1. The Outsider By Shannon, Jasmine and Kelvin

2. The Outsider  Definition: Someone who does not belong to a particular society or group Someone who is isolated from the activities or concerns of a community  Examples in The Kite Runner: Amir Hassan Baba Soraya Sohrab

3. Amir  “But he’s always buried in those books or shuffling around the house like he’s lost in some dream. I wasn’t like that.”  “There is something missing in that boy.”  “If I hadn’t seen the doctor pull him out of my wife with my own eyes, I’d never believe he’s my son.” - Baba (pg 19-20) This shows that Amir was considered an outsider due to his behaviour and personality His nature contrasted with Baba’s, which made him an outsider in his eyes

4. Amir (continued)  “You’ve always been a tourist here, you just didn’t know it.” - Farid (pg 204) Amir still thinks of Afghanistan as his home country However, he lived a luxurious life compared to the rest of Afghanistan Seeing a poor beggar on the street makes Amir feel like an outsider in his own country

5. Hassan  “They call him “flat-nosed” because of Ali and Hassan’s characteristic Hazara Mongoloid features.” - Amir (pg 8) Both Hassan and Ali are considered outsiders due to their physical appearance which labels them as Hazaras  “What does he know, that illiterate Hazara? He’ll never be anything but a cook. How dare he criticise you?” - Amir’s conscience (pg 30) This shows the bloom of Amir’s betrayal Amir begins to consider Hassan as an outsider who does not deserve to be his friend

6. Baba  “For me, America was a place to bury my memories. For Baba, a place to mourn his.” - Amir (pg 112) While Amir finds solace in forgetting his sins, Baba becomes lost without his old friends and life This makes Baba feel like an outsider in America

7. Soraya  “But no ‘khastegars’, no suitors, have knocked on the general’s door since.” - Baba (pg 123) Soraya was generally avoided by other men due to the fact that she had left her home to live with another man before Amir was also portrayed as an outsider Getting together has allowed the two of them to feel less like outsiders because they have each other’s company

8. Sohrab  “People stopped asking why he never spoke. Why he didn’t play with the other kids.”  “Like dull wallpaper, Sohrab had blended into the background.” - Amir (pg 318) Sohrab is still mourning his old life and refuses to let go of his feelings As a result, he becomes mute and almost invisible to others He is labeled as an outsider by other Afghan people in the community

9. Conclusion  Why does Hosseini emphasise the position of an outsider? It shows us how important friendships and relationships are We see the impact on a character when they are isolated This is a way of showing a character’s vulnerability