Analyse the way in which the relationship between Baba and Amir is shown to change and develop in Chapter

11 p.111 After Baba wrecks the Vietnamese couples store over issue of payment, Amir steps in to resolve the problem. He acts in a manner befitting that of a parent over a child, or even an owner over a pet. Through use of direct speech he begs the Nguyens to let Baba go: "Please, Mrs. Nguyen, don't call the police. I'll take him home. Just don't call the police, okay? Please?" He uses simple sentences which helps demonstrate his reserved tone yet also effectively demonstrates underlying panic he seeks to swiftly resolve. Amir repeats himself in asking 'don't call the police', outlining further desperation. He also uses third person pronominative form to refer to Baba as 'him'. "I'll take him home." Instead of referring to him as "Baba", as we may expect due to Amirs considerable respect for Baba up to this point. This use of third person pronominative shows that Amir is not afraid to talk about Baba while in his presence, showing that Amir is equal with, if not taking responsibility for Babas actions. The sentence ends with a monosyllabic interrogative, which helps to express Amirs pathetic desperation to get his father out of the situation with as little hassle as possible. Amir is having to defend his father, when as a child his father rarely, if ever, defended him. p.113 After explaining the events and places they had to go through on their way to America to the reader, Amir states in declarative direct speech: "You work so hard here", Baba follows immediately with the equally declarative direct speech: "It's not so bad now". This is potentially a use of litote to understate the conditions in which Baba is forced to work at the gas station in order to serve his son. It make also be an example of the humbling Baba has experienced during his transition from a powerful business man with a healthy reputation in Afghanistan, to a no-body in a dead end job in America, all for the sake of his son, who he is becoming more proud of. The use of simple sentences outlines that while they may consider each other more equal now, conversation still does not flow naturally between them.

p.114 Baba expresses pride in his sons achievements at his graduation ceremony. He seems to abandon his usual steely composure and embraces his sons achievements. "I am moftakhir, Amir", he said. Proud." The sentence uses graphalogical features of italics for the word in faasi, if not only to outline that it is not an English word, to make it stand out and emphasise the point before the translation. The translation itself, "Proud." is elliptical. The capitalisation of the plosive "P" in "Proud." adds emphasis to the pride, which is already a strong emotion to be conveyed by Baba, a man who has seemingly seen his son as an embarrassment to him throughout his life. Amir follows this up with a complex sentence: "His eyes gleamed when he said that and I liked being on the receiving end of that look." the use of "eyes gleamed" is an example of both anaphoric and cataphoric referencing to a recurring theme of eyes throughout the novel, and "gleamed" is an effective use of imagery, especially for Baba who has always been seen as a stern man, who would never share a "gleaming" look at his son. The boy who had brought him shame as a child has grown up to be a man to bring him pride. Amir uses conjunction in the sentence to expand on Babas look and convey how it makes him feel. Presumably the two men share an emotional bond of some sort, and share a glance untouched by time. p. 117 Amir informs Baba that he intends to study English at college. Amir knows that Baba will not approve of his decision and see it as a foolish endeavour. Baba expresses his distaste in Amirs aspirations in a series of bemusing interrogatives. "And what will you do while you wait to get good and get discovered? How will you earn money? If you marry, how will you support your khanum?" Baba is frustrated that Amir will put in all of the work he has done and will do simply to end up in the same position as Baba. Baba has higher aspirations for his son, and feels that his hard work will have been for naught if Amir ends up in the same position he is. He would prefer Amir to pursue a more "real" job, instead of writing. Amir is steadfast in his decision to pursue a literary career. Baba expresses his distaste in a negative tone, but inside it is clear he simply wants what he considers best for his son in America. Amir recognises this, but stands up to his father and tells him that this is the decision he has made and that he is going to pursue it.

p.121 When talking to General Taheri, Baba states that: "Amir is going to be a great writer". The use of the intensifier "great" shows continuing pride in his son. This statement shows that Baba has had a change of heart about Amir's career choices, and supports his son in whichever endeavors he chooses to pursue. Amir then states: "I did a double-take at this." This shows, somewhat hyperbolically (Amir is unlikely to have literally performed a full-motion double-take in front of the General) that Amir is taken-aback by Baba's support for his pursuit of writing, and perhaps expresses doubt in his statement, that perhaps Baba is not proud of Amir's decision to pursue writing, but is instead merely trying to impress the General. Baba goes on to boast about Amir's achievements to the General, but Amir interjects "Junior college" as a correction, expressing his humbleness in the presence of the General, who is a respectable man, and whom Amir is fearful of offending, directly, or through his father's actions.