The Kite Runner - Baba

Baba

Chapter 3:
Baba is first introduced to us through a story/rumour - almost like a legend. No one ever doubts any story about him, which shows the respect towards him from the community (the building of the orphanage - his kind nature). This way, he's portrayed to us an the hero and the bear to be the antagonist. However, Amir goes on to add "I can never tell Baba from the bear" this way, it's already reflective of their bad relationship, and that Amir cannot tell whether Baba is the hero or the villain.

Other descriptions of him portray him as a force of light, "sunflowers turning to the sun", everybody is drawn to him. He has the strength, power and the ability of the sun. Another impression from this quote is that the sun is one being, that enables life for those surrounding, as well as connoting a sense of warmth and happiness, suggesting that Baba gives life and warmth - contrasting to Amir's description of him, reinforcing their negative relationship.

"I will never forget Baba's valiant efforts to conceal the disgusted look on his face as he drove in silence".

This difference in description also reinforces the idea that Amir is an unreliable narrator.

Exposition: Baba being a narrative device in this coming-of-age novel (bildungsroman), so that we're able to see their relationship.

Baba could also be seen as a religious figure - "drop the devil to his knees begging for mercy". 

Uses figurative language: - "black glare"
                                          - "towering"
                                          - "force of nature"
                                          - "drop the devil to his knees" (this is said by a different character than                                                       Amir to reinforce this general opinion).
These show the negative descriptions of Baba, however, there are many contrasts of negative and positive: - "Baba hired the same nursing woman who had fed me to nurse Hassan" (chapter 2)
               
The narrative techniques used for his descriptions are:
- the rule of three
- alliteration (b's and d's)
- "ing" verb endings - adjectives

A key quote for Baba is Amir's introduction to him, "Lore has it my father once wrestled a black bear in Baluchistan with his bare hands" (page 11).