Authors often include in their novels one or more characters who have alienated from the society they created for their fiction. These characters could be anyone, from foil characters to the protagonist himself. Authors incorporate these characters as they give substance and authenticity to their work. In the novel The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini and The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexandre Dumas, such characters are presented in similar but different ways. These differences are crucial, however, because they are what makes each novel unique. More importantly, they play a key role in the protagonist's development. Alienated characters, depending on how close they are to the protagonist, essentially determine their outcome. The novel, The Kite Runner, and its protagonist, Amir, present an archetypal example of the relationship that alienated characters have with the works in which they find themselves. There are several alienated characters in this novel, one of which is Assef. Assef is a sociopathic and violent older boy who is also the antagonist. He always despised Amir for his association with Hassan, a Hazara, who is, according to Assef, an inferior race that should live only in Hazarajat. He is a devout supporter of Adolf Hitler and his ideologies. On page 35 he says “It is too late for Hitler, but not for us” (Hosseini), suggesting that he wanted to follow in his footsteps and annihilate what he believed to be a race below the standards of his country. Assef contributes extensively to Amir's development. First he killed Hassan. If this had not happened, then no circumstances would have come to light for Amir to redeem himself. Secondly, and more importantly, according to Baba, Assef presented a perfect example of what… a paper medium… …uniformity and authenticity make the work easier to follow and more enjoyable for the reader . reader.Works CitedDumas, Alexandre. The Count of Monte Cristo. New York: Tor, 1998. Print.Hosseini, Khaled. The Kite Runner. New York: Riverhead, 2003. Print."SparkNotes: The Count of Monte Cristo: List of Characters." SparkNotes: Today's most popular study guides. Network. December 30, 2010.."SparkNotes: The Count of Monte Cristo: Important Quotes Explained." SparkNotes: Today's most popular study guides. Network. December 30, 2010.."SparkNotes: The Kite Runner: Character List." SparkNotes: Today's most popular study guides. Network. December 30, 2010.runner/characters.html>.