Courtney Ventura
Willson
AP Literature
4 September 2014
Analysis of Kite Runner
Throughout Khaled Hosseini’s, The Kite Runner, readers create personal emotions with the characters using first person narration. The novel starts out with a friendship between a wealthy boy and a father’s servant’s son. Unfortunately, the story is set in a place that is being destroyed. Characters throughout the novel are placed into situations where they must learn to redeem themselves. Each have to learn how to sacrifice their love of one another and fight for their country. The story takes place in Kabul, Afghanistan during 1975 where Amir and his father Baba are living. Amir and his father have two Hazara servants by the names of Ali and Hassan. Things start
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to change as Afghanistan’s King is overthrown.
Amir and his one servant, Hassan, are playing outside one day when they find these three boys by the names of Assef, Wali, and Kamal. Unfortunately, Assef threatens Amir for hanging out with another minority, but Hassan comes to the rescue with his slingshot.
Redemption becomes a huge factor throughout The Kite Runner. Amir feels as if he holds the responsibility of his mother’s death from his birth. His main goal is to redeem himself and make his father proud. During the winter in Kabul, children all over strive to win the tournament in kite-running. In kite-running, the kites are covered in glass and children run with the kites. When a kite has gone loose, someone chases it and tries to retrieve it by winning the kite-running tournament. Fortunately, Amir participates in the kite-running tournament and wins! After he wins the tournament, he brings back his losing/winning kite to his father; Amir feels the accomplishment of making his father proud of him. As Amir is traveling back to where he lives, he finds Hassan trapped in an alley. He, Hassan, is being held down as Assef tries to rape him. In complete shock, Amir runs away from the scene
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feeling guilty about what just happened. In the beginning of chapter one Amir says, “ I’ve learned how you can bury the past. Looking back now, I realize I have been peeking into that deserted alley for the last twenty-six years” (page 1). Within Amirs search for redemption, his guilt drives him away, making him feel like a let down throughout the novel. March of 1981, Amir and his father run off to Pakistan, a war zone, to only find out his father has lung cancer. Although his father might not make it, Hassan is found in Pakistan with a wife and a little boy by the name of Sohrab. The Taliban finds Hassan and his wife and takes their lives; also taking their child to an orphanage. With the confrontation of Assef among Amir, the particular moment reminds Amir of his father back to when he says he is not a man who can stand up for himself; Amir fails to stand up for himself as an adult and a young boy. Throughout the novel, Amir is focused mainly on proving to his father that he has the courage to stand up for himself; redeeming himself as a part of this. Khaled Hosseini’s uses of symbolism partake in most of the novel. Within The Kite Runner, the use of theft becomes a huge part of the story. As the story states in the beginning about the killing of Hassan and his wife, Amir’s father says, “If you kill a man, you take his life” (106). Hosseini interpretes this into a novel by showing how theft can occur in so many different ways. This shows a darker, yet clearer view on what it feels like to have something or someone, with so much meaning away from you. Another way of using theft as a symbol really shows when Amir takes money and a watch to put underneath Hassan’s pillow; Amir tells his father Hassan stolen it all. Trust is incorporated into the symbolism of theft as well; trusting someone with your belongings but later finding out that someone has been up to no good with them. Learning to trust one another is a huge concept within a relationship which ties into the relationship between Hassan and amir, as well as Amir and his father. One of the biggest symbols this book focuses on is the kites the children race.
Khaled Hosseini really draws deep into the major usage of symbolism and metaphors in this novel. He uses these to emphasize a reader’s mind as they are reading the novel and also to create a visual mindset throughout the story. The most specific symbols in this novel are, the kites and the slingshot, put in to specific places in the novel; as key moments between relationships. Let’s talk about the most important symbol first, the kites. The kites are depicted among Amir and Hassan to represent freedom and relationships between the two young boys. Afghanistan holds these kite races for the young children, but as the Taliban takes over Afghanistan, kite races are banned. Due to this unfortunate event, the boys cannot show their brotherhood for each other; rather their clarity of minority groups and how they can still come together whether one is Pashtun or a Hazara. When reminded of the relationship between the two, “Then he would remind us that there was a brotherhood between people who had fed from the same breast, a kinship that not even time could break” (11). Khaled Hosseini uses diversity in The Kite Runner to let readers understand that no matter what race or minority someone is, let them be your friend; something amazing could become of it. As well as the kites, the slingshot symbolizes innocence and courage among some of the major characters. The slingshot presented throughout the novel,
is used as a weapon, but mainly for the purpose of protecting one another. In chapters twenty-one and twenty-two, Assef harrasses Hassan for being Hazara, “We have some unfinished business, you and I” coming from Assef, “Hassan with his slingshot pointed at Assef’s face” (286). This symbol representing courage of the innocent children, scares one as soon as the mere sight of it appears; it is used to halt an abuser or accuser for that matter. Hassan has the most attachment to this object, due to the fact that it gives him strength when he needs it most. Khaled Hosseini incorporates this object to symbolize fear in any attacker and to show how one object can halt another. Many readers come to believe that the use of this object in Kite Runner can connect in a way it is used in the Bible itself.
As he grows into a man and pushes his regrets to the side - though not ever completely out of his mind - he learns to live through and accept the pain he caused both himself and his best friend, Hassan. Towards the end of the novel, Amir goes to great lengths to earn the redemption he feels he needs in order to finally be at peace. The Kite Runner asks the audience what it truly means to be a good person - do we need to be born with goodness in our hearts, do we live the way that is comfortable and right according to ourselves, or do we have to constantly fail and prove that we are good?
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.
Kite Runner depicts the story of Amir, a boy living in Afghanistan, and his journey throughout life. He experiences periods of happiness, sorrow, and confusion as he matures. Amir is shocked by atrocities and blessed by beneficial relationships both in his homeland and the United States. Reviewers have chosen sides and waged a war of words against one another over the notoriety of the book. Many critics of Kite Runner, by Khaled Hosseini, argue that the novel would not have reached a lofty level of success if the U.S. had not had recent dealings with the Middle East, yet other critics accurately relate the novel’s success to its internal aspects.
The Kite Runner, is the first novel written by Khaled Hosseini. The Kite Runner is set in Afghanistan before the war in the city of Kabul, and then eventually in America. The novel relays the struggles of Amir (A young Shi’ boy), Hassan (a young Hazera servant boy) and Baba (Amir’s father) as they are growing up in an ever-changing Afghanistan. The young boys face difficult challenges most adults will never have to experience. Amir, Hassan, and even Baba must overcome cruelty in every aspect of their lives.
Flying kites was a source of Amir 's happiness as a child as well as a way to attain his father’s approval. In Kabul, Afghanistan, a kite flying tournament was held annually. Young boys laced their string with glass and attempted to cut the strings of other kite flyers. That last on standing was deemed the champion and the idol of all the younger children. Before Amir competed in his kite tournament, Baba said, “I think maybe you 'll win the tournament this year. What do you think?” (Hosseini, 50) Amir took this opportunity and told himself that, “I was going to win, and I was going to run that last kite. Then I’d bring it home and show it to Baba. Show him once and for all his son was worthy. Then maybe my life as a ghost in this house would finally be over.” (Hosseini, 50) Amir wanted the approval and affection of his father badly enough that he was willing to allow Hassan to get raped in order to attain it. After this kits became the symbol of Amir 's betrayal to Hassan. The kite ultimately becomes the way that Amir connects with Sohrab, mirroring how Amir connected with Baba when he was a
My name.” ( ) This quote is an example of where the two boy's loyalty lies. Hassan’s with Amir, ready to defend and protect him no matter what the cost. And Amir’s with Baba, wanting to please him and make him proud to have a son like Amir. By making a decision of who Amir was more loyal to as well as who he wanted to please more inadvertently led to his betrayal of Hassan.
The peaceful Afghanistan that Amir was born into is no longer in existence; rival groups now fight amongst each other. “There are a lot of children in Afghanistan, but little children”. Throughout The Kite Runner, there is tension on account of religious, ethnic, and economic factors. Amir, a privileged Sunni, struggles to understand his relationship with his Shi’a servant, Hassan. The boys grew up together, but “in the end, [Amir] was a Pashtun and [Hassan] was a Hazara, [Amir] was a Sunni and [Hassan] was Shi’a, and nothing was ever going to change that.
As a foreword, the story of The Kite Runner focuses on a man named Amir. In his childhood, he enjoyed a high-class life in Kabul, Afghanistan, living with his father Baba. They have two servants, Ali and his son Hassan. They are Hazaras, a lower class ethnic minority in Afghanistan. In one Winter of their childhood, Amir and Hassan participate in a kite-fighting tournament; the goal is to be the last kite flying. When a kite is cut, boys chase after it as a trophy. Amir wins the tournament, and Hassan flies to catch the losing kite. Later, following Hassan's path, Amir comes upon a neighbourhood bully named Assef about to rape Hassan who has the trophy, the blue kite. Amir does not interject, believing this will secure him the kite. Thus, Amir sets forth a chain of events he must redeem in his adulthood.
... Kites are symbolic in the novel as it helps to support the themes of guilt, redemption and freedom in the novel. In the beginning of the story, Amir overhears Baba telling Rahim Khan that if Amir could not stand up for himself, he would never be able to stand up to anything when he becomes a man. It takes Amir over twenty years to finally muster up enough courage to stand up for himself in front of Assef. Amir takes the beatings from Assef as his punishment for what happened to Hassan. He rescues Sohrab and bonds with him through kite fighting, similar to when he flew kites with Hassan. Kites represent the freedom from the worries and burdens that Amir, Hassan and Sohrab has. It brings together the two participants in kite fighting. It gets rid of the discrimination of the ethnic caste system, any cultural differences, and also emphasizes unity amongst difference.
As a young boy he made the wrong decision in life by letting Hassan get raped, which led to his guilt. The guilt grew to the point where Hassan and Ali had to move out of Baba’s house and start a new life away from Amir. Hassan’s son Sohrab is a significant character who represents Amir’s hope for redemption. Sohrab led to Amir’s redemption by giving Amir the opportunity to do good for his past actions. On the quest for redemption, Amir achieves the redemption he desired through his fight with Assef.
War establishes many controversial issues and problems within society and can often expose an individual to many economic and sociopolitical hardships; thus creating an altercation in the way they view life. Amir, from the novel The Kite Runner and the novel’s author Khaled Hosseini, both saw the harsh treatment toward the people of Afghanistan through a series of wars, invasions, and the active power of a Pashtun movement known as the Taliban. Amir, much like Hosseini, lived a luxurious and wealthy life in Kabul. He is well educated and immerses himself in reading and writing. After transitioning from a life in Afghanistan to a life in the United States, both Hosseini and Amir faced obstacles in order to assimilate to American society. In The Kite Runner, written by Khaled Hosseini, the protagonist Amir parallels the experiences and hardships that Hosseini endured in his own lifetime.
Amir also committed a sin that affected him negatively throughout his life. This sin occurred when Hassan, Amir’s best friend during his childhood, was getting raped by Assef. This situation occurred when the children were chasing kites. Hassan got the kite first, but Assef insisted that he wanted the kite. Assef also had a racial and religious prejudice against Hassan. Because Hassan did not give the kite, Assef decides to rape Hassan as a “punishment”. Instead of helping his friend out, Amir just walked away from the scene and let Hassan get violated in one of the most vulgar ways. After this incident, Hassan quietly walked back home and gave Amir the kite for which he was confronted by Assef for. The kite in this situation proves to be an important symbol. Whereas earlier in the novel the kite represented happiness and fun to Amir, in this situation it represented sin and guilt to Amir. The only reason that Hassan got raped was that he was trying to get a kite for Amir. Now the kite acts a reminder to Hassan of his wrong-doing and it will now begin to haunt him for a long time. Although when in America, Amir does not get reminded about Hassan, deep inside he still feels guilty. Amir immediately begins to feel the most guilt when he goes to Iran when Rahim Khan, Amir’s childhood friend, asks him to come. He feels that Rahim Khan has reminded him of his “past of unatoned sins”(Hosseini 2).
The Kite Runner focuses on the relationship between two Afghan boys Amir and Hassan. Amir is a Pashtun and Sunni Muslim, while Hassan is a Hazara and a Shi’a. Despite their ethnic and religious differences, Amir and Hassan grow to be friends, although Amir is troubled by Hassan, and his relationship with his companion, one year his junior, is complex. Amir and Hassan seem to have a "best friend" type relationship. The two boys, Hassan and Amir, are main characters in the book titled, The Kite Runner. The two boys have a relationship that is significantly different compared to most. There are many different facets that distinguish the relationship the boys possess. The boys do write their names in a pomegranate tree as the "sultans of Kabul" (Kite Runner 27) but, their friendship is not strong and it is one sided. Hassan has love for Amir. He loves him like a brother. Hassan is exceedingly loyal to Amir. The relationship between the two boys is emotionally wearing and rather gloomy for the most part. The main reason for their complicated relationship is the fact that Amir is Pashtun, and Hassan is Hazara. The Afghan society places Hassan lower than Amir. Hassan is Amir's servant. The placement of Hassan in the Afghan society disenables Amir from becoming Hassan's true friend. Amir sees Hassan as lower than human. Amir ruins the chance for friendship between himself and Hassan because he is jealous of Hassan, he thinks of Hassan as a lower human, and because Amir possesses such extreme guilt for what he has done to Hassan. Amir is an unforgivable person overall.
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.
Khaled Hosseini, the author of The Kite Runner, grew up in prejudiced Afghanistan during the 1960’s as a middle-class Pashtun living with Hazaras working for his family. His move to America after the Communist Coup proved difficult for his family, especially his father. In his novel, Hosseini writes through a young boy, Amir, very similar to himself, who grows up with his father and two Hazara servants in Afghanistan at the time of the Taliban attacks. Both Amir and his father, Baba, treat their servants, Hassan and Ali, like family. Society, however, does not approve of such relationships between Pashtuns and Hazaras. As Amir hides and watches horrified, another Pashtun boy rapes Hassan. This leads to the continuation of Amir’s internal conflict about the treatment of Hazaras by the public, and also makes him feel guilty and self-conscious throughout his entire life. In addition, Amir strives for affection and attention from his rather indifferent father. Amir’s outward conformity to societal values in his relationships with both Hassan and Baba, as a result of his inner struggle and guilt, contribute greatly to the significance of The Kite Runner.