Guilt In The Kite Runner

Would you be able to save a life in order to live one free of guilt? The novel The Kite Runner consists of a pair of best friends, Amir and Hassan. When Hassan faces a tragedy that could have been stopped or prevented, Amir feels guilt and moves to the United States. After many years of no contact; a friend calls Amir to ask him to return back from the United States. He learns Hassan and his wife have been killed. After hearing the shocking news, he also finds a dark secret ;he and Hassan had been half brothers. Under these circumstances the situation became a priority. Hosseini's novel The Kite Runner conveys the necessity of repenting one’s sins in order to live a life free of guilt through friendship.

The author uses literary techniques

to convey the meaning of the novel. The recurring theme throughout the novel is “Friendship”. The novel has three main sections “The Early Years in Kubal”, “The Fermont Years”, and “ Return to Kubal”. From the beginning the two main characters, Amir and Hassan, are very close friends. Amir lives in a large, posh house with his father, Baba, while Hassan lives in a hut out back with his father, Ali, who works as their servant. When playing outside the boys would get into mischief by shooting walnuts at the neighbor’s blind German Shepard with a slingshot. When Ali comes to discipline the boys, Hassan takes the blame and did not tell on Amir. Amir puts forth that “Hassan would mumble, looking down at his feet. But he never told on me. Never told that the mirror, like shooting walnuts at the neighbor's dog, was my idea” (Hosseini, 4). This statement shows the relationship is unequal.Hassan protects Amir from trouble, while it appears as if Amir is the leader and the cause of trouble as later demonstrated in the novel. After winning a kite flying contest, the boys enter an alleyway. Hassan meets a gang who rapes him ,after refusing to give up Amir’s kite. Assef decides to give him what he payed for.“ Dropped his underwear. He positioned himself behind Hassan. Hassan didn't struggle. Didn’t even whimper”(75). This account relates back to Hassan taking the blame and protecting Amir from trouble, although he does not do the same. Amir pondered 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 would happen to me.or I could run. In the end, I ran”(77). This is a second example of their friendship. Hassan continues to protect Amir while he stands by, does nothing and causes the trouble.
The author also uses symbolism to disclose the meaning of the novella.

The lamb is an important symbol to the novel. In Islam the lamb is a symbol of innocence and sacrifice.Amir describes Hassan looking like a lamb ,Amir says “I caught a glimpse of his face...It was a look I had seen before. It was a look of a lamb”(77).Hassans innocence was sacrificed by being raped. In this case Amir sacrifices Hassan over a blue kite by not stepping in. Amir also describes Sohrab ,Hassan's son,as looking like a lamb. Sohrabs’ innocence is also sacrificed by being raped by the same person his father was. But, in this event Amir saves him in order to feel guilt free by not helping his friend.In this case innocence is the sacrefice. The blue kite is also a significant symbol of the novel.The kite is symbol of Amir’s happiness and his guilt. Flying kites is what he liked most, not because it was the only way he could redeem himself to his father. But the kite takes a different significance when Amir allows Hassan to be raped because he wants to bring kite back as proof he had won the contest. His memory after that leaves the kite as a sign of his betrayal to Hassan. Amir doesn't fly a kite again until he he is with Sohrab at the end of the novel. Because Amir has already repented his sins himself, the kite isn't a symbol of his guilt. Instead, it a reminder of his childhood, and it becomes the way he is able to connect with

Sohrab.
The author uses characterization to convey the meaning of the book. Amir is the narrator and hero of the novel. Amir is the sensitive and a bright child of a well developed man, and grows up privileged. His best friend is Hassan, and he goes back and forth between being a loyal friend and attacking Hassan with jealousy when his dad gives Hassan attention. Amir is a storyteller and grows from aspiring writer. His great will to please his father is the reason for his behavior in the novel, and it is the only reason he allows Hassan to be raped. From that point ,using his feelings of guilt as he searches to find a way to repent his sins. He does through courage.