What is the Theme of The Kite Runner? The Kite Runner was written by Khaled Hosseini and published in 2003. It tells the story of Amir, a young boy from Kabul, Afghanistan, and Hassan, his father’s Hazara servant. The story is set against a backdrop of tumultuous events, from the fall of Afghanistan’s Monarchy, through the Soviet Military intervention, the exile of Pakistan refugees to America, and the rise of the Taliban. The main theme of this book focuses on guilt and redemption. Throughout the novel, Amir is constantly trying to redeem himself. Early on, Amir strives to redeem himself through his father’s eyes primarily because his mother died giving birth to him, and he feels responsible. The more important part of Amir’s search for …show more content…
Though Hassan was his best friend, Amir feelt that Hassan, a Hazara servant, was beneath him. He passively attacked Hassan by mocking and taunting him. Amir never learned how to affirm himself against anyone because Hassan always defended him. All of these factors lead to Amir not being able to stand up for Hassan when he needed him most. One triumphant day, Amir won the local kite fighting tournament and finally earned Baba’s praise. Hassan ran to retrieve the losing kite, which was considered a trophy, and told Amir “For you, a thousand times over”. When Hassan finally obtained the kite, he was cornered by Assef and his friends. Assef was the neighborhood bully and had tortured Amir and Hassan for years. When Hassan refused to give up the kite, Assef beat and raped him. Amir watched the whole thing but didn’t interfe because he didn’t want to lose the respect of his father. The guilt ate Amir alive. “That was a long time ago, but it’s wrong what they say about the past, I’ve learned, about how you can bury it. Because the past claws its way out. Looking back now, I realize I have been peeking into that deserted alley for the last twenty-six years.” Soon after the incident, Amir tried to distance himself from Hassan and Hassan and his father eventually leave. A couple years later, Amir and Baba flee to America to escape the war in Afghanistan. Amir graduates and gets married but even after all those years;
The book Kite Runner follows the story of a kid named Amir that experienced both loyalty and betrayal. First off, the story starts following the rough and unwilling childhood of Amir when he lived in Afghanistan. He lived with Hassan, who was actually his half brother, and his father, Baba. Throughout the story, it explains different chapters and events throughout Amir’s childhood and adulthood, which rounded him as a person, and made him more dynamic. Three main characters throughout the story, including Amir, exemplified the contrast between betrayal and loyalty.
Do you know that Afghanis play a game where they fight with kites? The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini describes kite fights between local Afghani kids, regardless of their social status. The main characters in this story that come from a higher socioeconomic level are Baba, a lawyer from the Pashtun tribe, and his son Amir. The main characters in this story that come from the lower socioeconomic level are Ali, a servant from the Hazara tribe, and his son Hassan who are servants to Baba and his family. The Kite Runner explores how different classes of people worked together to run things in Afghanistan.
The Kite Runner is a historical fiction book written by an Afghan-born American, Khaled Hosseini. Hosseini, the son of an Afghani diplomat, was born and raised in Kabul, Afghanistan, where he lived until the age of eleven. In his novel, The Kite Runner, Hosseini shows the path from guilt to redemption for Amir, the son of a wealthy businessman in Kabul. It shows Amir’s struggles and successes in finding and staying true to himself. Hosseini changes setting many times throughout the course of the book. He uses this element extraordinarily well to help the reader understand how life changed for Amir, to help the reader understand the emotions of the characters, and to help the reader relate to some of the circumstances that Amir encountered.
Hassan’s complete bravery and loyalty towards Amir drives his entire life. From the very beginning of his life, Hassan showed his absolute will to never betray or even let down his
He fails to fully embrace his friend as an equal in many instances which eventually drives Hassan and his father, Ali, out of their life for good. One of his most significant sins he committed was when he was still a boy, his desperation for attention from Baba, impacted his daily life and decisions. All of his life, Amir found it to be was a series of Baba showing Hassan more attention than himself, his actual son. As he realizes this, he becomes fooled in his cowardice ways and continues to treat his “best friend” poorly who is far from deserving that type of treatment. This deception is not shown through his personality, but
In the literature, The Kite Runner, by Khaled Hosseini, the idea and representation of justice, and its relationship to that of the treatment of women in Afghan society, the ever-changing politics of Afghanistan, and the desired results of redemption and forgiveness, become illustrated through the novel’s characters and motives. Justice can be defined as the quality of being guided by truth, reason, and fairness. The Kite Runner illustrates the power of influence from an outside power and its effects on society, and the minds and lifestyles of the people. In relationship to the Cheverus High School Grad-at-Grad profile the actions and wrongdoings that take place in the The Kite Runner and in Afghanistan prove to be injustice.
Amir, however, doesn’t fully appreciate Hassan and often takes his friendship for granted. Amir takes advantage of Hassan’s loyalty and trust by playing cruel jokes on him and never taking responsibility for actions. Hassan’s loyalty goes so far as too forgive him for these actions and more. One time though even Amir realizes he messed up. After a kite tournament in which Amir wins Hassan offers to be Amir’s kite runner and run after the second place kite as it falls as a trophy. However, while chasing after the kite the towns bullies catch up with him and the evilest of the group, Assef, rapes Hassan. Amir, who went looking for Hassan after he didn’t come back, sees the entire thing. He could have helped but instead he runs, he runs home to his father’s admiration and pretends that nothing ever
The Kite Runner is a historical fiction novel written by Afghan author Khaled Hosseini. The book follows the life of Amir, a Pashtun boy, as he grows up and faces the ever-expanding power of the Taliban in his birthplace. Amir struggles to find his place in society and to develop his relationship with his Hazara servant, Hassan. Throughout this, a fundamentalist group called the Taliban is furthering the crevasse between the two main religious groups- the Pashtun and the Hazara. Together, all of these varying forces instigate Amir's moral code, will, and friendship. The novel's bildungsroman theme is enhanced by the development of brotherhood between Amir and Hassan and it's changes throughout their lives.
Khaled Hosseini’s The Kite Runner is a remarkable coming-of-age novel describing and revealing the thoughts and actions of Amir, a compunctious adult in the United States and his memories of his affluent childhood in the unstable political environment of Afghanistan. The novel showcases the simplistic yet powerful ability of guilt to influence decisions and cause conflict which arises between Amir’s childhood friend and half-brother, Hassan; Amir’s father, Baba; and importantly, himself. Difference in class The quest to become “good again” causes a reflection in Amir to atone for his sins and transform into the person of which he chooses to be.
According to sources, The Taliban was group that was formed during the war against the soviet occupation of Afghanistan (1979-89). In the book “The Kite Runner” the setting is around the same time the Taliban was being formed. It started out as just a small group of men following their leader Mullah Omar. When the Taliban first came into Afghanistan they were viewed as saviors. During that time people were beginning to be Anti-soviet union.
“Love is much like a wild rose: beautiful and calm, but willing to draw blood in its defense”. Love and friendship can both make and break us. While their purity and wholesome memories epitomize the human condition of intimacy, this weight of responsibility can crush us when faced with crisis and hinder us when we need to succeed most. This question of risk and reward is raised in various works as characters struggle to balance loyalty with logic. Authors and filmmakers demonstrate that amity can be the key to compassion but also cripples us from acting with reason.
Amir stumbles upon an alley. In the alley, he sees the Hassan trap by three boys named Assef, Kamal, and Wali. All they asked of Hassan is to give up the blue kite. However, Hassan’s loyalty and friendship toward Amir prevented Hassan to give up the kite. As the tension built, Assef lets Hassan have the kite, but in-return he does unthinkable. Assef rapes Hassan as Amir watched unnoticeably from the alley (Hosseini 62-66). This was Amir’s chance to prove his true friendship by stepping in to save Hassan. Instead, Amir ran “because I was a coward. I was afraid of Assef and what he could do to me. I was afraid of getting hurt. That’s what I told myself as I turned my back to the alley, to Hassan” (Hosseini 68). According to Amir, “Maybe Hassan was the price I had to pay, the lamb I had to slay, to win Baba” (Hosseini 68). “He was just a Hazara, wasn’t he?” (Hosseini 68).
The film adaptation of The Kite Runner does diminish the complexity of the story. In the film, the themes of friendship and relationships between father and son are not as apparent as depicted in the novel. The character development of Sohrab is minimal and less emphasis is placed on his struggles and inner turmoil. The relationship between fathers and sons is one of the most powerful themes in the novel and is portrayed in many events that are not present in the film adaptation.
The Kite Runner written by Khaled Hosseini, is a fictional narrative following the life of Amir, the son of a wealthy single father known as Baba, and his sibling like relationship with their servant Ali’s son Hassan. Growing up together in Afghanistan during times of peace, they are split up due to unruly events, and the Soviet raid. Leaving behind all their belongings, Amir and Baba escape to America while the place they called home is devastated as the Taliban take over and establish their own regime. Throughout the story, Hosseini’s writings depict the abrupt change in conditions experienced by the people of Afghanistan, as the cruel demeanor of this terrorist group’s reign reflects upon the country. With the
His famous quote “for you a thousand times over” shows his deep love for his friend. While the boys did not know it at the time, they were actually brothers (Hosseini 2). While it may come as a shock, Hassan had always treated his friend as more, and shown him brotherly love. Since they were young Hassan had always protected Amir. He took the blame for hitting the neighbors dog with nuts and shining mirrors in others houses, even though it was Amir that agged him on. (Hosseini 4) Hassan was willing to be Amir's kite runner. This was not an easy task and included tons of running and skill. He put in the leg work so that Amir could take the honor and glory. In the end he even gives himself completely to the gang of boys to keep Amirs honor. Hassan also took them blame for stealing the watch and money, even though he had not done it. He loved Amir so much that he was willing to sacrifice himself and his reputation to let Amir do what he felt he needed to do. Hassan was always a tried and true friend and never stopped showing his love and dedication to Amir. This can be seen through his actions, and his later letters to Amir letting him know that he will “...always find an old faithful friend waiting for [him]” (Hosseini