Khaled Hosseini’s novel, The Kite Runner, and the novel The Secret History, by Donna Tartt, both present the progression of guilt and its formation. Guilt can be described as a bothered conscience or a feeling of culpability for offenses, often felt when responsibility is undertaken as a regretted action. There are several types of guilt, which include feelings of shame, unworthiness and embarrassment about one’s actions, as well as the guilt felt about a circumstance one is not responsible for. Hosseini and Tartt show the progression of guilt through a corrupted action, the search for approval, redemption, blaming an innocent and suffering and these different facets of guilt are explored through various literary devices. Guilt is multifaceted …show more content…
Furthermore, Tartt’s narrator exclaims Bunny’s murder was in an American “November [that] was settling like a deadly oxymoron on the April landscape,” as it has “never… snowed so late in the year.” Traditionally, spring is associated with growth and birth, however the snow “kill[ed] all the flowers,” displaying how Tartt incorporates death within the spring. Tartt’s reverse symbolism suggests a new birth for her culprits, an awakening to carry the burden of their actions throughout life. Similarly, Hosseini uses the setting to highlight the innocent victim and symbolise the effect of the corrupted action in The Kite Runner. By emphasising the “blue kite... [and] Hassan’s brown corduroy pants laying amid the garbage,” Hosseini symbolises that his character’s innocence is ruined. Likewise, Hosseini employs an attack on a victim to portray the development of guilt and its initial beginning. Hosseini uses rape to show the physical attack on a Hassan, in addition to the attack on emotions and dignity. Rape is a motif within Hosseini’s text, which recurs throughout the novel, representing complete physical …show more content…
Blame is revealed to control the characters, as it is seen within both novels that the innocent victims are liable for another’s actions. Throughout the Kite Runner blame occurs during the timeline of events narrated by Amir, and Hosseini positions the audience to gain knowledge of Amir’s increasing guilt. Amir’s character development, as a result of his guilt, illustrates to the audience his attempt to regain his soul after he frames Hassan for “stealing his watch.” However, Hosseini reverses Amir’s anticipation and uses Hassan to control the situation. The audience is positioned to observe an act of unconditional love, as Hosseini employs Hassan to accept the blame. Imagery is utilized to place emphasis on the unawareness of “Hassan’s final sacrifice for [Amir],” which was “like [Amir had] been slapped.” Pathetic fallacy is also used by Hosseini to determine the sacrificial blame Hassan takes for Amir. Hosseini situates Hassan’s blame during summer where the “sun [is] like a branding iron” however “it rained the afternoon” of the sacrifice. The rain reflects Amir’s grief and guilt, which plagues him for years to come. This dramatic effect used by Hosseini conveys to audience the abnormality of the circumstance; the blame of an innocent. Similarly, Tartt suggests that the victim takes the blame. Within the novel, Tartt’s characters question whether they will be caught for the
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.
Actions made in a moment of pain, anger or simple immaturity can take anyone to make mistakes that can change their lives completely. Everyone has something in the past that is shameful, embarrassing and regrettable that is kept present daily. Whether this event happened during childhood, adolescence or early adulthood, this event could haunt and have shaped that person’s life into what he or she is today. In a similar way, the book The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini is shaped by a tragic and eventful past that has shaped Amir’s, Baba’s, and Hassan’s lives. The four literary elements that will be used in this essay that Hosseini strategically uses in this book are: irony, simile, metaphor, and personification.
Thereby, the two works that is Macbeth and The Kite Runner not only present before the humanity, the immense power and potency of guilt, but also emphatically reveal the eventual consequences of the guilt traceable to an evil act or an act of cowardice or betrayal. These two works expose the psychology of guilt in a very vivid and threadbare manner, which explains their appeal and the human interest they accrue.
The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini has many references of guilt in it, the book it reveals in order to keep a clean conscience you must do the right thing.
Betrayal is one of the most prominent themes in the novel The Kite Runner, by Khaled Hosseini. Hosseini chose to represent this theme through the decisions and actions of the main protagonists. Both Baba and Amir chose to betray the people close to them, which resulted in major ramifications for themselves and the people around them. With their betrayals came feelings of guilt. However Amir 's guilt was exponentially more conspicuous than Baba 's. It followed him into his adult life, and the impacts were quite negative and detrimental to both his personal health and his personal relationships. Hassan, on the other hand, chose to remain loyal to those close to him, regardless of the situation or the threats placed upon him. While this resulted in major consequences, it also demonstrated his capacity for kindness, caring, and loyalty. Even though he was confronted with traumatic experiences due to his loyalty, he was able to accept it, move past it and eventually heal. In turn, although his life was short, it was filled with meaningful realizations
Redemption is gaining honor and self-forgiveness through a selfless act that reflects off of one’s regretful actions of their past. In the novel, The Kite Runner, Amir is the main character who goes through many life struggles and mistakes, then finds himself on a road to redemption. Amir and Hassan were best friends throughout their childhood and Hassan was the honorable, trusting best friend, the one to always take a stand for what he believed was right. Amir’s lack of courage caused him to stay silent in the worst of times, letting Hassan get tortured for the things he did not deserve. The themes of sacrifice, honor and redemption are carried out in many ways throughout this novel being shown through the actions of Hassan, Baba, and Amir.
The theme of guilt, as perceived by readers and felt by the characters is demonstrated by both Davies and Shakespeare. This emotion of guilt, affects a person like a drop of acid that corrodes anything it meets. Through these two texts, the authors suggest to the readers that this emotion is part of life, and that there is no way one can eradicate it. Although, there lies some negative effects, it always benefits one after admitting to or paying for mistakes, as seen in both of the texts.
Guilt is a result of sin, and sin is a result of misaction. In the novel, The Kite Runner, by Khaled Hosseini, the protagonist, Amir, goes on a journey to redeem himself for his sins. When Amir was 12, he witnessed his best friend, Hassan, get raped in an alley. Instead of standing up for his friend, Amir ran away in selfishness and cowardice. The guilt of his choice plagues Amir for the rest of his life, until one day, he gets a call from an old uncle, who tells him that “there is a way to be good again.” (2) The Kite Runner follows Amir on his odyssey to redeem himself for his hurtful actions. Through this journey, Khaled Hosseini delivers the message that sins and guilt can always be atoned for.
The Kite Runner is a book about a young boy, Amir, who faces many struggles as he grows up in Kabul and later moves to America to flee from the Taliban. His best friend and brother , Hassan, was a big part of his life, but also a big part of guilt he held onto for many years. The book describes Amir’s attempt to make up for the past and resolve his sins so he can clear his conscious. Amir is worthy of forgiveness because although he was selfish, he was very brave and faced his past.
“The guilty one is not the one who commits the sin, but the one who causes the darkness.” – Victor Hugo. In The Kite Runner, the theme of guilt and redemption is shown through the character development of the protagonist Amir. Hosseini used Amir’s guilt of his past to grow the impression that with regret lies a hope for redemption. Amir is a man who is haunted by the demons of his past.
Guilt is a strong emotion that affects many people around the world. It can either lead people into a deep and dark abyss that can slowly deteriorate people or it can inspire them to achieve redemption. Guilt and redemption are two interrelated subjects that can show the development of the character throughout a novel. The Scarlet Letter, by Nathaniel Hawthorne, and The Kite Runner, by Khaled Hosseini, are two literary works that convey the connections between guilt and redemption and show the development of the character by using theme and symbolism that are present in the novels.
The Kite Runner, by Khaled Hosseini, follows the maturation of Amir, a boy from Afghanistan, as he discovers what it means to stand up for what he believes in. His quest to redeem himself after betraying his friend and brother, Hassan, makes up the heart of the novel. For most of the book, Amir attempts to deal with his guilt by avoiding it and refusing to own up to his mistakes. Because of his past, Amir is incapable of moving forward. His entire life is shaped by his disloyalty to Hassan and his desire to please his father over helping his friends. Throughout the novel, his attempts to atone for his sins end in failure, as neither physical punishment nor rescuing Hassan’s son, Sohrab, from Assef prove to be enough for Amir to redeem himself. Only when he decides to take Sohrab to the United States and provide his nephew with a chance at happiness and prosperity that was denied to his half-brother does Amir take the necessary steps toward atonement and redemption. Khaled Hosseini uses a series of symbols to reinforce the message that atoning for one’s sins means making up for past mistakes, rather than simply relying on forgiveness from either the person one betrays or from a higher power.
Novel The Kite Runner Essay In the novel The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini, there are several major themes. One of the themes that stands out the most is redemption. This theme is shown through the thoughts and actions of the protagonist of the novel, Amir. He is seeking redemption for betraying his childhood best friend and half-brother Hassan.
Though some may rise from the shame they acquire in their lives, many become trapped in its vicious cycle. Written by Khlaled Hosseini, The Kite Runner describes the struggles of Amir, his father Baba, and his nephew Sohrab as they each fall victim to this shameful desolation. One repercussion of Baba hiding his sinful adultery from Amir is that Amir betrays Hassan for his father’s stringent approval. Sohrab’s dirty childhood also traumatizes him through his transition to America. Consequently, shame is a destructive force in The Kite Runner. Throughout the course of the novel, Baba’s shameful affair, Amir’s selfish betrayal, and Sohrab’s graphic childhood destroy their lives.
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.