Analysis Of 'The Kite Runner'

The Kite Runner by Khalid Hosseni is a novel that follows the life choices of Amir; an Afghan- American man. The book introduces the reader to the unfamiliar pre-Taliban and privileged lifestyle of Amir that takes place in Afghanistan. The book touches upon Amir’s childhood and how his decisions as a young boy caused conflicts between him and the people around him. As well, the book follows Amir on his journey to redemption and showcases his attempts to “be good again”. The conflicts in the books are caused by Amir’s cowardice and ignorance as a child as well as the difference in class between him and his half-brother; Hassan.

A difference in social class caused an obvious conflict between Hassan and Amir. Amir was a Sunni – Muslim Pashtun

When the group of boys confronted Amir and Hassan, Hassan always stepped up and defended Amir and himself. As a result, Baba began to praise Hassan for his bravery, and Amir became extremely jealous of Hassan. Hassan was oblivious to Amir’s jealousy and continued to defend Amir because he was loyal and viewed Amir as a prince. Despite Hassan’s loyalty Amir’s jealousy became more apparent when he would make Hassan feel bad about being illiterate. When Hassan questions the plot of one of Amirs stories, Amir says “What does he know, that illiterate Hazara? He’ll never be anything but a cook. How dare he criticize you?” (34) in a superior and cold tone. When Amir says this, it is apparent that even the strongest bond is subject to discrimination, at the end of the day Amir was a Sunni Pashtun and Hassan was a Shia

During the event Amir used Hassan to help him fly the kite, and Amir won. The main reason Amir was determined to win was because he felt it would make his father proud of him for once, but not only did Amir want to win for his father, he also wanted to present his father with the final kite he cut leading to his victory. After Amir won the tournament Hassan made a promise to Amir, with the most tear jerking words in the book “ for you a thousand times over”(67) that he would return with the kite of the final opponent. To Amir the kite symbolized earning desperately desired acceptance from his father, and the desperation blinded Amir. As a result, Amir could no longer see anything else because he was so close to getting the only thing he was deprived of; his father’s approval. Amir’s desperation for his father’s affection became over powering and compromised his morality, his desperation leads him to allowing Hassan to get raped as he stood and watched. Amir convinced himself that Hassan was “just a Hazara” he also tried to justify his lack of action by telling himself, Hassan is “the price [he] had to pay, the lamb [he] had to slay, to win Baba”