Search for Atonement in Khaled Hosseini’s The Kite Runner

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How, after years of guilt, self-disgust, and deception, is it possible for one person to become good again? Entrapped in a cage of cowardice for so long, can they ever develop and grow as a normal human being? Amir, the anti-hero in Khaled Hosseini’s The Kite Runner, seeks to answer these questions in his own search for atonement through various existential events in his life.

Amir’s misadventures begin as a boy living in an affluent Afghanistan world. On the day of his birth, his mother hemorrhages to death. Robbed of any feminine influence or comfort, he goes to his overshadowing Baba for love and acceptance. His father denies his only son the tenderness he desires, leading Amir to believe his father despises him. After all, Amir’s birth caused his mother’s death. As an escape from the guilt and absence of love, Amir devours books. This scholarly behavior drives a further wedge between Amir and his larger than life father.

Despite this absence of fatherly affection, Amir has other people who care about him deeply. To Amir, Hassan is his servant first and his best friend second. Throughout Afghani culture, this superiority idea is continually upheld and reinforced. Hassan, on the other hand, sees Amir as his all knowledgeable best friend. He protects Amir against the attacks of Assef out of love and devotion. Unfortunately, Hassan’s defense only leads to Amir burrowing deeper into his natural state of cowardice.

However they view their friendship, Amir and Hassan are the best kite flying duo in Kabul. Finally, Baba and Amir communicate on the points of glass string and the various fighting styles. In the big kite flying competition, Amir competes more for the recognition of his father than anything else. Hassan competes ...

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... the kite and Sohrab reluctantly agrees. Together, they lure an unsuspecting kite into a trap. After they saw through the other kite’s string, Sohrab smiles his first smile in months. Encouraged, Amir asks Sohrab if he can run the kite down for him. Understanding Amir is offering everything to him, Sohrab nods. As Amir scrambles after the kite, he turns back and declares “For you, a thousand times over” (371).

The words that previously damned Amir to his guilt ridden prison, release Amir, allowing him to finally gain closure for pitfalls and mistakes in his life. Although it takes twenty six years, Amir finally becomes the man he was always destined to be through the physical and emotional growth he faces on his own path to atonement.

Works Cited

Hosseini, Khaled. The Kite Runner. New York: Penguin, 2003. Print.

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