Bravery In The Kite Runner

The definition of bravery in the Standard College Dictionary Canadian Edition is, “the quality of mind or spirit enabling one to meet danger or opposition with fearlessness, calmness, and firmness.” Bravery is a quality that is shown by many of the characters in the novel The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini. The characters are brave in their effort to protect physical well-being, personal values, their reputation and sanity. In the novel the characters exhibit genuine bravery in order to guard the things important to them.
Firstly, the characters in the novel display bravery as they protect one another from physical harm. This can be seen in patterns between generations in families. Early on the reader learns that Amir’s grandfather protects
No matter the circumstances Hassan remains loyal to his best companion Amir numerous times through bravery. An example of this is when Hassan promises Amir that he would return the blue kite from the tournament that he won except there is an obstacle in the way. Assef wants the kite that Hassan caught but Hassan would not give it to him saying, “Amir agha won the tournament and I ran this kite for him. I ran it fairly. This is his kite” (77). Hassan is severely punished by Assef for his bravery and he sacrifices much for Amir. In a similar situation, Hassan is bold to defend his loyalty to Amir in admitting to his master that he is a thief. This situation is explained by Amir as he says, “This [is] Hassan’s final sacrifice for me. If he’d [says] no, Baba would have believed him because we all knew Hassan never lied. And if Baba [believes] him, then I’d be the accused; I would have to explain and I would be revealed for what I really [am]” (111). Hassan did not steal anything but he is framed by Amir. Still Hassan is brave as he sacrifices Baba’s respect for him not only to protect loyalty but to protect Amir’s relationship with his father. When Hassan is a grown man he is fearless to protect his loyalty to Rahim Khan. Rahim Khan explains to Amir, “The Talibs said he [is] a liar and a thief like all Hazaras and [orders] him to get his family out of the house by sundown. Hassan [protests]”
Amir is brave journeying to the war torn country of Afghanistan to protect his reputation of how Rahim Khan views him. “[His] suspicions [have] been right all those years. He [knows] about Assef, the kite, the money, the watch with the lightning bolt hands. He had always known” (202). In addition, Baba is daring in accepting being poor and refuses to use food stamps. Baba goes to the welfare agency and “[drops] the stack of food stamps on her desk. “Thank you but I don’t want,” Baba said. “I work always. In Afghanistan I work, in America I work. Thank you very much, Mrs. Dobbins, but I don’t like it free money” (138). He does this to protect his reputation with other Afghani people. Similarly, Baba says to the doctor, “But no chemo medication for me” (165) as he is brave in accepting his death. He knows that he is going to die and there is really nothing to be done to prevent it. Chemotherapy would only prolong his life at his current poor state. Baba does this to protect his reputation. Even though his body is weak, his mind is not. Baba and Amir are willing to risk life and health in order to guard their respectable