In the novel, The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini the overall story is about a boy from Afghanistan and his journey through life. The book takes place in the United States, particularly California and then there are flashbacks to Afghanistan and Pakistan. The author uses these flashbacks to show that Amir cannot escape his past and has to use his actions in present time to build a relationship with his father. Throughout the book the main character, Amir, strives to build a relationship with his father, Baba. Primarily the novel is about relationships and how they shape us to the people we are. Baba, the father of Amir, may be strong, compelling, and successful but that does not make him a “good” father, it solely makes him just a father.
In …show more content…
Amir has a great day of flying and with Hassan’s help he wins the tournament. After the tournament Hassan runs after the kite to find it for Amir, in other words the key to Baba’s approval. While searching for Hassan, Amir witnesses him being taunted and attacked by Assef and his friends. Amir opens his mouth to say something but does not. Instead he runs off without helping his so called friend. Amir is a pessimist just like his father says. After running away from his chance of sticking up for Hassan he says, “In the end, I ran. I ran because I was a coward. I was afraid of Assef and what he would do to me. I was afraid of getting hurt. That’s what I told myself as I turned my back to the alley, to Hassan. That’s what I made myself believe.”(Hosseini, page 42). Amir was exactly what Baba was afraid of Amir becoming, a coward. In the end of the chapter however, Amir gets back home and acts like nothing happen. Amir reveals, “IT HAPPENED JUST THE WAY I’d imagined. I opened the door to the smoky study and stepped in. Baba and Rahim Khan were drinking tea and listening to the news crackling on the radio. Their heads turned. Then a smile played on my father’s lips. He opened his arms. I put the kite down and walked into his thick hairy arms. I buried my face in the warmth of his chest and wept. Baba held me close to him, rocking me back and forth. In his arms, I forgot what I’d done. And that was good.” (Hosseini, page 43). …show more content…
A father is supposed to love their child or children unconditionally without hesitation and that is something Baba did not do. Amir had to prove his worth to his father which only made Amir feel like a disappointment and second guess himself everyday of his life. In the article, “9 qualities of a good father” by Gary and Joy Lundberg a father it said to be a, “Friend- He shows [his children] kindness, compassion and interest in the family members.” That is something Baba does not do. He is not interested in Amir or his interests until later in his life. Baba was supposed to play the role of both a mother and father in the novel and he failed at both. Baba is a father but not a “good father”. He is simply a
In …show more content…
Amir has a great day of flying and with Hassan’s help he wins the tournament. After the tournament Hassan runs after the kite to find it for Amir, in other words the key to Baba’s approval. While searching for Hassan, Amir witnesses him being taunted and attacked by Assef and his friends. Amir opens his mouth to say something but does not. Instead he runs off without helping his so called friend. Amir is a pessimist just like his father says. After running away from his chance of sticking up for Hassan he says, “In the end, I ran. I ran because I was a coward. I was afraid of Assef and what he would do to me. I was afraid of getting hurt. That’s what I told myself as I turned my back to the alley, to Hassan. That’s what I made myself believe.”(Hosseini, page 42). Amir was exactly what Baba was afraid of Amir becoming, a coward. In the end of the chapter however, Amir gets back home and acts like nothing happen. Amir reveals, “IT HAPPENED JUST THE WAY I’d imagined. I opened the door to the smoky study and stepped in. Baba and Rahim Khan were drinking tea and listening to the news crackling on the radio. Their heads turned. Then a smile played on my father’s lips. He opened his arms. I put the kite down and walked into his thick hairy arms. I buried my face in the warmth of his chest and wept. Baba held me close to him, rocking me back and forth. In his arms, I forgot what I’d done. And that was good.” (Hosseini, page 43). …show more content…
A father is supposed to love their child or children unconditionally without hesitation and that is something Baba did not do. Amir had to prove his worth to his father which only made Amir feel like a disappointment and second guess himself everyday of his life. In the article, “9 qualities of a good father” by Gary and Joy Lundberg a father it said to be a, “Friend- He shows [his children] kindness, compassion and interest in the family members.” That is something Baba does not do. He is not interested in Amir or his interests until later in his life. Baba was supposed to play the role of both a mother and father in the novel and he failed at both. Baba is a father but not a “good father”. He is simply a