Rahim Khan's Only Downfall
Rahim Khan appears as a constant in Amir’s life. As part of his devotion to a long friendship to Amir’s father, Baba, Rahim plays a significant role in Amir’s development. He represents Amir’s past of unatoned sins with the opening phone call of The Kite Runner. To close conversation, Rahim says to Amir, “There is a way to be good again” (2). In recollection, Amir remembers an old photo where he is reaching out to clutch Rahim’s pinky finger while his father holds him.
Rahim Khan provides Amir with consistent support and respects throughout struggles to becoming a man worthy of his father’s love and acceptance. Through a collection of openness, understanding, acceptance, encouragement and most of all, keen observation of Amir’s circumstance from a neutral vantage point, Rahim is able to guide Amir with his wisdom. Such adept agency builds a much needed momentum in Amir’s writing. Rahim also plays the mirror of truth through which Amir is able to see himself and assess measurable judgment. Ultimately, he affords Amir a comfort his own father was not able to provide. “’-grateful that he’s healthy,’” is what Amir overhears Rahim saying to Baba in discussion when Amir eavesdrops on hidden conversation (21). Rahim proves to be a friendly supporter to Amir, in trying to open Baba’s eyes toward his own son and accept him for who Amir is, rather the son Baba wishes him to be. Rahim even goes so far as to tell Baba he is self-centered, finalizing with, “’You just need to let him find his way’” (22).
“Rahim had been wrong about the mean streak thing,” Amir claims (23). Not even Rahim could see the true darkness growing deep inside Amir, the fear and pain resulting in hateful spite for Hassan. When Rahim agrees with Baba’s statement, “There is something missing in that boy,” he mistakenly mentioned, “Yes, a mean streak”(22). His inept fortune-telling leads to a tough road Amir struggles to negotiate for years to come. Perhaps Rahim dealt Amir excessive length in the parental-leash, though not a parent.