Explain the way in which Hosseini portrays Soraya. Consider language choices and narrative viewpoint

When Soraya is first introduced, she is passing a cup of tea to her father however Hosseini describes her beauty for elegance very poetically, likening her to '[...] a princess from old Persia.' Hosseini uses similes such as 'eyebrows that touched in the middle like the arched wings of a flying bird' to describe her grace. Flight is also used as a metaphor for her looking away.

Hosseini describes every subsequent day following Amir's meeting with Soraya as 'yelda' (the longest night of the year) to convey Amir's longing for Soraya. He portrays her as 'the morning sun to my yelda'. He refers to her as his 'Swap Meet Princess' several times as they met in the flea markets where Amir was working.

Hosseini uses a combination of English and Afghan words which he doesn't necessarily explain, but in the syntax of the rest of the sentence, the reader can work out what he means, for example 'no decent and mohtaram Afghan girl[...]'.

From the time Soraya is introduced the reader Hosseini hints there has been something in her past which has dissuaded potential suitors, 'a whisper here, an insinuation there, and they fled like startled birds' (here again we see the imagery of birds, which is a common motif throughout the book.)

Soraya is described as a kind, demure and gentle person. She smiles and is friendly, despite the risk to her reputation. Hosseini describes her as often looking away or under her eyelashes and with quick, stolen glances. ('Looked shyly', 'her face reddened with a blush', 'her eyes downcast', '[...] a blush, red like henna, bloomed [...]')

The first touch between Soraya and Amir is when Baba is found to be dying and Soraya is consoling Amir. Hosseini uses short sentences to convey the significance of the event and the effect on Amir, for example, 'She put her hand on mine. Our first touch. I took it. Brought it to my face. My eyes. I let it go.'

Hosseini portrays Soraya as a contrasting character to Amir in the way that she handles her guilt. She's honest and wants no secrets to be between herself and Amir. She describes her guilt at her mother's stroke which is a result of her behaviour. This is the opposite of Amir: he cannot express his guilt, he did not feel it at the time of Hassan's rape and only felt revulsion for Hassan. It is Amir's guilt over his past which prevents him from judging Soraya over hers. ('How could I, of all people, chastise someone for their past?')

Soraya is also a selfless character. She suggests they move in with Baba so that she can nurse him. She was attentive to his needs and looked after him as her own father, even turning him regularly to prevent bed sores. She also knew what Amir was thinking without words. She knew how to console him after Baba died ('Soraya pulled me to her and the tears finally came.')

Only when discussing her father does Soraya become angry. He wants her to become a lawyer but she is determined to teach. She points out his double standards; '[...] it's a whole lot better than collecting welfare [...]' referring to his not working, as the jobs are beneath him, however he still takes state hand-outs. This demonstrates her toughness underneath, resilience and determination.

Soraya is deeply wounded by the discovery that she is infertile, but is ambivalent about the prospect of adoption. As with the confession of her past to Amir, following a discussion she announces, 'I don't want to talk about this anymore.' thus drawing a line under the discussion. In fact Hosseini's narrative implies Amir is more affected long term about the 'emptiness in Soraya's womb' rather than Soraya.