Who's to blame!?

(page 77) "Maybe Hassan was the price I had to pay, the lamb I had to slay to win Baba."
Through out the book, it is a common theme that Amir is trying desperately to win Baba's approval. However Baba is not pleased with his son that never stands up for himself, cries, is scared of things, and is often car sick. As a child it is Amir's ultimate goal to be wanted by Baba and to make him proud. Amir will go to any means to do this. This is certainly clear when Hassan is attacked and Amir does not go and help him. He says at first that it may have been partly due to fear or cowardance but in the end he knew it was because he wanted to please Baba and in order to do that he needed the kite that Hassan had and he wanted to run home and be praised. Amir's wish comes true and Baba wants to spend time with him. In reality they never really get any closer and in the end Amir looses Hassan and the short-lived pride of his father. The reader's first instinct is to blame Amir for what happened to Hassan. He could have prevented it or at least lessened the horrific outcome. However I have found that the root of this evil can be traced back to Baba. If Baba had had just a little pride for his son, maybe he woun't have gone to such extremes. If Baba hadn't lied aobut Hassan being his son, Hassan wouldn't have had to endure such ridicoule. It is difficult to put the blame souly on Amir when his father has impacted the actions of his son and the people around him.