LRB #4: The Roles of Soraya

In Khaled Hosseini’s The Kite Runner, there are many characters that play an important part in moving the story along. This book contains a large amount of minor characters, ones whose one purpose is to fill in the blanks and help the main characters move on with their lives. The most important minor character thus far, hands down, is Soraya, Amir’s love interest turned wife. Though her introduction was nothing extravagant, it’s pretty much love at first sight and the two fall head over heels, getting married quickly due to Baba’s impending death from cancer. 

We walked in silence down a winding gravel path lined by a row of hedges. We sat on a bench and watched an elderly couple kneeling beside a grave a few rows away and placing a bouquet of daisies by the headstone. “Soraya?”

“Yes?”

“I’m going to miss him.”

She put her hand on my lap. Baba’s chila glinted on her ring finger. Behind her, I could see Baba’s mourners driving away on Mission Boulevard. Soon we’d leave, too, and for the first time ever, Baba would be all alone.

Soraya pulled me to her and the tears finally came.

This quote is very important in the aspect that it perfectly highlights the role Soraya takes on in Amir’s life. From the beginning of their relationship to where we are currently in the book, she has become his other half; she voluntarily took care of her dying father in law to help Amir and show her respect to Baba and she becomes Amir’s sole source of comfort after his passing away. I think this shows what a marriage is supposed to be like; I think you’re meant to be each other’s rock, which is what Soraya is to Amir and vice versa. 

Soraya also has another role to fill – soon enough, she goes from being the comforter to the one who needs comforting. After finding out that she is for some reason infertile, it is her turn to fall apart in a sense and Amir is there to comfort her just as she always does for him. I think this is another reflection on how love works; you’re there for each other no matter what the circumstances. 

Ultimately, I think Soraya is placed in Amir’s life because she fulfills the purpose of becoming his strength and comfort when bad things happen. She’s sort of like his lighthouse, guiding him through the fog of life, never failing, even when they’re both pushed to their limits, which is beautiful.