How Does Amir Show Identity In The Kite Runner

Sometimes it takes trauma to learn one's true identity in life. One example that addresses that theory is in Khaled Hosseini’s The Kite Runner. Throughout this novel, the protagonist Amir went through extremely traumatic events, that lead him down a path of self-discovery and resulted in personal growth. Amir allowed himself to be feigning for his father's approval in Kabul growing up, where he recognized the lasting effects his father had on his own identity. Then through this battle of self-discovery, Amir found himself in a situation where he was incapable of standing up for Hassan, his best friend, and servant, as he was tragically assaulted in the alleyway. Amir ultimately took accountability, and because of it accepted a beating from the man who did the unspeakable in the

This happened through many experiences throughout his journey, one being the constant need for Amir to win over Baba’s favor. It was evident since day one, ever since Amir was granted Hassan as his servant, that there was a constant competition to win his father's approval. Amir was never really athletic or capable of the physical activities Baba enjoyed that Hassan took part in. An example of this was at Ghargha Lake where Hassan once skimmed his stone eight times on the lake when Amir only skimmed it for five. Amir admits, “He asked me to fetch Hassan too, but I lied and told him Hassan had the runs. I wanted Baba all to myself,” (Hosseini 13). Since the very beginning of his journey, it was easy for Amir's father to turn his head toward Hassan for all of his abilities, but it left his son in the dark, feeling inferior to the boy that was supposed to be his servant. After years of growing up with this internal struggle to be better, Amir realized that in many ways, Hassan was always liked more by Baba than he was, and there was nothing he was able to do to change