Coming Of Age In The Kite Runner

Coming of age is generally accepted as a process in which young children become mature adults. Even if this is not always true, coming of age and growing up always proves to be a tough process. In Khaled Hosseini’s novel, The Kite Runner, a novel set in Afghanistan, many characters grow up, but Amir is the only child to morph into a better person in numerous ways. Amir, originally immature, undergoes many traumatic experiences, forcing him to look back on his actions with regret, suggesting coming of age can only be accomplished through an internal shift in mindset.
At the beginning of the book, Amir appears to be a coward, but later, he overcomes his fear and becomes courageous by sticking up for Hassan. As Hassan is being assaulted in the

Amir “ran” from the alleyway, which implies that he was in a hurry and exemplifies his fear of getting involved in a street fight to defend Hassan. This fear that Amir has prevents him from helping his friend, which overall makes him a weaker person. In another instance of a street fight, Amir claims he was always “tempted to step in” but that he was continuously “held back by something” (255). Amir never acted on his “temptation,” thereby allowing his fear to take over him. At this time in his life, Amir is very easily overpowered, and he does not fight back. Later in his life, Amir and Farid go to a soccer game to search for Sohrab. After viewing an execution of a married couple, Amir says he, “had never in [his] life wanted to be away from a place as badly as [he] did now” (269). However, collecting his bearings, Amir decides, “we have to stay” (269). Amir agrees to remain at the soccer game, even though he is fearful, because he needs to help Sohrab. In contrast to Amir’s childhood when he ran away from fights and challenges, Amir now faces danger head on because he regrets his past cowardly experiences and wants to use his courage to assist others. During a fight with

Baba invites Hassan to go to Jalalabad with him and Amir. After hearing this news, Amir utters that, “it should have been just the two of [them]” (82). Amir denies Hassan time with Baba for his own selfish reasons, without having concern for Hassan’s feelings or needs. Amir feels threatened by Hassan, so in order to make himself feel more secure, he attempts to disclude him. While eating dinner at Wahid’s house, Amir notices that one of Wahid’s children is staring at him. Amir assumes the boy is looking at his arm, and Amir, “unsnapped the wristwatch and gave it to the youngest of the three boys” (238). The word “gave” has a positive connotation and implies that Amir was happy to help. He willingly gives up something important to him for someone he just met, proving he has matured into realizing that he has the ability to give to the less fortunate. Talking to Sohrab outside of the mosque, Amir asks him, “Would you like to come and live in America with me and my wife?” (320). Sohrab coming to live with Amir and Soraya in America would uproot Amir’s life. However, Amir decides to offer anyway because he knows Sohrab is in desperate need of help. This is an act of benignity that proves he does not only care about himself. In the beginning of the book, Amir rarely went out of his way to help others, but Amir