![]() Amir betrays Hassan just as Baba betrayed Ali, and like Baba, Amir must suffer for what he did and pay retribution. Hassan is loyal and long-suffering just like Ali, who kept the secret that Baba had an affair with Sanaubar and that Hassan was not his biological son. The difference between Amir and Hassan underscores the connection between loyalty and family. As we learn, Hassan is so determined to protect Amir and not to cause anyone grief that he keeps his rape a secret. Ali has taught Hassan to be so righteous and loyal that he would not dream of starting trouble and does not hesitate to cover up for Amir. In contrast, Hassan is a servant who has a very close and constant relationship with his father, Ali. Yet his insecurity and fear of Baba makes him unable to stand up for himself or take credit for his mistakes. Amir is a child of privilege who wants attention, so he feels safe and even entitled to getting into trouble. ![]() We learn the basics of Amir and Hassan's relationship early on, as embodied in their mischief making. Hassan's unflinching loyalty to Amir is what results in his rape, his leaving Wazir Akhbar Khan, and one could argue, his death many years later. Amir's lack of loyalty to Hassan is what keeps him rooted to that one moment in the winter of 1975. ‘I don’t think I’ll see the end of this summer,’ he said.” (201).The theme of loyalty is central to the novel. When he nodded, I knew he had read the next question on my face. He wiped his mouth, blotted his sweaty brow from one wasted temple to the other with his sleeve, and gave me a quick glance. When Amir asks Rahim how he is doing, he replies that he is “ ‘Dying, actually,’ he said in a gurgling voice. When he spat into his handkerchief, it immediately stained red.” (201). Rahim also suffers from “coughing fits.” “A violent coughing fit gripped Rahim Khan and rocked his gaunt body back and forth. He got this scar at a soccer game in 1998 in Ghazi Stadium. “He pointed to a scar above his right eye cutting a crooked path through his bushy eyebrow.” (198). “Then, a thing made of skin and bones pretending to be Rahim Khan opened the door.” (197). Rahim has changed a lot physically since Amir last saw him. He had come to say good-bye the night Baba and I had fled Kabul.” (196). “I thought about the last time I had seen Rahim Khan, in 1981. The last time Amir had seen Rahim Khan was in 1981. I think this is a foreshadow into what will happen later in the book. In the beginning of the book, it starts out with Amir getting a phone call from his old friend Rahim Khan to come visit. At the end of his letter, Rahim tells Amir "bravo" and this means a lot to him. He also reads Amir's first written story, and gives him a letter which says how talented he is and encouraging Amir to keep writing. Rahim has been the softer hearted father figure in Amir's life, and refers to him as "Amir jan", which is dear Amir. 32) Amir feels a lot of guilt for feeling this way. "When they left, I sat on my bed and wished Rahim Khan had been my father."(pg. Amir looks up to Rahim, and sometimes wishes that Rahim was his father instead of Baba. ![]() He could possibly be the foil character to Amir's father, Baba, due to the fact that they are such different characters and have much different roles in Amir's life. He is Amir's father's best friend and business partner. Rahim Khan- He is fairly flat character in The Kite Runner so far.
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