Analysis Of Atonement And Hosseini's The Kite Runner

1636 Words4 Pages
bulb-icon

Recommended: Critical essay on atonement

Review of Literature In Ananya Mishra’s article “The “Eternal Loop” of Guilt and the Attempt to Atone in McEwan’s Atonement and Hosseini’s The Kite Runner”, she deeply evaluates the character of Amir and his lifelong guilt. She notes Amir suffers from a deep emotional insecurity. His insecurity roots from the fact he is none of the things his father wants him to be; athletic, strong, and brave. His inability to stand up for himself and fight back disappoints his father. Amir is jealous of Hassan who is not only fast and athletic but also able to stand up to others on Amir’s behalf. Ananya believes it is Amir’s cowardice that causes him to commit such a terrible act resulting in his lifelong guilt. She says the reason Amir did not step in and save Hassan because he was afraid he would get hurt. She analyzes Amir’s reaction to what he did. He is unable to face what he did and he is so conflicted he lashes out at hassan. Unable to get past what he did he commits yet another act of betrayal towards him by framing him for stealing to get rid of him. She notes that Amir used Hassan as a scapegoat to gain Baba’s affection. Ananya digs deeper into the psychological root of guilt. She uses this quote of Sigmund Freud as a base for her theory “To begin with, if we ask how a person …show more content…

As Hassan writes in his letter, "fear is everywhere, in the streets, in the stadium, in the markets, it is part of our lives here, Amir agah."(216) This setting is vital as it results in the death of Hassan therefore Sohrab 's need for rescuing. The setting of Afghanistan once again results in the presence of sexual abuse. When Amir finds Sohrab he is a victim of Bacha bazi: an afghan tradition where boys forced to dance dressed as women and are sexually abused. The fact Sohrab is a sex slave gives Amir even more motivation to save him, the way he should have saved

Show More
Related

  • Analysis Of Critic Roland Barthes's 'The Kite Runner'

    1354 Words  | 3 Pages

    Amir is, to be put bluntly, a coward. He is led by his unstable emotions towards what he thinks will plug his emotional holes and steps over his friends and family in the process. When he sought after Baba’s invisible love, Amir allowed Hassan to be raped in an alleyway just so that the blue kite, his trophy that would win his father’s heart, could be left untouched. In the end, he felt empty and unfulfilled with the weight of his conscience on his shoulders comparable to Atlas’ burden. Unable to get over his fruitless betrayal, he lashes out and throws pomegranates at Hassan before stuffing money and a watch under his loyal friend’s pathetic excuse for a bed, framing Hassan for theft and directly causing the departure of both servants from his household. Even after moving to America, finding a loving wife, and creating a career for himself in writing, he still feels hollow when thinking of his childhood in Afghanistan. Many years later, he is alerted of Hassan’s death and sets out on a frenzied chase to find his friend’s orphaned son. He feels that he can somehow ease his regrets from all of those years ago if he takes in Hassan’s son, Sohrab. He finds Sohrab as a child sex slave for Assef, who coincidentally was the one to rape Hassan all of those years ago. After nearly dying in his attempt to take back Sohrab, he learns that he can take the damaged child back to the states with him. Sadly, Hassan’s son is so

    Read More

  • Theme Of Lying And Deceit In The Kite Runner

    810 Words  | 2 Pages

    Amir’s development from being “a boy who won’t stand up for himself,” to a man that stands up for the morally responsible thing to do (22, Hosseini). When Amir was a child, he tried to escape from his sins in the past by hiding them with lies. However, this only made it worse for Amir, causing him to be an insomniac for much of his life and putting himself through constant torment. Only when Amir became a man, like Baba wanted him to be, was Amir able to face the truth of what he done and put himself on the path of redemption. Even when Amir was suffering a violent beating from Assef, Amir was able to laugh because he knew he was doing what he should have for Hassan years ago. Amir’s development from a child, who lies in order to cower from their own mistakes, into a man, someone who is not only able to admit his sins, but atone for them, is essential to communicating the theme of redemption being the only way to settle with your

    Read More

  • Redemption In Khaled Hossei's 'The Kite Runner'

    1875 Words  | 4 Pages

    To atone for his past sins, he embarks on a journey back to Afghanistan to redeem himself to Hassan for not treating him the way he was treated. He redeems himself by saving Sohrab and giving him a safer and enjoyable life in the Untied States. Amir tyres to attain redemption to baba for being the cause of his mother’s death as he believes. Gaining his fathers love and care will make him feel redeemed from all of the resentment and lack of care that his father shows to him. He must prove to Baba that he is worthy of spending time with everyday because he feels the hatred that his father shows to him. One way how he gets redemption from his father is by winning the kite running tournament to prove to him that he is worthy of being his son. Amir’s path of redemption is not only directed to other people but personal redemption for himself. He attempts to redeem himself by building an orphanage with his wife Soraya and giving Sohrab the childhood that is safer and more suitable for a young boy to grow up in. Amir has to realize that the past doesn’t define who someone is although you can’t forget the past, the actions that they decide to do to redeem themselves from the past mistakes defines who someone is. If Amir’s mother did not die at birth would he be resented from his father greatly and have to make great

    Read More

  • Compare And Contrast Amir And Baba In The Kite Runner

    832 Words  | 2 Pages

    Amir's actions showed how much of a coward he was. Amir suffered his whole life living with the guilt of knowing that Hassan was raped, much like Baba lived his whole life in guilt knowing that he stole the truth from Ali by committing adultery. Baba ran from the truth, and so did Amir to protect the family name, even if that meant betraying the people closest to him. Baba was a man more worried about his image than anything, and that is what he taught his son as well. Slowly that is all Amir knew how to do: protect his family and himself, leading him into a life of guilt, and running from people when situations were challenging, instead of making the admirable decision and help a

    Read More

  • Amir's Journey To Redemption Essay

    1068 Words  | 3 Pages

    The book’s opening chapter focuses on Amir's conversation with Rahim and Amir’s "way to be good again” (Hosseini 1). The reason Amir flies all the way to Pakistan leaving behind his wife and life in America is Rahim Khan. Amir desires to make up for what he did to Hassan, so he answers Rahim's quest to “be good again” (Hosseini 1). This meeting allows Rahim to tell Amir what he must do to make up for his past. Rahim tells him he must put his own life in danger to save Hassan’s son, Sohrab. At first, Amir wants to refuse Rahim Khan’s wish, thinking of his life back home. He also thinks about how Hassan’s life may have been different if Hassan had the same opportunities he had. Then he realizes, “ But how can I pack up and go home when my actions may have cost Hassan a chance at those very same things?” (Hosseini 226). Rahim Khan warns Amir that it cannot be anyone else; Amir must make up for his own sins. Although he knows it's dangerous, Amir agrees to get Hassan’s son for Rahim as his dying wish. Amir believes that saving Sohrab is “A way to end the cycle” (Hosseini 227). Amir’s commitment in the face of danger proves his determination to be better and finally atone for his sins. Amir realizes his mistake and knows he can't change what he’d done. Eventually, with Rahim's help, he begins to see saving Sohrab as a “way to be

    Read More

  • The Kite Runner Compare And Contrast Essay

    2060 Words  | 5 Pages

    The movie The Kite Runner is based on the book and it contains both subtle and explicit differences as all books and movies do. Both the book and the movie have very compelling and moralistic themes though at times the movie’s themes seem limited. The themes presented throughout the movie and the book are penance, loyalty, prejudice, religion and growing up. The characterization, overall plot of the movie and the setting of the book seem to be consistent with each other though at times they both may vary both slightly and drastically.

    Read More

  • Perceptions of Human Nature in A Tell-Tale Heart by Edgar Allen Poe

    573 Words  | 2 Pages

    Human nature is a conglomerate perception which is the dominant liable expressed in the short story of “A Tell-Tale Heart”. Directly related, Edgar Allan Poe displays the ramifications of guilt and how it can consume oneself, as well as disclosing the nature of human defense mechanisms, all the while continuing on with displaying the labyrinth of passion and fears of humans which make a blind appearance throughout the story. A guilty conscience of one’s self is a pertinent facet of human nature that Edgar Allan Poe continually stresses throughout the story. The emotion that causes a person to choose right from wrong, good over bad is guilt, which consequently is one of the most ethically moral and methodically powerful emotion known to human nature. Throughout the story, Edgar Allan Poe displays the narrator to be rather complacent and pompous, however, the narrator establishes what one could define as apprehension and remorse after committing murder of an innocent man. It is to believe that the narrator will never confess but as his heightened senses blur the lines between real and ...

    Read More

  • The Kite Runner Guilt Analysis

    548 Words  | 2 Pages

    Past experiences can affect all of us. Some more than others, but the ones that haunt us are the ones that we all have in common. After something tragic happens or something you feel you could have helped in but failed, you feel guilt. A prime example of guilt after events is in The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini because the actions that Amir does afterwards that are influenced by his guilt.. It all starts with Amir not standing up for Hassan when Hassan gets bullied, then he walks away instead of backing up Hassan when he is attacked in an alley, those two events build up a lot of guilt inside him to the point where he decides to frame Hassan for stealing his watch just to get rid of Hassan. Although Amir feels regret for doing such a thing,

    Read More

  • The Quest for Atonement in Ian McEwan's Atonement

    1526 Words  | 4 Pages

    Ian McEwan illustrates a profound theme that builds details throughout the novel Atonement, the use of guilt and the quest for atonement are used with in the novel to convey the central dynamic aspect in the novel. McEwan constructs the emotion of guilt that is explored through the main character, Briony Tallis. The transition of child and entering the adult world, focus on the behavior and motivation of the young narrator Briony. Briony writes passages that entail her attempt to wash away her guilt as well find forgiveness for her sins. In which Briony ruined the lives and the happiness of her sister, Cecilia, and her lover Robbie. The reality of the events, attempts to achieve forgiveness for her actions. She is unable to understand the consequences of the actions as a child but grows to develop the understanding of the consequence with age. McEwan exemplifies an emotional novel that alters reality as he amplifies the creative acts of literature. In this essay I will be arguing that, the power of guilt prevents people from moving on from obstacles that hold them in the past.

    Read More

  • Acts of Betrayal in Hosseini's The Kite Runner

    894 Words  | 2 Pages

    Baba betrays Ali, Amir and Hassan by his unfaithful decision to have an affair and steel Hassans right to know the truth about his parentage, Baba does not pursue seeking a strong connection with Hassan because of his regretful actions. In truth, Baba is truly disappointed in both of his sons. In Amir, he is reminded of his deceased princess. In Hassan, he is reminded of the Hazara, Sanaubar, he ...

    Read More

  • Runner Essay: The Kite Runner, By Khaled Hosseini

    977 Words  | 2 Pages

    ...l, where Baba was judgemental towards Amir. When Amir says, “I liked being on the receiving end of that look,” implies that after all the years of Baba being harsh to him, he happily accepts Baba’s change of mind, exemplifying how Baba and Amir’s relationship has been redeemed when in America. Khaled Hosseini intends to elaborate on how bad relationships may have a positive change, as shown with Baba and Amir’s bond.

    Read More

  • Socio Economic Issues In The Kite Runner

    802 Words  | 2 Pages

    Guilt prompts Amir to go back to Afghanistan and drives Baba to care for Hassan. In the beginning of the book, Amir expresses that “it’s wrong what they say about the past… about how you can bury it. Because the past claws its way out(Hosseini 1).” Amir realizes this when the guilt never goes away from when he ignored Hassan when Hassan needed help. Amir constantly tries to forget about the past and how the rape impacted his relationship with Hassan and Ali. However, even with Amir’s efforts to obliterate the memory of the event, it resurfaces with Rahim Khan’s request to find Sohrab. Initially, Amir is reluctant to go to Kabul to look for Sohrab, but he remembers Rahim Khan saying, “There is a way to be good again(Hosseini 226).” Desperate for the chance to redeem himself, Amir returns to Kabul with the intention of transporting Sohrab to a better place. Amir understands that the only way for him to stop feeling guilty about the winter of 1975 is that he finds Sohrab and verifies that he lives a more secure life. In Baba’s case, he was able to care for Hassan as an uncle and the guilt he has inclined him to help others by building an orphanage. Also, with Ali’s permission, Baba is able to “[hire] Dr. Kumar to fix Hassan’s harelip(Hosseini 225)” and give Hassan birthday presents to show his affection. Caring for Hassan helps Baba get rid of the guilt he feels from the affair. Even though Baba could only show his love as a friend and not as a father, he embraces the opportunity with open arms. The guilt that both Amir and Baba experiences motivate them to do whatever they can to make up for their

    Read More

  • Guilt In Hamlet Essay

    1747 Words  | 4 Pages

    One particular human emotion can cripple humans mentally and physically. It can cause people to do things they do not want to do. It can lead them to twist the truth and lie not only to themselves, but people around them as well. It is something that they cannot hide. It is more like a disease, however, it is better known as guilt. Along with guilt, comes dishonesty, shamefulness, peculiar behavior, and even suicidal thoughts. Guilt is a recurring theme in both Robertson Davies’ Fifth Business and William Shakespeare’s Hamlet. Every individual will experience guilt sometime in their life, but it is how they cope and handle it that defines who they are. Humans must face the feeling of guilt, accept

    Read More

  • Khaled Hosseini's The Kite Runner

    744 Words  | 2 Pages

    The main character described in the novel is Amir. Amir is the narrator and the protagonist in the story. Although an impressionable and intelligent son of a well-to-do businessman, he grows up with a sense of entitlement. Hassan is Amir’s half-brother, best friend, and a servant of Baba’s. Although considered an inferior in Afghan society, Hassan repeatedly proves himself to be a loyal friend to Amir. Baba is the wealthy, well- respected father of Amir and Hassan. He is willing to risk his life for what he believes in, but is ashamed of having a child with a Hazara woman, leading him to hide the fact that Hassan is his son. Ali is another modest man, who is a fatherly figure to Hassan and a servant to Baba.

    Read More

  • Themes From The Society In The Kite Runner, By Khaled Hosseini

    1183 Words  | 3 Pages

    He illustrates that in many example, such as, Baba, however, never calls Ali, Hassan’s father, his friend, because of their ethnic and religious differences. Also the culture can play an important part in this novel. For an example, when Hassan is getting raped by Assef and hi friends, Amir refers to the sacrificial act of the lamb because Amir is Pashtun and Hassan is Hazara (Pashtan is Sunni Muslim, but Hazzara is Shi’a Muslim). At that time, Assef says Amir is part of the problem for being friend with Hazara. For another example, when Amir and baba moves to America, they communicate with the Afghan group there because the search about people look like them, and behave with the same

    Read More

More about Analysis Of Atonement And Hosseini's The Kite Runner

Open Document