Kite Runner Internal Conflict

In the novel The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini, there are many different important conflicts throughout the story. These conflicts are brought upon by the recurring motifs, such as redemption and loyalty. The different dissensions support the ideas of characterization by how they react to the sudden adversity in their lives. Amir attempts to redeem himself through Hassan’s son, Sohrab, by saving him and giving him a better life. Further developing the meaning of the story, connoting the mental struggle and the way priorities change over time, keeping readers mindful of the motifs and how they impact each character.
One of the most noticeable conflicts that emerge in the earlier chapters seem to be almost mundane, but does overall effect the

Compensating for the deficits of the way he treated Hassan completely consumes him. He shut him out of his life and then realizes how the heinous act on Hassan should be when the friends should have come together, rather than drift apart. He only realizes this when he learns about Hassan’s son, and tries to redeem himself through Sohrab. Amir says: “I have gone back to Afghanistan to bring back my half-brother’s son” (329), which changes the original conflict of redeeming himself to his father to redeeming himself to his best friend. This characterizes Amir due to how his priority shifted from his father to his friend, not concerned anymore about impressing his father, but rather vindicating his poor treatment of his friend by caring for his only son, and making sure that what happened to Hassan will never happen to Sohrab again, finally saying that Hassan “meant a lot to [him]” (237). Further along the storyline there are many times where Amir defended Sohrab, compensating for the times when he did not stand up for Hassan, allowing the sexual assault to take place because Hassan was a hazara. Later on in the story, readers note that General Sahib called Sohrab a hazara boy, and Amir stated: “...you never again refer to him as ‘Hazara boy’”(213), which shows some of the character development with Amir, showing how he is willing to stand up for someone, which is what his

Amir’s internal battle trying to fight off the crushing weight of the pain it caused him to see his family so loyal to him, yet he could not be loyal in return. This originates with Hassan and the fact that Amir did not act to save him from Assef, later when Amir was being an unloyal friend who was not there when Hassan needed him the most. When Hassan asked Amir what he did wrong, Amir told him, “I’ll tell you what a want you to stop doing” (88), while one would expect to be offended and even fight back at the impudent response, Hassan just replies with “Anything” (88). This exhibits not only the characterization of Hassan, but the willingness of how far he’ll go for a boy who does not even show him any respect. After Amir completely disregards Hassan and almost seems to flee from his problems as he goes to the United States. Later when Sohrab begins to converse with Amir, the son states that Hassan told him that “[Amir] [was] the best friend [Hassan’s] ever had” (306), this develops the characterization of Hassan as a loyal friend and further advances the previous conflict between Hassan and Amir. Even after Amir had left his friend for the United States, Hassan was still tragically devoted to his friend. However, it was not only Hassan that was devoted to Amir, but also his son Sohrab. When an old conflict emerged between Assef and Amir emerged