Baba is presented as a very generous man but Amir disagrees outside the orphanage, the next day, they had ran out of chairs. A lot of people had to stand and watch the ceremony this quote shows Babas generosity as out of his own money Baba builds an orphanage. This also shows his determination and stubbornness as he didnt listen to the doubters telling him to hire and architect, he would design it on his own. Hosseini emphasises the size of the crowd in his word-choice a lot of people had to stand this shows how large the amount of people was at the ceremony. Having such a large number of people at the ceremony shows how important and popular Baba was. These actions could be Babas way of making up for past mistakes in his life, as if like Amir, hes trying to redeem himself from his past sins.
Baba is kind and legal to his servants Ive never laid a hand on you Amir, but you ever say that again hes not going anywhere do you understand?This shows Babas loyalty to his servants and he would rather lay a hand on his son than get new servants. I imagine baba saying this quote in quite an angry, tearful tone, this adds meaning as baba hates crying especially in front of people, particularly weakness and shame. This could show a flaw in Baba as he wouldnt refrain from hitting his own son and that words Hosseini chooses and Hassan Hassans not going anywhere, do you understand? this suggests he doesnt care about Ali, only Hassan.
Baba is a very proud man and does not enjoy taking charity. and that was how baba ended those humiliating food stamp moments at the cash register and alleviated one of his greatest fears: that an afghan would see him buying food with charity money this shows pride as he would rather go hungry than use food stamps. Another example of Babas pride is when he at a checkpoint leaving Kabul and a Russian soldier tries to take advantage of an afghan woman, Baba stops the soldier, the soldier points the gun at Baba and Baba says till him hed better kill me good with that first shot. Because if I dont go down, im tearing him to godamn pieces this shows his pride as he would sooner die than let an in-justice take place. Babas pride gets in the way when he is asked for id in the shop and he goes crazy. He nearly gets arrested because his culture is different in Afghanistan. In America being asked for id is a common question but Baba thinks hes slandering his pride. Hosseinis word choice emphasis his pride as he says one of his greatest fears: that an afghan would see him buying food with charity money this word choice shows that he doesnt fear death only the questioning of his integrity and honour.
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Amir spends his whole life trying to live up to the expectations of his father Baba. Amir runs kites like Baba used to and when he becomes a champion like Baba did, Baba finally finds something to be proud of Amir for. Assef sexually abuses Hassan in an attempt to get the kite but Hassan refuses as he knows how much Babas pride in Amir will mean to Amir. Amir lies to cover up the abuse of Hassan. Baba tells Amir that “When you tell a lie, you steal someone’s right to the truth. When you cheat, you steal the right to fairness.” Amir looks up to his fathers view and Hosseinis word choice when saying Wed deceived ourselves into thinking that a toy made of tissue paper, glue, and bamboo could somehow close the chasm between us this shows Amir has realised that the chasm between him and his father will not be permanently closed but the lies used to force it shut may eventually re- open it. It shows that both Amir and Baba have the same feeling they will never be close as they want with each other but have similar views on issues due to Amirs admiration for Baba.
Amir wants to emulate Baba by living a life similar to Babas. Amir used the life Baba lived as a template for his own life, he thinks of the stories he was told of baba wrestling a bear but Amir thinks of this bear as problems such as poverty and war in Amirs life. Amir also marries a teacher like his father and just like Baba falls madly in love with her. Amir says Babas dead and now i have to bury him. Where do I bury him? Where do I go after that? this shows that without Babas guidance he is lost in life. Amirs life is based on following in Babas footsteps and making him happy, without baba in Amirs life Amir has no goals or target to impress.
Amir betrays his best friend and is worried that hell never be good enough to impress Baba, however we find out that Baba also betrays his best friend. Amir lets his best friend get sexually abused and Baba has a child with his best friends wife this means although Amir doesnt know he and Baba are similar in major ways. Hosseinis word choice and Hassan Hassans not going anywhere, do you understand? shows that even after his best friend forgiving him for such a sin he only cares about Hassan not Ali his best friend, and his word choice when he says “I don’t know what Ive done, Amir Agha. I wish you’d tell me. I don’t know why we don’t play anymore this shows even after Amir watching and not helping Hassan, Hassan forgives his actions but Amir just hides away from Hassan and never talks to him so they are both similar as they betrayed their best friends and were forgiven but did not take the fact they were forgiven.
Throughout the novel Baba is portrayed as a brave hero with anger problems and very strong morals. Hosseini portrays the character in many ways throughout the story. Our view of Baba changes from admiring him to being disappointed in his flaws as Babas life is described in more detail. Hosseini portrays him in this way to show that the differences between Amirs flaws and qualities is very minimal. My reaction as even though Amir knew little of his fathers life, his flaws were similar as they both betrayed there best friends but had good qualities in regards to strangers and family.
