Find out who Ali is in ‘‘The Kite Runner’’. Read a physical description of Ali in ‘‘The Kite Runner’’, see how Ali dies, and learn about his actions with characters.
Ali in The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini | Description & Death
Table of Contents
- Who is Ali in The Kite Runner?
- Family of Ali in The Kite Runner
- Employment of Ali in The Kite Runner
- How Does Ali Die in The Kite Runner?
- Lesson Summary
Frequently Asked Questions
What are some adjectives to describe Ali in ''The Kite Runner''?
Ali is gentle, loving, and tenacious in The Kite Runner. He is incredibly kind despite what others put him through due to his ethnicity and physical appearance.
What happens to Ali in ''The Kite Runner''?
After leaving Baba's home, he and Hassan live in a mud house. One day, due to his damaged leg, Ali trips over a landmine and dies.
What does Ali symbolize in ''The Kite Runner''?
Ali symbolizes hope, resilience, and above all, love in The Kite Runner. He is a simple, content man who remains loving and kind, even when others treat him with much cruelty.
Table of Contents
- Who is Ali in The Kite Runner?
- Family of Ali in The Kite Runner
- Employment of Ali in The Kite Runner
- How Does Ali Die in The Kite Runner?
- Lesson Summary
The Kite Runner is a novel by Afghan-American author Khaled Hosseini that takes place in Kabul, Afghanistan, during the rise of the Taliban. It is centered on the unlikely friendship of a wealthy boy, Amir, and Hassan, the son of his father's servant Ali. Ali in The Kite Runner is the dutiful servant of Amir's father, Baba. He and his son Hassan are Hazara, which is considered a low-class minority in Afghanistan.
Baba and Amir are Pashtun, which is the largest ethnic group in Afghanistan. The Pashtuns speak Pashto and are Sunni Muslims, while the Hazara are Shi'a Muslims and speak Persian. There is evident conflict between the Pashtuns and the Hazara, and the book showcases how these ethnic diversities instill a power imbalance between Amir and his father and Hassan and Ali.
Ali is a loving character, one who is kind and tolerant, despite the harassment he receives not only for his ethnicity, but also his physical appearance. Damage to one of Ali's legs makes him unable to walk without limping. Also, the lower muscles of his face are paralyzed, making him always look unhappy. Although he endures verbal abuse, he always treats others with kindness He instills this tolerance in his son, Hassan.
Ali is a noteworthy character in the novel due to his ability to remain resilient in the face of cruelty and hatred. As the children in the neighborhood make jokes about his physical limitations and his ethnic features, he remains stoic.
Ali's Physical Description in The Kite Runner
Ali is someone who had endured a lot of difficulty throughout his life. Suffering from polio (an infectious disease that often results in partial paralysis) in his youth, one of his legs is permanently damaged, making him walk with a limp. He also had congenital paralysis of his lower face muscles, which makes his facial appearance seem unhappy. He is often mocked not only for his physical appearance, but even more so for his ethnicity.
As a Hazara man, Ali's ethnicity is often ridiculed and condemned by others. He is made fun of for his 'flat nose,' but does not give his attention to the taunts. Instead, he is tolerant and kind toward everyone and wants his son, Hassan, to be a loving and caring man like himself.
He is a loving man who rarely directs anger toward others. He is described as holding no ill, even to those who mock him. When Amir shares his love of writing with his father, Baba tells him that writing is a more feminine act and that Amir should stop being weak. Ali, however, affirms Amir's interests, showcasing his tolerance despite what others may think of him.
Ali symbolizes not only hope and resilience in the book, but also, and perhaps most importantly, love. When Ali sees Amir give Hassan unfair treatment, such as often complaining to Baba about Hassan or asserting the power imbalance between himself and Hassan, Ali remains a kind and content man, all because he loves his son more than anything.
Ali's family in the novel is complex. His marriage to his wife, Sanaubar, does not last after she gives birth to Hassan. She refuses even to hold Hassan after birthing him and soon flees their home, leaving Ali to raise him alone. Complicating things further, the novel reveals that Hassan is not the biological son of Ali. Ali is unable to father children. Baba is the one who slept with Sanaubar, which led to her being pregnant with Hassan.
Although Ali knows this, it does not break his trust in Baba. Instead, he is filled with love that he is able to be a father to Hassan, even if he is not biologically his. Hassan's presence in his life means everything to him. It is why one of the only times he shows a sign of anger in the novel is when Amir falsely accuses Hassan of theft.
Ali knows that Hassan is innocent but is forced to accept the accusation, despite his son's innocence. He is upset with Amir for betraying his best friend. Ali tells Baba that he and Hassan are leaving. Although Baba begs them to stay, Ali and Hassan leave Baba's home. It is the last time Baba and Amir see Hassan and Ali.
Ali is Baba's servant but also longtime friend. Baba even considers Ali and Hassan as a part of his family. While Amir does not know that Baba is the biological father of Hassan during their years in Afghanistan, he still often thinks of Hassan as his brother, despite his cruel acts towards Hassan. Hassan is dutiful like his father and often proves his admiration of Amir.
One day, when he goes to catch the last fallen kite during Amir's kite tournament, their childhood bully, Assef, sexually assaults Hassan. Amir witnesses this but does not do anything to help his friend. Instead, due to his guilt over his inaction, he accuses Hassan of theft to get rid of him.
Ali is deeply upset with Amir's betrayal of his friend and leaves Baba's home with Hassan. Ali knows that his son is innocent and knows of what Hassan had endured, but still admits to the theft and leaves with his son. This is the last time that Amir and Baba see Hassan and Ali alive.
Ali moves with Hassan into a mud hut, and they do whatever they can to survive in a Taliban-controlled Afghanistan. Their ethnicity often makes them subject to cruelty, but Ali is appreciative of life, even toward the end of his own. The war-torn countryside is littered with landmines, and one day, Ali's damaged leg causes him to trip over a landmine, which explodes and kills him.
Ali symbolizes resilience, hope, and above all, love, throughout the novel. He worked hard to make Hassan felt validated and seen. He did his very best to ensure that his son was happy by expressing his happiness with life, despite the verbal abuse he endured from others. He is someone who counts his blessings and loves his son more than anything. These qualities are reflected in Hassan's character. Even when Amir treats Hassan cruelly and even accuses him of theft, Hassan loves him.
Ali in The Kite Runner is the dutiful servant of a wealthy Afghan man, Baba. Baba's son Amir grows up as a best friend to Ali's son, Hassan. Ali and Hassan are Hazara, which is considered a low-class minority in Afghanistan. Baba and Amir are Pashtun, which is the largest ethnic group in Afghanistan. Despite the ethnic diversities between Ali and Baba, they remain friends for many years. Not only does Ali work for Baba, he also and treats Amir, Baba's son, with as much love as he does for his own son, Hassan. Ali is someone who endures a lot of cruelty from others who verbally abuse him due to a limp from his polio-damaged leg and the paralysis of his lower facial muscles. However, Ali is able to endure all of the negativity and hatred because of his love for his son.
In reality, Hassan is Baba's biological son and thus half-brother to his friend Amir. Although Ali knows Baba slept with his wife, Sanaubar, it does not break his trust in Baba. Ali is unable to have children, so he sees Hassan as the biggest blessing in his life. His wife, however, refuses to hold Hassan after birthing him and instead runs away, leaving Ali to raise Hassan alone. While Baba fathered Hassan, Ali is the one who raises him to be simple, content, and loving like himself, even when others ridicule him. Ali is someone who seldom showcases his anger, except when Amir betrays Hassan. Amir accuses Hassan of theft, which deeply upsets Ali. Ali knows Hassan is innocent and knows that Amir's betrayal is borne out of his guilt at not protecting Hassan from being raped by a neighborhood bully. Because of this, he and Hassan leave Baba's house, never to return.
Additional Info
Physical Characteristics
Ali is a kind and loving man. He does not hold a grudge against those who do him harm. He works as a house servant for his long-time friend, Baba. Yet, Ali does not have an easy life. Polio affected him in his youth and severely damaged one of his legs to the point where it is now crippled. He also suffers 'a congenital paralysis of his lower facial muscles', which gives him the appearance of always being unhappy. Despite these physical limitations, he never complains, and does the best he can with what he has been given.
Ali is also Hazara. This is one of the ethnic groups in Afghanistan, that because of their religious beliefs, are a persecuted minority. This leaves Ali subject to much verbal abuse from other residents of their neighborhood. Even the children run after him, calling him 'Boogeyman' or making fun of 'his flat nose'. Ali says nothing to these taunts and continues on with his life.
Marriage and Fatherhood
Some happiness does descend upon Ali. He marries his cousin, Sanaubar, one of the most desirable women in the city. Even though this marriage is arranged as a means to 'restore some honor to his uncle's blemished name', it is not a happy one. Sanaubar does not want to be married to an older man with the physical features of Ali. She does not find anything about him appealing and 'made no secret of her disdain for his appearance'. The moment of happiness that will last for the rest of his life comes with the birth of his son.
Hassan is his pride and joy. After Sanaubar gives birth to him, she notices the cleft lip on the baby, and notes that Ali now has a son to 'do all his smiling for him'. Sanaubar never holds Hassan, and leaves her husband several days after the birth. Ali takes care of the boy and raises him up to be a fine man. Since Hassan is nearly the same age as Baba's son, Amir, they become good friends, and Ali takes part in helping to raise Amir. Unfortunately, Hassan suffers some of the same discrimination, but from his best friend.
Leaving Baba
Ali has known Baba most of his life. Baba considers Ali and Hassan part of his family. Due to an assault on Hassan, for which Amir feels tremendous guilt because he stood by and did nothing, he redirects his guilt onto Hassan and creates a situation that forces Hassan and Ali to leave, despite the vehement protestations of Baba. Both Ali and Hassan know what Amir has done, but they protect him and accept the guilt and blame of his accusations of theft. They leave the comfort of family and head off to another part of Kabul.
This is perhaps the only moment where Ali gives the appearance of anger. He may be trying to protect his son Hassan from false accusation. Hassan persuades his father to say nothing, demonstrating the same sort of kindness and tolerance that Ali exhibits. Ali knows what Amir has done. He wants to protect his son from this type of harm, but abides by his son's wishes. There is no telling how much pain this causes Hassan and Ali.
Old Age
Ali moves on and goes to another area where he lives with Hassan in a mud hut. They do what they can to survive. Ali is out one day, when his bad leg is said to have tripped a landmine. Ali doesn't survive. His physical limitations come back to haunt him further. Despite this, it would seem he lived a good life, and he was someone who was able to appreciate all that was given to him, and not make any excuses for what was denied. He did well in passing his legacy to his son.
Hassan is not actually Ali's son, and he knows this. Ali was sterile and unable to father children. His friend Baba slept with Ali's wife and fathered the child. Despite this betrayal by both his friend and wife, Ali always stood by Baba and never expressed any animosity toward him. Ali always considered Hassan to be his son, and always made him feel special. It takes a truly remarkable person to be able to forgive. It is an even stronger person who can consider these acts as blessings.
Lesson Summary
Ali is one of the more inspiring characters in the novel The Kite Runner. He almost seems like the biblical figure Jonah, always being tested to see how far his tolerance and loyalty can be pushed. He has several physical defects, his ethnicity marks him as a target for ridicule and scorn, and his wife not only scorns him, but betrays him with his best friend. Yet from all of this, Ali's eyes shine with happiness, due in no small part because his wife' gives him a son.
Ali loves his son more than anything. Hassan is his reason for being. Everything he does is for Hassan. Ali serves as an excellent example as to the type of man Hassan should become. He is loyal, tolerant, happy, and always looks at the blessings that were granted him. He never bemoans the negative aspects of his life. It is this type of perspective that should stand as an example for all. Ali may be a minor character in the novel, but he stands tall throughout.
Register to view this lesson
Are you a student or a teacher?
Unlock Your Education
See for yourself why 30 million people use Study.com
Become a Study.com member and start learning now.
Become a MemberAlready a member? Log In
BackResources created by teachers for teachers
Over 30,000 video lessons
& teaching resources‐all
in one place.
I would definitely recommend Study.com to my colleagues. It’s like a teacher waved a magic wand and did the work for me. I feel like it’s a lifeline.
Jennifer B.
Teacher
Back
Ali in The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini | Description & Death Related Study Materials
Explore our library of over 88,000 lessons
Browse by subject