The Kite Runner

Amir is shaped by Hassan by Hassan's thoughts and comments on Amir's actions and choices. For example, when Amir wrote a story and read it to Hassan, Hassan's initial reaction to the story was exactly what Amir had wanted to hear, "Some day, Insallah, you will be a great writer," Hassan said. "And people all over the world will read your stories"(Hosseini, 36). This made Amir feel happy and confident about both his story and himself. Although, when Hassan merely questioned a minor part of Amir's story, his whole mood and feelings towards Hassan at the moment changed drastically, "A voice, cold, and dark, suddenly whispered in my ear, What does he know, that illiterate Hazara? He'll never be anything but a cook. How dare he criticize you?"(Hosseini, 37). This proves how Hassan's thoughts and comments on Amir's actions and choices affect him. This also shows that when Hassan ever questions or says something negative to Amir, Hassan being a Hazara becomes relevant. Therefore, this demonstrates how Hassan shapes Amir.

For the most part, Amir shapes Hassan positively. For example, Amir reading to Hassan because he is illiterate brings joy to Hassan, "But despite his illiteracy, or maybe because of it, Hassan was drawn to the mystery of words, seduced by a secret world forbidden to him"(Hosseini, 30). Amir reading to Hassan affects Hassan positively because he's helping Hassan do something he loves that he is unable to do himself. Although this shapes Hassan positively for the most part, there's also a few negatives. Since Hassan is completely illiterate, Amir feels a certain power or dominance over Hassan, "My favourite part of reading to Hassan was when we came across a big word that he didn't know. I'd tease him, expose his ignorance"(Hosseini, 30). This shows how Amir has complete control over Hassan when it comes to certain things. Therefore, this proves how Amir shapes Hassan both negatively and positively.