1. Assef character analysis
The Kite Runner

2. BACKGROND
Assef who is the novel’s main villain and his two follares are found in a variety of chapter’s spread out throughout the novel. In chapter five eight a nine, He is portrayed as a mean, evil; character throughout, and is resented against by the characters Amir and Hassan.
Assef Is the son of one of Babb’s friends. His mother is German and father from Afghanistan .He lives a few streets west of Amir’s Home. In chapter 5 Amir describes Assef as having brass knuckles, of which he used to beat people up. ‘’ in to being a considerable supporter of Hitler.

3. Chapter 5 analysis
In chapter 5, Assef and his gang come up to Hassan and Amir Assef talks about his love and support for Hitler.
‘’About Hitler. Now there was a leader. A great leader. A man with a vision’’
‘’If they had let Hitler finish what he had started, the world would be a better place now’’
This illustrates Assef’s support and love of Hitler and his evil crimes including assassination of all Jews as he hated them for ‘’polluting the culture’’
Assef is a proponent of Hitler and wants an ethnic cleansing in Afghanistan much like started to do in Germany. He believes that Afghanistan is the land of the Pashtuns and Hassars/other ethnic groups are polluting the culture
‘’Afghanistan is he land of the Pashtuns. It always has been, always will be’’
In addition we can see Assefs hatred and disgust of Hassan because he is a hassara which further illustrates this point. He says to Amir; ‘’How can you talk to him, play with him, let him touch you’’

4. Chapter 8 analysis
Chapter 8 holds the scene of Amir's birthday party. At attendance is Assef who gives Amir a bibliography book on Hitler as a present. This symbolises his love for Hitler’s beliefs and work in which he done and he supports it.

5. Chapter 7 analysis
Chapter 7 is when the rape scene of Hassan from Assef takes place. After the success Of winning the kite tournament, Hassan ran off only to be caught by Assef and his gang in a ally way. Assef rapes Hassan at this point, his gang do nothing to stop him . This illustrates how pure evil he is raping Hassan as a punishment for being a hassara.
‘’Assef knelt behind Hassan, put his hands on Hassan hips and lifted his bare buttocks’’

6. “Why I joined the Taliban.” Chapter 22

7. Power Hungary Body Language Evidence
Calm, relaxed and assertive with his surroundings, which greatly contrasts with Amir’s more nervous appearance.
Uses his body language to intimidate and impose on those around him.
-Unnerving and a clear show of power and confidence.
“he sat there watching me, One hand drumming the upholstery”
“He leans towards me, like a man about to share a great secret.”
He doesn’t reveal that he knows its Amir or shows his intentions to try and fighting Amir by building the tension and uncertainty. Showing his control and power over the situation.

8. “His head was shaved, his eyes darkened with mascara”
Sohrab
The way Assef treats Sohrab as his own personal toy to do with as he pleases, shows his control over Sohrab.
It is also vividly clear through the way Assef holds Sohrab that he is repeating/ finishing what he started with Hassan.
His need to continuously torment and frighten, is his method of controlling and showing power. As if he isn’t willing to let his control over Amir go.
“His head was shaved, his eyes darkened with mascara”
“The bells around his ankles”

9. “His hands were shaking and he almost dropped the cigarette”
Control
Easily controls the guards surrounding him, with simple actions.
- showing his superiority and power with in the Taliban. Which reinforces the idea of his ruthless nature.
Once again linking to his need for power through intimidation which links back to his childhood with his ‘friends’ and how he forced them to do his will.
“His hands were shaking and he almost dropped the cigarette”
He’s also in control of what he’s saying to Amir in an effort to build tension and scare Amir into being submissive and cowardly like he’s always been.

10. Page 255
“You don’t know the meaning of the word ‘liberated’ until you’ve done that, stood in a roomful of targets, let the bullets fly, free of guilt and remorse, knowing you are virtuous, good, and decent. Knowing you’re doing god’s work. Its’s breathtaking.”
Justifying his actions and beliefs as gods will and feels no guilt or remorse but only happiness, a sense of duty and pride over his actions. Showing his true lack of morals and emotions.
- “I’m in my element”-

11. “How I joined the Taliban”
Page 260
Looks down on all those he deems unfaithful, or un-true to Afghanistan.
- Relates back to earlier on in the book where we see Assef idolise Hitler.
perfect race and religion (Islam).
- he found the irony and laughed when he was beaten. he found his purpose, he found god and his way forward. In a sinister way. However Amir also did the same.
-P261-
“Stoning adulterers? Raping children? Flogging women for wearing high heels? Massacring Hazaras? All in the name of Islam?”
“Taking out the garbage”-Hazaras
“Ethnic cleaning.”

12. Ending
Assef overconfidence in his power and control over sohrab is his downfall. As sohrab unintentionally fills out a promise from his father (taking out his eye). symbolises the end of Assef’s hold on both Amir and sohrab and how his power has finally cracked.