content…
For example, after Hassan dashes off after the blue kite, he encounters the reprobate Assef who asks for the kite, but Hassan refuses and says “Amir agha won the tournament… This is his kite” (Hosseini 72). When Hassan runs into a dangerous bully that he avoids through sacrificing the blue kite, he keeps the kite because he believes that it rightfully belongs to Amir. Hassan would never betray Amir by giving away his kite, even though it means that he will be assaulted by Assef and his friends, because he only aspires for Amir’s approval in his actions. Next, when Amir frames Hassan for theft, Hassan and Ali risk being forced to leave by Baba and yet Hassan lies to Baba, giving a false confession to the theft of Amir’s belongings (105). Admitting to the theft effectively saves Amir from Baba’s wrath. One of the most important relationships to Amir is his relationship with Baba, which Hassan realizes, so Hassan protects Amir and puts himself and Ali in a bad position just so that Amir’s father will give him attention. Lastly, when Amir …show more content…
For instance, when Hassan finds himself threatened by Assef and his posse, Hassan raises his slingshot in defense of Amir, who cannot effectively stand up for himself at this point in time (42-43). It is because of Hassan’s boldness in browbeating Assef to save Amir that he is later attacked. At this point in the novel, Hassan believes that Amir’s immediate safety is more imperious than his own long-term safety. Later, Amir asks Hassan if he would eat dirt as long as Amir asked him to, to which Hassan answers “‘If you asked, I would’… looking right at [Amir]” (54). Amir is like an older brother to Hassan in that Hassan would gladly do anything that Amir asks of him, even if he does not particularly want to, because of Hassan’s fierce cupidity for Amir’s approval. As referenced in the novel, if Amir were to ask Hassan to do something as disgusting as eating dirt, Hassan would obey, with full devotion to Amir. Towards the end of the novel, Hassan’s mother who betrayed Hassan and Ali returns, and in response Hassan “...nursed her back to health” (210). Hassan’s mother deserves nothing from Hassan, especially not his hospitality, as she left him and his father when he was a young child. However, Hassan wishes only to help his mother, though she did not raise him, through feeding her and providing her with a