Submitted by:
Submitted to: Ms. Murtha
Course: ENG3U1
Submitted on: May 2, 2013
Amir’s Sacrifices for Baba’s Love
Children often feel the need to get constant approval from their parents. No matter how indifferent they may seem, they still take deep satisfaction in making their parents proud. In the novel, The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini, the main character Amir is no different than any other child. He has a constant urge to be praised and recognized by his father. This desire may perhaps be even greater than most children due to Baba’s aloofness towards Amir. Amir goes to extreme lengths to please his father, sacrificing many important things along the way. To please Baba, Amir changes his personality, gives up his own peace and sanity, and sacrifices Hassan. Believing these costs to be worth Baba’s love, Amir easily surrenders them. However, it is not until after he has already given up everything does he come to realize that he has lost much more than he has gained.
When Amir is first introduced as a young boy, he appears to be soft hearted and quite innocent. When bullies happen to attack him and Hassan he is shown to never fight back. He allows Hassan to fight for him instead of choosing to stand up for himself. This trait gets noticed by Baba who expresses his concerns to Rahim Khan. Baba believes that “a boy who won’t stand up for himself becomes a man who can’t stand up to anything” (Hosseini 24). Rahim Khan argues with Baba, trying to make him understand that Amir just does not have it in himself to be mean to others. When Amir overhears this conversation, something in him changes. It is at this point that Amir subconsciously starts to mould his personality into the personality that he thinks Baba would prefer more. He believes that being meaner and more aggressive is the way that Baba wants him to be. This is why Amir convinces himself that “Rahim Khan had been wrong about the mean streak thing” (Hosseini 25). Amir’s initial kindness slowly starts to dissipate from that point, which can be seen during a conversation with Hassan where he “[snaps] at him, [tells] him to mind his own business” (Hosseini 25). Amir has never been mean to Hassan before this point, as he is usually on good terms with him. The rudeness towards Hassan is a result of Amir’s changing personality for the sake of Baba’s approval. The kind and soft hearted Amir makes less of an appearance, instead being replaced by the rude and arrogant side of him.
Amir is always trying to do everything he can to be noticed by Baba in a good light. He always has it in mind to find out different things he can do to please his father. As a result, Amir is never truly at peace with himself, with who is he is, and with who he is not. He wants to be loved by Baba so desperately “because the truth of it was, [he] always felt like Baba hated [him] a little” (Hosseini 20). Amir becomes unhealthily obsessed with receiving praise from his father. One can say that Amir becomes a little mentally unstable because of this deep need. The night Afghanistan is first invaded by the Russians, many bullets are fired potentially putting everyone in danger. However, when Baba hugs Amir as a result of his concern for his safety, “for a brief insane moment, [Amir] was glad about what happened that night” (Hosseini 19). He was glad for the invasion and the gunshots all because it resulted in him getting a worried hug from Baba. Amir does not seem to be able to think logically when it comes to Baba; the deprivation of warm from Baba has made him lose a bit of his sanity. It seems that everything in Amir’s life revolves around trying to please Baba. Even the kite tournament, which is initially supposed to be a joyous and fun game, turns into something much more serious. The tournament, for Amir, becomes the ultimate way to gain love from Baba. The game is no longer relaxing and fun as it had been in the previous years; it becomes something that brings him anxiety and panic, because he is weighing a lot on the outcome of the tournament. The tournament resulted in being Amir’s “one chance to become someone who was looked at, not see, not listened to, not heard” (Hosseini 69). He wanted Baba to be the one looking at him and acknowledging him, resulting in Amir giving up his peace and sanity just for recognition from Baba.
However, the most notable sacrifice Amir has made is Hassan. Hassan and Amir are literally brothers. Even if neither of them knows this fact, they still treat each other as brothers in many ways as they are growing up. However, Amir always seems to be jealous of Hassan because he believes that Baba has more love for him. He can never seem to understand why Baba is shown to have so much interest and approval in a Hazara servant rather than his actual son. Amir’s envy runs so deep that when he told Baba about Hassan being sick he “couldn’t help hating the way his [Baba’s] brow furrowed with worry” (Hosseini 87); Amir gets jealous over such a simple concern. After winning the kite tournament, Amir counts on Hassan to run the last kite for him. Although Amir knows that Baba is already pleased with him for winning the tournament, he wants to go to further lengths to gain praise from him by getting the last kite. When Hassan is cornered by Assef and raped, Amir only hides nearby and watches. Amir does not intervene to save Hassan because he is not willing to risk losing the kite and in the process, Baba’s praise. In that moment he believed that “nothing is free in this world. Maybe Hassan was the price [he] had to pay, the lamb [he] had to slay to win Baba” (Hosseini 82). Amir is willing to give up Hassan and not fight for him, even though Hassan has fought for Amir countless times in the past, just to get the acknowledgment he deeply desires from Baba. To readers this may look like an extreme sacrifice but it seems that Amir has justified his actions to himself, even if only for a little while. It cannot be said that Amir is not affected and disturbed by the abuse Hassan faced. However, when Amir comes home after winning the tournament, he comes to a hero’s welcome, one he has dreamed of constantly. Finally getting what he always wanted, Amir finds it easy for a while to ignore his unlawful actions. Amir’s favourite part was when “Baba held [him] close to him, rocking him back and forth [because] in his arms, [he] forgot what [he’d] done. And that was good” (Hosseini 84). A simple act of getting a hug from Baba made Amir forget about such a terrible thing which only proves how deprived he was of Baba’s warmth and love.
Believing that gaining Baba’s love is of utmost importance Amir deliberately gives up what he can just for it. He is ignorant to the true weight of the sacrifices he is making and the things he is turning his back on. This include Amir changing his personality, abandoning Hassan, and losing his own peace and sanity. Making sacrifices like this is the extreme length Amir goes to, just to please Baba. Amir is a perfect example of a child with a deep urge to be recognized as someone important by their parent. The desire for this can be so great that some children may sometimes go to severe lengths to gain it. This is why it is important that a child is unconditionally given constant approval and love by their parents, or else they will find their own childish ways to gain it.
You May Also Find These Documents Helpful
-
Baba says these words to Rahim Khan while he is talking about Amir at the end of Chapter 3, and the quotation reveals important traits in both Amir and Baba. With these words, Baba sums up one of Amir’s major character flaws—his cowardice—and Baba shows how much value he places in standing up for what is right. Baba is reluctant to praise Amir, largely because he feels Amir lacks the courage to even stand up for himself, leaving Amir constantly craving Baba’s approval. Amir’s desire for this approval as well as his cowardice later cause him to let Assef rape Hassan. The quotation also foreshadows the major test of Amir’s character that occurs when he must decide whether to return to Kabul to save Sohrab. As Amir searches for redemption, the question he struggles with is precisely what concerned Baba: does he have the courage and strength to stand up for what is right?…
- 2948 Words
- 12 Pages
Powerful Essays -
Amir’s favorite activity was to go Kite Fighting with Hassan. The object of the game was to be the last kite in the air while trying to cut the strings of the others. Hassan’s job was to pick up the fallen kites for Amir to keep as prizes. However, the book takes a turn for the worse when Hassan runs off to get the last kite fallen as the greatest prize for Amir. Not only does he find the kite, but also the bully, Assef and his henchmen. Assef sexually assaults Hassan while Amir is watching in the background, too wrapped up in his own ambitions to seek approval from his father. In Amir’s selfishness for approval, he loses not only himself, but also his best friend and half-brother. This loss changes him when he finally opens his eyes.…
- 505 Words
- 3 Pages
Good Essays -
Amir’s complex relationship with his father is a significant factor in his life. Baba, Amir’s father, does not understand his son, he complains to his best friend and business partner Rahim Khan about his confusion with Amir. “He’s always buried in those books or shuffling around the house like he’s lost in some dream…I wasn’t like that” Baba cannot understand why Amir does not have the same interests as he does. When Amir over heard this conversation between Baba and Rahim, it was like “Baba sounded frustrated, almost angry”. Baba is disappointed that Amir is not a replica of him; he wants a son to take over the business and keep his name intact, which is why Baba does not try to make a bond with his own son. “If I hadn’t seen the doctor pull him out of my wife with my own eyes, I’d never believe he’s my son”. Baba is very distant from Amir because he feels that there is no real connection between himself and Amir. Amir’s Childhood was very tough on him because he was brought up without a mother, and blames himself for her death, as she died giving birth to him. Amir also lacks a proper relationship with his father in his early years. Amir makes it clear that he longs to become like Baba and for him and Baba to have that special bond and connection that fathers and sons are meant to have. Baba is an honourable man at heart; he is just unable to understand his son’s interests and neglects him because of it. Amir’s relationship with Baba is very hard on him and makes him feel like he needs to prove something to Baba, which is one thing he has always tried to do his whole life.…
- 662 Words
- 3 Pages
Good Essays -
In Khaled Hosseini’s novel, The Kite Runner, the protagonist, Amir, the son of a wealthy Afghan shares an unlikely friendship with his Hazara servant, Hassan. The two boys are inseparable and Hassan’s loyalty to Amir is unwavering. Amir however, betrays their friendship. He tries to justify his disloyalty by claiming ethnic and caste differences yet any amount of reasoning cannot assuage his guilt. Even when Amir and his father flee war-torn Afghanistan to live in America, the shame Amir feels follows him for years. Twenty-six years later, Amir is given the opportunity to make up for his sins of the past and appease his guilt. In Hosseini’s The Kite Runner, the protagonist’s ability to overcome the guilt that plagues his life is dependent on…
- 907 Words
- 4 Pages
Good Essays -
He can also be called Amir's protector, guardian and teacher because Amir learnt many things from Hassan. From a readers point of view we could never question Hassan's loyalty towards. We see many examples of Hassan's loyalty for example daily routine of serving, sticking up for him against Assef and of most loyal act sacrifice himself for Amir and be raped by Assef. Hassan's action or qualities can never be questioned as wrongdoing or selfish. "For you a thousand times over" Amir on the other hand, we can see many actions of self-centerness, betrayal and jealousy. Through out his childhood he always tested Hassan's loyalty but never tested his own loyalty. Amir while yes being a friend with a Hazara is loyal thing, Hassan was only the backup. " Wondered why he never includes you in games when he has guests? ...something he can play with when he's bored, something he can kick when he's angry." In reference to Baba and Amir, they were not very alike because they shared no interests. Even though Amir cried out for his fathers love, Baba could never accept his Amir for who he was. Baba always wanted more from Amir, to stand up for himself, to be a man and not to sit around and write and read. Amir was not strong minded or willed and was highly emotional and self absorbed. But 26 years later, after the sexually assault of Hassan we see a very different…
- 926 Words
- 4 Pages
Good Essays -
Amir and Baba are completely deceived by each other’s looks. Baba always stood up for himself, and loved playing soccer; Amir on the other hand hates soccer, and is a coward. Amir and Baba don’t know that they really have a lot in common. The main similarity they share is guilt. Baba always had to live with the guilt that he cannot treat Hassan as his own child, because Baba made love to Ali’s wife. Amir has to live with the guilt of not aiding Hassan, when Hassan was being raped. Baba and Amir both kept their guilt to themselves. When Rahim Khan informs Amir about Baba’s secret Amir realizes how much he had in common with his father.…
- 839 Words
- 4 Pages
Good Essays -
For example, an external struggle exists between Amir and his father. Unbeknownst to each other, both characters have initiated a betrayal. Debates regarding the definition of “theft” litter their conversations. In fact, Baba states that “there is no act more wretched than stealing.” (18) Not until the discovery of Baba’s betrayal does Amir truly understand the importance of redemption and the purpose behind his father’s generosity. Similar to Amir, Baba did not account for future emotions regarding his intimacy with Sanaubar; a decision which produced Hassan. Their relationship can be seen in the light of battling kites. Amir feels as though Baba is above him, attempting to cut his line by reminding his son how he had “cut fourteen kites on the same day” (56). Furthermore, Amir’s resentment shows when he reveals his belief that “all fathers…harbor a desire to kill their sons” (29). The protagonist’s philosophy stems from his feeling of inadequacy when compared to his father. In the end, neither father nor son sever the other’s line but rather their personal remorse harms them the…
- 1360 Words
- 6 Pages
Good Essays -
In other words, Baba is very important to Amir’s upbringing through his practice of leading by example. One of the key situations is when Baba forgives Hassan for “stealing” Amir’s watch and money. Throughout his childhood, Baba had reminded Amir that “there is only one sin, only one. And that is theft.” (17) However, in this instance, he let’s Hassan pass without punishment, even though he had broken the one sin Baba believed in. While not an immediate influence, later in life, this gave Amir the courage to see past other people’s weaknesses and faults, and forget his own prejudices when dealing with people, especially his now deceased best friend Hassan, who was of Hazara descent. Similarly, Baba had shown Amir early in life how to treat others correctly, even if they were not of the same ethnicity as you, or perhaps the same social class. Baba was always best friends with Ali, who is a Hazara and Baba’s housekeeper, since the day Baba’s father took Ali in off the streets, and “Ali and Baba grew up together as childhood playmates...just like Hassan and I grew up a generation later.” (25) Baba’s childhood actions had greatly impacted his own future, and therefore influence the childhood and future of his son, showing him to be accepting of people and not to believe the prejudices that other people talked about. In Amir’s life, Baba’s “silent” influence was likely the one of the greatest…
- 1003 Words
- 5 Pages
Good Essays -
In Khaled Hosseni’s novel, “The Kite Runner”, Baba’s secrecy was necessary to avoid shame and to maintain his friendships with Ali and the community. When the secret is revealed to Amir, it affects the righteous held title Amir has always given his father and allows him to accept that even his father had betrayed and lied, allowing Amir closure.…
- 59 Words
- 1 Page
Satisfactory Essays -
The good father archetype tends to be known as a loving, kind, balanced and over all the leader as well as the authoritative figure in a family structure. In the novel The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini, the father figure to the main character is known as Baba, who through out his life has done many great things to prove himself as a great man who in Amir’s eyes can do no wrong. Baba on the other hand has not seen Amir, as the ideal son, not because he doesn’t love him, but simply he does not seem him having the strength to become an adult. One of Baba’s greatest sadnesses we learn, is his lack of relationship with his son(s).…
- 327 Words
- 2 Pages
Good Essays -
Babas lack of love and affection towards Amir has proven to change Amir into a boy that is constantly in search for his fathers love. Amirs best friend,” Hassan” is always there to protect him when he gets into fights because he is too timid to stand up for himself. Baba is reluctant to praise Amir because he feels as Amir lacks courage and is a coward in many situations. For example; when Assef was disturbing Amir, Hassan had to take out his slingshot and threaten Assef to leave at once because Amir was too scared to do anything about it in that situation. “A boy who won’t stand up for himself becomes a man who can’t stand up to anything.”…
- 404 Words
- 2 Pages
Good Essays -
He becomes aware of Baba’s betrayal to Ali, recognizing that his father and he were very much the same and the way he saw Baba as a kid was a false perception of his father. Amir realizes that betrayal is an evil thing and will haunt one until redemption is reached, like it once did with Baba, and now himself. Baba, however, did not have to be too hard on himself, for he tried to redeem himself throughout his entire life, although he made an immense mistake and had an affair with Ali’s wife, resulting in the birth of Hassan, Baba was sincerely sorry and was an honorable man who acknowledged his wrongdoing. Amir’s father was a prime example of a man who was worthy and honorable, he made a mistake, but an honorable man has several…
- 692 Words
- 3 Pages
Good Essays -
This came about when Baba’s darkest secret was revealed by Rahim Khan. The secret was that Baba had slept with Ali’s wife Sanaubar and impregnated her, making Hassan his child. Amir went through a series of mixed emotions at this revelation. Initially the news made Amir furious. He thought of his father as a hypocrite due to all of the lessons he had thought him in his past. Baba once told Amir, ‘There is only one sin – ‘and that is theft…When you tell a lie, you steal someone’s right to the truth.’ (Pg.225) Due to this lesson, Amir couldn’t help but think that Baba’s theft was the worst kind of stealing, since “the things he’d stolen had been sacred: from me the right to know I had a brother, from Hassan his identity, and from Ali his honor.” (Pg.225). As Amir reflected on his father’s deception and betrayal, he started to see himself in a similar way. Amir realized that his father was more like him than he ever knew and this is when their relationship made the final shift. He saw how much they were one and the same. His feelings towards his father finally changed. “Baba and I were more alike than I’d ever known. We had both betrayed the people who would have given their lives for us.”(Pg.226). Amir finally realizes that Baba was a man who also made mistakes and lived with regret. He recognized that the negative behaviors he had witnessed from his father, came from the struggles he had while trying to deal with the guilt and failures of the past. In the same way Amir had also suffered from the terrible things he had done. The big difference is at the end of the day Baba was a better man than Amir was, but Amir knew he had time to change this. From here on, Amir took on the task of redeeming both his and Baba’s mistakes. He agreed to go on the search for Hassan’s orphaned son Sohrab and to take care of him and raise him like he was his…
- 1807 Words
- 8 Pages
Better Essays -
Growing up without a mother really caused Amir to look up to his father. Amir tried to make his father proud in everything he would do whether it was writing stories in his adulthood or fighting kites in his childhood. When Baba passes Amir wondered, "Baba couldn't show me the way anymore; I'd have to find it on my own" (Hosseini 174). Baba was a man of great honor and in Amir's eyes he seemed to make little to no mistakes. Because of his high amount of respect for his father, Amir feels as though he should right his wrongs with Hassan because he knew that Baba loved and truly cared for Hassan. When Hassan and his father, Ali, left it devastated Baba. As Baba mourns their departure Amir states that he "... saw Baba do something I had never seen him do before: He cried" (Hosseini 107). Baba never showed emotion. For Baba to breakdown and actually cry at the fact that Hassan and Ali are gone conveys that he loves and cares for them both. Amir experiencing this display of emotion by his strong father influences him to help Hassan out in any way he…
- 877 Words
- 4 Pages
Good Essays -
Amir is riddled with mental anguish as a young boy when he discovers the true nature of Hassan’s loyalty. As Hassan sets out to run the kite for Amir he says “for you a thousand times over” (67). The promise that Hassan makes seems simple in the beginning. Amir sees it as a reminder that Hassan will always…
- 1306 Words
- 6 Pages
Better Essays