The Kite Runner

     Farid becomes Amir's new best friend in a sense in The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini.  One phrase that pops up throughout the book is the phrase that Hassan said to Amir the day of the kite competition.  Hassan told Amir "for you a thousand times over" when he ran the final kite.  In the end, when Amir asks Farid for a favor, Farid responds with " 'For you a thousand times over'," (305).  This brings back the memories of Hassan and his loyalty towards him.  Farid shows that same loyalty towards Amir.  He would do anything for Amir just like Hassan would do anything for him as well.  I feel as if Hassan's presence is shown through many people. It is definitely shown through Sohrab, but also through Farid as well.  Farid stays loyal towards Amir when he waits for him outside the house, and he says he will do whatever Amir asks.

The Kite Runner

     Assef got what he deserved in The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini.  In the beginning, Hassan and Amir told Assef that he would soon be called "one-eyed Assef" if he did not stop bullying them.  Assef laughed it off.  However, Sohrab comes back to give Assef what he deserved.  Assef only has one eye now because "the brass ball was still stuck in his empty eye socket," (291).  The situation in the beginning foreshadows the event in the end.  Assef now has one eye, just like Hassan said he would have.  And he got it with the slingshot.  This was the exact instrument that Hassan was going to use as well.  Assef got what was coming for him.  People shouldn't mess with the blood of Baba.

The Kite Runner

     In The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini Hassan has a harelip that ends up getting fixed by Baba.  After Assef and Amir fight, Amir ends up splitting his lip in half.  Amir realizes that his lip has been cut "Clean down the middle. Like a harelip," (297).  This part brings Hassan and Amir together as one.  I think it shows them finally being able to connect in some way.  Amir has finally resembled Hassan.  Hassan has made his mark and presence known to Amir through the cutting of his lip.  There is finally a way for Amir to realize what it would be like to be Hassan.  This moment shows the impact of Hassan on Amir.  It gets to the point where Amir is physically touched by Hassan.

The Kite Runner

     In The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini Sohrab ends up saving Amir's life just like Hassan did.  Also, they both end up saving Amir with one thing, a slingshot.  Amir is saved twice, once by his best friend, and the second time by his best friend's son.  After Sohrab slings the brass ball into Assef's eye, " 'Bia,' Sohrab said, pulling my hand. 'Let's go!'," (291).  I think it's funny how Amir keeps getting saved because Amir knows that he does not deserve it. It proves how great both Hassan and Sohrab are and their loyalty and respect towards Amir.  Like father like son, both Hassan and Sohrab show what they would do to save a friend's life.  It is like Hassan takes over Sohrab's body to save Amir once again.  They have the courage that Amir has wanted to have all of his life.  They embody all that Amir has dreamed of being.

The Kite Runner

     Fatherhood is a scary thing for Amir in The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini.  Amir is ready to have a family, but it is frightening.  He wonders what sort of father he would be, and "I wanted to be just like Baba and I wanted to be nothing like him" (184).  Amir grew up praising his father and everything about him.  He was excited and nervous to now get the chance to be the father he wanted to be.  However, when it turns out that Amir and Soraya can't bear a child, it hurts them both.  It starts making a hole in their relationship.  They start to feel an emptiness between them.  Amir is saddened at the fact that he won't get to carry on his father's name and be all that his father was.  Fatherhood is important to Amir because of the relationship between Baba and him.

The Kite Runner

     Amir falls in love with Soraya in The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini.  Soraya has had a past that has been talked about among many people.  Amir does not care about her past though because "I had one of my own.  I knew all about regret" (180).  This relatable aspect of Soraya allows Amir to not feel as guilty or as bad because he knows that Soraya has made mistakes as well.  He wishes he had the courage to speak about it but just knowing she has had a bad past makes Amir feel more comfortable.  The past never leaves Amir.  It holds him back in his relationship with Soraya but also allows him to feel better about it as well.  I think that the past will continue to affect different aspects of Amir's life and keep harming him or restraining him in some way. Amir always trying to push away the past will only hurt him more in the future.  It will keep coming into different relationships and be that much harder every time.

The Kite Runner

     Baba and Amir have moved to America in The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini.  This change of setting was a start of a new life for Amir.  A chance to forget and start over.  America was different, and he was willing to adapt.  His willingness was because America was "someplace with no ghosts, no memories, and no sins" (136).  Amir was ready to bury all of his past and plan for a better future.  What he has not realized is how much his past has affected him now and will continue to affect him as he lives in America.  Baba still brings up Hassan every once and a while and Amir still has flashbacks of the times they spent together.  No matter what Amir will not be able to erase his past.  He will bring it into his relationships and his life.