Katerina Vysotsky Alice Neideigh World Literature and Composition 09 May 2024 Insecurity in The Kite Runner “You have been criticizing yourself for years, and it hasn't worked. Try approving yourself and see what happens” – Louise L. Hay. This is an example of advice that should’ve been given to Amir in The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini. This book follows the life of Amir: his childhood of insecurity, his improvment in character, and his life of guilt. Growing up, Amir lacked affection from his father, Baba, leading him to be insecure and doubtful in himself. He grew up with Hassan, his childhood servant and friend. One day, Hassan was raped, and Amir cowardly ran away. This event left Amir feeling guilty for the rest of his life. It also …show more content…
Of course, this was not the case. As the years went by, the images of that winter would flash in his mind, and he would never forget his bad treatment of Hassan. As his guilt ate at him, he eventually matured and realized his need to make amends. He goes to Pakistan and finds out from Rahim Khan that Hassan is his half-brother, and Hassan’s son, Sohrab, needs to be rescued from Afghanistan. Full of hurt and betrayal, Amir ponders his life and realizes this mission is not only a way to atone for his own sins, but also Baba’s. They “had both betrayed the people who would have given [them] their lives” (Hosseini 226). Amir had hurt Hassan in so many ways, insecure and envious of his treatment, not knowing that all along they were brothers. Baba also lived a life of guilt and insecurity. He had slept with Hassan’s father’s wife and had allowed Hassan to grow up as a servant, and without knowing his true relationship with him and Amir. Baba lived his life doing whatever he could externally to overcompensate for his own shortcomings, and Amir lived his life internally, allowing his insecurities to sway his decisions. However, Amir had also matured during his life.