Amir's actions in the Kite Runner do not make him a despicable character, but rather a wounded boy that had no idea what to do with himself. Although many would probably disagree with Amir's action prior to, and following Hassan's rape, I think that it is important to keep in mind that at that point in time Amir was an 11 year old boy, who was put in the terrible position of having to make the choice of possibly putting himself in the same position of danger his friend finds himself in, or keeping quiet. There could have been the possible option of running to get help for Hassan's situation, but as an eleven year old child I could imagine Amir was left struck in fear, all processes for thought being cut by fear and panic from the situation that was happening in front of him. From personal, and friend experience I know that not many people would know what to do in a situation like Amir's in present day, let alone when they were eleven years old. As an eleven year old you have just been introduced into the idea of consequence and doing what is right, not to mention at this point in life you are still very young, and don't have much control of stuff that could happen to you. Morals and thinking through possibly options of actions are not present in an eleven year old, and would be present even less in Amir's case, as he has not a great amount of exposure to guidance from a parental figure, as Baba has ignored Amir for most of his short life at that point, and has not made a good impression on Amir from stories that Amir is exposed to of his father being this hurricane of a man, acting uncontrollably. Another point that helps to show Amir as a wounded little boy instead of a despicable character is the fact that even though Hassan is his 'brother' and should have stuck up for someone he has a brotherhood with, Amir has constantly been exposed to the idea that Hazara's are nothing but servants, and that they are to be mistreated, as they are below the Pashtuns. Eleven year olds are extremely impressionable, especially if it is impressioned on to them by someone older/ more respected than they are. Amir knew nothing different from what he had been exposed to all his life, and as a Pashtun he felt like he had no obligation to hellp Hassan. As an impressionable eleven year old who had became scared, and knew no better on how he should take action in a situation like this I do not believe that his actions in this situation should define his character as despicable.
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