The Kite Runner Quote Analysis

In 1951, Swiss psychiatrist and psychoanalyst C.G. Jung stated, “No tree, it is said, can grow to heaven unless its roots reach down to hell” (Carl). This quote represents the idea that light and darkness are inseparable. We see this notion many places throughout the world, whether it be the Chinese Yin-Yang symbol or the Unity of Opposites principle proposed by the ancient Greek philosopher Heraclitus. We can also see a similar concept in The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini. The use of symbolism, the plot, and direct quotations from the book lead us to conclude that joy and pain are interconnected and are meant to coincide with one another.
There are numerous examples of symbolism throughout the book that represents the idea that joy and pain are connected. One example is Hosseini’s use of kites. At the beginning of the book, Amir said that he looked up and saw a pair of red kites with long blue tails soaring above him in the sky (Hosseini

Red archetypally represents anger and pain while blue represents calm and peace. Since the red body of the kite is connected with the blue tail, it suggests that joy and pain are also connected. In fact, in order for a kite to fly properly it has to have both body and the tail; just like life needs both pain and joy. Another symbol that represents this concept of pain and joy coinciding with one another is kite fighting. Kite fighting tournaments are a popular activity in Afghanistan and is one of the things Amir likes best about winter, but it always leaves the participants in physical pain with deep cuts on their hands (Hosseini 50). Since the goal of kite fighting is to be the last kite in the sky, the child that won would have the deepest cuts from holding the glass-covered string the longest. In essence, the kid that received the most joy, from winning, also receives the most pain. Finally, the