Perception In The Kite Runner

Individuals perceive themselves based on their beliefs, attitudes and opinions on themselves. Self perception is shaped by various factors, including past experiences, culture and feedback from others around them. An individual perceiving others is also based on beliefs, attitudes and opinions that can affect them. The way people see themselves and others goes hand in hand. It brings out the truth of the golden rule which is treating others the way you want to be treated. The author, Khaled Hoesseini presents the interplay on how one perceives themselves and how others perceive them in the novel “The Kite Runner” through the protagonist Amir. Amir not only experiences the journey of self-perception, but of how others perceive him through many

The final thought of personal growth is shown massively by the protagonist, Amir. Amir betters himself by perceiving himself as a much better person later in the story. Amir used to see himself as a bad, selfish person for example witnessing Hassan’s rape. This guilt has lived with Amir his whole life, he has been looking for redemption his whole life and has finally done it by saving Hassan’s son, Sohrab from Assef. Amir changed his old perceivement into a new person who Hassan believed he would be. Amir makes a realization at the end of the novel saying, “There is only what you do and don't do.” This realization makes the reader think of how far Amir has come, from perceiving himself as shy and weak to now standing up to Assef and saving Sohrab. When people see him stand up to Assef they now perceive him as a whole new person who has changed for the good. Amir's next point, he presents is his journey back to Afghanistan which shows his personal growth from leaving a war-torn country and now coming back stronger than ever. By coming back to the country where he was perceived with guilt and shame shows that he is now the man that can stand up for anything like Baba spoke on. Amir has gained the value of standing up for himself which promotes the way he perceives himself and how others perceive him. Amir is now accepted as a good person for redeeming what he has done. Lastly, Amir was perceived as a person who wanted to send Hassan away due to his guilt and jealousy. Now Amir has built up values such as strength, confidence and bravery which played a role in granting custody of Hassan’s son, Sohrab. People surrounding Amir in this situation now perceive him as a thoughtful, supporting person which is very different from his past self. Amir has grown a significant amount in the novel which allows others to perceive him as a morally