The Kite Runner - a pseudo psych report of Baba

Savannah Dotson

  October 7th, 2007

Psychologist Report of Baba

Character from The Kite Runner, Khaled Hosseini.

When Baba first walked into my office in downtown San Francisco, I must admit, I was a bit taken aback. A huge man like that, just casually stepping into my office for counseling? It really doesn’t happen often (especially when they sign themselves up for it). However, once his counseling session got underway, I can see why he would come in. He has many unresolved conflicts in his mind, and also many sad stories that have been replayed in his mind over and over again in dreams and the like.

One of the major conflicts in Baba’s mind is the loss of his wife - she died in the childbirth of his son, Amir. Baba has had a hard time getting past this time in his life; as a matter of fact, he never really has gotten over her death. In one session, he talked about how much he sees her face in Amir every morning when he gets ready for school - the inspiration in his face, even the way that his hair tousles to the shake of his head. Baba has many dreams about ‘his princess’, as he calls her - a few weeks after the aforesaid session, he also mentioned a dream he had about her - one where she was waving to him from a long, far off distance that he tried to reach, but was always just out of reach. I believe that this shows that he feels somewhat guilty for her death - the wanting to hold her, and tell her that it was alright, that he was sorry - they are all signs of guilt and longing.

Baba also has a secret that he has been keeping from his son Amir - one that has been stabbing him since the day his half-brother Hassan was born. Yes, Baba fathered another son, called Hassan, and apparently, Hassan and Amir grew up together until the boys were about twelve; when Hassan, and his “father” Ali left the household due to tension relating to an incident between the boys and another youth (I cannot be sure of all the details - Baba does not even know the full story). Amir has no knowledge of this, and as I have sworn to secrecy from him, I feel bad even putting this in paper, but I think that Baba would just be better to tell Amir about his half-brother. I believe that, with some help, they could settle that issue, and Amir would have a less constrained relationship with his father. And, since this has obviously been another guilt pressing on Baba’s chest, I think that it would be good (if for nothing else but his health) for him to get it off his chest.

One of the stories that Baba has mentioned several times was the time when Amir and himself were traveling out of Afghanistan with a company of several others, including a couple women. They were stopped by a drunken guard who demanded that he have a few minutes with the woman in the back, who was sitting with her husband; and Baba stood up, and forced him to back off. In the process he nearly got shot, but he also saved a woman from rape and eternal shame. When telling me this story the first time, he burst into tears; he told me that he ‘had done it all for my son, and he didn’t appreciate it - he asked why Baba must stand up to protect a strange woman’s honor.’ “Why doesn’t he understand?” he sobbed, “I do these things to set a good example for my son - because they are right and morally honorable. Not so that he can second guess me, and worry about my safety when there is someone who cannot defend herself in need.”  This sounded to me like a cry for a joint therapy session - but when I suggested this, he adamantly shook his head, and said one sentence. “He already knows I am disappointed in his choices as a man - he does not need someone else to evaluate that for him.”

I also think that one of the stories he told me was peculiarly ironic - his background in Afghanistan. In Afghanistan, he was one of the richest and smartest men in Kabul - he owned a large house, and built an orphanage completely without blueprints (and it is still standing!). This particularly stuck out to me in my analysis of my patients, because here in California, he is a gas station attendant, and must work very hard to feed himself. This is a very odd situation - and had I known him in Kabul, I probably would have been even more impressed by him than I already am. Once, when Amir came in to get Baba, he lingered for a while to tell me about his father, and what a great man he had used to be. “He still is, but he has lost so much of his pride.” Amir said in a confidential tone. Baba walked with a slight hunch to his shoulders, and a light tap to his step, as opposed to the booming stomps of before, and astute stature.

My final analysis of this man is that he is a very admirable character - he has high moral standards, and makes the choices he can see are best for the people he has at heart. However, sometimes the things he caught in life have caused him to feel extremely guilty to his son. He cannot bring himself to tell Amir, and I know that I cannot bear to see that day.  This has caused an extreme emotional strain on his mental state - I believe it has made him more short-tempered with all he is around, and especially Amir, who symbolizes all those particularly deep slashes in his heart.

Perhaps Baba will tell his son about his half-brother? Perhaps not. I cannot say, because a short while ago, Baba told me that he would like to end his sessions completely. I protested immediately, knowing that he needed more help to completely overcome his problems; but you know what he said to me? Just a short sentiment before stepping out into the bright California air. “Frankly, I would love to stay. But I have a life to live, and I cannot live in that past for one second longer, or I will tear all of my hair out.” And with that, he shook my hand, and left my office for good. I hope that he lived out the rest of his days with the same vigor he exhibited in that gesture, because even with all the guilt he feels, that attitude may just be enough to get him out of it all.