A Symbolic Analysis

Seemingly insignificant, symbols are often utilized by an author to create another form of dimension within a story. According to German philosopher and poet, Friedrich Nietzsche, “words are but symbols for the relations of things to one another and to us; nowhere do they touch upon absolute truth.” Khaled Hosseini’s The Kite Runner, Hassan’s cleft lip, kites and the sacrificial lamb are symbols that show a deeper sense of character development throughout the novel.

The reader is introduced to the character of Hassan very early on in the novel, and his description is punctuated with of one of his most defining features: his cleft lip. According to the protagonist, Amir, "[he] had that pointed stub of a chin, a meaty appendage that looked like it was added as a mere afterthought. And the cleft lip, just left of the midline, where the Chinese doll maker's instrument may have slipped, or perhaps he had simply grown tired and careless" (Hosseini 3). From this quotation, it is easy to visualize that this odd physical characteristic would dominate his face, however later in the story, this becomes less apparent. For Hassan's tenth birthday, Baba surprises him with a surgeon who is paid to fix his cleft lip, and although he is unaware of it at the time, this is important because it signifies Baba's love for Hassan, who turns out to be his biological son. Amir is not informed of this until his adult life; however Hassan never had the chance to embrace Amir as his brother before he met his demise at the hands of the Taliban. As a child, Amir thought that Baba merely preferred Hassan over him, but this turns out not to be the case. Before his friend's surgery, Amir is pondering this relationship, even going as far as thinking that "I wishe...

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... much more than themselves. Hassan's cleft lip, being a dominant feature, is representative of the societal separation between him and Amir, and Baba's secret love for him. Kites, featured heavily within the story, are a symbol of Amir's happiness, and are also his one connection with his father. Similarly, they are a reminder of Amir's guilt due to the fact that he betrayed his friend in his time of need. However, he is able to redeem himself when he rescues Sohrab from the same fate. The last symbol, the sacrificial lamb, represents something innocent, as well as the similarities between Hassan and Sohrab. All of this contributes to character and plot development within the context of the novel. The author is effectively able to take a simple image or object and use it to reflect many ideas, causing the reader to look beyond the surface to reveal its true meaning.