Amir's Guilt In The Kite Runner

Words: 347
Pages: 2

The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini has an array of characters who have great importance to the story, but no character is quite as crucial to the plot as Assef. If Assef was not a character in the novel, Amir would not have had the same obstacles involving his guilt to overcome and the story itself would not be as impactful. When Assef is in the alleyway with Hassan, Amir overhears him saying “I’m letting you keep the kite, Hazara… so it will always remind you of what I’m about to do” (78). This is the moment when Amir’s guilt truly begins; all his decisions from this point on are because he blames himself for never stepping in to save Hassan from Assef. Another reason for Assef to be in The Kite Runner is to help show parallels between Sohrab