Movie Character Analysis - Amir in Kite Runner - Essay Example

?Movie character analysis "Humans are, to say the least, highly emotional animals. We love and hate; we fall into suicidal depressions or experience moments of joy and ecstasy; we feel shame, guilt, and alienation; we are righteous; we seek vengeance." Turner, 2007: 1 Introduction: We, as individuals, are genetically structured in a manner that allows us to emit and interpret a wide range of emotions which in turn are used to form social and emotional bonds with those around us. These emotions are a direct outcome of the experiences that individuals undergo and their interaction with others in the society. Sociological theories in recent decades, have contributed significantly in decoding these emotions and its relationship with and implications on formation of social bonds; developing and sustaining commitments; and interactions within the social structures. For the purpose of this study, various sociological theories such as the Family systems theory, Freud's ego psychology theory, family resilience theory, Kohlberg's theory of moral development, Social dominance theory, and other behaviorism theories are studied and some of them applied to analyze the behavior and life events of the main character – Amir. These theories helped in evaluating the reasons behind his behavior, the type of social and emotional bonds with his parents (in this case his, father) and others around him (such as his friend Hassan, his father's friend Rahim) and its implications on his choices and decisions. Character sketch of the main character - Amir Amir is the protagonist and is one of the most complex characters in the film. He is described as a meek, submissive, and an emotionally vulnerable young boy whose family enjoyed a high social status in the society and hence enjoys a privileged upbringing. Owing to his wealthy family background he is accustomed to receiving whatever he wants. He is a motherless child and is brought up by a single parent (his father). He is separated from his mother, who is hinted to have passed away during childbirth1. The loss of his mother at a young age emotionally deprives him of the love and care he needs and hence craves for attention from his father. He is shown to be envious of anyone receiving attention from his father and this includes his best friend Hassan, who is favored by Amir’s father. He is often described as mean and selfish as the story progresses and he is confronted with complex events in his life. His need for attention from his father is often met with harsh criticisms and coldness. He is aware of his father’s disapproval of his behavior – the apparent lack of confidence in dealing with situations and confronting them, and is often told that his actions are shameful. He is ridden with inferiority due to constant comparisons by his father with his friend Hassan who his father perceives as brave and courageous. This behavior on the part of his father towards him indicates the subtle presence of pathogenic parenting, as described by John Bowlby in the theory of attachment. Attachment theory: According to Bowlby’s attachment theory the concept of attachment is described as “a way of conceptualizing the propensity of human beings to make strong affectional bonds to particular others and of explaining many forms of emotional distress and personality disturbance, including anxiety, anger, depression, and emotional attachment, to which unwilling separation and loss give rise (Bowlby, 1979: 103 qtd. in Trevithick, 2012: 136; Stosny, 1995). Through this theory Bowlby described the modes of behavior of individuals with the significant others and the factors and experiences during childhood and adolescence which generate such responses. In this case, the central character of the story – Amir was separated from his mother by death and was deprived of maternal care since childhood. The loss of and (unwilling) separation from his mother at such an early age caused personality disturbances which is apparent from the choices he made throughout his life. He is anxious and angered at the events happening in his life and makes choices that lack emotional attachment with those around him. His behavior, particularly towards Hassan, is at times mean and selfish and lacks compassion despite his close friendship with him. Bowlby further suggested that the factors such as discontinuities in parenting such as unwilling separations and / or hospitalizations; persistent threat of no longer loving the child; inducing guilt by claiming child's behavior is responsible for parent's illness or death; and persistent unresponsive child care eliciting behavior lead a child to form an anxious attachment (Bowlby, 1979). Amir lost his mother at birth, and is ridden with guilt for ‘killing her’. He believes that the cold and at times unresponsive behavior of his father is due to him being responsible for his mother’s death. Although his father is shown to be affectionate to Amir, he does at times come across as unresponsive. This is apparent from the incidences where he criticizes Amir for his love for writing instead of sports and for not being courageous enough as Hassan. Such behavior on the part of his father is perceived as unresponsive towards his own emotions and preferences. Theoretical analysis: The application of various social, psychological and biological models and theories help in assessing and evaluating the various stages of personality development among individuals and in unraveling the mysteries behind their characters and the reasons for why they behave and react the way they do. The theory of Ego Psychology: This theory is also referred to as psychosocial treatment theory and is mainly responsible for understanding the interplay between an individual's internal state and the external environment. According to Ambrosino, Heffernan, and Shuttlesworth (2007) the developmental experiences of an individual such as anxiety, fear, failures or successes, hostilities, feelings of love and acceptance etc combined, contribute towards the development of an estimate about self. Individuals react and respond to their life experiences and events around them based on this perception of self. According to Freud human personality/ psyche comprises of three key components known as id, ego, and superego whereby id refers to the existence of inborn instincts of life and death within individuals. The id purely thrives on the principle of 'pleasure' and the need of the individual to seek immediate satisfaction regardless of the society's rules of right or wrong. The ego refers to a slightly evolved version of id whereby the individual acts within the rules of the society as opposed to the surreal world of the id. It functions on the principle of 'reality'. Lastly, the superego compels individuals to act and behave morally and feel guilty for any wrong doings on their part. It acts as a moral guide and prevents individuals from indulging in sinful, unreasonable or immoral acts (Bernstein, 2010; Andersen & Taylor, 2007). The psychodynamic theory put forward by Sigmud Freud entailed that an individual is only partly ware of the total thoughts, drives, conflicts, motives, and feelings in the mind (Zastrow & Ashman, 2010). The process of repression allows individuals to suppress unacceptable desires, memories or thoughts and hence is excluded from human conscious under the repressed barrier (as seen in Fig. 1). Once the unwanted material is repressed it acts as an unconscious irritant resulting in erratic behavior and generating unwanted emotions in the individual. All the three components can be clearly observed in case of Amir. His actions and responses to situations, events and people around him are guided by id, ego, and superego at three different stages of his life. The id reacts instinctively to any discomfort which is known as ‘reflex action’. Amir’s act of avoidance and fleeing the scene where he witnesses his best friend Hassan being abused by the bullies, rather than defend or protect him is an act of id. He feels threatened in the presence of the bullies and senses discomfort due the event unfolding before his eyes. His first and immediate instinct prompts him to flee. This action is guided by id, which essentially defies the society’s rules of right or wrong and is purely guided by what he thinks is right at that particular moment. It is argued that all these three elements are often found to be in constant conflict with each other which in turn play a key role in shaping an individual's personality. Researchers have argued that the key role of 'ego' is to guide individuals to act according to and within the rules of the society, thus guiding them to take rational decisions so as to prevent the feelings of anxiety and guilt. However it also at times uses defense mechanisms which are activated in order to prevent the feelings of guilt, anxiety or preventing any threatening materials / evidence or incidences from surfacing and deliberately disguising it if it does (Coifman et al., 2007; Cramer & Jones, 2007). He constantly feels guilty by his behavior and knows he has done wrong by avoiding confrontation and not being able to help his friend when he needed him. This guilt is part of the conflict between his id and ego. His inability to do the right thing triggers the defense mechanism which is essentially about overcoming feelings of guilt by suppressing the thoughts, and thus lessening the tension by covering up the thoughts that he feels are threatening. He avoids talking to Hassan after the incident and also covers up the incident by acting innocent in front of him right after he meets him. The second instance of the defense mechanism in action can be witnessed when Amir is confronted by his father and Hassan’s father regarding Hassan’s condition. Despite being asked specifically if anything is wrong with him or if anything happened between the two he denies and covers up the incident by lying to both of them. This is his way to deal with the overwhelming turn of events which his fragile young emotional state finds difficult to accept. Amir experiences two types of ego defense mechanisms which is triggered when there is a warning of an impending danger. This includes objective anxiety which arises when the individual senses an objective threat to the person's well-being. This includes physical threat or the fear of being physically attacked by another person (Hergenhahn, 2008). Amir silently observes Hassan being physically abused by the bullies and avoids interfering to protect his friend, because he senses an objective anxiety i.e. the threat of being physically attacked by them if he tries to interfere. Amir experiences three types of ego defense mechanisms which includes objective anxiety, neurotic anxiety, and moral anxiety. The objective anxiety is triggered when there is a warning of an impending danger. According to Hergenhahn (2008) objective anxiety entails a physical threat or the fear of being physically attacked by another person. Immediately after the incident he experiences Neurotic anxiety. It arises when the ego is overwhelmed by the id. He is aware of what is right and wrong and that he should have tried to protect his friend (ego). Amir is ashamed and feels guilty for his behavior yet suppresses his feelings by covering up the incident. Moral anxiety is characterized by feelings of shame and guilt (Hergenhahn, 2008). Social dominance theory: According to Millon and Lerner (2003: 486) "The theory of social dominance assumes that people who are strongly identified with high-status groups and who see intergroup relations in terms of group competition will be especially prejudiced and discriminatory toward out-group". Such blatant prejudicial attitudes exist among individuals based on their status in the society and individual behavior is largely influenced by their respective statuses. The behavior of Aseef epitomizes this personality trait whereby he exerts brutal force (physical and verbal abuse) against those inferior in status than him, such as Hassan, who he often addresses as a ‘mere Hazara2’. He constantly ridicules Amir for choosing to be in the company of a Hazara – an inferior tribe, and often picks on them. He believes that the ‘inferior’ section of the society deserve to be mistreated. They endorse and firmly believe in the notion that groups which are inferior to them by way of caste, culture, or economic status in the society deserve to be 'kept in their place' and that the social inequalities and hierarchies are inevitable and appropriate. They support the unequal distribution of resources in the society and are rarely seen showing concern for the well-being of others around them (Millon & Lerner, 2003). Most of the characters in the film display traits that subscribe to this theory. In the larger context, the behavior displayed by the Taliban can be viewed as reinforcing all the key components of the social dominance theory. The Taliban are seen stoning a woman to death, exerting force to get people to act the way they want them to, and essentially bullying people into submission. This is characteristic of the key element of social dominance theory which presumes that the dominant social groups (in this case the Taliban) have the right to lay down rules of morality and the inferior sub-group (i.e. the Afghan population) are obliged to follow the rules unconditionally. Bandura’s social learning theory: This theory was proposed by Bandura to explain the relationship between human behavior and external stimuli. This theory proposes that individuals are cognitive beings and are highly perceptive of the environment around them. Hence their behavior and relationships with those around them is directly influenced by their experiences and their perception of the consequences. They are more affected by their perception of the consequences of their actions rather than by what they actually experience (Shaffer, 2009). According to Bandura: "Social learning theory approaches the explanation of human behavior in terms of a continuous reciprocal interaction between cognitive, behavioral, and environmental determinants. Within the process of reciprocal determinism lies the opportunity for people to influence their destiny as well as the limits of self-direction. This conception of human functioning then neither casts people into the role of powerless objects controlled by environmental forces nor free agents who can become whatever they choose. Both people and their environments are reciprocal determinants of each other" (qtd. in Jarvis, Holford, and Griffin, 2003: 49) Amir is aware of his father’s affections towards Hassan. He is highly threatened by his father’s attitude towards Hassan, his best friend and feels envious of him. Hence he fears that confiding in his father regarding Hassan’s condition would invite his wrath. He perceives that the consequences of his action would attract severe criticism from his father as well as others around him hence he chooses to remain silent and cover up the whole issue. Most of the choices Amir, makes during the course of his life, particularly those made during childhood are governed by his experiences and his perception of the consequences. It is only when he reaches adulthood that he decides to think objectively and governed by super-ego, chooses morality and decides to seek redemption by rescuing Hassan’s son Sohrab from critical situation, braving all odds. Critical analysis of the theories: The theories discussed help a great deal, in analyzing the Amir’s behavior as well as of those around him. It also helps in understanding the choices he makes and the reasoning behind his decisions. The theories help in reaffirming the role of childhood experiences, parent-child relationship, and absence of maternal affection while growing up in shaping Amir’s personality. His characteristic traits such as lack of self-confidence, submissiveness, feelings of shame and guilt, fear of being disliked by his father, etc. indicate the developmental setbacks he suffered as a child. The theories applied to describe key events in Amir’s life helps in understanding the role of various factors in shaping human behavior. Moreover it contributes greatly towards our understanding of various theories and their actual implication in real life situations. Attachment theory: The key argument against the attachment theory is that it assumes an honest, kind, and mutually respectful relationship between parents/ guardians and the children as a fundamental basis for a healthy upbringing of a child. It assumes that the type of relationship between the two determines the behavior of the child in the coming years. Critics argue that this is not the case, stating that the type of relationship between them does in no way, affect the child’s behavior, personality or shape their character. In fact it is argued that the child is not influenced by the behavior of and relationship with their immediate family but is more affected by his/her interactions with their peers (Harris, 1998). This is observed clearly in case of Amir. His father Baba Sahib is known to be an upright man and constantly reprimands Amir for being too weak3. He is taught to stand up for what is right. However despite such interactions with his father, it does not affect his behavior and continues to shy away from physical conflicts or confronting his bullies. Furthermore it is also argued that the surrounding environment of the child also plays a key role in shaping their behavior and character. For instance, if the child is brought up in a crime-ridden environment, s/he is more likely to display criminal tendencies, in a bid to fit in with their peer groups; and no amount of parental guidance / influence would help in convincing them to behave otherwise. On the contrary if the child is removed from the negative environment to a new positive one, the child’s behavior may change substantially without any parental interference (Harris, 1998). Amir grew up in an environment ridden with social disparities. He is exposed to an environment where class differences are rampant and relationships are based on the financial background and social status. He lived in an environment where the weak or those from lower class are bullied and treated as third class citizens. Although he did not indulge in any type of criminal activity but his act of not helping his best friend Hassan and suppressing facts even after being questioned indicates the lack of influence of his father in shaping his behavior. He is constantly witness to the positive behavior of his father and his friend Rahim Khan, but despite such influences he fails to do the right thing and protect his best friend. In another incident he deliberately sets up Hassan and blames him for theft, and drives him out of the house. Incidents such as these indicate that the relationship or influence of parents does not necessarily play a role in shaping the child’s behavior and that his behavior is largely shaped by the environment around him. Another key weakness of this theory, as argued by the critics is the fact that it relies on the strong attachment bond between the child and a mother figure. Critics argue that the behavior of the child is not solely shaped by their attachment with the mother alone, but is influenced by all those who form a strong bond with them during their initial years including the father or siblings. Furthermore it is also argued that contrary to claims made by Bowlby that the social attachments are formed during the initial growing up years, critics argue that attachment is not confined or limited to infancy. The relationship can be shaped and is constantly shaped by their interactions during early childhood, puberty, adulthood, as well as during the later years of one’s life (Field, 1996). Social dominance theory: This theory is primarily critiqued for being too ideological and that it essentially thrives on the concepts of social dominance and inequality (Dowding, 2011). The proponents of this theory state that the individual behavior i.e. hierarchy-enhancing or hierarchy-attenuating social dominance depends largely on his/her status as a member of a dominant or subordinate group. However critics argue that that individual behavior is not solely dependent on their status in the society but by various other factors (Rhodewalt, 2008). The above argument can be proved by the behavior of Amir. Despite belonging to a socially dominant group he treats Hassan (his servant’s son) as his equal and shares an amicable relationship with him. There are instances when he is discouraged to do so by Assef, the antagonist in the novel / film, however despite his repeated threats and attempts to discourage Amir from being friendly with the son of a servant and a Hazara (a low class cultural group) Amir continues to be friendly with him. His attitude and affection for Hassan, as a friend is least affected by his position in the social hierarchy but more by his individual nature. This theory is largely concerned with explaining the behavior of individuals as a part of a large social group but completely disregards the individual expression and dispositions of an individual in shaping their interactions in the society. Bandura’s social learning theory: The key strength of this theory is the fact that it includes a range of social and cognitive factors as a part of analysis thus providing the mental health professionals an opportunity to undertake an unbiased and comprehensive analysis of the individual in order to derive a logical and credible observation regarding his/her behavior / personality. Secondly, the theory entails that individual behavior is influenced by their surrounding environment and the various experiences they undergo during their lives. It also states the role of cultural experiences in shaping individual behavior thus providing a broader perspective of factors that shape individual behavior. However the theory is criticized for ignoring the impact or influence / role of emotional and/ or biological factors in shaping individual behavior (Flanagan, 2008). This theory solely focuses on the agency of the learner i.e. the manner in which the learner / individual interprets and perceives his/her environment and reacts to it. The theory posits that individuals are capable of organizing and assessing their own behavior and that their behavior is a direct consequence of this analysis which in turn is influenced by their experiences and interactions with their environment, thus indicating that individuals are both the products as well as producers of their own environments and hence behavior (Pajares, 2002., qtd. in Keating, 2010). Psychodynamic theory: Psychodynamic theories have made a significant impact in the discipline of psychology and the manner in which individual behavior is analyzed. It affords a comprehensive analysis of various experiences of an individual and its contribution in shaping their character. However such theories are also accused for having no predictive value and are deemed to be highly unreliable since they are primarily male-centric in its approach (Finley, 2007). The key strength of psychodynamic theory according to Carducci (2009) is that it succeeds in explaining the various aspects of an individual's personality such as the structure of mind (id, ego, super-ego) and reduces the complexity of analyzing personalities. It is a revolutionary theory in the field of psychology and all other theories of personalities are an extension of Freud's psychodynamic theory. A major criticism / limitation / weakness of this theory is the fact that it assumes that all individuals are essentially governed by their ego and that they spend their lives solely in the pursuit of satisfying their need for pleasures. This theory portrays individuals in a negative light by suggesting that people are at the mercy of a range of unconscious demands completely ignores the role of social and situational factors in shaping individual behavior (Carducci, 2009). Amir’s character for instance, is shaped by various factors particularly his surrounding and the social environment he lived in. Analyzing his character and personality solely based on the concepts of id, ego, or super-ego would hence provide a distorted and highly biased view of his personality and the factors that contributed in shaping it, rendering the analysis baseless and reducing its credibility in the process. Conclusion: The Kite Runner includes a range of complex characters and situations and makes an interesting case study in understanding and applying various social, psychological, and behaviorism theories. The journeys of each character in the story makes for an interesting study and reveals the role of sociological theories in human behavior - particularly the emotions displayed by the central characters in the story including friendship, loyalty, trust, betrayal, guilt, shame, and redemption. References: Ambrosino, R., Ambrosino, R., Heffernan, J., Shuttlesworth, G., (2007). Social work and social welfare: An introduction. Belmont, CA: Cengage Learning Publication, p. 128-129 Andersen, M. L., Taylor, H. F., (2007). Sociology: Understanding a diverse society. Belmont, CA: Cengage Learning Publishing, p. 92-93 Bernstein, D., (2010). Essentials of psychology. Belmont, CA : Cengage Learning Publishing, p. 427-428 Bowlby, J., (1979). The making & breaking of affectional bonds. 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Belmont, CA: Cengage Learning Publication, p. 46-47 Stosny, S., (1995). Treating attachment abuse: A compassionate approach. New York, NY: Springer Publishing Company. Turner, J. H., (2007). Human emotions: A sociological theory. New York, NY : Taylor & Francis Publication, p. 1 Zastrow, C., Kirst-Ashman, K. K., (2010). Understanding human behavior and the social environment. Belmont, CA : Cengage Learning Publication, p. 97 National Geographic (2012). Hazaras: Afghanistan’s outsiders [Online] Available at: http://ngm.nationalgeographic.com/2008/02/afghanistan-hazara/phil-zabriskie-text [Accessed: November 30, 2012] Read More