The Kite Runner Literary Analysis Essay

1433 Words3 Pages

Khaled Hosseini’s uses of a variety of literary devices in The Kite Runner, most prominently juxtaposition and metaphor, materially help to reveal motifs based around its conflict as well as the theme of the text. By employing these devices, Hosseini highlights a plethora of the book’s motifs, such as redemption and regret; moreover, he exudes the book’s central theme, which pertains to the enjoyment of life and search for inner peace. Other than radiating the implicit messages of the book, the aforementioned stylistic choices also are necessary to develop both the story’s characters and plot. In particular, the character arc of Amir, the main protagonist of the book, uses the three devices to identify his internal and external struggle. Furthermore, …show more content…

Additionally, they correspond with the statements made earlier in the book about the speedy and relentless progression of life. Furthermore, it assists him in finally getting over his past mistakes, thereby helping him somewhat abandon his regretful nature and move on, leading to his ultimate fate. As Amir approaches the house he lived in as a kid, he remarks about his childhood, saying that much of what he believed to be important as a child does not matter to him at all as an adult (261). This is a fantastic showcase of how he has developed as a character: he has gone from being an innocent child who lacks understanding of the world to being a man who has faced intense hardship and loss. Hosseini further exemplifies the character’s growth by juxtaposing how Amir viewed his house as a child to his current observations: instead of it being the sprawling white house he used to know, he now realizes that the trees around it are cut down, there are weeds in the yard, and the house’s plaster has been cracked (261). Baba’s old house acts as a symbol of how Amir finally has the capability to contemplate the past without blinding himself with nostalgia or mythology. Instead of seeing it as white, a color of purity, he now can notice its flaws and deterioration. Furthermore, when Amir notices the area in which Baba used to park his car, he notes that he remembers it “roaring to life” (262). Other than once again elaborating upon Amir’s character development, the personification of Baba’s car highlights how Amir’s current self has “roared to life” as a result of confronting his mistakes. This even parallels the aforementioned metaphor of life being a train by showing how Amir’s “train” has finally stopped dwelling on the past and continued moving forward. This is the moment of the book at which

More about The Kite Runner Literary Analysis Essay

Open Document