Throughout the story of The Kite Runner, Amir’s unstable relationship with Baba portrays the transformation Amir undergoes in the three central stages of his life: his childhood, his arrival to America, and his response to Baba’s death. Baba’s level of influence on Amir differs in these stages and because of the levels varying Amir’s change is clearly shown as his actions slowly start to conform to what he wants and not for being accepted by Baba. Also, Khaled Hosseini depicts the bond between a father and son as unbreakable because after Baba passes away, Amir begins to mirror Baba as his influence holds the most meaning after death. Therefore, as Baba’s influence lessens over Amir, he becomes a new individual that no longer needs Baba’s validation anymore but, because the fatherly bond carries so much meaning in any father-son relationship, Amir starts to mirror …show more content…
In Amir’s childhood Baba has the most influence over Amir, and because of this, he isn’t able to express himself as he struggles to meet Baba’s expectations. To win Baba’s affection, Amir becomes desperate enough to do anything ensuring Baba’s affection whether what the cost be. Hosseini displays how desperately Amir yearns for Baba’s love; when they go out for a picnic, Amir tries to earn Baba’s attention by saying “I think I have saratan (cancer)” however, even this does not get acknowledged by Baba (14). The response Baba gives characterizes their relationship as distant and because of this the roots of Amir’s obsessive behavior in trying to win over Baba shows how much significance Baba holds. Also, with Amir going as far as saying he has cancer, this foreshadows future actions he may take out of desperation to gain Baba’s love such as