Relationships are an important aspect of everyones life as they are affected by the influences by the people who surround them. In Hosseini’s, The Kite Runner, Amir has different relationships with Hassan, Baba, and Rahim that add to the plot and defines him as a person. Amir is a fairly complex character because the reader not only has to pay attention to Amir's actions but also how Amir feels.
Amir and Hassan have a very complex relationship as Amir does not really consider Hassan his friend and is constantly picking on Hassan about his his culture and insecurities as a boy. The Afghan social hierarchy has dictated that Hassan is a part of the lower class since he is a Hazara, while Amir is a wealthy Pushtan; this only widens the gap between the two boys. Despite all of this, Hassan still insists, “Amir Agha and I are friends.” (43) and he does so without reservation or malice. The relationship between Amir and Hassan is one-sided. Amir and Hassan do things that friends usually do together: play hide and seek, watch movies, both immensely enjoy insect torture as well. One day while Amir is trying to find Hassan he walks through the streets of his home town as he looked and asked others if they saw a Hazara running for/with a blue kite. All of a sudden, Amir heard voices and he found Hassan. Amir saw the blue kite behind the back of Hassan; he protected the kite from the one person that he hated the most. It was Assef. Hassan did not give up the kite and was given two options: He either gave the blue kite to Assef or expected something bad to happen to him. Hassan refused to give up the kite and was molested. Amir catches a glimpse of Hassan’s face and runs away, he betrays the one person who was willing to do anything to be loyal to him. The relationship between Baba and Amir really has two parts; one part is in Afghanistan and one part is when they relocate to America. In Afghanistan Baba is a formidable man. He holds a sense of power about him. In Afghanistan, there seems to be a disconnect between Amir and Baba. When they relocate to America,Baba works at a gas station while Amir attends school. The power shift changes. Amir adapts more easily and Baba seems lesser than his former self. Still Baba is proud of Amir's accomplishments which brings them closer. In terms of father-son relationships, the father is a very important role model for his son, and every boy needs a fatherly figure. Baba is not there for Amir because he does not understand why Amir isn’t exactly like him. doesn’t understand why his son’s interests aren’t similar to his own: “He’s always buried in those books or shuffling around the house like he’s lost in some dream…I wasn’t like that.’ Baba sounded frustrated, almost angry” (23). Baba is actually angry that his son is not a reflection of himself because he wants a son to carry on his name, his machismo, and his business, but he won’t even take the time to develop a bond with his son. Amir’s early years are very tough on him because he lost his mother during his own birth, blames himself for his mother’s death, and lacks a relationship with his father. Baba is a smart and good man at heart; he’s just unable to come to terms with his son’s interests, and ultimately neglects him because there is a lack of a connection. The two have a hard time connecting with one another as they are unable to understand each other. Rahim Khan is Amir's father's best friend and
