Chapter 3 - The Kite Runner

‘no one has ever doubted the veracity of any story about Baba’

Amir has to rely on rumors rather than personal experiences to make this claim. Emphasises the distance between him and Baba.

‘I can never tell Baba from the bear’

Baba is powerful, strong and violent in his nature. Could also suggest how he doesnt know Baba well enough to see him differently from the animalistic nature others see.

‘Mr Hurricane’

A title that reflects upon Babas strength and power as well as his status in society.

‘a towering pashtun specimen’

Baba in this immediate description is described through his identity of being Pashtun, suggesting that being Pashtun is what makes him powerful.

‘Babas snoring - so much like a growling truck engine penetrated the walls’

Very imposing and relentless nature, unyielding. Foreshadows later events e.g. in America as well as leaving Afghanistan. Also a description that paves our impression of Baba for the story.

‘shook their heads in dismay… shook their heads in awe’

The dramatic change from skeptics could also be representative of how in Afghan society your status and reputation could fall or rise immediately with any dishonorable or noble act. This is because of how quickly they change their mind about Baba.

‘I wanted Baba all to myself’

for Amir Baba is like a competition for him a prize that he needs to win. He lies to have him alone, lying is a sin. Wants Baba so much he will sin.

‘I was so proud of Baba, of us.’

Takes the praise for Baba as his own. Short simple sentence that tries to bring them together and create this shared connectivity that doesn’t exist.

‘baba saw the world in black and white. And he got to decide what was too black and too white.’

Very divided view on life, Amir recognises he doesnt fit into this he is more like a grey area for Baba - we learn why later.

‘I felt as if I were sitting on a pair of tree trunks’

not used to sitting on his lap. not used to close proximity. emphasis on distanced relationship

‘…attention shifted to him like sunflowers turning toward the sun.’

Simile, emphasis on Babas high status and nature. Baba becomes like the sun, something bright and strong - people need him to survive if they were sunflowers. later irony..

‘I couldnt decide whether I wanted to hug him or leap from his lap in mortal fear’

complicated relationship

‘bearded idiots’

disrespects people who represent the religion he is supposed to believe in - sinful act. Strong yet away from religion?

‘piss on the beards of all those self-righteous monkeys’

‘written in a tongue they dont even understand’

Doesnt understand the concept of faith, perhaps because he was unfaithful.

‘I already hated all the kids he was building an orphanage for; sometimes I wished they’d all died along with their parents’

starts to take on a more violent image, shows how his love for baba creates a more destructive nature for him. Ironic - realise not proud of the action baba took but what people thought of him - Amir only cares about how he is perceived.

‘every other sin is a variation of theft’

Baba has his own moral compass, take on his ideas he knows he has sinned by taking away the life Hassan could have had. Building an orphanage helps to give a home to children, tries to make up for not being Hassans home although his father.

‘i had killed his beloved wife, his beautiful princess.’

Amir thinks baba hates him for stealing away his wife - takes on his sense of morality about theft. However, we realise thats not why.

‘But I hadn’t turned out like him. not at all.’

different people, short sentences, at this point this is good because Baba is a sinner who treats him badly.

‘That was how I escaped my fathers aloofness, in my dead mothers books.’

His mom becomes a place of solace for him - someone who understands his interests. Position of women - only intelligent women who kind of shapes Amir is dead.

‘real men’ ‘Real men didnt read poetry - and God forbid they should ever write it!’

exclamatory sentence - rejection of societal norms , repetition of ‘real men’ emphasises how Amir suffers under Afghan culture while being priviledged.

‘Baba sensed my lack of genuine interest’

only understands him in regard to his own interests, doesnt care for his.

‘I began to cry.’

Amir exhibits feminine qualities, short sentence.

‘Mostly, I will never forget Baba’s valiant efforts to conceal the disgusted look on his face as he drove in silence.’

Baba doesnt intentionally mean to hurt him but he cannot help it

‘children aren’t coloring books you don’t get to fill them with your favorite colors’

Amir doesnt fit into the black and white world. RK as Amirs protector, he understands him.

‘Never. he just… drops his head and …’

sense of hopelessness in Baba’s words for Amir.

‘A boy who won’t stand up for himself becomes a man who can’t stand up for anything.’

Amir goes against what feels like Baba’s prophecy of his life.

‘Envious, but happy. I mean that’

Baba wants to understand Amir like RK does but he doesn’t get him.

‘If I hadnt seen the doctor pull him out of my wife with my own eyes, I’d never believe he’s my son’

divided, only his son by title and societies will not actually treated as his son.

‘Rahim Khan had been wrong about the mean streak thing.’

Mean to Hassan not bullies - ironic statement. Also takes into consideration what RK said more.