his past sins by moving to America in order to give his son a second chance at life. While one could argue that Afghanistan shares similar qualities to a tragic hero, it would be a stretch to consider the country a protagonist. Afghanistan is more appropriately considered an integral setting that affects the story’s plot.

While Amir does not fit the precise definition of a classical tragic hero, he does share many qualities of tragic heroes. Amir's tragic flaws are his jealousy, cowardice, and hesitant nature. Amir resents Hassan for earning Baba's respect and admiration. His jealousy and cowardice prevent him from intervening to save Hassan when Hassan is raped by Assef. Amir’s decision to not intervene while Hassan is being raped haunts his childhood and affects him into his adult life.

In addition to Amir's tragic flaw, he recognizes his transgressions and accepts responsibility for his actions after receiving a phone call from Rahim Khan. While it is a tragedy that Hassan died a brutal death, Amir finds redemption and atones for his sins by saving Hassan's son, Sohrab. Unlike a classical tragic hero, Amir and Sohrab have a bright future, which is depicted by Sohrab's enthusiastic reaction to flying a kite at the end of the novel. Despite Amir's tragic flaw and traumatic experiences, he ends up finding redemption and giving Sohrab a second chance at life. The story ends on a positive note, and the audience has faith that Amir and Sohrab's relationship will eventually flourish.

While one could logically argue that Baba, Amir, and the country itself are all protagonists, Amir meets the requirements most thoroughly of a tragic hero. 

Tragic downfall: Amir is viewed as the only son of one of Afghanistan's most prestigious businessmen.  He not only literally falls from his wealthy, respected state to being an unrecognized struggling immigrant in America, but he also figuratively falls out of favor with "God" or morality because of his betrayal of Hassan. 

Tragic flaw: Amir's tragic flaw is jealousy/selfishness.  He wants Baba's approval so badly that he is willing to get rid of or sacrifice anything that gets in his way. While he sacrifices Hassan in order to get the last fallen kite, he also realizes that if he gets rid of Hassan, he will no longer have to divert Baba's attention from the young servant boy.

Tragic realization: When Amir realizes that he must go back to Kabul to rescue Hassan's son and ultimately faces Assef again, he experiences somewhat of a realization that he has brought most of his trouble upon himself.  His true realization occurs when he recognizes his responsibility to Sohrab and pursues adopting him and bringing him to a safe place--America.

While Baba also goes through the main steps of a tragic hero, he dies before he truly has an opportunity for a tragic realization.  He never confesses to Amir that Hassan is his half-brother or truly apologizes to Amir for showing no interest in his writing until he is on his deathbed.

Likewise, the jury is still out on Afghanistan.  Perhaps it will have a happier ending and a positive "realization."  Right now, the situation is very grim for Hosseini's homeland.

There is a sense of reconciliation at the end of the novel and a sense of unity present.  It is in this where it might be hard to find a tragic sensibility.  Yet, if I were to find a tragic element, Afghanistan would be the protagonist.  Afghanistan is shown to be the one force that does not find any sort of redemption.  It is shown to be a nation that has been ravaged by war and political abuse mixed with blight and neglect.  The war with the Soviet Union raged on and left the nation as a gutted shell of what it used to be. This was only made worse with the ascension of the Taliban into power.  The hope that the Taliban would right that which was wrong was dispelled quite quickly when the repressive and terrorist measures of the Taliban becomes evident.  

It is in this condition in which Hassan's sad plight can be seen.  Like Afghanistan, Hassan served his master in terms of Amir and his family very nobly and with honor.  Like Afghanistan, he becomes physically and emotionally disfigured, not taking his loyalty and service into account.  Like Afghanistan, his voice is sought to be rubbed out of memory.  If The Kite Runnner is in fact a tragedy, Afghanistan would be the tragic hero because of what it endured and how it struggles for validation in a setting that refuses to acknowledge or validate any notion of experience.  The tragic condition of Afghanistan becomes the one constant throughout the narrative.  The broken hopes, ruptured dreams, and futility of individual action all become part of the vision of Afghanistan that is evident from a tragic reading of the novel.

In this novel, Amir seems to stand out as the tragic protagonist. Tragic protagonists are often good people with flaws that cause pain to both themselves and others.

Amir's almost holy dedication to gaining his father's love and being the type of son that his father would be proud of causes most of his immoral actions and resulting guilt.

For example, Amir feels that his father wants him to be more like Hassan. Because he is jealous of the boldness and athleticism that makes Baba respect Hassan, Amir uses every instance he can to demean Hassan's lack of schooling and lower social status.

Amir's decision to not intervene and stop Hassan's rape is also due to his desire to obtain the love and respect of his father. He knows winning the kite tournament and bringing home the last kite will make Baba proud of him, and he is willing to let Hassan be violated to achieve this goal.

All of Amir's cruelty and immorality stems from the fact that he feels unworthy and incapable of attaining his father's respect. This is what makes him tragic.