What are some scenes that Amir displays his inferiority complex when interacting with Hassan?
Alfred Adler believed in what is referred to as the inferiority complex which claims that ones behavior is driven by ones efforts to conquer any feelings of inferiority and feel superior. Amir often felt as if he was not as good as Hassan, due to the fact that Baba would praise Hassan more than Amir. This is obvious in the scene that Hassan and Amir were skipping stones by the lake. Amir could only skip the stone five times, while Hassan could skip it eight times. Amir watched in jealousy as Baba "patted Hassan on the back. even put his arm around his shoulder" (Hosseini 14). Amir also felt inferior to Hassan when he overheard Baba talking to Rahim one day, saying "You know what happens when the neighborhood boys tease him? Hassan steps in and fends them off. I've seen it with my open eyes. And when they come home, I say to him, 'How did Hassan get that scrape on his face?' And he says, 'He fell down.' I'm telling you, Rahim, there is something missing in that boy." (Hosseini 22). Overhearing things like that made Amir feel as if he was not as good as Hassan. Amir did not only feel inferior to Hassan, but he also felt inferior to his mother. Amir's mother was Baba's prized possession before Amir took her away from Baba during his birth. Knowing that Baba does not cherish Amir as much as his mother makes him feels inferior. Feeling threatened by both Hassan and his dead mother, Amir begins to "strive for a personal goal of superiority" (Alfred Adler).
Amir often displays the inferiority complex when he asks Hassan to do various tasks that he does not want to do himself, such as when he asked Hassan to hit the neighbors dog with walnuts. Amir even recognizes that, "Hassan never wanted to, but if I asked, really asked, he wouldn't deny me. Hassan never denied me anything" (Hosseini 4). Amir did not gain any benefit from getting Hassan to hurt the neighbors dog besides a feeling of superiority. Adler recognized that those exemplifying inferiority complex are "continuously concerned with themselves, or self bound," just as Amir was only concerned with himself and did not worry about what Hassan wanted (Alfred). Amir also found amusement in telling Hassan the wrong definition for certain words while reading to him Amir would "tease him, expose his ignorance" (Hosseini 29). When Amir finally finds a weakness in Hassan, his inability to read, he exposes it as much as possible to make himself feel as if he is better than Hassan. Another major scene in the novel that Amir pushes Hassan's limits is when he asks him to eat dirt. Amir asks Hassan if he would every lie to him, when Hassan replies that he rather eat dirt., Amir decides to mess around with Hassan and questions if he would truly eat dirt for him. "I was being cruel, like when I'd taunt him if he didn't know some big word. But there was something fascination -albeit in a sick way - about teasing Hassan" said Amir when he teased Hassan about the dirt (Hosseini 54). He recognized that he was being cruel, but continued acting as he was in order to gain a feeling of superiority. Alfred Adler suggested that those who show the inferiority complex "often developed a pampered life style in that they expect to receive without giving" (Alfred Adler). In this case, Amir would constantly ask Hassan do complete ridiculous tasks for him, such as hurting the neighbors dog or eat dirt, without doing anything for Hassan in return.
Amir often displays the inferiority complex when he asks Hassan to do various tasks that he does not want to do himself, such as when he asked Hassan to hit the neighbors dog with walnuts. Amir even recognizes that, "Hassan never wanted to, but if I asked, really asked, he wouldn't deny me. Hassan never denied me anything" (Hosseini 4). Amir did not gain any benefit from getting Hassan to hurt the neighbors dog besides a feeling of superiority. Adler recognized that those exemplifying inferiority complex are "continuously concerned with themselves, or self bound," just as Amir was only concerned with himself and did not worry about what Hassan wanted (Alfred). Amir also found amusement in telling Hassan the wrong definition for certain words while reading to him Amir would "tease him, expose his ignorance" (Hosseini 29). When Amir finally finds a weakness in Hassan, his inability to read, he exposes it as much as possible to make himself feel as if he is better than Hassan. Another major scene in the novel that Amir pushes Hassan's limits is when he asks him to eat dirt. Amir asks Hassan if he would every lie to him, when Hassan replies that he rather eat dirt., Amir decides to mess around with Hassan and questions if he would truly eat dirt for him. "I was being cruel, like when I'd taunt him if he didn't know some big word. But there was something fascination -albeit in a sick way - about teasing Hassan" said Amir when he teased Hassan about the dirt (Hosseini 54). He recognized that he was being cruel, but continued acting as he was in order to gain a feeling of superiority. Alfred Adler suggested that those who show the inferiority complex "often developed a pampered life style in that they expect to receive without giving" (Alfred Adler). In this case, Amir would constantly ask Hassan do complete ridiculous tasks for him, such as hurting the neighbors dog or eat dirt, without doing anything for Hassan in return.