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

Abstract

This article explores the image of the father in The Kite Runner and A Thousand Splendid Suns by Khaled Hosseini. Through a comparative literary analysis, the study examines how different paternal figures—such as Baba, Jalil, Rasheed, and Hakim—shape the moral, psychological, and emotional development of the main characters. The article highlights fatherhood as a complex construct influenced by patriarchy, social norms, silence, guilt, and responsibility. It argues that Hosseini presents fathers not merely as authority figures but as morally ambivalent individuals whose actions and omissions deeply affect their children’s lives. By contrasting nurturing, neglectful, and oppressive models of fatherhood, the article demonstrates how paternal influence functions as a central force in themes of trauma, redemption, and ethical transformation within Afghan society.