Amir's Self Identity In The Kite Runner

On December 24, 1979, the soviet Union invaded Afghanistan in order to maintain its communist power. During this period of time, many children lost their innocence by learning about the evils and the destructive power of the world. Around 1 million Afghan civilians died fighting for the war and 5 million people were forced to flee to neighboring countries. Just like others, Amir and his father fled to America to escape their war-torn country. During this time, Amir becomes stronger and learns to stand up for himself by learning about the sacrifice one must make in order to survive. In the Kite Runner, the theme of coming of age and discovery of one’s self identity is developed through the Russian Invasion of Afghanistan and the immigration

On March 1981, as Amir and Baba are smuggled out of their country in a caravan. Amir recollects the state of their home right before they left: “I thought of the way we’d left the house where I’d lived my entire life, as if we were going out for a bite: dishes smeared with kofta piled in the kitchen sinks; laundry in the wicker basket in the foyer; beds unmade; Baba's business suits hanging in the closet” (Hosseini 112). As Amir loses and abandons most of what he has owned since birth, he loses all the experience and memories associated with his home. In fact, 20 years later, Amir even admitted to feeling like a “tourist in my own country” (Hosseini 231). This is because Amir has grown more mature, and associates the country with his childhood. Any little change would shock him, because his perspective of the world has changed completely. Author Gary younge says, “ Migration involves loss. Even when you’re privileged, as I am, and move of your own free will, as I did, you feel it... Their journeys inevitably involve excising part of their past.” (Younge). Although Amir is glad to be leaving a war-torn country, away from his nightmarish memories, it cannot be denied that Amir has lost a valuable part of himself. As a matter of fact, Amir was more than ready to let go of his past self. For Amir, Kabul

Amir wasn’t the only one to change during the course of the immigration. Baba was forced to become a gas station worker compared to having a rich, powerful life in Kabul. By becoming more humble and determined to raise his only child, his domineering personality became less intimidating for Amir and the two were able to bond together in a foreign world. Rather than growing further apart, Amir and Baba grew closer together by sharing commonalities: Indignity and poverty. Additionally, Baba was able to build a relationship with Amir by taking care of him for the first time. Instead of showering him with meaningless, expensive gifts on his birthdays, Baba actually worked hard and saved money to buy him something he actually needed. On his graduation day, Baba was able to afford to buy a car for Amir: “ It was an old model Ford, long and wide, a dark color I couldn’t discern in the moonlight...I took his hand in mine. Squeezed it. My eyes were tearing over and I was glad for the shadows that hid our faces” (Hosseini 133). By showing Amir, his love for the first time, Amir was able to understand how it felt to be loved by someone and was able to find a place for Baba in his