Kite Runner Character Mind Map: Assef

Kite Runner Character Mind Map: Assef

1. Physical Description

   • Blue eyes and blonde hair (Aryan)
   • Thick arms
   • "Towered over the other kids"
   • "Savage sort of grin"
     • Present participles "Grinning " and "Looming" show sinister and controlling attitude
   • "Not entirely sane"
     • Sociopath
   • Carries famous stainless steel brass knuckles

2. Attitudes and Beleifs

   • Neo-Nazi
     • Hitler - "Now, there was a leader.... a man with a vision"
     • Buys Amir "Mein Kampf"
       • Shows his dark ways and a method to threaten him
   • Wants to rid Afghanistan of Hazara people
     • Uses the verbs "Dirty" and "Pollute" to describe them
     • Refers to them and Hassan as "Vermin" and "Animals"
   • Uses adjectives "Pure" and "True" to describe Pashtuns
     • Ironic as he is not either

3. Behaviour

   • Ripped a kids ears off
     • "Assef Goshkor" or "Assef the Ear-eater"
   • "His word is law"
   • "Well earned reputation for savagery proceeded him on the streets"
   • Uses stainless steel brass knuckles to beat up kids
   • Bullies Ali and came up with the name "Babablu
   • Likes to bully Amir and Hassan
     • Wants to feel superior over Amir
       • Invites Amir to play volleyball with him
         • Wanted to show him up in front over Baba
       • Went to party to intimidate him
     • Refers to Hassan as a "dog" and "an ugly pet" in order to degrade him
     • Rapes Hassan
       • Thinks that Hassan keeping the kite is equivalent to being raped
         • Shows he is mentally unstable and a sociopath
       • Assef shows dominance over Hassan
         • Dynamic Verbs "Ripping", "Crushing" and "Grunting"
           • Sexual Referances
         • Hassan serves him from a silver platter which shows nothing is going to change

4. Relationship with other characters

   • Friends are Kamal and Wali
     • Noun Phrase "Eager to please entourage"
     • Semantic field of religion
       • Nouns "Disciples" and "God"
   • Family/Background
     • Son of Mahmood
       • Air Pilot
       • Baba's friend
       • Knows Daoud Khan
     • Lives in wealthy area
     • German mother
     • Pashtun
     • Dominant over parents
       • Escorts them and talks for his parents
         • Parents fear him
   • Creates an illusion of perfection to the adults