Reaction: The Kite Runner

Wendell Pfeffer

11/3/13

Reaction: The Kite Runner

The Kite Runner really reminds me of my childhood – the happiness, the fun and games. So far this book has brought a smile towards my face. Life is going great for Amir, Hassan and Baba (the father), but soon Afghanistan will turn for the worst and the story will go from a multitude of happy memories to sad ones. Assef right now seems to be the only problem; he is nothing but trouble. He is the person every kid in Kabul fears - he is a bully, a tormentor, a racist and a sick human being. He uses his brass knuckles and ruthlessness to assert his power. Hassan in particular is a victim of Assef; Hassan does absolutely everything for Amir. For example, when Hassan retrieved the blue kit for Amir, Assef and his weaklings trapped him and gave him two options to either give up the blue kit or suffer the consequences. Hassan didn’t give up the blue kit because he thought Amir deserved it and as a result he was raped/hurt psychologically. What really angers me the most is why Amir didn’t do anything to prevent him from getting raped. He stood, heard and almost watched but was to scared to do anything. He even goes off running agreeing with whatever he heard Assef say. To me this makes Amir a bad friend, friends stick up for each other and help each other out. Hassan does his job as a friend but Amir does not. Even after these unfortunate events I still believe Amir thinks Hassan is his true friend but is to embarrassed to actually show it in front of others for the reason that he is a Hazara.