The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini uses betrayal as key plot points and the underlying motivation for many characters throughout the novel. The guilt and anguish that comes from betrayal caused the characters to make important decisions that would affect the rest of their lives. The main character, Amir, was haunted by his betrayal of Hassan, this led to him later risking his life to attempt to do right by Hassan. Baba constantly felt guilty for not accepting his son and often treated his illegitimate son better than his own. Lastly, Afghani society betrayed Hassan on multiple occasions, whether it was by forcing Hazaras to a worse life, keeping him from his true father, and finally taking the life of him and his wife. The theme of betrayal appears throughout the novel and has a major impact on the entirety of the story. The most prominent betrayal in the book is the betrayal of Amir to Hassan throughout their lives. This betrayal started when they were young and culminated in a graphic and intense scene where Amir stood idly by while his best friend was raped. Amir struggled to have the courage and stand up to Assef, the scene ended with this struggle, “I stopped watching, turned away from the alley... From just around the corner, I could hear Assef's quick, rhythmic grunts...I had one last chance to make a decision. One final opportunity to decide who I was going to be...In the end, I ran.” (page 77) This decision would haunt Amir for decades and shaped his personality as a passive and often cowardly person. This The rest of the book is Amir’s struggle to move on and redeem himself for his betrayal of Hassan. Throughout a majority of the book Baba is illustrated as a near perfect, god-like man, someone that stuck to his values and could do no wrong. However, it is later revealed that he had lied about Hassan being his child and through this action had given Hassan a difficult life. This betrayal towards Hassan was horrible, and unlike Amir’s betrayal there was no real way Baba ever redeemed himself. He lived with this guilt his entire life and the weight he must have felt from it is immeasurable. When Amir learned about Hassan from Rahim Khan he was devastated and confused, he expressed this by
Baba wants Hassan to become his own person by not defending Amir in every situation. On the other hand, he wants Amir to also become a stronger person and standing up for his own problems. He tells both of the boys this because he says that to be successful in life, everyone needs to be their own person and find their own identity.
Over the course of the novel, Amir’s Character matures greatly because of the subsequent effects of witnessing Hassan’s rape.
In reading Khaled Hosseini’s novel “The Kite Runner”, we as the reader can assume the novels meaning is tied to regret. Our protagonist Amir, remains holding himself accountable for the rape of Hassan, due to his lack of courage to stop the incident. Nonetheless, after the horrific incident happens, it unties the novels secondary meaning, which is betrayal. Throughout the novel, we see Amir trying to rid of Hassan as a way of trying to forget what he has done, or better yet what he didn’t do. However, in doing so Amir learns just how honest Hassan’s heart truly is, as Hassan takes the blame of what Amir is accusing him of. The author uses Hassan’s rape to contribute to the complete meaning of the novel. The last meaning of the novel would
In the book, the Kite runner by Khaled Hosseini betrayal is a very important theme and affects Amir's life greatly. One example of betrayal is shown in chapter 7 when Amir says“I had one last chance to make a decision. One Final opportunity to decide who I was going to be. I could step into that alley, stand
“Sometimes, the person you’d take a bullet for ends up being the one behind the gun” (Picture quotes). People are not what they seem; selfishness and greed can play a huge part in betrayal. Betrayal often comes with great consequences of guilt or a need for forgiveness. Most often, it is driven by selfish desire, greed, hatred or lust. In most cases, the act of trying to redeem oneself becomes a prolonging guilt stuck for the rest of one’s life. Learning to forgive oneself becomes the passage to gaining the desired redemption. In the novel The Kite Runner, by Khaled Hosseini, Hosseini displays the theme of forgiveness and redemption. After Amir and Baba’s betrayal toward those most loyal to them, they realize that one must forgive themself
To maintain a healthy relationship, trust must be built between people. However, actions can change the course of that relationship based on one decision. Throughout the novel, the readers get a glimpse of how choices the characters make can change the outcome of their lives. Throughout The Kite Runner, Khaled Hosseini uses the theme of betrayal to demonstrate the domino effect it can have on relationships.
After reading both works of literature it is clear that betrayal is a major theme within both works. The Kite Runner has an occurring theme of betrayal. One specific event occurs that sprouts the overall theme of betrayal within the novel. In this event, Assef rapes Hassan. This has to do with betrayal because Hassan was raped by a peer. Not only is this very upsetting, it gives off a clear theme of betrayal. Also the fact that Amir does not do anything about it even though his best friend is getting abused can be considered betrayal as well. Amir lives with the fact that he didn't do anything about it for the rest of the book. This just strengthens the theme of betrayal.
Hassan’s rape is the first significant piece of conflict which appears in the novel, and the most important piece of irony as well, with considerable recurring consequences throughout the story. First and foremost, the event of Hassan’s rape,
Betrayal is one of the most continuous themes in The Kite Runner and is quite closely linked with the theme of friendship as well. Betrayal is the beginning and end to almost every friendship in the story. Baba’s friendship with Ali came to a halt because he betrayed Ali by sleeping with his wife and becoming Hassan’s father. Amir’s friendship with Hassan came to be because of Baba betraying Ali, and ended because he betrayed Hassan in the alleyway and lied to get rid of him. Amir’s friendship with both Farrid and Sohrab began because of what he did with Hassan.
The theme betrayal is persistent with loyalty in this story. Hassan tries to prove his loyalty to Amir, but his plan
The kite runner features many examples of betrayal, be that choosing to betray, or choosing not to betray. A lot of characters in this novel have to make tough decisions based on do they want to betray someone, or not. there are also different ways to betray someone, many of which we see in this work of realistic fiction. some of the most important examples of betrayal are Amir's actions, and inactions, towards Hassan, and the secret that Baba has kept hidden, and Assef with his betrayals to Iran as well as earlier on, his mother. on the other hand, is Hassan who had opportunities to betray Amir, and did not.
We often over complicate the definition of betrayal. There is nothing complicated about it, in fact, it is actually quite simple. As Amir did in Khaled Hosseini’s The Kite Runner, we hide behind our shame- act as if we’ve done nothing wrong when in reality, we know the damage we’ve done. The Kite Runner exemplifies the most painful form of betrayal- allowing self-image dictate the way in which treat others. Amir allowed his social status, as well as his own insecurities, distort his sense of morality.
Has someone you deeply care about ever betrayed you? In Khaled Hosseini’s “The Kite Runner” Hassan and his best friend Amir who he even refers to as his brother turns his back on him. This act of betrayal ultimately destroys their relationship, leaving Amir to live with the guilt of what he has done. There are many types of betrayal and different reasons for it but perhaps the worst is when it is someone important to you.
In the novel, Amir witnesses Hassan’s rape by Assef. Not only does he run, but he hides it from the others and does not discuss the topic to Hassan or comfort him. Amir betrays Hassan to the point that Amir runs Ali and Hassan out of Kabul to get to a more comfortable place. Amir then is faced with internal conflicts that harm him.
Betrayal is a selfish action where one puts themselves before others which can result in painful difficulties amongst individuals. Most individuals choose their actions based on the situation and what the best possible outcome is for themselves. These selfish decisions of betrayal can cause lasting negative effects, damaging relationships and trust. Throughout the book, The Kite Runner, author Khaled Hosseini portrays the theme of betrayal in various ways through the actions of Amir, Baba, and Assef.