Amir's Loyalty In The Kite Runner

Repay evil with good, this the lesson Hassan teaches his son(Housseini 276), but is this always the right way, even in the face of overwhelming odds. Throughout The Kite Runner Hassan is seen as a moral compass smiling even in the worst of times. On the other hand, Amir the protagonist, struggles with who he is as a person and his past actions. Hassan is the person that Amir wants to be as Hassan is Amir’s idea of a good person. The example Hassan sets for Amir changes him from a bad person to a good person.

From the start of the novel Hassan is loyal to Amir, no matter what Amir does to him. For example, Hassan would say"For you a thousand times over,"(Housseini 55) to Amir, demonstrating his loyalty to his friend. The greatest example of

this loyalty is when Amir frames Hassan for stealing his watch. Instead of denying the theft Hassan falsely admits to stealing in order to protect Amir’s name. Amir quickly realizes this going on and states “This was Hassan’s final sacrifice for me”(Housseini 88). Hassan’s magnanimity refuses to retaliate against Amir, instead, Hassan chooses to sacrifice himself for Amir. Hassan demonstrates his devotion to Amir during the pomegranate tree incident. Amir is attempting to have Hassan strike him by throwing pomegranates at him. Hassan then responds by hitting himself with a pomegranate while at the same time asking “ Are you satisfied, Do you feel better?”(Housseini 78). In the end, Hassan forgives Amir and thinks of Amir as his brother.

Hassan shows his loyalty to Amir once more in the letter that he sends to Amir about his family. Hassan states that he has a desire to see Amir once again and that if he returns to his childhood home he would find an old friend(Housseini 185). The letter is Amir’s deus ex machina for a chance at redemption. It demonstrates that Hassan still loves him and that he wants Amir to meet his family. These words and the discovery that Hassan is Amir’s half brother are what prompt change in Amir’s psyche. These words will lead to events that change not just Amir’s life, but who he is.

Amir reacts in multiple distinct ways throughout The Kite Runner to Hassan’s loyalty and kindness.

At first Hassan is one of Amir’s joys in life from all the times that they play together. Unfortunately, after Hassan is raped by Assef, all that had changes. Amir feels extremely guilty about not doing anything to save Hassan from Assef. Out of guilt, Amir resolves to get rid of Hassan in an attempt to remove his guilt, Amir goes on to say “One of us had to go,”(Housseini 86). Afterwards Amir would live with the guilt of what he had done for a large portion of his life, he would regret his actions to the point of having insomnia and nightmares. It is not until the day Rahim Khan called Amir and tells him “a way to be good again,”(Housseini 166) that Amir takes his first steps to redemption. In order to make things up to Hassan, Amir goes to Kabul in order to rescue Hassan’s son Sohrab. It is not until Assef had begins beating up Amir, Amir admits that he feels healed(Housseini 248). After Amir takes Sohrab back to the U.S, when Amir is flying kites with Hassan’s son Sohrab, Amir finally feels free of the guilt that had been tormenting him for many years. Amir then makes a personal oath to make things better for Sohrab”For you, a thousand times over,”(Housseini 328). Amir had finally forgiven himself and becomes a new

person.

In the end Hassan is the catalyst for major changes in Amir's life. From the time that they are young boys, Hassan is Amir’s guiding light. Hassan is not just Amir’s servant but also his brother whether the two know it or not. Hassan is kind to Amir even when Amir commits terrible acts against him, because Hassan believes in Amir. This belief changes Amir in profound ways, from a young boy who suffers from nightmares and acted out, To a man who would put his life on the line to save his nephew.