The Kite Runner

Throughout this story, I have noticed many internal problems Amir faces. He goes through a "tough love" relatinship with his father, he faces problematic relationship with his best friend, Hassan, he faces his fathers death, and he, in the end, faces all the problems that he ran away from in the past. The novel, The Kite Runner, by Khaled Hossieni cirlces an overall theme of character versus self.

Amir, first of all, faces his father, who seems to show more fatherly love to hassan than to amir. He does not show much affection to Amir who yearns for his love and works hard to it. For example, he tries and wins the kite running tournament because his father shows a hint of encouragement that he might twin this year's contest. While competing, he sees his father standing on top of a roof, pumping his fists, rooting for him. He had finally saw proof of his father's love and he is happy.

His relationship with Hassan started as any normal friendship would be. After hassan's rape, Amir begins to feel guilty that he hadn't done anything to help his best friend out. He has an internal conflict overtime he hangs out with his best friend because he is constantly reminded of what he did not do. He tries to get Hassan to pelt him with pomegranates, as if he was getting his revenge,but that does not work. He finally figures that being away from Hassan, running away from his problems, would solve them. And so Amir sends him off. His whole life is lived in the shadow of the mistakes of not helping Hassan, throwing pomegranates at him, and expelling him from his life.

He then faces his father's death.  His father, although he didn't show it often, loved him very much.  He said that Amir lets others fight for him, and even Amir, himself, admits this.  He leans on Baba throughout his whole life, and is not ready to let go.  After his father dies, he is unsure of how he would survive on his own.  Luckily, he married Soraya before his father died.  She was always there to help Amir through life, taking the place of Baba.

Once he finally returns to Afghanistan, he is flooded with the many problems he has left behind.  The most obvious was the problem with Hassan's son.  Since he feels as though he is in debt to Hassan, he has an urge to do what his heart tells him to do, but his heart tells him not to.  He is also faced with his childhood towns and life turned to ruble.  He grew up living in these towns, playing in these towns, and eating in these towns, but when he returns, his once beautiful, great childhood environment completely destroyed and all the culture left crushed.