Summary Of Khaled Hosseini's 'The Kite Runner'

Kasra Ahadi
The Kite Runner Essay
Bravery is being strong in the moment of pain or fear. In Khaled Hosseini's The Kite Runner, between Baba and Hassan I believe that Hassan showed to have more bravery of the two.
Hassan is a great example of having emotional strength and as being considered a great warrior. He fights and protects for Amir his whole life and never backs down from situations no matter the cost. Hassan's emotional strength gets him a long way in life as he overcomes difficult situations and never backs down from what he believes are right. Hassan is always eager to use his intelligence to help those in need and is optimistic in fulfilling a successful life. The sense of loyalty Hassan carries is a great factor of his personality as he is eternally loyal to those who he believes are important to him, he demonstrates superior inner strength compared to others like Amir. Hassan loved to help others and has a passion for protecting lives which shows a powerful
part in bravery. Hassan's bravery was strongly demonstrated when Assef threatened Amir and Hassan came to protect his best friend. "Assef raised his fist and came for me. There was a flurry of rapid movement behind me... I turned and came face to face with Hassan’s slingshot... Hassan held the slingshot pointed directly at Assef's face “(Hosseini P. 41-42). This demonstration of Hassan's unselfish bravery shows the power of a warrior he has in himself. Even though Hassan could use his talent of using the slingshot around him, he chooses to use it as self-defense towards his friends and loved ones. Hassans great courage is strictly out of love from the ones who he believes are truly important to him but in another
Kasra Ahadi sense, Hassan's bravery shows how powerful and kind hearted he is. On the day he was born his mother laughed at Hassan and left a few days later. Hassan grew up without a mother, a Hazara, and a servant. This makes him one of the lowest of people in Afghanistan. Hassan allows himself to be bullied by Assef just so he can help out his best friend Amir. He even says nothing to Amir about what happened even though he was aware that Amir could have helped him. Hassan is also very brave when he comes back to Kabul when Rahim Khan asked him to, he could have just stayed in the small village but instead he escaped the Taliban and came to save Baba and Amir’s house. The act of Hassan coming to save Baba and Amir’s house gets him killed. The life Hassan lived was full of Brave choices and paths although he would never admit it himself it was clear that he lived a constant life of courage.
Baba is told to be one of the strongest and bravest characters in the novel as he is also referred to as the "big bear".
Baba is a brave man who is trapped between what he wants to be and what he is expected to be by others. He has two sons although he keeps his illegitimate son distant even though he treats him well he doesn’t get to have his name or support. Babas other son, Amir, never lives up to the expectations that Baba has set for him and that hurts Baba to the point where he begins to get upset with Amir. Baba shows incredible bravery when he stands up to the Russian soldiers who wanted to rape the women who was a passenger on the way to Pakistan. Baba gets diagnosed with cancer but refuses to take treatment because he does not want to seem weak. He also knows that the treatment won't do anything as he cannot be cured so he refuses to make himself weaker or seem even the slightest bit weak. Babas bravery comes a long way as he even moves to America so that Amir could have a better
life Kasra Ahadi but ends up having to struggle and work hard to support Amir in America. The wealth, the power, and the comfort he had in Afghanistan was all gone but Baba never complains about it so that he could seem strong to Amir. All of what he has done and risked coming to America was just for Amir so that Amir could have a better education and easier life.
Baba and Hassan have a lot in common in terms of bravery and having the emotional strength to stay on their feet. I feel as Hassan is the stronger individual out of the two because Hassan risks a lot for his friends and will do what he has to do to protect his loved ones and keep them safe. Hassan's optimism and positivity gets him through the toughest challenges, he goes through so much to protect his friends and by the end he escapes the Taliban so he could go save Baba and Amir's house which came out to be Hassan's death. Baba is a very brave man that symbolizes a warrior as well, although I don’t feel Baba is as brave as Hassan is. Although I still believe Baba to be one of the bravest characters in the novel. Baba's shows emotional strength when he chooses not to take the chemotherapy because he does not want to seem weak. He loses everything by moving to America but still continues to be happy even though he lost his wealth, power, and comfort. In America he has to work late hours to support Amir and himself but never complains once because he wants to live up to being the big bear and showing his great strength.