In ‘The Kite Runner’, Khaled Hosseini depicts Amir as someone who tries very hard to get something that he desires, however does not receive it. In this case, Amir did not really ‘win’ Baba’s love. Through his early childhood, Amir and Baba’s contrast in each other caused much of the problem, and after the kite flying tournament, Amir’s guilt had driven them further apart. However in America, Baba truly begins to appreciate Amir for who he is and not who he expects him to be.
PARA 1
• • In Afghanistan, Baba’s stark contrast with Amir made him look down on him and never really loved him (Amir’s love of writing and reading) He goes to soccer matches and shit and pretends he likes it but he doesnt - “I would not think that he was my son” - “The problem, of course, was that Baba saw the world in black and white. And he got to decide what was black and what was white. You can’t love a person who lives that way without fearing him too. Maybe even hating him a little. “
• “Baba and I lived in the same house, but in different spheres of existence. Kites were the one paper thin slice of intersection between those spheres.”
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PARA 2
• Hassan’s rape drives Amir’s relationship further with Baba even though he had given the kite to him. (Amir asking for new servants and Baba responding “ Hassan’s not going anywhere”)
• Temporary love: goes back to normal when baba remembers about ali “There is only one sin, only one. And that is theft. Every other sin is a variation of theft.”
“Baba and I lived in the same house, but in different spheres of existence. Kites were the one paper thin slice of intersection between those spheres.”
• The incident drives Baba to look down on Amir again.
• Baba never loved him; instead he used him as a tool for pride and boasting. (Kite flying tournament) Baba would have never thrown me a party like that if I hadn’t won the tournament.”
PARA 3
• Even in America, Baba did not really love Amir
The news of cancer helped baba to form a relationship with amir as he knew he had to appreciate it while he was still on this earth – this was the closest to actual love and appreciation amir ever got
• Soraya and Amir’s marriage and Education and new car were because Baba transferred his love for Hassan onto Amir.
• Baba never once mentioned in America that he loved Amir
I am Moftakhir, Amir,’ he said. Proud.”
“This is the happiest day of my life”
• The way he expressed the love was not because of Baba’s love for Amir but Baba’s love for Hassan
• When Baba says he is proud of Amir as he was about to die was not because he loved Amir but because Amir had actually achieved something instead of being a coward. Also because Baba always looked down on Amir and this was the only time that Baba thought they were equal.
• Baba acknowledges that he accepted Amir but didn’t love him
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