The Kite Runner Chapter 2

  Chapter 2 was focusing on the profile of 4 main characters, Amir, Hassan, Baba, and Ali. Episodes that implies their relationship was interesting and I was really into the story.

  Firstly, Amir is the main character and narrator of the book. In this chapter, Amir's image is most difficult to grasp as there is not much information about his personality or appearance. Other characters are explained in detail from the perspective of Amir. I tried to guess about him through many episodes written. To express in one word, I'll say Amir is ''menial.'' We can see this especially from his relationship with Baba and Hassan. He lived in a beautiful house with an affluent father but wasn't rich in heart. I believe what Amir wanted the most was love. His mother died giving birth to him and he spent a lonely childhood. He desperately desired love from Baba and that's why he became menial, even faking himself to Baba's ideal son. In addition, Amir tends to make fun of Hassan who didn't go to school and looked him down as he was a Hazara (discriminated race) although they were fed on the same breasts and played together all the time. I'm sorry for focusing on his bad part too much but I personally believe Amir is menial or maybe a little mean.

  Secondly, Hassan is an unfathomable key character. Amir and Hassan were always together and his overall profiles are revealed. Amir expressed Hassan's face ''a Chinese doll chiseled from hardwood.'' Hassan got a flat, broad nose, slanting, narrow eyes like bamboo leaves, and cleft lip just left of midline. He had Hazara Mongoloid features and looked different from everyone else around that were Pashtuns. Other children teased him by calling ''Babalu'' or ''Boogema''. In fact, this story deeply connects with the historical background of Afghanistan. Pashtuns had been prosecuted and oppressed the Hazaras especially because their religions were different. Pashtuns believed in Sunni Muslims while Hazaras professed Shi'a. For me and people living in Japan, discriminations due to religious differences are hard to understand. Still, in countries like Afghanistan, even children are influenced by religious prejudice and bully others that are different which I felt really sad and scary at the same time. By the way, Hassan was a generous person who understands everything about Amir and never denies him. We don't really know what Hassan was feeling against Amir and all the discriminations he got. I guess Amir couldn't write it, because he didn't try to understand Hassan from the bottom of his heart and easy simple things often become invisible when you're too close.

  Thirdly, Baba and Amir had a difficult relationship. They don't have a mother who often takes a balance between father and son. Baba's favorite topics are politics, business, and soccer which were completely different from Amir's. He often talked with his friend, Rahim Khan in the smoking room. Rahim Khan made a phone call to Amir which was mentioned in Chapter 1. I thought Rahim Khan was Amir's friend but instead, he was baba's friend. What did Rahim tell to Amir? The answer might be a big hint to understand Baba.

  Fourthly, Ali is a symbol character of misfortune. He had Congenital paralysis of his lower facial muscles and was unable to smile. This means he could only reveal himself through his eyes, windows to the soul. When he was six, his parents were killed by a drunk driver and he was adopted to Baba's house. In addition, polio had left Ali with a twisted and atrophied right leg. When he walks, body tilts impossibly to the right every time and many children tormented or made fun of Ali. He lived in a modest little mud hut and worked as a servant diligently. He married a woman called Sanaubar who was beautiful but notorious for her meanness. Soon after Hassan was born, she eloped with other men without even embracing her baby. Ali experienced many misfortunes like murder, diseases, and wife running away although he was a hard-working gentleman. If it was me, I would just stop believing in god. However, Ali stayed religious and faithful all the time, even memorizing Koran. I'm really interested in why he still believes in god after miseries.

  Lastly, I will focus on the relationship between Amir and Hassan which is essential to understand what happened in the winter of 1975. They both lost their mother when they were little and were always together since then. Their religions, roots, parents, and houses are diametrically opposite and I guess these differences would make Amir commit the sin. The last sentence was ''Foundation for what happened in the winter of 1975 was already laid in those first words.'' In fact, the first word Amir said was ''Baba'' while Hassan was ''Amir.'' I can see this sentence connects with Amir's adhesion to love from Baba. However, I don't know why Hassan's first word was Amir and how it's connected to the following chapter. I'm looking forward to finding it out.