Similarities Between The Kite Runner And Forgiving Our Fathers

A fatherly attribute is one of the most important positions of a child’s life. The novel and poem show the strained relationship of a father and a child. This novel corresponds to the poem “forgiving our fathers” by Dick Lourie, because of the absences of both their mothers and traits of a poorly influenced father; irrational, critical, and deceitful. It shows the complications of the child's and father’s relationship, but when they forgive their fathers, what do they have left? The fathers portrayed in The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini and “forgiving our fathers” by Dick Lourie demonstrates the characteristics that influence their children, therefore, resulting their mentality.

Abandoning your child leads to nothing but a physical and emotional

relationship. Amir feels abandoned and is persistently lacking for Baba’s attention. Unfortunately, Baba does not show much awareness considering that he is a very occupied man. Whenever he is available, he chooses to spend time with his close friend, Rahim Khan, rather than Amir. Amir had many attempts getting his attention, but when he does, Baba would give him little to no responses. Baba and Amir have their differences and similarities, but their differences make a bigger impact on both of their lives. Baba seems unappreciative and ashamed to have Amir as a son, included in the passage: “If I hadn’t seen the doctor pull him out of my wife with my own eyes, I’d never believe he’s my son” (pg 23). Baba’s intimidation to Amir is exceedingly ignorant, owing to the fact that Amir is not identical to him. This makes him angry, because he knows Amir would not take over his business any time in the future, thus, focus on earning a degree in English. Also, Hassan and Baba have more similarities than Amir and Baba, which is why it seems so difficult
for Baba to be satisfied with Amir. Additionally, Baba’s distance affects his relationship with Amir, and this is one of the pivotal inducement for Amir to betray Hassan. Similarly, to the poem, “forgiving our father”, the father would always depart himself from the child, making the child feel forsaken. “maybe for leaving us too often or forever when we were little” (lines 10-11). These fathers do not show their love and affection toward their child, which explains why their relationship seems so broken. It is a father’s job to contribute to their child as much as possible. With minimal discussions, not only will their connection become stronger, it will bring them closer together. Clearly, when a father is distant and inattentive towards their child, the child feels he or she does not take in a conventional capability in regards their fathers.
Their mothers are apparent in the novel and the poem.

Their absences may seem to have no effect on their child, but it suffices, because mothers are the emotional mainstay of a family. They provide support, sympathy, and protection over their child for additional endorsement. We don't see Amir's mother, Sofia, appear much in the novel, however, she is one of the main reasons why Baba and Amir have such a despairing relationship. Sofia died while giving birth to Amir, and it is understandable why he feels the scarcity in his life. He feels responsible for his mother's death, and this holds Amir and Baba’s relationship from obtaining devotion. As to Hassan, his mother ran off with a group of singers and dancers. Considering that Amir and Hassan did not have a motherly figure comforting them, they relied on each other as a substitution for their mother’s absences. The poem does not reveal or mention any motherly figure as well. Having only one parent is extremely difficult for both the father and child, and this is why gender roles are important in one's life. Fathers can be the substitute for their mothers, but it will still be unbalanced, because mothers and fathers have contradictory ways of raising their child, and that won’t make a significant impact in their child’s life. “for marrying or not marrying our mothers for divorcing or not divorcing our mothers” (lines 15-16). Having only one parent is more strenuous to maintain a better lifestyle for the child, whereas

having both gender roles together can be a well-balanced solution.
Dishonesty and honesty can change a person’s life forever, lying and telling the truth can go either two ways; bad or good.

Baba is considered an honest, determined, and astonishing man. He built an orphanage as an act of kindness toward charity, nonetheless, people do not know the reason behind it.”Every other sin is simply a variation of theft, including lying” (pg 18). Baba betrayed Ali for sleeping with Sora, and for getting her pregnant, therefore, committing these sins himself, deceiving Amir. Papa does not have the capability to admit his mistakes out of the guilt and lives a sanctimonious, false life. This is similar to forgiving our fathers, because the father in the poem had also stolen something from the child. “He that stole your money” (line 3). Lying is something almost every individual would do if they are Motivated or desperate by an aspiration to get people from or by doing something. In this situation, the fathers had lie to their children only for the sake of themselves and the environment. There are always two sides to every story, and the fathers here decided to lie because they thought this is what will be the most suitable way to deal with their

dilemma.
There is always a back-story of why the fathers act toward their kids. They always want what is best for them, even though it seems a little harsh. Fathers and mothers have different parenting styles, and this actually helps the child communicate with a variety of people. These complications had led Amir and Baba to become closer as a whole, and as one together. In the end, everyone’s secrets have come to an end, and each person has their own way of
forgiving or earning redemption. “If we forgive our fathers what is left?” (line 24). When they forgive their fathers, they retrieve freedom and liberation, owing to the fact that they have kept secrets to themselves for a long period. When they finally let them out, not only
will they feel relieved, they will also feel absolved.