Courage In John Steinbeck's The Kite Runner

Throughout the book, The Kite Runner, many personal elements affect Amir’s choices in life. One of the most prominent aspects is courage. Amir does not show any glimpses of courage until later in the book. From when he watches Hassan to the trip to America and his return to Kabul, he shows a big difference in his personality and lack of courage. Amir’s lack of courage effects on how well he could have become and how he could have lived. After the kite-fighting contest, when Amir is viewing what Assef and his companions are doing to Hassan, this certain point becomes a challenge for him. It becomes a test of courage. Amir is caught between going after and helping his loyal and best friend to impressing his father to gain praise. In addition, …show more content…
He ends up hiding it under Hassan’s pillow and tells Baba that Hassan stole it to make Baba get rid of Hassan. Hassan shows his loyalty one last time when he says that did indeed steal his watch. Following this, Ali and Hassan end up leaving making it the first time Amir had ever seen Baba cry. Amir showed courage in that moment. It would have been incredibly brave of him to admit his past mistakes. Amir should have tried to prevent them from leaving and Baba for not losing his second son. Shortly after Ali and Hassan leave, Baba and Amir make their way to America. When they are stopped by a Russian guard who wants a half an hour with a woman, Baba stands up and says, “Tell him I’ll take a thousand of his bullets before I let this indecency take place” (page 116). Amir panics and starts thinking “It’s done, then. I’m eighteen and alone. I have no one left in the world. Baba’s dead and now I have to bury him. Where do I bury him? Where do I go after that?” (Page 116). Amir shows clear signs of selfishness and cowardly thoughts. His mind does not go once to the woman who would have to suffer or her family. Likewise, he does not focus on that fact that Baba risked his life for a woman he does not