Baba the Black Bear

In The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini, Baba is compared to a black bear. "I have imagined Baba's wrestling match countless times, even dreamed about it. And in those dreams I can never tell Baba from a black bear" (Hosseini, 12). Amir talks about how Baba had three parallel scars down his back from bear claws. As I was reading the novel, I came across different lines that made me think that Baba could easily be compared to a black bear. for example, in chapter 3, a description is made talking about how Baba had unruly brown hair and a dark curly beard. The appearance could easily compare to a black bear. Not only does Baba have the physical appearance of a black bear, but many of his characteristics are similar as well. As we looked farther into the novel, two more characteristics of Baba appeared to be very similar to the ones of a black bear. The first part is where Baba and Amir have a real father son relationship. Baba would be the strong father that would protect his child, just as a bear would protect its cub. Another characteristic of a bear that Baba carries is his obnoxious snoring. According to Amir, Baba's snoring could easily be compared to the growling of a bear when he is first waken up from his slumber. During many parts of the novel, the comparison between Baba and the Black Bear are confirmed.