a mere servant, for reasons that Amir cannot understand; in contrast, Baba is demanding and distant with Amir. Baba's treatment of his two sons creates in Amir a deep insecurity and jealousy that leads to his two betrayals of Hassan, his friend. The subsequent shame and self-hatred almost destroy Amir.

The relationship between Baba and Amir changes, however, and the change directs events once they immigrate to California and make a new life. Baba does love Amir, which Amir comes to realize, first during their dangerous escape from Afghanistan and later when he watches his father struggle to support them. Living in poverty brings them together as they work side-by-side to eke out a living. Baba's love for Amir is further demonstrated when he acts to help Amir realize his marriage to Soraya. Because the relationship between Baba and Amir has changed so profoundly, Amir and Soraya make a home for Baba and care for him with great tenderness while he is dying.

Fatherhood plays an important role in The Kite Runner, by Khaled Hosseini. The most important is Baba, Amir's father. Because of his position in the community, Baba does not approve of Amir's literary interests, but continues to love and support him; Baba also has an illegitimate son, who he does not acknowledge because of cultural taboos.

Baba is stubborn and willful, and shows a sharp streak of pragmatism; however, he also holds his own beliefs to high standards and refuses to bend to pressure. Baba's triumphal moment comes when he defends a woman from rape at the hands of Russian soldiers:

That was when Baba stood up. It was my turn to clamp a hand on his thigh, but Baba pried it loose, snatched his leg away. When he stood, he eclipsed the moonlight. "I want you to ask this man something," Baba said. He said it to Karim, but looked directly at the Russian officer. "Ask him where his shame is."

They spoke. "He says this is war. There is no shame in war."

"Tell him he's wrong. War doesn't negate decency. It demands it, even more than in times of peace."
...

"Tell him I'll take a thousand of his bullets before I let this indecency take place," Baba said.
(Hosseini, The Kite Runner, Google Books)

With this act, Baba demonstrates to his son that morality and bravery are more than platitudes; Baba is willing to sacrifice himself to protect a woman he does not even know, and willingly faces death to uphold his beliefs. These lessons stick with Amir into his adulthood, allowing him to make similar decisions when asked for a difficult favor by a family friend.

The two important fathers in The Kite Runner who have lost their wives are Baba, Amir's father, and Ali, who is believed to be Hasan's father. Both deal with their sons differently.

Ali is very loving towards Hasan. It comes out later that Ali is sterile, and Hasan is actually Baba's son, but Ali, grateful for the chance to raise a son at all, treats him with love:

Hassan's father, Ali, used to catch us and get mad, or as mad as someone as gentle as Ali could ever get. He would wag his finger and wave us down from the tree. He would take the mirror and tell us what his mother had told him, that the devil shone mirrors too, shone them to distract Muslims during prayer. "And he laughs while he does it," he always added, scowling at his son.

Ali's wife, who hated him for his disabilities, left soon after Hasan's birth, and Ali deals with his loss by loving Hasan as much as he can. He knows the truth about Hasan's father, but does not begrudge it, instead appreciating Hasan's mere existence with his words and actions.

Baba, on the other hand, is somewhat disappointed in Amir's introversion and interest in writing, and so treats him sternly; he wants his son to be strong and brave, and sees this in Hasan instead. Amir becomes jealous of Baba's clear love of Hasan, but he doesn't know that Baba has a real reason for the love:

How could I have been so blind? The signs had been there for me to see all along; they came flying back at me now: Baba hiring Dr. Kumar to fix Hassan’s harelip. Baba never missing Hassan's birthday. I remembered the day we were planting tulips, when I had asked Baba if he’d ever consider getting new servants. Hassan's not going anywhere, he'd barked. He's staying right here with us, where he belongs. This is his home and we're his family. He had wept, wept, when Ali announced he and Hassan were leaving us.
(Quotes: Hosseini, The Kite Runner, Google Books)

Baba's pride and his love for both his sons allows him to manifest different signs for each; he approves of Hasan with his actions while keeping silent about his fatherhood, but supports and loves Amir while teaching him strength through adversity.