I admire Kahled Hossini for having the skill to create a character like Amir: a protagonist hated or disliked by most readers. Amir is an antihero who refuses to act and earn his right to be the main character, which causes a great deal of frustration on the part of the reader. Although I expect Amir will prove his worth later on in the novel, at this point he comes across as a small-minded, self-centered brat. What makes his relatable, however, is the physical torment of guilt that comes after his failure to save Hassan. Amir hates himself for not acting; at the time, he made the decision that was most beneficial to him. As a child craving his father's love, Amir could not risk losing his one big chance. At the same time, because he is a child, he is unable to understand what he truly must do to make his father proud: prove himself to be a hero.
Baba would certainly prefer Amir to come home having saved Hassan than holding a blue kite. Baba himself is trying hard to like Amir; he is continually attempting to convince himself that perhaps his son is not as untalented and selfish as he seems. When Amir asks him in the garden if he ever gave any thought to getting new servants, their new relationship falls apart. This is because Baba sees the comment as a reminder of his son's selfishness.
When Amir fakes Hassan's theft, I was almost glad. The event forces Hassan to tell his father what has happened to him and therefore allows him get the help he needs. This insensitive act also takes Hassan far away from Amir, who only torments Hassan as a product of his own guilt.
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