The Kite Runner, Chapter 2: How is Hassan portrayed and what is the relationship between young Amir and Hassan like? How do we immediately feel sympathy for Hassan?

The Hazaras have a heritage of having a "Broad nose" and if one was spotted they would be treated differently from the start so the reader feels sympathy for Hassan here as he was always going to be lower class and picked on.

Hassan also has a "cleft lip" that hasn't been treated to yet. This just makes his physical appearance easier to make fun of for the Pashtuns and the fact that it hasn't had any treatment tells us what sort of background he is from. This also makes the reader sympathise for Hassan.

The book describes Hassan "like a Chinese doll." This shows that Hassan is Amir's toy or doll as he can make him do what he wants when he wants if he really wanted to.

"Hassan would mumble" shows that he is quite a quiet character that likes to keep himself mainly to himself and it also shows he would not tell Ali that it was Amir's idea to use the mirror and the slingshot, showing his loyalty to Amir and it shows that Hassan is willing to take a bullet for him.

You also sympathise for Hassan as he has no freedom in a sense due to the fact he has to do what Amir does and take interest in what he does. It just happens to be that the two characters have the same interests.

Amir's first word was Baba as he is the most important person to him and he looks up to him for advise and wisdom. This shows that Hassan looks up to Amir as Hassan's first word happened to be Amir.

Baba and Amir treat Ali and Hassan like family as they care for them feed them and have helped them survive. However they all still know the difference in class between them meaning Baba and Amir will always have the last say.

Amir reads to Hassan but doesn't teach him how to read for himself. Even though Hassan is his friend, Amir likes having the intelligence and the power in the relationship as it makes him feel in charge, just like Baba is in charge of things.

Hassan has to wait on Amir which he could find annoying, however he was born into it so he doesn't know any better and the attention from Amir is the attention that Hassan may crave and need.