Kite Runner Essay
How does Hosseini present the character of Amir in Chapters 1-9?
The first nine chapters of the novel show us Amir as a boy growing up in Kabul with his very wealthy father and a friend who clearly adores him. However Amir also displays character traits which show him to be a very flawed character. He is very selfish and displays cowardice on regular occasions. He also appears to be incredibly insecure and he constantly seeks his father's approval despite what it means for other aspects of his life. It appears often that the only goal in Amir's life is to impress his father which shows that clearly he and Baba share a dysfunctional father-son relationship. In addition the first 9 chapters provide great detail into the relationship between Amir and Hassan, his supposed best friend although it often appears as if Amir is jealous of Hassan and doesn't view him as a friend at all. Furthermore we are also shown Amir's dishonesty which flares up on regular occasions, most notably in his refusal to admit that Hassan has been raped and also when getting Ali to leave by saying he stole. These traits are those which are most notable in Amir's behaviour and this essay will show how Hosseini presents each of them in different ways and through the use of different techniques.
The first episode which Hosseini uses to reveal an important aspect of Amir's character is in Chapter 3 which shows how vital it is to Amir that he has Baba's approval. In the opening pages of the chapter we are given an insight into how Amir idolises his father to the extent that he dreams about his father fighting a bear. However the chapter also reveals the extent to which Amir goes to try and get his father's undivided attention. Firstly we are shown that Amir lies about Hassan's whereabouts so he can have his father all to himself. By showing Amir's dishonesty, Hosseini foreshadows Amir's willingness to lie in order to get things his own way. This is shown later in the novel by his dishonesty
The first nine chapters of the novel show us Amir as a boy growing up in Kabul with his very wealthy father and a friend who clearly adores him. However Amir also displays character traits which show him to be a very flawed character. He is very selfish and displays cowardice on regular occasions. He also appears to be incredibly insecure and he constantly seeks his father's approval despite what it means for other aspects of his life. It appears often that the only goal in Amir's life is to impress his father which shows that clearly he and Baba share a dysfunctional father-son relationship. In addition the first 9 chapters provide great detail into the relationship between Amir and Hassan, his supposed best friend although it often appears as if Amir is jealous of Hassan and doesn't view him as a friend at all. Furthermore we are also shown Amir's dishonesty which flares up on regular occasions, most notably in his refusal to admit that Hassan has been raped and also when getting Ali to leave by saying he stole. These traits are those which are most notable in Amir's behaviour and this essay will show how Hosseini presents each of them in different ways and through the use of different techniques.
The first episode which Hosseini uses to reveal an important aspect of Amir's character is in Chapter 3 which shows how vital it is to Amir that he has Baba's approval. In the opening pages of the chapter we are given an insight into how Amir idolises his father to the extent that he dreams about his father fighting a bear. However the chapter also reveals the extent to which Amir goes to try and get his father's undivided attention. Firstly we are shown that Amir lies about Hassan's whereabouts so he can have his father all to himself. By showing Amir's dishonesty, Hosseini foreshadows Amir's willingness to lie in order to get things his own way. This is shown later in the novel by his dishonesty