The Kite Runner Identity Analysis

In the novel The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini, the culture that Amir grows up with hinders the form of his identity because of the conflicting factors. When most people create their own identity, Amir’s identity is formed by the pressure from the things around him. Baba is one of the most influential factor that structures Amir’s identity. He treasures the Pashtun culture and applies it on Amir. Another factor that make who Amir he is are the guilts from himself and his dad. Base on the Afghani culture, an ideal man is one that is strong and powerful. Amir’s father values this culture and sets this expectation on Amir. At the end of chapter three, Baba says, “I am telling you, Rahim, there is something missing in that boy. … A boy who won’t stand up for himself becomes a man who can’t stand up to anything.”(P.22) Amir spends a lot of time trying to live up to his father’s expectations. However, the things that Amir has been doing does not impress Baba. Baba constantly look down to Amir and consider him “unmanly”. What is going on between Baba and Amir certainly does not support

As a result, he struggles with his true identity. His father wants him to stand up for his friends, but the religion stops him from helping Hassan because he is not a Pashtun. After running away from the incident that happened to Hassan, Amir says, “I finally had what I’d wanted all those years. Except now that I had it, I felt as empty as this unkempt pool I was dangling my legs into.”(P.85) Amir’s religion contradicts with his father’s belief. Amir regrets that he took the advantage of Hassan in order to please his father, and realizes that he does not deserve getting approved by Baba. Instead of standing up for Hassan, Amir runs away and sacrifices Hassan to benefit himself. Guilt disturbs Amir’s world, he then starts to search for redemption with a not peaceful