The Kite Runner Characters

Hassan’s father, a Hazara who was orphaned as a boy and then taken in by Baba’s father and raised as Baba’s playmate and servant. The lower half of Ali’s face is paralyzed, and he was crippled in one leg by polio, but Ali remains cheerful and kind.

The antagonist of the novel, a blue-eyed, sadistic boy who idolizes Hitler, torments children with his brass knuckles, and later rapes Hassan. As an adult Assef joins the Taliban, where he is given free reign to exercise his violent and pedophilic nature.

The daughter of General Taheri. As a young woman Soraya ran away with an Afghan man, “dishonoring” herself. Amir falls in love with her and they get married, and Soraya later becomes a teacher.

Baba’s close friend and business associate, a kind man who often seems to understand the young Amir better than Baba does. Rahim Khan encourages Amir’s writing, and as an old man he summons Amir back to Afghanistan for a chance to redeem himself by rescuing Sohrab from Afghanistan.

Soraya’s father and Baba’s friend, a former general in the old pre-soviet regime of Afghanistan, he is a conservative, traditional Afghan man who in the United States collects welfare and refuses to labor beneath his station in America.

A man who drives Amir back to Afghanistan from Pakistan. At first Farid is bitter and sarcastic towards Amir, but when he learns about Sohrab Farid becomes a loyal friend and helps Amir on his journey.

Hassan’s mother and Ali’s wife, Sanaubar had a “dishonourable” reputation as a young woman. She despises Ali and leaves after Hassan is born, but then returns as an older woman to take care of Sohrab.

Soraya’s mother and General Taheri’s wife, a woman who can sing beautifully and likes to complain about her health. She adores Amir after he marries Soraya (whom she had feared would never marry).

Farid’s brother, a man who is very poor and whose children are starving, and who’s hospitality is such that he nonetheless feeds Amir before his own children.

Amir’s mother and Baba’s wife, a college professor of royal blood who dies giving birth to Amir. Amir always believes that his father secretly hates him, at least a bit, for his role in his mother’s death.

One of Assef’s cronies, a boy who is later raped by four men and then dies on the journey to Pakistan.

Assef’s other bullying sidekick, Wali thinks raping Hassan is sinful, but he still helps hold him down.

The woman who nursed both Amir and Hassan.

The man who drives Amir and Baba from Kabul to Pakistan.

Hassan’s wife, who has a stillborn baby and then gives birth to Sohrab.

An American couple who Rahim Khan says could take care of Sohrab in Peshawar, but who might not actually exist.

The director of the makeshift orphanage in Kabul, who occasionally sells a child to Assef because he has no other choice and because the money he makes from the sales helps him to feed the other children.

Amir’s doctor in Peshawar, who Amir thinks of as “Armand.”

An adoption official in the American embassy in Pakistan, who discourages Amir from trying to adopt Sohrab.

An immigration lawyer who tries to help Amir adopt Sohrab.

The doctor who Baba pays to fix Hassan’s cleft lip.

The cousin of King Nadir Shah, who overthrows the Afghan monarchy in a bloodless coup in 1973.

The last king of Afghanistan, who rules for 40 years.

Amir’s religious teacher, who says that drinking alcohol is punishable by damnation.

The new president of Afghanistan after the Americans and their allies drive out the Taliban.