Similarities Between The Kite Runner And Catcher In The Rye

The hero’s journey is a concept that has transcended cultural barriers in all different mediums, truly engraving itself as a part of modern culture. It usually follows the transformation of the weak cowardly boy into the knight in shining armor, with the protagonist battling through trials and temptation, abysses, and the ultimately restoring order to society. In Khaled Hosseini’s The Kite Runner and J.D. Salinger’s The Catcher in the Rye, the heroes go on journeys that transform them from the spineless boys into heroic men. However, both characters fail to complete the typical hero’s journey, for both struggle to find meaning within their own lives. Amir eventually finds this inner peace and meaning, and thus he is able to save himself and eventually complete his goal, saving Sohrab. By contrast,

Both Amir and Holden mature over the course of their journeys by becoming more brave and selfless, but whereas Amir successfully saves both Sohrab and himself, Holden--because of his self-doubt-- cannot successfully save himself or anyone; though neither character becomes the classic hero who rides in and saves the day, each undertakes the impossible challenge of restoring order to a fractured society and redefines what it means to be a hero.

Amir matures over the course of the novel, becoming brave and selfless--and therefore is able to save both Sohrab and himself. In The Kite Runner, Amir grows from a cowardly boy into a brave man, who stands up for what is right. For example, Amir’s decisions as boy highlight his lack of courage. Most notably, when Amir faces the rape of Hassan, he chooses to abandon his friend. He thinks to himself, “I could step into that alley, stand up for Hassan—the way he’d stood up for me all those times in the past—and accept whatever