The Kite Runner
The Kite Runner Essay
The word Hero is defined as “a person noted for feats of courage or nobility of purpose, especially one who has risked or sacrificed his or her life.” The main character and narrator, Amir, shows traits of heroism in the novel many times mostly near the second half of the novel when he risks is own safety to return to Afghanistan to aid his father’s sick friend, or when he selflessly gives Wahid’s children money and his own watch. On the other hand Amir also plays the role of Antihero. Antihero is defined as “a main character in a dramatic or narrative work who is characterized by a lack of traditional heroic qualities, such as idealism or courage.” Antiheroic traits are also portrayed in this novel by Amir when he does not stand up for himself and just allows Hassan to defend him. Also when he hides as his supposed best friend gets raped by the local bully. These two, usually contradicting statements and traits are put into somewhat of a perfect balance in this novel; I believe to show like Amir, humans are not perfect.
The first aspects of Amir’s character are at the beginning of the novel when he does not standing up for himself or his friend, Hassan. At the very beginning of the novel, when Amir and Hassam are throwing walnuts at the neighbour’s dog and they get caught, Amir allows Hassan to take all the blame even thought it was all his idea, which shows selfishness. Hassan also acts as Amir’s protector in the novel defending him from neighbourhood bullies. Amir’s father sees this and says “Sometimes I look out this window and I see him playing on the street with the neighbourhood boys. I see how they push him around; take his toys from him a shove here, a whack there. And, you know, he never fights back” (pg.23). One main trait which defines antihero is a person who lacks courage. Amir shows this lack of courage many times throughout the beginning of the novel. The first time is when Amir when the neighbourhood bully
The word Hero is defined as “a person noted for feats of courage or nobility of purpose, especially one who has risked or sacrificed his or her life.” The main character and narrator, Amir, shows traits of heroism in the novel many times mostly near the second half of the novel when he risks is own safety to return to Afghanistan to aid his father’s sick friend, or when he selflessly gives Wahid’s children money and his own watch. On the other hand Amir also plays the role of Antihero. Antihero is defined as “a main character in a dramatic or narrative work who is characterized by a lack of traditional heroic qualities, such as idealism or courage.” Antiheroic traits are also portrayed in this novel by Amir when he does not stand up for himself and just allows Hassan to defend him. Also when he hides as his supposed best friend gets raped by the local bully. These two, usually contradicting statements and traits are put into somewhat of a perfect balance in this novel; I believe to show like Amir, humans are not perfect.
The first aspects of Amir’s character are at the beginning of the novel when he does not standing up for himself or his friend, Hassan. At the very beginning of the novel, when Amir and Hassam are throwing walnuts at the neighbour’s dog and they get caught, Amir allows Hassan to take all the blame even thought it was all his idea, which shows selfishness. Hassan also acts as Amir’s protector in the novel defending him from neighbourhood bullies. Amir’s father sees this and says “Sometimes I look out this window and I see him playing on the street with the neighbourhood boys. I see how they push him around; take his toys from him a shove here, a whack there. And, you know, he never fights back” (pg.23). One main trait which defines antihero is a person who lacks courage. Amir shows this lack of courage many times throughout the beginning of the novel. The first time is when Amir when the neighbourhood bully