Green Initiatives Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Green Initiatives - Essay Example The company has an organic growth model that has enabled the company to achieve tremendous growth during the last decade. In 1999 the company served less than 5 million passengers. In the 21st century corporate social responsibility has become an important strategic path that companies follow in order to achieve success. Corporate social responsibility can be defined as alignment of a company’s activities with the social, economic, and environmental expectations of its stakeholders (Sourcewatch, 2009). As a low cost airline the company is automatically complying with the economic expectation of its customers. The company is a member of European Low Fares Airline Association. Ryanair has one of the best environmental records in the airline industry. Ryanair selects aircrafts models for its fleet that have the latest and most efficient engine technologies. This green initiative has helped the company reduced carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions by 45% over the last decade. The firm has further decreased its CO2 emissions during the last 10 years by an additional 10% by optimizing its flight route trajectory. The company does not use flight hopping mechanisms; instead all of its flights are one way destinations directly to the final location. The airline also avoids long taxiing time and holding patterns at primary congested airports (Ryanair, 2009). CO2 emissions are the primary factor that is causing air pollution that leads to the imbalance in the greenhouse effect and global warming. Rising carbon dioxide levels from burning fuel fossils are scientifically linked to sea level changes, snowmelt, disease, heat stress, severe weather, and ocean acidification (Rice, 2008). The company has invested over $17 billion since 1999 in its aircraft replacement program. The aircraft replacement program enabled the company to lower its fuel consumption by 55% between 1998 and 2007

On Agency Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

On Agency - Essay Example This is because any decision made will be on the basis that someone is watching. Agency is determined or limited by various factors of influence referred to as structure. Examples of structure include customs, religion, ethnicity, gender and social class. Panopticon is a building which has a central tower. At the periphery of Panopticon is an annular building; at the center is a tower. The tower is fitted with wide windows which open on to the inner side of the ring. The annular building is divided in to cells which extend to the whole width of the building. The cells have two windows. One window is on the inner side facing the central tower while the other is on the far end of the cell. It is strategically placed there to allow light to enter in to the cell traversing the whole cell. The Panopticon is a prison. The prisoners in the Panopticon are watched by the inspector from the central tower. However, they cannot be able to see inside the tower. This way, they never know when they are being watched or not. The prisoners therefore have to behave at all times because they feel that they are being watched even if no one is watching because they cannot tell. The only way that the prisoners counter attack the watch of the inspector is by turning their backs on him. They face the outer window leaving the inspector to watch their back. When the inspector notices this, he has to go and issue a warning to the prisoners from hiding from his watch. This situation is symbolic of how agency is first inhibited by society. Society has been structured in a manner similar to Panopticon. Just like the prisoners, someone somewhere is always watching. The problem is, you can never know who it is and where exactly they are watching you from. The two windows are symbolic of the options of power and rules, and agency. The inner opening are the rules which have been laid down to dictate the manner in which things are to be done. The outer window symbolizes the possibility of indepe ndence; agency. This can be verified by the manner in which the prisoners turn their backs on the inspector and face the outer window. Similarly, we as individuals turn our backs from what has been decided for us and seek comfort by looking for the possibility of independence. It however takes little time for society to come running to us, in many forms, reminding us that our actions and decisions should be in line with its expectations. This is one perspective of viewing the reasons why agency cannot and has not been fully realized in society. As pointed out earlier, agency is the extent to which individuals make their own free choices; alternatively, it is the ability of an individual to act on their own will. However, this ability will be limited by more than just being watched by society. Personal experiences, and individual and societal perceptions, with respect to the circumstances that an individual is in and the environment that they have been born in or are part of, form a cognitive belief structure. These beliefs will affect one’s ability to act on their own will as they often cause conflicts between parties that are involved. For example, a child who wants to be a musician and has been born in family of scholars such as engineers, will have a hard time convincing their parents. This is because the cognitive belief that the family has formed is that success can only be achieved when one finds a career in books rather than in

Leadership Process Essay Example for Free

Leadership Process Essay First Section Leadership is a process by which one person influences the thoughts, attitudes, and behaviors of others. Leaders set a direction for the rest of us; they help us see what lies ahead; they help us visualize what we might achieve; they encourage us and inspire us. Level 5 leadership refers to the highest level in a hierarchy of executive capabilities that we identified during our research. Leaders at the other four levels in the hierarchy can produce high degrees of success but not enough to elevate companies from mediocrity to sustained excellence. And while Level 5 leadership is not the only requirement for transforming a good company into a great one—other factors include getting the right people on the bus (and the wrong people off the bus) and creating a culture of discipline—our research shows it to be essential. Good-to-great transformations don’t happen without Level 5 leaders at the helm. They just don’t. (Traylor, 2001) The Level 5 leader sits on top of a hierarchy of capabilities and is, according to our research, a necessary requirement for transforming an organization from good to great. But what lies beneath? Four other layers, each one appropriate in its own right but none with the power of Level 5. Individuals do not need to proceed sequentially through each level of the hierarchy to reach the top, but to be a full-fledged Level 5 requires the capabilities of all the lower levels, plus the special characteristics of Level 5. (HBR, 2001) It differs from other leadership styles as the leaders come from the grass root of the organization. Meaning, it is the leader who has grown and developed from the ground level of the organization and has gradually escalated towards the top most level. This allows an employee to go through all phases and nurture to the top level of the organization i.e. CEO level. A few years ago in Strategy Leadership, Michael Raynor debunked the premises on which the shareholder-first model rests, and a few months ago Michael Porter criticized the current belief that looking beyond the business is bad for business. In the January/February Harvard Business Review he argues that companies should be considering other stakeholders, and so generates economic value by creating societal value. These respected thinkers offer another answer to the question about the purpose of a business: the firm should see itself as an interdependent part of a community that consists of multiple stakeholders whose interests are integral to business success. In this view, an enterprise can be seen as a system of long-term cooperative relationships between affected parties. (Collins, 2001) These include the firm’s managers and employees, customers and clients, investors, suppliers, the towns, states and nations where the firm is located or sells goods and services and even future generations of stakeholders. In such a system, stakeholder influence generates pressure for the organization to behave in ethical and environmentally and socially responsible ways, and in turn, this interdependency helps the firm be sustainable and resilient. This alternative approach to leadership is variously referred to as ‘‘sustainable,’’ ‘‘Rhineland’’ or ‘‘honeybee’’ leadership. By sustainable we don’t just mean a firm is being green and socially responsible. Research and observations in over 50 firms around the world, including in many listed corporations, suggest that sustainable leadership requires taking a long-term perspective in making decisions; fostering systemic innovation aimed at increasing customer value; developing a skilled, loyal and highly engaged workforce; and offering quality products, services and solutions. (Caroselli, 2003) Second Section In 2005, Lee Scott, ex-CEO and President of Wal-Mart Stores and now Chairman of its Executive Committee, announced that the company would essentially adopt sustainable leadership principles going forward, although he did not use that term. Financial performance was solid, but the company was the target of many complainants – employees, local communities, suppliers, and environmentalists. Scott decreed that Wal-Mart, one of largest Fortune 500 corporations, would become more ethical, and more socially and environmentally responsible. The company would use its political might to benefit ordinary Americans in healthcare and energy savings, and make people’s lives better. Scott even advocated paying more for products from ethical suppliers – an extraordinary reversal by an enterprise built around a low-cost strategy. In the years since, Wal-Mart has experimented with environmentally-friendly stores and other socially-responsible measures. Interestingly, its bottom line has not suffered during this process, posting net sales increases for the past five years, according to Wal-Mart’s 2009 annual report. In recent months, in a move to improve the healthiness of its products, the firm announced plans to reduce the fat and salt in its house brand groceries and cut prices on fresh produce. (Shaw, 2005) A considerable body of evidence shows that sustainable practices are more likely to enhance business performance than the shareholder-first approach. First, various writers have examined and compared the Anglo/US system with its Rhineland counterpart, concluding that Rhineland principles are more sustainable and lead to better outcomes than the shareholder-first approach. Second, Avery and Bergsteiner have gathered extensive evidence for each of the individual practices in their pyramid model, showing how they are more likely to contribute to positive business outcomes than their counterparts under the shareholder-first model. For example, a major difference between shareholder-first and sustainable practices lies in whether they retain people or lay them off when times get difficult. Staff retention is regarded as a foundation element in the pyramid because conditions aimed at keeping staff can be initiated at any time. However, retaining staff supports various higher order outcomes in the pyramid; it allows knowledge to be retained, and supports quality, trust, and innovation, for example, and enhances financial performance, as well as staff and customer satisfaction. Similar cases can be made for the other 22 elements. (Cooke, 2008) What senior executive would reject these as legitimate goals for an enterprise seeking to both thrive and endure? To some cynics, sustainable leadership – a management approach aimed at delivering better and more sustainable returns, reducing unwanted employee turnover and accelerating innovation – sounds too good to be true. They dismiss it as just another form of humanistic management, merely good management practices, or as following old-fashioned values. There is some truth in each of these characterizations. Certainly, sustainable leadership embraces aspects of humanistic management in that it includes valuing people and considering the firm as a contributor to social well being. The individual practices of sustainable leadership are not new: B Warren Bennis advocated recruiting, training, and employing an effective top leadership team rather than just relying on the heroic CEO. He also proposed that firms become financially transparent as a step to becoming more ethical. B Peter Drucker wanted managers to promote change and allow innovations to come from all over the organization, thereby enabling ordinary people to make extraordinary things happen. B Stephen Covey urged using the knowledge and engagement of a firm’s employees. What is new is the understanding that these practices form a self-reinforcing leadership system that enhances the performance of a business and its prospects for survival. What is also significant is that sustainable leadership practices are diametrically opposed to the typical shareholder-first approach, which business schools, management journals, the media, and many practitioners continue to promote. (Branson, 2010) Sustainable leadership in practice Sustainably-led organizations have been identified across different sectors, countries, institutional contexts, and markets. Examples of successful enterprises that consistently embrace sustainable leadership principles abound, particularly among privately-held firms and SMEs. Unlisted companies displaying virtually all of the 23 characteristics of a sustainable enterprise include: in the USA, WL Gore Associates (Goretexw and other products) and SAS (software); in Germany, Giesecke Devrient (bank notes and securities) and Ka ¨rcher (cleaning solutions); and in Switzerland, Endress Hauser (flow technologies) and Migros (retail conglomerate). However, it is likely to be more difficult for listed corporations or private equity groups to operate on sustainable principles because of the pressures on them to achieve short-term performance goals. Yet numerous listed enterprises manage to operate sustainably, if necessary by standing up to or managing their relationships with the financial markets. Well-known examples include Germany’s Munich Re from the finance industry; Colgate (consumer goods) based in the USA; Britain’s BT Group (telecommunications); the Thai construction corporation, Siam Cement Group, and its competitor from Switzerland, Holcim. (Streshly Gray, 2010) Third Section There are many obstacles in changing to sustainable leadership. First, sticking with conventional wisdom is comfortable and easy – it’s business as usual. Second, change is disruptive and initially creates both financial and intangible costs, although as the Wal-Mart case shows these may not slow growth and profits. Third, most people disregard hard evidence and make their decisions on the basis of ideological beliefs. Managers are no exception to this human foible despite their training and experience in decision making. Fourth, major change involves risks, bringing with it the chance of a drop in short-term performance, so stakeholders need to be prepared to focus on the long term. Finally, radical change can take a long time to embed and then maintain. A major Australian bank converted from a shareholder-first strategy to a sustainable leadership model. The change took a decade to take hold, with outstanding results, but unraveled in only a few years to under a new CEO with a different agenda. The choice to adopt a more sustainable strategy, one that research and practice show leads to higher resilience and performance over the long term, remains in the hands of each executive team. Unfortunately, executives remunerated on a short-term basis may have no incentive for seriously pursuing long-term change, to the detriment of shareholders and other stakeholders. This is where the fundamental short-term focus of the shareholder-first or business-as-usual model begins to destroy shareholder value and endanger a firm’s very survival. (Brown, 2005) References Branson, D. M. (2010). The last male bastion: gender and the CEO suite in Americas public companies. Taylor Francis. Brown, M. T. (2005). Corporate integrity: rethinking organizational ethics, and leadership. Cambridge University Press. Caroselli, M. (2003). The business ethics activity book: 50 exercises for promoting integrity at work. AMACOM Div American Mgmt Assn. Collins, J. C. ( 2001). Good to great: why some companies make the leapand others dont. Harper Business. Cooke, P. (2008). Branding Faith: Why Some Churches and Non-Profits Make a Difference and Others Dont. Gospel Light. Shaw, K. A. (2005). The intentional leader. Syracuse University Press. Streshly, W. A., Gray, S. P. (2010). Leading Good Schools to Greatness: Mastering What Great Principals Do Well. Corwin Press. Traylor, P. S. (2001). IT Takes Two. CIO Magazine , Vol.15, No.4, November 15

Labelling theory goes some way to towards understanding crime

Labelling theory goes some way to towards understanding crime This essay explores how labelling theory goes some way to towards understanding crime. It will consider taking to account three theories: Backers self fulfilling prophecy theory which suggests that we could change persons behaviour because of the negative expectation, Cooleys looking glass self theory explains that we see ourselves through the eyes of others and subculture theories describe people who do not fin it the community are more expected to commit crime. Instead of looking at why some social groups commit more crime, labelling theory asks why some people committing some actions come to be defined as deviant, while others do not. Labelling theory is also interested in the effects of labelling on individuals. Labelling theorists note that most people commit crimes at some time in their lives but not everyone becomes defined as a deviant or a criminal. Once someone has been successfully labelled as criminal or deviant, the label attached may become the dominant label or master status which is seen as more important than all the other aspects of the person. He or she becomes a hooligan or thief rather than a father, mother or friend. Each label carries with it prejudices and images and this may lead to others interpreting the behaviour of the labelled person in a particular way. For example, a person who volunteers to stay late at work is usually seen as worthy of praise, but, if a person has been labelled as a thief, people might be sus picious that they will steal something. For some people once a deviant label has been applied this can actually lead to more deviance. This happens when people start acting in the way they have been labelled. It is human nature to label others, either positively or negatively. Usually it has a negative impact for people who are labelling by other people and as an effect it pushes people to commit a crime or a bad behaviour. For example, when a person once has stolen something this person will always be called a thief and when something disappear again this person will be the first suspected person, even this person did not do it. Because this person is now thinks of him/himself as a criminal, he/she is now likely to continue in his/her criminal behaviour. If the person changes his behaviour what does it change? Why this person should not keep the antisocial actions so the person has the thief label? It changes nothing if this person stops his bad behaviour because whatever will happ en this person will always be dubious because their behaviour is stains embedded in advance. In this way labelling works and can have a bad influence for people behaviour and keep antisocial behaviour because when someone commits a crime at any age they are forever labelled and looked as a criminal. Sometimes some people identify themselves with their label and they are able to do that so other people have to believe and think they are people who they suppose to be. For instance, if you call me a thief I will be stealing things to keep my thiefs label. Then people are beginning to think differently of themselves which may lead to criminal acts later. Moreover, when a person is labelled as a criminal, this person possibly admits this label as a part of them. When someone is labelled a criminal they will continue to commit criminal acts because they are already viewed as criminal and will never be seen different, even if this person does not commit a bad behaviour any more. Research show, criminal behaviour is a direct result of negative labelling. If others give you a label of being a really generous person, which is a positive, and when you believe in it you stay a generous person after that you will be doing anything to show it. In the same way it works when somebody call you a bad person who do a negative things. When you believe in the label it could stay your part of life or it could be your goal so you could go for it to make sure you are doing these things which can call you the bad person. It happens so often that people labelling others only in negative way. People label others as well as stereotyping other people. Stereotypes are generalizations of people groups based on past experiences, which are deep-rooted in the psyche of the people. Stereotype it is something and works as a labelling others. For example, a person with tattoos is looking for job. A employer could pay an attention about this person tattoos because the stereotype is if a person who have a tattoo or tattoos is more likely to commit crime or antisocial behaviour. It is only a stereotype which does not have to be a true statement, but it works in similar way as a labelling. Accordingly, the stereotype of criminal is: bold head, muscular and high forehead. These futures link to crime watch because media shows criminals. As a result, if a person who looks as a potential criminal and this person is looking for a job, an employer as well as other people such as family, friends and so on, may label this person as someone who is more likely to commit crime. Also, the police l ook for a certain type of person who looks as a potential criminal. For that reason, the media criminals distort our view of the world. Media has influence on population it follows that, the antisocial behaviour that is shows in the TV may have consequence in the real live others because they could copes the bad actions that shows media. Whatever we watch such as: cartoons, any kind of films or serials it shows crime Research carried out by covered a self fulfilling prophecy by Backer (1963) which directly leads some way towards labelling theory to the crime. Self fulfilling prophecy could be a negative expectation about people that may affect a persons behaviour towards them in a manner that he or she creates situations in which those expectations are fulfilled. As a result, if a person thinks we are a person who is presumable to commit crime, they will treat us in that way. If we are treated as a person who is probably doing to commit crime, we will act, and even become this way. The person has thus had their prophecy about us fulfilled. Self fulfilling prophecy could be seen as the affect of the outcome of a situation or the way a person or group will behave by belief or expectation other people. To make a person act criminal actions, all we have to do is believe this when we interact with them. What is more, labelling someone a criminal and treating that person as such, may foster behaviour i n the person who is subjected to the expectation. In consequence, what people think of you can change the way you behave. Other people may suspect you are a person who commits crime because you care about what other people think of you therefore, you may be willing to carry out antisocial actions for the reason that others as well as you believe in it. Cooleys looking glass self research explains a formation of self-image via reflection. Cooley used the image of a mirror as a metaphor for the way in which peoples self-concepts are influenced by their impressions of how they are perceived by others. ¿Ã‚ ½We see ourselves through the eyes of other people, even to the extent of incorporating their views of us into our own self-concept. Consequently, when a person receives a negative label from a variety of persons they might begin to view themselves as someone how other people labelled this person. As a result, if some people see a person as a person who is commits crime he or she may vision themselves as a potential criminal because others judge the person like this. Other people treat the person in this way so the person will treat themselves in the same way too. It is true that teenagers are often strongly influenced by their peers, who are often young offenders, and will go beyond conforming to changing their self-image to match . This way they will commit crime to fit in to the environment that has a big impact on our behaviour. If you want someone to believe something about ourselves, act towards them as if it were true Research on subculture theories focus on small cultural groups have that show fragmented away from mainstream society for various reasons, and formulate their own values, norms and beliefs. In other words, a subculture is a set of people with distinct sets of behaviour and beliefs that differentiate them from a larger culture of which they are a part. An example is adolescents in lower ¿Ã‚ ½social ¿Ã‚ ½class areas that form groups or gangs to exert power, gain a form of respect and protection, and adopt ¿Ã‚ ½social ¿Ã‚ ½norms such as toughness, street credibility, and disrespect for authority in order to ensure cohesion. Criminal behaviour is often the result of these group norms and values. The subculture may be distinctive because of the age of its members, or by their race, ethnicity, class and/or gender, and the qualities that determine a subculture as distinct may be aesthetic, religious, occupational, political and sexual or a combination of these factors.  ¿Ã‚ ½Subcu lture theories share the common belief that people who commit crime usually share different values from the mass of law-abiding members of society. For example, some groups of criminals might develop norms that encourage criminal behaviour. As a consequence, a subculture is a group of people who are mostly from the middle class or not skills backgrounds. They are in the group of people who have, for example, the same view into the world, identical beliefs, wear similar clothes, have tattoos, have similar or the same hobbies, have a long hair or bald head, have the same goals and so on. Anyone who does not fit in the norms is called a subculture and these people who do not suit the community are more likely to commit crime. For instance, a group of people who have some tattoos, bald head and they wear clothes which show their mussels others may label these people as someone who has already committed crime or is expected to commit crime because they look like sort of people who are la belled as people who commit antisocial behaviour. In addition, an another example is, a group of people who have a long hair and wear leather jacket these kinds of people are labelled as people who are more likely to commit crime than others. These people for others look as a potential criminal because media shows crime and how might look a person who is committing crime. As a result, others believe in it and labelled other people who, according to media and opinions others, do not fit in community and look like a criminal. The research shows these labelling theories go some way into explaining crime, as people stereotype because it is human nature to stereotype, either in negative or positives ways. Usually people are influence by the media as well as by individual socialisation into society. An example of this could be how society stereotypes people, for example, these who are bald and assumes as a criminal because the media shows they have a potential criminal look. Labelling is pointing out through stereotyping that society may help to cause crime. Therefore relating to the labelling theories could be suggested that, according to Becker, self fulfilling prophecy may involve a person actions and it supports crime for that reason that others judge others. It may change our behaviour to cause us commit more crime because our behaviour is based on the thoughts of others about ourselves. Moreover, Cooleys looking glass self theory suggests that opinion other people may have a huge impact on our actions b ecause we see ourselves through the eyes of the other people. Research illustrates that if I think that I am a good person, but people say that I am not that according to Cooley I will began to listen and construct my view of self from other people. On the other hand, research on subculture suggests that anyone who does not fit in the norm is likely to commit crime. What is more important is the fact that, subculture related directly to criminal activities group of working class which have underachieved in education or work. Due to this they are often labelled and get little respect, this can be relating to crime. By investigating the labelling theory we are able to understand why people could commit criminal behaviour, and also why people can be influenced into deviant behaviour.

The Unforgettable Man :: essays research papers

The Unforgettable Man Being an orderly at Scottsdale Memorial Hospital was a fun job that required a strong heart. The hospital was a great place for me to experience the beauty of life and the unwanted death of humans. Throughout my year of employment at the Community Hospital, I was able to enjoy my work by interacting with many kinds of interesting patients. Without the hospital, I would have never imagined to be carrying on conversations with most of these people. Aiding curses required many long exhilarating hours of work each day, but I loved experiencing the daily recovery of patients, in which I was able to be some part. The night of August sixth became a different story. Just as my shift was coming to a normal close, a nurse's call light from one of the patient's rooms had illuminated. On one of my many repetitive walks down from the station to a patient's room, I had nothing else on my mind except for my evening plans with friends. I was extremely happy that this would surely be the last call light I would be answering that shift. As I entered the room, a crying relative came yelling at me. "He is going, something happened, do something, do something now!", demanded the distressed lady standing right at the bed side. I had seen this man before, although I had never spoken to him. I had know idea that he was not in a stable health. "All right, all right," I replied in frustration, not knowing exactly what to do first. I looked at the 84 year old overweight male patient. He appeared very pale with his brown colored eyes half shut looking desperately at me for some sort of help. My mind was becoming blank, as I could not believe what I was about to experience. In training we were told this could happen from time, to time, but I never thought with me. We were also told how to deal with the death of a patient, although I never thought I would be a part in this type of situation. Regardless, I could not think straight. I could not move as I started to panic. I looked around before I noticed that I was the only help available. I became scared. I then all at once, ran out of the room, screaming for help to any one that would be able to hear me, "Code Blue, Code Blue, room 219 now!" Running back into the room, I stepped behind the bed and pulled the call light on again.

12th Night - Orsino Essay -- essays research papers

  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  William Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night depicts the trials and faults of several characters’ loves. There are many downfalls and unrequited loves, and the story basically ends up in a confusing love triangle. He especially shows the many quirks of Orsino in his quest for winning the true love of Olivia. In this play, the reader can easily understand the many mistakes that Orsino makes in love.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  For a majority of the play, Orsino is very oblivious to the fact that Cesario is actually a woman. Viola, disguised as Cesario, makes many comments to him that could possibly lead him to finding out her secret. For example, when Orsino asks what kind of woman Cesario loves, she replies â€Å"Of your complexion† (2.4.27). Orsino does not catch this, but describes that one should love a woman younger than himself. â€Å"For women are roses, whose fair flower Being once displayed, doth fall that very hour† (2.4.40-41). This is most likely a positive point for Viola, being that she is clearly younger than Orsino, and once the disguises are taken away, he will realize that he can love her. Orsino 1 actually describes a platonic love between himself and Cesario. This is a hint to the reader that the unveiling of Viola could, in fact, lead to a true love. For instance, Orsino tells Cesario â€Å"If ever thou shalt love; in the sweet pangs of it remember me† (2.4.13-14). This is almost ironic, and foreshadows the follies yet to come including the growin...

Amir character in the novel “The Kite Runner” Essay

The character of Amir goes through drastic changes as he moves from adolescence to adulthood. As a child Amir begins his life in Kabul, where his character is shaped through conflicts with his father and Hassan. Later, when he moves to America he leaves these conflicts behind and is able to create a stronger relationship with his father. However, when Amir is an adult he is called back to Afghanistan by an old friend to confront these earlier conflicts. In The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini, observable changes can be seen in Amir’s character as he moves from Kabul, Fremont, and later back to Kabul. In the beginning of the novel one encounters a self-centered young boy, who lives a notably privileged life. He has a great friend, his father is wealthy, and he belongs to the upper social class in Afghanistan. However, a troubled relationship with his father deprives him of the affection he longs for, which he blames on himself. He believes Baba wishes he was more like him, and that Baba holds him responsible for killing his mother, who died during his birth. For example, when Baba tells Rahim Khan that, â€Å"If I hadn’t seen the doctor pull him out of wife with my own eyes, I’d never believe he’s my son† (Hosseini 25). As a result Amir behaves jealously toward anyone receiving Baba’s affection, especially Hassan. This causes Amir to resent bringing Hassan around Baba, even if it’s just for a short time. This is evident when Amir states, â€Å"He asked me to fetch Hassan too, but I lied and told him Hassan had the runs. I wanted Baba all to myself† (Hosseini 14). Although they are best friends, Amir feels that Hassan is beneath him because he is his Hazara servant. For instance, after the rape of Hassan Amir tries to justify his actions by stating that, â€Å"He was just a hazara, wasn’t he?† (Hosseini 82). At the same time, Amir never learns to defend himself or anyone else because Hassan always did it for him. After Hassan’s rape Amir realizes this explaining, â€Å"I ran because I was a coward. I was afraid of Assef and what he would do to me† (Hosseini 82). As Amir departs for America his character can be described as selfish and cowardly. When Baba and Amir arrive in Fremont his character changes considerably.  Amir adapts easier to life in America than Baba and no longer sees him as a legendary father but as a simple man. For example, when Baba becomes angry at a store clerk for asking to see his I.D. Amir is able to calm him down and defuse the situation. Amir explains to the store clerk that, â€Å"My father is still adjusting to life in America† (Hosseini 135). This new life helps Amir forget about Kabul and the sins he committed against Hassan. Amir reveals, â€Å"For me, America was a place to bury my memories† (Hosseini 129). In Fremont, Baba turns his attention to raising Amir, without the distractions of his business or Hassan to interfere with their new special connection. Amir has never been happier, not only from the new bond between him and Baba, but from his new wife as well. The marriage of Soraya and Amir can be seen as another substantial step in Amir’s maturity. Before the marriage Soraya told Amir about her struggle with her past relationship. Amir jealously announces after hearing this, â€Å"I envied her. Her secret was out â€Å"(Hosseini 174). When Soraya tells him this he envies the relief she must feel, which urges him to seek redemption with Hassan. Baba’s death can be seen as the final step in Amir’s journey of becoming a young adult because he understands that he will no longer be defined as Baba’s son. Amir realizes this when he says, â€Å"Baba wouldn’t show me the way anymore; I’d have to find it on my own† (Hosseini 188). Shortly after Baba’s death, his old friend Rahim Khan calls him to come back to Afghanistan to finally make amends. As Amir begins his journey back to Afghanistan, his character can be defined as empathic and loving. Once back in Kabul, Amir takes steps he would never have imagined, which truly define his character. On his venture back to Afghanistan he learns the truth about Hassan’s connection with Baba. After hearing this Amir feels robbed of the truth and is angry at how his own father could hold this back from him. Despite his feelings, Amir realizes he must not only pay for his betrayal of Hassan but for Baba’s betrayal of Ali too. Amir knows he must face his fears and he understands this when he reveals, â€Å"I remembered Baba saying that my problem was that someone had always done my fighting for me† (Hosseini 239). Following this he undertakes a personal mission to find Sohrab and finds the courage to stand up to the Taliban, nearly dying in the process. During his quest Amir comes face to face with the disturbing Assef  and fights him for Sorab, the ultimate sacrifice for his dead half-brother. While he is beaten he begins to laugh, which angers Assef even more. Amir explains that, â€Å"What was so funny was that, for the first time since the winter of 1975, I felt at peace† (Hosseini 303). After successfully bringing Sohrab back to California, Amir defends his Hazara nephew when General Taheri insults him. Over the dinner table Amir replies curtly, â€Å"you will never again refer to him as ‘Hazara Boy’ in my presence. He has a name and its Sohrab† (Hosseini 380). In the end, Amir finds himself flying a kite with Sohrab. As they fly the kite together the lifeless, empty look leaves Sohrab’s eyes and a half smile suddenly appears on his face. Amir exclaims, â€Å"The glassy vacant look in his eyes was gone. His face was a little flushed, his eyes suddenly alert† (Hosseini 389). Amir can now smile at his not so perfect past because he feels he has redeemed himself and his father. As the novel ends, Amir’s character can be characterized as selfless, brave, and compassionate. Amir’s character changes remarkably from when he is a young boy to a grown man. In Kabul, Amir’s character is damaged and he can be seen as a villain after incidents with Hassan. Once in Fremont, he is able to step away from these old sins and re-shape his character into a more loving one. Finally, when Amir returns to Kabul, he is able to seek redemption and become the perfect version of himself. In The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini, noticeable changes can be seen in Amir’s character as he transitions from a young boy to a grown man between Kabul and Fremont.