The Cleft Lip Symbol

Hassan's cleft lip is one of his most memorable, vivid attributes and one of the most referred to features that Amir uses to describe him to the reader. The split in the top of Hassan's lip marks Hassan's true status in society. It acts as a symbol of poverty, which is one of the things that separates him from Amir, because Hassan and his family do not have the money to fix it. Instead, Baba, Hassan's biological father, chooses to pay for Hassan's surgery as a way of showing his secret fatherly love to him. When Amir runs into Assef, Assef beats him and leaves him with a similar scar as the one that Hassan had. Amir's identity becomes merged with Hassan's. Amir grows a backbone and learns to stand up for people he cares about, just like Hassan did for him, and he becomes a father figure to Sohrab. A little piece of Hassan will always be with Amir now, reminding him of his unforgettably, loyal brother.