Examples Of Amir's Identity In 'The Kite Runner'

Martin Ortiz Alvarez

Honors English II

8th period

May 4th, 2023

"The Parental Influence: Amir's Identity in The Kite Runner"

Father and son, daughter and mother—these are some examples of common bonds in a family. When looking further into it, our parents always tend to influence our identities in one way or another. For instance, a parent's religious or political beliefs can often shape a child's values and worldview. In the novel "The Kite Runner," we watch how Amir, the sensitive and intelligent son of a well-to-do businessman, attempts to gain approval and acceptance from his father, Baba. Throughout the story, Amir tries to impress Baba by excelling in sports like kite flying, which is a popular pastime in Afghanistan and one that

Hassan tends to get mistreated and disrespected by Amir due to his jealousy of not gaining his father's attention. “I went downstairs, crossed the yard, and entered Ali and Hassan’s living quarters by the loquat tree. I lifted Hassan’s mattress and planted my new watch and a handful of Afghani bills under it. I waited another thirty minutes. Then I knocked on Baba’s door and told what I hoped would be the last in a long line of shameful lies” (Hosseini, 2003, pg. 104). In this scene, Amir plants his new watch and Afghani bills under Hassan's mattress, falsely accusing him of theft and hoping to get rid of him and Ali. This action reveals Amir's cruel nature towards Hassan and his willingness to frame his closest friend to win his father's trust. Amir states, "What I hoped would be the last in a long line of shameful lies." This is a primary example of figurative language. The irony extends to the fact that Amir is accusing Hassan of theft when, in reality, Amir is the one who has attempted to steal Hassan's chance at a happy life by betraying him. The accusation is also ironic because it highlights the power dynamic between Amir and Hassan - while Amir holds the privilege and social status, it is actually Hassan who holds the moral high ground. Hosseini uses irony to underscore the theme of betrayal and its impact on the characters' lives. Hazaras are a minority ethnic group in Afghanistan, often marginalized and discriminated against, while Pashtuns are the dominant ethnic group in the country, enjoying more power and privileges. To fully understand the significance of this event, the ethnic and social divide between Pashtuns and Hazaras, the two main ethnic groups in the novel, exacerbates the mistreatment and abuse that Hazaras like Hassan face. Amir, as a privileged Pashtun, sees himself as superior to Hassan, who is his Hazara