How Does Amir Change In The Kite Runner

In Khaled Hosseini’s The Kite Runner, Amir is a complex character who struggles with his past, and is haunted by his guilt. In the novel, Amir witnesses Hassan, his family’s servant and his half-brother, getting raped one night when they were children. Despite having a close bond with Hassan, considering him a brother before Amir even found out they were siblings, he does nothing. He chose to run away and let Hassan get raped, all so he could win the pride of his father, Baba. This changes Amir and Hassan’s relationship completely, which triggers a series of events that ultimately end in Hassan and Ali, Hassan’s adoptive father, leaving Amir and Baba for good. Amir feels horrible for everything he does, but tries moving on, growing up as the

Amir sees this big change as a chance to move on and escape his past. He goes on to be happily married, develops a closer relationship with Baba, and even becomes a successful writer. One day, however, he gets a call from Rahim Khan, Baba’s best friend, asking to see Amir, and is told there is a way to be good again. Amir then visits Rahim Khan in Pakistan, and is told that Hassan had been killed. Amir realizes he can no longer apologize to Hassan directly for what he had done, but Rahim Khan goes on to tell Amir there is still a way for him to redeem himself, in Hassan’s son, Sohrab. After some contemplation, Amir starts searching for Sohrab, going through his childhood home, Kabul, which has now become a dangerous place. He finally finds Sohrab, only to discover he is under Assef’s care, and has been sexually abused by him, just like Hassan had been. Amir tells Assef, “I want to take [Sohrab] to a better place” (285). Amir wants to get Sohrab away from this life, away from the monster that is Assef, and keep him safe. Amir wants to protect Sohrab, and it is his way of making it up to Hassan. Assef agrees to let Amir take Sohrab, but at a price: Amir has to fight Assef for him. Amir complies, and as he is getting beat up by Assef, he starts laughing, claiming he “felt at peace” (289) as justification for his laughter. Despite getting hit repeatedly, Amir feels calm. He believes he is finally receiving the punishment he craved as a child for betraying Hassan. The fight eventually ends with Sohrab saving Amir, and they run. After some time, Amir asks Sohrab, “Would you like to come live in America with me and my wife?” (320). Not only does he ask this because he and his wife cannot have children of their own, but also because he wants to provide Sohrab with a better life. It illustrates another instance of