THE IMAGE OF THE FATHER IN “THE KITE RUNNER” AND “A THOUSAND SPLENDID SUNS”

Abstract

This study explores the image of the father in Khaled Hosseini’s novels “The Kite Runner” and “A Thousand Splendid Suns”, focusing on how paternal figures shape the emotional, moral, and social development of the main characters. In “The Kite Runner”, the character of Baba is portrayed as a powerful yet emotionally distant father whose high moral expectations and public heroism profoundly influence Amir’s sense of guilt, identity, and quest for redemption. Baba’s contradictions his generosity toward society and emotional restraint within his family create a complex father–son relationship marked by admiration, fear, and unspoken love. In contrast, “A Thousand Splendid Suns” presents the father figure primarily through Jalil, whose weakness, hypocrisy, and failure to protect his daughter Mariam result in deep emotional trauma and lifelong insecurity. Jalil’s absence and moral cowardice highlight the destructive consequences of paternal neglect, especially within a patriarchal society. By comparing these two representations, the study reveals that Hosseini uses father figures not only as personal influences but also as symbols of broader social and cultural values in Afghan society. The analysis demonstrates that fathers in both novels play a decisive role in shaping their children’s identities, illustrating how authority, silence, and responsibility or the lack thereof can determine the characters’ paths toward suffering, resilience, or redemption.