The Kite Runner Assef.

Summary of Assef’s Character  He is the villain of the story, a Pashtun boy who bullies Amir and Hassan and tries to humiliate Ali.  He has a sociopathic nature even as a boy and admires Hitler for what he had done in eliminating the Jews. He wants to emulate this evil German by destroying all the Hazaras.

Developed character  He never forgets a slight from anyone and plots revenge. He becomes a Talib when the Taliban takes over Afghanistan and uses his power to kill innocent Afghans, especially Hazaras.  He kills Hassan when he won’t give up his home and he tries to kill Amir. It is only Sohrab’s slingshot that finally defeats this evil man.

…  Assef is the antagonist of the book.  He takes Sohrab from the orphanage in Kabul.  Not only is Assef a villain, but he also symbolizes all villainy.  Assef abuses his position of power in order to demonstrate the political muscle of the men in charge.  Even as an adult, Assef uses a pair of brass knuckles to demonstrate both his power and cruelty.

Quotations These quotations from the book show Assef’s horrible nature and conveys how evil he is. “I’m letting you keep the kite, Hazara. I’ll let you keep it so it will always remind you of what I’m about to do.” – this is before the incident, Assef speaks to Hassan as if he is doing him a favour in letting him keep the kite. “there’s nothing sinful about teaching a lesson to a disrespectful donkey”