Baba forgives him, despite the fact that, as he explained earlier, he believes that 'there is no act more wretched than stealing.' Hassan and his father Ali, to Baba's extreme sorrow, leave anyway. To force Hassan to leave, Amir frames him as a thief, and Hassan falsely confesses. Already jealous of Baba's love for Hassan, he worries if Baba knew how bravely Hassan defended Amir's kite, and how cowardly Amir acted, that Baba's love for Hassan would grow even more. Amir reacts indifferently because he feels ashamed, and is frustrated by Hassan's saint-like behavior. Afterwards, for some time Hassan and Amir keep a distance from each other. He witnesses the rape but is too scared to help him. Wondering why Hassan is taking so long, Amir searches for Hassan and hides when he hears Assef's voice. Hassan refuses to give up Amir's kite, so Assef exacts his revenge, assaulting and raping him. Hassan goes to run the last cut kite, a great trophy, for Amir saying 'For you, a thousand times over.' Unfortunately, Hassan runs into Assef and his two henchmen. One triumphant day, Amir wins the local tournament, and finally Baba's praise. Hassan is a successful 'kite runner' for Amir, knowing where the kite will land without even watching it. Assef and his henchmen back off, but Assef says he will take revenge.

He prepares to attack Amir with his steel knuckles, but Hassan bravely stands up to him, threatening to shoot Assef in the eye with his slingshot. However, he has a kind father figure in the form of Rahim Khan, Baba’s friend, who understands Amir better, and is supportive of his interest in writing stories.Īssef, a notoriously mean and violent older boy with sadistic tendencies, blames Amir for socializing with a Hazara, according to Assef an inferior race that should only live in Hazarajat. Amir also fears his father blames him for his mother’s death during childbirth. Amir’s father (who is generally referred to as Baba, 'daddy', throughout the book) loves both the boys, but seems critical of Amir for not being manly enough. ISBN 1-57322-245-3 (first edition, hardback) & ISBN 1-59448-000-1 (paperback edition)Īmir, a well-to-do Pashtun boy, and Hassan, a Hazara and the son of Amir's father's servant, Ali, spend their days in a peaceful Kabul, kite fighting, roaming the streets and being boys.

Kite runner