The protagonist in Khaled Hosseini's novel The Kite Runner, Amir, is motivated by guilt for most of his adult life for an act he committed in childhood. More specifically, it was an act he did not commit: he witnessed the rape of his best friend, Hassan, but did nothing to intervene. In fact, Amir violently rejected Hassan, desperately ashamed and discomfited by interacting with him.
Later, Amir's guilt leads him to return to Afghanistan and rescue Hassan's son. However, it is not solely Amir's guilt that pushes him to this, some might say courageous, decision. As is revealed later in the text, Hassan is in fact Amir's half brother, fathered by Baba. In returning to Afghanistan for Sohrab, Amir recognizes Hassan's relationship with Baba as legitimate, complete with the responsibilities due to a family member in need.
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