Amir and his father Baba
Amir’s relationship with his father
It obvious from the beginning that Amir and his father, Baba, have not had a close but instead a problematic father and son relationship. Amir loves and admires his father to no end, yet Baba seems to have little time for his son and it almost looks as if Baba prefers Hassan as his own son.
Amir seems to believe that Baba blames him for the death of “his beloved wife, his beautiful princess”, as she had died giving birth to Amir. Although we don’t fully know whether there is any truth to this concept, this is the idea Amir has in his head. One night when Amir overhears Baba telling Rahim Khan that “there is something missing in that boy”, Amir becomes determined to win back his father’s love and respect at any cost. Amir believes that the only way to redeem himself and be forgiven by his father is to win the annual kite flying tournament. “The blue kite” is Amir’s “key to Baba’s heart” and Amir believes that letting his beloved friend be raped be the dysfunctional bully, Assef, is “the price [he] had to pay” to win back his father’s loving affection and pride. Amir pretends that he had no idea about what happened to Hassan in that alley in order to get his blue kite and win his father’s love. Without even recognising the pain in his friend’s eyes, “the first thing [he] saw was the kite”. Amir goes further to betray his lifelong friend by framing him and making it seem as though Hassan was a thief. Amir knows that Baba believes “there is only one sin...and that is theft”, and tries to turn Baba against Amir by making him believe he had stole from his son. This goes to show how inconsiderate and determined Amir is for the longing affection of his father.
On the other hand, Baba seems so see Amir as a replica of his mother and “a boy who can’t stand up for himself”. Baba believes that Amir has a closer connection with Rahim Khan than he does with his own son and doesn’t seem to “believe he’s my son”. When Amir offers his story
It obvious from the beginning that Amir and his father, Baba, have not had a close but instead a problematic father and son relationship. Amir loves and admires his father to no end, yet Baba seems to have little time for his son and it almost looks as if Baba prefers Hassan as his own son.
Amir seems to believe that Baba blames him for the death of “his beloved wife, his beautiful princess”, as she had died giving birth to Amir. Although we don’t fully know whether there is any truth to this concept, this is the idea Amir has in his head. One night when Amir overhears Baba telling Rahim Khan that “there is something missing in that boy”, Amir becomes determined to win back his father’s love and respect at any cost. Amir believes that the only way to redeem himself and be forgiven by his father is to win the annual kite flying tournament. “The blue kite” is Amir’s “key to Baba’s heart” and Amir believes that letting his beloved friend be raped be the dysfunctional bully, Assef, is “the price [he] had to pay” to win back his father’s loving affection and pride. Amir pretends that he had no idea about what happened to Hassan in that alley in order to get his blue kite and win his father’s love. Without even recognising the pain in his friend’s eyes, “the first thing [he] saw was the kite”. Amir goes further to betray his lifelong friend by framing him and making it seem as though Hassan was a thief. Amir knows that Baba believes “there is only one sin...and that is theft”, and tries to turn Baba against Amir by making him believe he had stole from his son. This goes to show how inconsiderate and determined Amir is for the longing affection of his father.
On the other hand, Baba seems so see Amir as a replica of his mother and “a boy who can’t stand up for himself”. Baba believes that Amir has a closer connection with Rahim Khan than he does with his own son and doesn’t seem to “believe he’s my son”. When Amir offers his story