Guilt In The Kite Runner By Khalid Hosseini

Everyone has someone that they love dearly and for whom they would do anything. Most people have done something to disappoint that person they are so loyal towards, which, undoubtedly, causes guilt. Throughout history, many authors have discussed said relationship in their works. One such author is Khalid Hosseini in his novel The Kite Runner, Characterization is used to prove that lapses of loyalty cause guilt, and guilt causes people to do things they normally would never do.

Topic Sentence. The only reason Amir felt the need to go save Hassan’s son Sohrab was because he felt guilty about how poorly he had treated Hassan at times throughout their childhood. At the very end of the book, Amir says to Sohrab, “‘For you, a thousand times over,’ I heard myself say” (371). Hassan had said the same thing to Amir when they were children. Amir finally felt he had made up

for his past. Hassan sought redemption for his past mistakes with Hassan by rescuing and raising Sohrab.
Topic Sentence.

Hosseini throws the reader straight into the action with, “It’s wrong what they say about the past, I’ve learned, about how you can bury it. Because the past claws its way out. Looking back now, I realize I have been peeking into that deserted alley for the last twenty-six years” (Hosseini 1). The first thing the reader learns about Amir is his guilt, the specific cause of his guilt is not revealed until later. But eventually the reader learns that Amir, rightfully, felt mortified that he watched Hassan get raped and did nothing to try and prevent it. Furthermore, even before Amir found Hassan in the ally, his loyalty toward Hassan was not consistent. His action of searching for Hassan showed loyalty, however, he would not even tell people why he wanted to find Hassan. He always told people he was looking for his servant’s child rather than his friend. Once Assef said that Amir and Hassan were not friends Hassan felt guilty because he had been acting that way. Had Amir been a more devoted friend he would not have felt guilty because Assef’s statement would have been

false.
Thus wavering loyalty causes guilt which affects people’s actions are proven through the use of Characterization in The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini. Amir felt guilty for his faltering loyalty towards Hassan, which influenced his decisions later in life. Many people in today’s society also feel guilty about something they either did or did not do. If people would think about what they were doing before doing it, there would be a lot less guilty people doing things they normally would not do.