Cognitive dissonance is a psychological concept appointed to the mental discomfort experienced by individuals whose behaviours, attitudes and beliefs are not aligned. Due to the conflict within them, they often decide to modify one aspect of the aforementioned to match with the others. This explains the need to seek redemption, as the person’s past actions fail to line up with their evolved mindset and moral values. By accomplishing compensation for their past, an individual is able to restore balance, therefore alleviating stress. The Kite Runner, a powerful novel written by Khaled Hosseini, chronicles the life of Amir, the narrator, through his betrayal, guilt and redemption. At the age of 12, Amir witnesses the sexual harassment of his loyal …show more content…
servant Hassan. He does not attempt to provide assistance to Hassan and denies seeing the devastating incident. Amir carries the guilt that emerges from this occurrence along with him into adulthood. Succeeding his family friend Rahim Khan’s phone call, Amir realizes he cannot live with his debilitating remorse for any longer, and yearns for contentment. He endeavors to redeem himself through his actions, to regain happiness and to reinstate an equilibrium between his childhood conduct and developed beliefs. Foremost, Amir takes initiative by deciding to provide help to those in Pakistan. Additionally, he chooses to shift from his previous cowardly demeanor to a courageous attitude, determined to take responsibility for his past mistakes. Furthermore, Amir decides to act in the morally correct manner, as he is unable to during his childhood. Therefore, by analyzing Amir's decisions to act resulting from mature contemplation, it is evident that Hosseini presents the story of Amir and Hassan to reveal that redemption is attainable, which contributes to the ultimate human goal of achieving sustained happiness. Amir, aspiring to atone for his sins, decides to give back to his childhood community in Pakistan.
During the rising action of the novel, following Amir's arrival to Peshawar, he sets out to retrieve Sohrab, Hassan’s son. Farid, Amir’s driver, assists him with his courageous feat. They spend the night at Farid’s brother, Wahid’s house. While there, Amir realizes that Wahid's family is struggling with money. Amir recognizes an opportunity for repayment and "when [he is] certain no one [is] looking, [he does] something [he] had done twenty-six years earlier: [He plants] a fistful of crumpled money under a mattress" (Hosseini 254). Prior to Amir’s execution of this charitable act, he references his past betrayal to Hassan. After witnessing the rape of Hassan, he is unable to live comfortably within the same household as Hassan because the sight of him provokes the onset of dismal memories and the guilt surrounding him. In an attempt to cause Hassan’s departure, he frames him for committing the misdemeanor of theft by placing his watch and money beneath Hassan’s mattress. This leads to Hassan and Ali leaving, causing distress to Baba and eventually to Amir. Afterwards, in his adulthood, Amir makes the decision to perform the same action that he regrets doing during childhood-but this time with positive intentions, allowing his behaviour to serve as a counterpoise to that of his past. Doing so brings about emotional relief, as well as joy because Amir gives money to a family that …show more content…
is struggling. Further, similar to his father, Amir feels the need to give back to the community in order to redeem himself for his sins. Subsequent to his return to America with Sohrab, a man named Karid, who knew Amir’s mother Sofia, inquires if he and Soraya could assist on a project to rebuild a hospital in Pakistan. Amir agrees, noting, "Soraya and I [have become] involved in Afghan projects, as much out of a sense of civil duty as the need for something..." (382). Taking the same path as Baba, Amir also decides to aid with a hospital project. However, Amir does not do so solely because he feels obliged to help since it is his birth country, but also to gain a sense of accomplishment and wellbeing as a result of his service to others. As can be seen through Amir’s actions of leaving the money beneath the mattress and aiding in the construction of a hospital in Pakistan, by doing well for others in need, Amir is able to partially relieve himself from the culpability that burdens him since his childhood. This provides him with contentment, as he is helping those who require it, and partially compensating for his lack of action during his childhood when Hassan needs him. Hence, by aiding the people of Pakistan, Amir is able to subdue his guilty conscience. By choosing to face his somber past rather than ignore it, Amir is able to overcome his guilt instead of avoiding it. After Rahim Khan reveals many secrets to Amir regarding his childhood and the events that occur after he flees to America, he asks Amir to retrieve Sohrab from Kabul. When Amir agrees, he suggests for Amir to stay with him in Peshawar for a few more days to carefully map out his travel plan. However, Amir worries that he will convince himself to leave Pakistan and return to America. After deliberation, Amir claims, "I [am] afraid…that I [will] wade back into that great big river and let myself forget…I [am] afraid that [I will] let these waters carry me away from what I [have] to do. From Hassan. From the past that [has] come calling. And from this one last chance at redemption" (243). Amir is able to reason logically, and based on his previous experiences, realizes that he has a tendency to flee from uncomfortable situations, as can be seen when he witnesses Hassan’s rape. This time, Amir displays responsibility and determination through his choice to leave before he has a chance to change his mind, a result of maturity. His decision to confront his past and stop running from the regret that is preventing him from enjoying his life allows Amir to begin his journey towards retrieving Sohrab, and therefore towards redemption and relief. In addition, when revisiting his childhood home after twenty years, Amir is visibly upset by the sight but still wishes to proceed. Farid senses his discomfort and attempts to offer advice. Before returning to the house, Amir converses with Farid: “‘Just forget it all. Makes it easier…’ Farid [says]. ‘I don't want to forget anymore,’ [Amir responds].” (276). Amir’s reply to Farid’s comment confirms his willpower to put an end to his self-condemnation and to face his past bravely. His answer showcases that Amir is no longer ignoring his history, but instead is acknowledging that it happened and actively trying to change himself for his betterment. Both his response to Rahim Khan’s plea to stay longer, and his reply to Farid’s suggestion concerning forgetting his past, demonstrate that Amir’s mindset has progressed and he is able to make wise decisions. It is clear that Amir is no longer disregarding his past, but instead has built up the strength and determination to redeem himself in order to be relieved from his burden and granted contentment. Overall, Amir’s decisions to address his past leads to freedom from his deep-rooted guilt and to his eventual redemption. Due to his matured morals and newly developed courage, Amir is able to redeem himself by choosing to do the right thing, as he was incapable of doing so when he was younger.
When Amir finally arrives in Kabul to retrieve Sohrab, he discovers that a Taliban official is holding Sohrab captive. He later learns that the identity of the official is Assef, the person who committed the egregious act of sexual harassment against Hassan when they were younger. Assef agrees to release Sohrab to Amir if he is able to beat him in a fight. Amir, although frightened, decides to battle with Assef for Sohrab because he realizes that it is the ethically correct response to the situation. While Amir is fighting Assef, he observes, “My body [is] broken-just how badly I [will not] find out until later-but I [feel] healed. Healed at last” (303). Amir is unable to stand up to Assef during their childhood when Hassan needs him to, and by fighting for Sohrab, Hassan’s son, he appeases his disgraceful past and feels internally triumphant. Combatting Assef enables Amir to heal himself from within and to gain closure, as he finally gets a chance to battle the origin of his lifelong, disabling guilt. Moreover, following his return to America with Sohrab, it becomes obvious that General Taheri does not approve of adoption, especially of a Hazara since they are deemed to be lower class. The general questions the motives behind Amir’s choice to bring Sohrab to America, not referring to him by his name but
by the term Hazara. In response, Amir summarizes his and Hassan’s troubling story, bravely informing the general of the reasoning behind his choice. His uprising demonstrates that he is willing to take responsibility for his past actions. Afterwards, Amir continues to display his courage: “And one more thing General Sahib…You will never again refer to him as ‘Hazara boy’ in my presence. He has a name and it’s Sohrab” (380). During his childhood, when the other children taunt Amir for interacting with Hassan since he is a Hazara, Amir fails to stand up to them. In this moment, he exhibits his gained courage through his choice to voice his opinion and defend Sohrab. His upstanding shows how his viewpoint and ability to speak up for what he believes to be right greatly changes in comparison to when he was younger. Also, it illustrates that Amir has taken full responsibility of Sohrab and intends to shelter him from harm. To Amir, caring for Sohrab is a chance to finally repay his debt to Hassan, as Hassan was always loyal to him during their childhood. This responsibility allows him relief from his guilt, enabling him to feel happiness once more. Coupled with Amir’s retrieval of Sohrab after battling Assef, his upstanding to the general regarding Sohrab displays his newly developed ability to stand up for the right thing, despite being subjected to frightening situations. In both instances, Amir demonstrates the strength to overcome challenges. Thus, by actively making the decision to do what is morally correct, Amir is able to atone for his past mistakes. As Amir displays through his choices to take action, Hosseini shares the story of Amir and Hassan to illustrate that it is possible to seek redemption after treachery, and that the resulting relief can lead to contentment. Amir attempts to achieve compensation by servicing his community in Pakistan. He does so by leaving money under the mattress of a struggling family and helping with the construction of a hospital, both mitigating the guilt that he carries for the majority of his life. Furthermore, he decides to face his past courageously and is determined to appease his remorse. Amir is able to display his change in attitude by choosing to leave Rahim Khan promptly to retrieve Sohrab and by informing Farid that he does not wish to forget his past, although that is the easier option. Finally, since he is unable to during his childhood, Amir decides to do what is ethically correct. He battles Assef and stands up to General Taheri, both actions that showcase his loyalty to Sohrab, counterbalancing Hassan’s loyalty to him. Through these decisions, which are enforced by courageous actions, Amir is able to accomplish redemption, ameliorating his stigmatic past and delivering him happiness. Redemption, no matter the form, is a means of alleviating cognitive dissonance. Those who successfully overcome their discomfort by professing to their mistakes and taking action to change their behaviours are able to restore their mental balance to achieve happiness.
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
Although Hassan is his best friend, there are many instances where Amir reveals his jealousy, most notable when Baba sees Hassan as the stronger boy, "self-defense has nothing to do with meanness. You know what always happens when the neighbourhood boys tease him? Hassan steps in and fends them off. I 've seen it with my own eyes…” (Hosseini 24). Clearly, Amir hears how his father compares the two, and unlike Hassan who manages to meet Baba’s expectations, Amir grows bitter towards Hassan. He is unable to fight off his envy which later causes him to sacrifice his best friend’s innocence: “Maybe Hassan was the price I had to pay, the lamb I had to slay, to win Baba” (82), and this is all because he realizes “his shame is complicated by his own realization that in part he doesn’t help his friend precisely because he is jealous of him” (Corbett, 2006). From here, Amir develops strong feelings of guilt that induces him to perform even more destructive acts, such as having Hassan and his father evicted from the house. Amir not only loses a close friend, but now he has to continue to live with remorse as he dwells on these memories. The only way for Amir to redeem himself of his repercussions is through a challenging process of sacrifice and self-discovery. Although one is unsure at this point whether Amir succeeds at his endeavors, it is clear that this story
Amir’s childhood is quite unusual compared to most children in Afghan. Amir’s father, Baba, is a very rich and successful individual in his lifetime. This success allows Amir to live a wealthy lifestyle with access to western commodity as well as servants. In novel, Amir is risen mostly by his servants Hassan and Ali, as well
Amir goes through many events that take place in the book that change him, and the way he is perceived within the book. Amir is a young boy, who is tortured by his father’s scrutinizing character. Amir is also jealous of Hassan, because of the fact that his father likes Hassan instead of Amir. Amir fights for his father’s approval, interest, and love. This is when Amir changes for the good as he deals with the guilt of the rape of Hassan. Amir witnessed Hassan getting raped, but decides to nothing in order to win over his father’s interest. The guilt that Amir builds up is carries from his premature times as a child to his mature times. From Afghanistan to
Despite living majority of his life with the guilt of not helping Hassan, Amir’s nemesis is yet to come. Destiny plays a huge game with Amir and reveals to him that Hassan is his illegitimate brother during his visit with Rahim Khan. Reacting with various emotions, Amir first decides to head back about to America, but in the end makes the first brave decision in his life by going back to Kabul “…to atone not just for [his] sins, but…Baba’s too” (198). Amir tries to compensate for his sin by rescuing Hassan’s son, Sohrab, from the brutality occurring in Kabul. Amir puts his entire life in jeopardy by facing the oppression in Kabul so he could make a genuine effort in eliminating his sins. In an ideal world, when one truly makes an effort to redeem themselves for their wrongdoings, they are usually gifted with forgiveness. However, in reality, Amir’s heroic act of saving Sohrab, did not free him of sorrow because he still has to live with his nemesis for the rest of his life. By taking Sohrab to America with him, Amir constantly is reminded of his hamartia by envisioning Hassan through Sohrab. This shows how the guilt from a cowardly act leads one into a lifelong feeling of
The novel tells the story of, Amir. Amir is portrayed as the protagonist; the novel revolves around his recollection of past events 26 years ago as a young boy in Afghanistan. Amir is adventures and brave. Hassan is Amir’s closets friend and servant to his house and is portrayed as a subservient male, often supporting and accepting blame for Amir’s actions. Assef, Wali and Kamal are the “ bad guys” within the novel; Wali and Kamal hold down Hassan and Assef rapes him purely for ethnicity differences, as Hassan is a Hazara. Afghanistan boys are supposed to be athletic and true to Islam .The leaving of Soraya Hassan mother with another man gives the notion that women lack morality leaving behind there children .The Taliban laws are followed closely within Afghanistan and women are treated without any rights, beatings, stoning and execution become the reality for women who violate the laws. Culturally Afghanistan women are portrayed to be subservient to there husband only live and breath to provide children, cook food and clean their
However there are some characters that become better people and change becoming a better, stronger, more loyal individual in the end. The individual that demonstrates this development within this novel is Amir himself. All of the guilt Amir holds with him as a child allow him to realize his duty to be loyal to his brother Hassan ion the end. An example of this is when Amir goes back to Kabul, Afghanistan to retrieve his nephew Sohrab. Amir says, “I remembered Wahid’s boys and… I realized something. I would not leave Afghanistan without finding Sohrab.’ tell me where he is,’ I said” (Hosseini 255). Here, Amir is at the orphanage waiting to find out where Taliban has taken his nephew. Amir remembers the three young starving sons of Wahid, a man whose home he had been in earlier, and realized that Afghanistan is not a safe place for Sohrab. Amir is finally aware of one thing, Hassan has always been there to protect Amir like a loyal friend and brother would and now Amir knows that it is his turn to return that loyalty to Hassan by protecting Hassan’s flesh and blood. A second example of Amir’s loyalty to Hassan near the ending of the book is during Amir’s confrontation with General Sahib and the dinner table after Sohrab is safe in America with him. Amir proclaims to General Sahib, “…That boy sleeping on the couch
Amir wakes up after fighting Assef in the hospital thinking about Sohrab, “for some reason I can’t think of I want to thank the child” (Hosseini 293). Sohrab is the first thing Amir thinks of when he wakes up in a groggy state in hospital. Sohrab was willing to attempt to save Amir’s life, a man he barely knew, even though it meant risking his own life. In this way, he was able to not only physically save Amir but also mentally because he allows Amir to complete his mission and redeem himself. While struggling against Assef, Amir thinks, “...for the first time since the winter of 1975, I felt at peace...I hadn’t been happy and I hadn’t felt better, not at all. But I did now. My body was broken...but I felt healed. Healed at last.” (Hosseini 289). Sohrab feels guilty for what he did to Assef, although it saved himself and Amir. Amir tells him, “There are bad people in this world, some people stay bad. Sometimes you have to stand up for them. What you did to that man is what I should have done to him all those years ago. You gave him what he deserved. He deserved more” (Hosseini 319). While talking to Sohrab, Amir acknowledges that he was wrong and that he could have avoided all his guilt, if he had only stepped in against Assef. But he had not, so part of Amir making up for his sins was to stand up to Assef, and win a fight against him. However, in the end, Sohrab is the one
The story The Kite Runner is centered around learning “to be good again.” Both the movie and the book share the idea that the sins of the past must be paid for or atoned for in the present. In the book, Amir can be seen as a troubled young boy who is struggling with a tremendous amount of guilt. It is easy to blame Amir’s actions on his guilt and his father’s lack of love for him.
Firstly, the characters in the novel display bravery as they protect one another from physical harm. This can be seen in patterns between generations in families. Early on the reader learns that Amir’s grandfather protects Ali by, “[adopting] him into his own household, and [telling] the other students to tutor him” (26). Since Ali’s parents were killed and he is a Hazaras he would have most certainly been discriminated against at an orphanage. Ali is Hassan’s father. The reader learns near the end that he is not his biological father but he is the man who raised him. Hassan defends Amir from being beaten by Assef who has a reputation in Kabul of being a psychopath. When Assef threatens them Hassan does not hesitate to respond saying, “You are right, Agha. But perhaps you didn’t notice that I’m the one holding the slingshot. If you make a move, they’ll have to change your nickname from Assef ‘the Ear Eater’ to ‘One-Eyed Assef,’ because I have this rock pointed at your left eye” (45-46). Later on Amir stands up for Sohrab, Hassan’s son, as Hassan stood up for Amir countless times before. He demands to Assef, "All I want is the boy" (298), to take Sohrab to a safe place where he would no longer be sexually abused. In return, Sohrab is bold and prevents Amir from being slain. He points the slingshot at Assef’s face, "‘No more, Agha. Please,’ he [says], his voice husky and trembling. ‘Stop hurting him’" (304). At this point Assef is a grown man while Sohrab is only a boy. It would take plenty of courage to protect this man he did not even know. Sohrab’s action fulfills the idea foreshadowed earlier of "one-eyed Assef" as Sohrab shoots a metal ball in Assef’s eye. All these characters guarded the physical well-being of individuals that were important to them by demonstrating bravery.
It is difficult to face anything in the world when you cannot even face your own reality. In his book The Kite Runner, Khaled Hosseini uses kites to bring out the major themes of the novel in order to create a truly captivating story of a young boy’s quest to redeem his past mistakes. Amir is the narrator and protagonist of the story and throughout the entire novel, he faces enormous guilt following the horrible incident that happened to his closest friend, Hassan. This incident grows on Amir and fuels his quest for redemption, struggling to do whatever it takes to make up for his mistakes. In Hosseini’s novel, kites highlight aspects of Afghanistan’s ethnic caste system and emphasizes the story’s major themes of guilt, redemption and freedom.
After weeks of secrecy, a brutal fight, and battles with the immigration office, Amir is able to return to America with a bright perspective of his new home albeit broken, beat, and scarred, and a new adopted child, Sohrab. The developed Amir is brought out with his interaction with General Taheri. In the novel, Amir shows his new found ability to stand up for himself with the quote, “‘And one more thing, General Sahib,’ I said. You will never again refer to him as a ‘Hazara boy’ in my presence. He has a name and it’s ‘Sohrab’” (361).
Amir’s core conflict in the novel is an internal conflict between himself and guilt. From the day he is born Amir is tainted with guilt, he admits to this guilt when he says “I always felt like Baba hated me a little. And why not? After all, I had killed his beloved wife, his beautiful princess, hadn’t I?” However his greater guilt comes from his two betrayals of Hassan: watching him get raped and framing him for stealing his birthday money to get him fired. For the next 25 years Amir carries with him the shame and guilt from the winter of
Betrayal, redemption, and forgiveness are all major themes in The Kite Runner written by Khaled Hosseini. The novel also focuses around the theme of a broken relationship between father and son as well as facing difficult situations from ones past. Amir and Hassan are best friends with two completely different personalities. Each character in the novel faces their own hardships and eventually learns to overcome those difficulties. Beginning with betrayal then the characters have to make their way to gaining redemption and forgiveness from others, as well as their self, is carried on throughout the novel. It is a continuous story of the relationships between Amir and his father Baba and facing their challenges from the past every day of their present.
Amir grows up at last, finding a selflessness and loyalty that only Hassan can coax from him. When Amir ultimately saves Sohrab he finds himself in the position that Hassan had been in so many years before, being brutalized by Assef with only a young boy to come to his rescue. Yet in this moment he is finally relieved of his guilt. However, saving Sohrab has a number of unforeseen consequences, destroying both his cowardice and his face. Amir finds himself with a deep cut on his lip “clean down the middle. Like a harelip” one that eerily parallels the harelip scar Hassan once had (297). Amir not only resembles Hassan physically after helping Sohrab, but also slips into the role of father figure to Hassan’s boy. He finds himself inviting Sohrab to “come live in America with [him] and [his] wife” and caring deeply for the child (32). In fact, he begins to see Sohrab as family and he looks after him as one would their own child. Amir has at last come to peace with the mistakes of his past, but they will sit with him forever. With every glance in the mirror, glimpse of Sohrab, memory of Kabul, or appearance of a kite, Hassan will be there, forever influencing Amir's