AMIR’S ANXIETY AND MOTIVE IN KHALED HOSSEINI’S THE KITE RUNNER

This paper discusses Amir’s anxiety and motive in Khaled Hosseini’s “The Kite Runner". The library research method was applied in this research. In analyzing the data, the structural approach was used to scrutinize the intrinsic elements such as character, conflict, setting, and plot, while the psychological approach was used to examine extrinsic elements such as anxiety and motive of Amir as the main character in “The Kite Runner”. The results show that Amir, as the main character, is a caring, inferior, coward, optimistic, anxious, selfish, careless, sly, and patient person. It also indicates that Amir is a round static character since he has complex traits but his character as a caring person remains the same from the beginning to the end of the story. Besides, as the main character, Amir experienced both internal and external conflicts. The settings of time, social, and place showed the period in Afghanistan between 1975and 2001 and the social stratum, Pashtun and Hazara in Kabul. Dealing with the plot, it starts from Amir’s effort to get Baba’s recognition and respect, Amir’s anxiety after betraying Hassan, Amir efforts to take Sohrab out from Kabul, the liberation of Sohrab from Assef, the Sohrab suicide trial, up to Amir’s effort to get back Sohrab trust. Also, Amir’s anxiety deals with realistic, neurotic, and moral anxiety, while the motives are safety and security need, belongingness and love need, and self-esteem needs.


Khaled Hosseini's The Kite Runner
tabulation. After collecting the data, they were analyzed through the following steps, such as analyzing the intrinsic elements by applying a structural approach. Finally, extrinsic elements were analyzed by using a psychological approach to find Amir's anxiety and motive.

The General Description of Amir as the main character
Amir, as the main character, belongs to a round and static character. She has complex traits but his appearance as a caring person still the same at the end of the story. Amir is described as a caring person. Amir's caring can be seen from his effort to calm down Hassan when he was crying. It can be seen by the quotation below: ... I reached across my seat, slung my arm around him, pulled him close. He rested his head on my shoulder. (Hosseini, 2003, p. 7) Amir is also described as an inferior person. This general description can be seen when Amir feels that his passion for a poetry book just made his Baba ashamed.
It can be seen by this following quotation: Of course, marrying a poet was one thing, but fathering a son who preferred burying his face in poetry books to hunting...well, that wasn't Baba had envisioned it, I suppose. The real man didn't read poetry ... Real menreal boysplayed soccer just as Baba had when he had been young. (Hosseini, 2003, p. 17) Amir appears as coward person. This general description can be seen by his confession that he was too coward to save Hassan from Assef, so that he preferred to run away from the alley. It can be proved by the quotation below: In the end, I ran. I ran because I was a coward. I was afraid of Assef and what he would do to me. I was afraid of getting hurt. Hosseini, 2003:68) On the other hand, Amir also can be seen as an optimistic person. His optimism appears when he believes in himself that he can win the kite-fighting tournament to get Baba's recognition and respect. It can be proved by the following quotation : I was going to win, and I was going to run the last kite. Then I'd bring it home and show it to Baba. Show him once and for all that his son was worthy. (Hosseini, 2003:49) Amir is described as an anxious person. His general description as an anxious person can be seen by his body response such as clenching up when he saw Amir and his gang trapped Hassan in the alley. It can be seen from the quotation below: Blocking Hassan way out of the alley...Wali… Kamal… Assef... I felt my body clench up, and something cold rippled up my spine. (Hosseini, 2003:62) Amir is a selfish person. It can be seen by his decision and reason to let Hassan got raped by Amir to save his kite winning. Amir stated that Hassan was a suitable place to pay since he was just a Hazara. It can be proved by the quotation below: Assef was right: Nothing was free in this world. Maybe Hassan was the price I had to pay, the lamb I had to slay, to win Baba. ... He was just a Hazara, wasn't he? (Hosseini, 2003:68) Amir appears as a careless person. Amir's general description as a careless person can be seen when he tried to ask Baba whether Baba wanted to change Hassan and his father with the new servant without paying attention that Baba already accounted for Hassan and his father as Baba's own family. It can be seen by the following quotation " Baba, have you ever thought about getting new servants?"... "I've never laid a hand on you, Amir, but you ever say that again..." ... " You bring me shame." (Hosseini, 2003:77) Khaled Hosseini's The Kite Runner As the main character, Amir is also described as a sly person. His general description as a sly person can be seen by his effort to send Hassan out from his home by putting his money and watch under Hassan's mattress. It can be seen by the following quotation :  (Hosseini, 2003:90-91) Amir is also described as a patient person. It can be seen by his effort to keep maintaining his conversation with Sohrab although Sohrab always keeps in silent. It can be seen by the following quotation : "How are you?" I said. He didn't answer. ... Again I was met by silence. (Hosseini, 2003:307) Conflict Experienced by Amir

Internal Conflict
Amir's internal conflict appears as the result of a clash of emotion within himself when he faces an unpleasant situation. Amir's internal conflict can be seen from his body response such as clenching up when he saw Hassan trapped by Assef and his gang. It can be seen by the quotation below: Blocking Hassan way out of the alley ... Wali .. Kamal .. Assef ... I felt my body clench up, and something cold rippled up my spine. (Hosseini, 2003:62) Amir's fear of Assef, made Amir let Hassan got raped by Assef. This betrayal later makes Amir gets an internal conflict, which can be seen in the insomnia he gets.
When he keeps awake, he tries to say to someone that he saw Hassan raped by Assef.
Amir confessed to himself that he did not want to live with that kind of lie anymore.
It can be seen by the quotation below: " I watched Hassan get raped," I said to no one. ... A part of me was hoping someone would wake up and hear, so I wouldn't have to live with this lie anymore... That was the night I became an insomniac. (Hosseini, 2003:75) Amir's internal conflict also appears when he finally knew that Hassan, a person he betrayed for his purpose when he was a kid is his illegitimate half brother.
It can be seen by the quotation below: I felt like a man sliding down a steep cliff, ... The room was swooping up and down, swaying side to side. (Hosseini, 2003:195) Amir's internal conflict can also be seen when he found Sohrab committed suicide because he broke his promise to not sending Sohrab back to an orphanage.
Amir's internal conflict can be seen by his response such as screaming and falling on his knees. It can be seen by this following quotation:  (Hosseini, 2003:299)

External Conflict
As the main character, Amir also experiences external conflict. He has external conflict against Hassan, Baba, Rahim Khan, Reymond Andrew, Omar Faisal, Assef, and Sohrab.
Amir's external conflict against Hassan happened as the clash of ideas and willingness between Hassan and Amir. Hassan came to Amir, asked him the reason both of them never playing together anymore. Amir, who experienced internal conflict as a result of his betrayal toward Hassan, felt stress when Hassan around him.
So that, Amir yelled for Hassan to go away from Amir. It can be seen by the quotation below: ... " I don't know why we don't play anymore."... I buried my head in my lap,... "...I want you go away," I snapped. (Hosseini, 2003:77)

Khaled Hosseini's The Kite Runner
The external conflict Amir had against Baba can be seen from Baba's anger after Hassan asking him whether he would change Hassan and his father with new servants. Amir's question made Baba ashamed. It can be seen by the quotation below: " Baba, have you ever thought about getting new servants?"... "I've never laid a hand on you, Amir, but you ever say that again..." ... " You bring me shame." (Hosseini, 2003:77) Amir's external conflict against Rahim Khan appears when Amir finally knew that Hassan was his illegitimate half-brother. Amir was angry toward Rahim Khan for keeping that secret for a long time. Amir's clash of emotions toward Rahim Khan can be seen by the word he used to call Rahim Khan such a bastard. It can be proved by the quotation below: "You bastard," I muttered. Stood up. "You goddamn bastard!" I screamed. "All of you, you bunch of lying goddamn bastard!" ... "... I'm thirty-eight years old and I've just found out whole my life is one big fucking lie! ..." (Hosseini, 2003:195) Amir's external conflict against Assef happened as Amir's effort to take Sohrab out from Kabul. Assef, who appeared as a Taliban leader, wanted Amir to defeat him first to take Sohrab from the Taliban's house. Amir was not a good fighter. So that Assef gave Amir some physical harassment. It can be seen by the following quotation : Getting thrown against the wall,... Getting hurled against the wall. ... The side of my face slamming against the corner of the television stand. ... Getting kicked. (Hosseini, 2003:250-252) Amir's external conflict against Reymond Andrew happened when Amir went to the American Embassy in Pakistan to propose an adoption petition toward Sohrab.
Unfortunately, Raymond Andrew as an embassy employee, suggested Amir give up since there are many difficulties Amir would get if he kept his willingness to adopt Sohrab. Amir did not want to follow Raymond's suggestion. So, he got up to leave the room. It can be proved by the quotation below: "Your petition to adopt this young fellow. Give it up. ..." "What are you saying, that I should throw him back on the street?" ... I got up. (Hosseini, 2003:288) Amir's external conflict against Omar Faisal as an immigration lawyer happened when Omar Faisal gave Amir an alternative to adopt Sohrab. Amir had to send Sohrab to the orphanage, while Amir had to keep on proposing the orphan and adoption petition. Amir rejected Omar's suggestion since Amir already promised Sohrab not to be sent to an orphanage anymore. It can be proved by the following quotation : "You could relinquish him to an orphanage here, then file an orphan petition. ..." "I don't want to do that," ... "I promised him I wouldn't send him back to an orphanage." (Hosseini, 2003:295-296) The last external conflict experienced by Amir happened against Sohrab. This external conflict happened when Amir delivered Omar's suggestion to send Sohrab to the orphanage for a while as the only alternative they got while Amir would keep proposing the orphan and adoption petition. Sohrab was sad and cried. Recalled Amir that he already promised Sohrab not to sending Sohrab back to an orphanage. It can be seen by the following quotation : "Well, Mr. Faisal thinks that it would really help if we could...if we could ask you to stay in a home for kids for a while." "You promised you'd never put me in one of those places, Amir agha," ... "Please! Please, no!" (Hosseini, 2003:297) (Hosseini, 2003:1-2) Winter is the time setting of the Kite Runner setting when Amir's general description as optimistic dealing with his willingness to join and win the kite-fighting tournament to get Baba's recognition and respect, as an anxious and coward person dealing with his cowardliness and his betrayal toward Hassan. In addition, winter also the setting of time that revealed Amir's internal conflict when he saw Hassan got trapped and raped by Assef. It can be seen by the quotation below: Every winter, a district in Kabul held a kite-fighting tournament. ... (Hosseini, 2003:43) I was going to win, and I was going to run the last kite. Then I'd bring it to home and show it to Baba. Show him once and for all that his son was worthy. (Hosseini, 2003:49) Blocking Hassan way out of the alley... Wali… Kamal… Assef... I felt my body clench up, and something cold rippled up my spine. (Hosseini, 2003:67) In the end, I ran. I ran because I was a coward. I was afraid of Assef and what he would do to me. I was afraid of getting hurt. (Hosseini, 2003:68) March 1981 was a setting of time when Amir and his Baba moved to America because of Kabul's unsafe political and economic condition. By this time, Amir moved to America as a country with a different social situation from Kabul.
The explanation above is based on data number 28 below: March 1981...My innards had been roiling since we'd left Kabul just after two in the morning. (Hosseini, 2003:96) June 2001 was the time when Amir finally went to Pakistan to meet Rahim Khan. In this year, Amir also knew that Hassan was his illegitimate half-brother and finally decided to redeem his betrayal he did toward Hassan by taking out Sohrab, Hassan's son from Kabul. It can be proved by the following quotation: June 2001 ... A week later, I sat on a window seat board a Pakistani International Airlines flight,... (Hosseini, 2003:166-169) "You bastard," I muttered. Stood up. "You goddamn bastard!" I screamed. "All of you, you bunch of lying goddamn bastard!" ... "... I'm thirty-eight years old and I've just found out whole my life is one big fucking lie! ..." (Hosseini, 2003:195 (Hosseini, 2003:198) I looked at the round face in the Polaroid again,... My brother face. ... I found Rahim Khan,...then I told him I was going to Kabul... (Hosseini, 2003:199) August 2001 was the time when Amir arrived in San Francisco after spending a big and rude situation in Kabul and Pakistan. In 2001, Amir began to get back Sohrab's trust again after breaking his promise that made Sohrab committed suicide and lost his trust toward Amir. It can be proved by the following quotation: We arrived home about seven months ago, on a warm day in August 2001. (Hosseini, 2003:312) "Do you want me to run that kite for you?" ... I thought I saw him nod. "For you, a thousand times over," (Hosseini, 2003:323) 2. Setting of Social .. Hassan and I parted ways. I went past the rosebushes to Baba's mansion, Hassan to mud shack... . (Hosseini, 2003:5) The  (Hosseini, 2003:8) Kite-fighting tournament is a tournament that is held annually, every winter in Kabul. The activity which always is held at a particular time and continually is known as a custom. Dealing with the explanation above, kite-fighting can be said as one of Kabul's customs, especially followed by a boy in Kabul and its district. It can be proved by the following quotation : Every winter, a district in Kabul held a kite-fighting tournament. ...the day of the tournament was undeniably ... Kabul, fighting kites was a little like going to war. (Hosseini, 2003:43) The part of the story when Amir sacrifices Hassan got raped by Assef emphasizes the Hazaras' dignity toward Pashtuns. The reason Amir revealed to calm himself down after betraying Hassan, in a sentence "Maybe Hassan was the price I had to pay, the lamb I had to slay, to win Baba. ... He was just a Hazara, wasn't he?" emphasizes the value of Hazaras toward Pashtuns. It can be seen by the following quotation: Assef was right: Nothing was free in this world. Maybe Hassan was the price I had to pay, the lamb I had to slay, to win Baba. ... He was just a Hazara, wasn't he? (Hosseini, 2003:68)

Setting of Place
The setting of place is described as a place where a significant event happened.  (Hosseini, 2003:1-2) Wazir Akhbar Khan was a Kabul district where Amir spent his childhood in his Baba luxuriance. In Wazir Akhbar Khan, Amir's family was known as a rich family who owned the most beautiful house. It can be proved by the quotation below: Everyone agreed that my father, my Baba, had built the most beautiful house in the Wazir Akhbar Khan district,... (Hosseini, 2003:4) Kabul was a city where Wazir Akhbar Khan, a district Amir lived in. In Kabul, a kite-fighting tournament was held every winter. So, Kabul was a place where Amir won the kite-fighting tournament. It can be seen by the quotation below:  (Hosseini, 2003:43) Alley was a place where Amir betrayed Hassan by letting him got raped by Assef. The reasons Amir let Hassan got raped by Assef were Amir was too coward, Amir was afraid to get punishment from Assef, and Amir thought that as a Hazara, Hassan was a fair price to save his kite from getting Baba's respect or recognition. It can be proved by these following quotations: ... I saw him running toward the bazaar awhile ago. ... Hassan was standing at the blind end of the alley... (Hosseini, 2003:60-62) In the end, I ran. I ran because I was a coward. I was afraid of Assef and what he would do to me. I was afraid of getting hurt. (Hosseini, 2003:68) Assef was right: Nothing was free in this world. Maybe Hassan was the price I had to pay, the lamb I had to slay, to win Baba. ... He was just a Hazara, wasn't he? (Hosseini, 2003:68) Hassan's house was a setting of place where Amir's general description as a sly person appeared. In Hassan's house, Amir put some money and his wristwatch under Hassan's mattress to send Hassan out from Amir's house and life dealing with his guilt and anxiety after betraying Hassan for his purpose. It can be seen by the quotation below:

Then I took a couple of the envelopes of cash from the pile of gifts and my watch,... I went downstairs, crossed the yard, and entered Ali and Hassan's living... I lifted Hassan's mattress and planted my new watch and a handful of
Afghani bills under it. (Hosseini, 2003:90-91) Pakistan was a city where Amir met Rahim Khan and later known Hassan's identity as Amir's illegitimate half-brother. In Pakistan, too Amir's external conflict against Rahim Khan, dealing with his anger and shock knowing Hassan was his illegitimate half brother, appears, although later Amir decides to redeem his betrayal by accepting Rahim Khan's request to take Sohrab, Hassan's son, out from Kabul then give him a better life. It can be proved by the quotation below: June 2001... A week later, I sat on a window seat board a Pakistani International Airlines flight,... (Hosseini, 2003:166-169) "You bastard," I muttered. Stood up. "You goddamn bastard!" I screamed. "All of you, you bunch of lying goddamn bastard!" ... "... I'm thirty-eight years old and I've just found out whole my life is one big fucking lie! ..." (Hosseini, 2003:195 (Hosseini, 2003:198) I looked at the round face in the Polaroid again,... My brother's face. ... I found Rahim Khan,...then I told him I was going to Kabul... (Hosseini, 2003:199) Sarak-e-Mehmana was an address where the Taliban house took place. In this place, Amir had an external conflict with Assef as a leader of the Taliban, dealing with Amir's effort to take Sohrab out from Kabul. It can be proved by the quotations below: ...on Street 15, Sarak-e-Mehmana, Street of the Guest. (Hosseini, 2003:239) "You have to earn him." ... Getting thrown against the wall,... Getting hurled against the wall. ... The side of my face slamming against the corner of the television stand. ... Getting kicked. (Hosseini, 2003:250-252) The American embassy is a setting of place where Amir experiences external conflict against Raymond Andrew as an embassy employee. The conflict appears when Raymond suggests Amir to give up toward Amir's petition to adopt Sohrab, but Amir does not want to give up. So that Amir decides to go out from the embassy. It can be proved by the quotation below: The lawn outside the America embassy in Islamabad was neatly mowed,... (Hosseini, 2003:284) "Your petition to adopt this young fellow. Give it up. ..." "What are you saying, that I should throw him back on the street?" ... I got up. (Hosseini, 2003:288)

Khaled Hosseini's The Kite Runner
The bathroom hotel was a setting of place where Amir experienced internal conflict by finding Sohrab committed suicide. The reason for the Sohrab's suicide was because Amir broke his promise to send Sohrab to an orphanage. It can be seen by the quotation below:  (Hosseini, 2003:299) Lake Elizabeth in Fremont was a place where Amir tries to get back Sohrab's trust after he broke his promise, which caused Sohrab to commit suicide. Amir's effort to get back Sohrab's trust is by chasing the kite. It can be seen by the following quotations: I took Soraya, Khala Jamila, and Sohrab to a gathering of Afghans at Lake Elizabeth Park in Fremont. (Hosseini, 2003:317) "Do you want me to run that kite for you?" ... I thought I saw him nod. "For you, a thousand times over," (Hosseini, 2003:323) Plot Perrine (1983, p. 43) states the plot is the sequence of the incident that composed a story. In The Kite Runner, the plot is divided into five levels: exposition, inciting force, rising action, climax, and resolution.
The exposition of The Kite Runner shows Amir's effort and reason to get Baba's recognition and respect. Amir wants Baba to see that Amir was worthy.
Amir's motivation to get Baba's recognition and respect is his assumption that his passion for poetry just makes Baba ashamed and makes him get a lack of attention. It can be proved by these following quotations: I was going to win, and I was going to run the last kite. Then I'd bring it to home and show it to Baba. Show him once and for all that his son was worthy. (Hosseini, 2003:49) Then maybe my life as a ghost in this house would finally be over. ... Maybe he'd call me Amir jan like Rahim Khan did. (Hosseini, 2003:49) ...this was my one chance to become someone who was looked at, not seen, listened to, not heard. (Hosseini, 2003:57) "We won! We won!" was all I could say. (Hosseini, 2003:58) The Kite Runner's inciting force shows Amir's decision to send out Hassan from Amir's home and life, dealing with anxiety he can not bear after letting Hassan got raped by Assef to save his winning kite, by putting his money and watch under Hassan's mattress. It can be seen by these following quotations: In the end, I ran. I ran because I was a coward. I was afraid of Assef and what he would do to me. I was afraid of getting hurt. (Hosseini, 2003:68) Assef was right: Nothing was free in this world. Maybe Hassan was the price I had to pay, the lamb I had to slay, to win Baba. ... He was just a Hazara, wasn't he? (Hosseini, 2003:

68) Then I took a couple of the envelopes of cash from the pile of gifts and my watch,... I went downstairs, crossed the yard, and entered Ali and Hassan's living... I lifted Hassan's mattress and planted my new watch and a handful of
Afghani bills under it. (Hosseini, 2003:90-91) While, the rising action of The Kite Runner shows Amir's acceptance toward Rahim Khan's request, to take out Sohrab, Hassan's son from Kabul, after knowing that Hassan was his illegitimate half brother. It can be proved by the quotations below: Come. There is a way to be good again, Rahim Khan had said on the phone just before hanging up. (Hosseini, 2003:168) "You bastard," I muttered. Stood up. "You goddamn bastard!" I screamed. "All of you, you bunch of lying goddamn bastard!" ... "... I'm thirty-eight years old and I've just found out whole my life is one big fucking lie! ..." (Hosseini, 2003:195 (Hosseini, 2003:198) I looked at the round face in the Polaroid again,... My brother's face. ... I found Rahim Khan,...then I told him I was going to Kabul... (Hosseini, 2003:199) (Hosseini, 2003:250-252) What had happened in that room with Assef had irrevocably bound us. ... "Would you like to come live in America with me and my wife?" (Hosseini, 2003:279) Well, Mr.Faisal thinks that it would really help if we could...if we could ask you to stay in a home for kids for a while." "You promised you'd never put me in one of those places, Amir agha," ... "Please! Please, no!" (Hosseini, 2003: (Hosseini, 2003:299) "How are you?" I said. He didn't answer. ... Again I was met by silence. (Hosseini, 2003:307) Finally, The Kite Runner's climax occurs when Amir and Sohrab arrived in America, and Amir's efforts to get back Sohrab's trust. In this part, Amir's general description as a caring person appears clearly. It can be seen by these following quotations: We arrived home about seven months ago, on a warm day in August 2001. (Hosseini, 2003:312) "Do you want me to run that kite for you?" ... I thought I saw him nod. "For you, a thousand times over," (Hosseini, 2003:323) Anxiety experienced by Amir

Realistic anxiety
Realistic anxiety is described as anxiety or emotional response which man produced when he sees a dangerous or unpleasant thing from the external world. In The Kite Runner, most of Amir's source of his realistic anxiety is Assef. Amir's realistic anxiety toward Assef can be seen when he felt afraid of seeing Hassan trapped by Assef in the alley. Amir's anxiety can be seen by his body's response such as clenching up. It can be proved by the quotation below: Blocking Hassan way out of the alley...Wali… Kamal… Assef... I felt my body clench up, and something cold rippled up my spine. (Hosseini, 2003:62) 2. Neurotic anxiety Neurotic anxiety is described as an emotional response that is derived from a fear of the severe negative consequences that may result from doing something terrible. This anxiety appears when a person is afraid to get any punishment if his ego can not control his id. Dealing with the definition and explanation before, Amir's anxiety that caused Amir to run away from the alley, because of his fear after imagining Assef's punishment he will get if he saves Hassan, can be seen as neurotic anxiety. It can be proved by the quotation below: I opened my mouth, almost said something... (Hosseini, 2003:64) In the end, I ran. I ran because I was a coward. I was afraid of Assef and what he would do to me. I was afraid of getting hurt. (Hosseini, 2003:68) 3.Moral anxiety Moral anxiety is anxiety or the emotional response that appears when the ego is threatened by punishment from the superego. A person experiencing moral anxiety means he does not follow his superego which has already given him a true moral direction but prefers to follow his id for a certain reason. Later, this anxiety leads the person experiencing the feelings of shame, guilt, or self-condemnation as the superego punishment. Amir's moral anxiety appears as the consequence he gets for letting Hassan got raped by Assef can be seen as insomniac he gets. It can be proved by the quotation below: " I watched Hassan get raped," I said to no one. ... A part of me was hoping someone would wake up and hear, so I wouldn't have to live with this lie anymore...

Khaled Hosseini's The Kite Runner
That was the night I became an insomniac. (Hosseini, 2003:75) Motive experienced by Amir

Safety and Security need
Safety and security need is described as a need of a person who wants to get stability and freedom from such threatening forces as illness, fear, and chaos. The main character, Amir, experienced conflict and anxiety. He needs to get stability and freedom from threats, fear, and confusion. Amir's safety and security need can be seen when he decided to run away than save Hassan, which is caused by his fear toward Assef. Amir's act, such as run away, represents Amir's effort to get freedom from a fear he gets by seeing Hassan traped by Assef. It can be seen by the quotation below: In the end, I ran. I ran because I was a coward. I was afraid of Assef and what he would do to me. I was afraid of getting hurt. (Hosseini, 2003:68)

Belongingness and Love need
Belonging and love need is a need that a person has to look for and share attention, affectionate relationship, caring and love with others, and a group of people around him or her, such as family, classmates, clique even boyfriend-girlfriend. As The Kite Runner's main character, Amir's belongingness and love need appear when Amir asked Sohrab to live with Amir and his wife in America. By asking Sohrab to get a new life in America with him, Amir shows his caring toward Sohrab. Moreover, Amir's willingness to bring and give Sohrab a better life in Aerica is, a help Sohrab saved Amir's life by giving Amir help when Amir had fought with Assef. It can be proved by the quotation below: What had happened in that room with Assef had irrevocably bound us. ... "Would you like to come live in America with me and my wife?" (Hosseini, 2003:279)

Self Esteem Need
Based on Maslow's theory about self-esteem, self-esteem is divided into two basic types. The first level is a need for self-respect. The second level is respect from others. As the main character of the story, Amir shows his self-esteem need by winning a kite-fighting tournament to show Baba that Amir is worth dealing with Baba's perception of Amir's personality a coward boy.
Amir's willingness to show Baba that he is worthy represents Amir's need for respect from others. Amir believes, if he could win the kite-fighting tournament, he would get back his good reputation toward Baba's perception of him. It can be proved by the quotation below: I was going to win, and I was going to run the last kite. Then I'd bring it to home and show it to Baba. Show him once and for all that his son was worthy. (Hosseini, 2003:49)

Conclusion
The analysis results showed that Amir, as the main character of The Kite Runner, is described as a caring, inferior, coward, optimistic, anxious, selfish, careless, sly, and patient person. Amir belongs to the round and static character since he has more than one specific trait, but his character does not change during the story.
As the main character, Amir experiences both internal and external conflict. Amir's internal conflict is caused by a clash of emotional feelings within himself caused by an unpleasant situation. While, the external conflict experienced by Amir appears as