The Kite Runner Amir Character Analysis Essay Example

Every Human’s Inner Strength is one of the most important functions in overwhelming adversity, as inner strength shapes who they are and how they will grow as a virtue of conquering adversity and hurdling obstacles. The Kite Runner, written by Khaled Hosseini in 2003, is a novel that focuses on the resilience of 2 characters: Amir and Baba. Amir and Baba flee Kabul, Afghanistan to avoid the shameful past that will provoke both of them, no matter where they get up and go. Resilience is an unquestionably important part of The Kite Runner, and chiefly in the dynamic between Baba and Amir. Their relationship is the perfect example of resilience. While the relationship is indubitably tense and not trustworthy, it never breaks. Amir’s path to salvation is treacherous and vigorous, leading him down countless paths and imposing on him very tense situations and decisions,  The most effective way to overcome adversity, and notably in The Kite Runner, is through resilience and perseverance.

From the beginning to the end of The Kite Runner, the readers learn Amir looks up to his father, and always tries to seek his approval, but Baba doesn’t identify Amir as a strong-determined man, how he would like to look at him. But, Amir won’t give up and he will never back down from challenges, at least in the later stage of his life.  One quote from The Kite Runner that stood out was when Amir finally talks about the effects of not having his father by his side, “My whole life I had been "Baba's son". Now he was gone. Baba couldn't show me the way anymore. I'd have to find it on my own. The thought of it terrified me.” (Hosseini, 161). The reason this quote is important is because since Baba was no longer with Amir, Amir has to learn the hard way that resilience and perseverance are the 2 utmost important traits in surviving adversity. I also think that Baba no longer being with Amir is excellent for Amir, because there is infinitely less pressure from Baba, but substantially more pressure to persevere. A quote from The Kite Runner that was eye-catching is when Amir gets one of his ribs broken, but he lets out a laugh when he says, “My body was broken—just how badly I wouldn’t find out until later—but I felt healed. Healed at last. I laughed” (Hosseini, Ch. 22). Amir says he feels healed because he finally redeemed himself against Hassan. The reason he accomplished his redemption? Resilience and Perseverance. If Amir had stopped Assef from r*ping Hassan a couple of years ago, he would’ve gotten beaten up and at that point in his life, he wouldn’t have wanted that. One personal experience of resilience and perseverance was a couple of years ago when I hurt my ankle and required to be out for 3-4 months. Rather than dwelling on it, I immediately realized I have to get back to training and started to rehab my ankle intensely. In place of 3-4 months, it was two and a half months. Even when I didn’t want to train or do rehab, perseverance and discipline were bringing me to happiness and doing what I love to do the utmost.

In conclusion, the most effective ways to overcome adversity are resilience and perseverance. Throughout The Kite Runner, Amir pushes through many of the challenges that his lifestyle and the world present, some examples include getting into fights with the Taliban, betraying Hassan by allowing his rape, struggling to become the man his father wants him to be, etc. Amir often opens up in the book about his struggles with becoming the man his father wanted him to be, but he doesn’t need to become the man his father was. Amir learns so many valuable lessons from experiences and people in The Kite Runner who aren’t named Baba. So, through resilience and perseverance, Amir trickles through all of his early life struggles with his father and the betrayal of Hassan and ends up getting redemption.