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What Does The Kite Symbolize

Guilt and redemption in khaled hosseini's "the kite runner", a redemption journey in "the kite runner", rahim khan's influence on amir in "the kite runner", let us write you an essay from scratch.

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Theme of Betrayal in "The Kite Runner" by Khaled Hosseini

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Cruelty and Abuse of Power in "The Kite Runner"

A look at the culture in afghanistan in "the kite runner", the theme of maturity in "the kite runner" by khaled hosseini, the use of khaled hosseini’s book as a reference point, the real friend as shown in "the kite runner" by khaled hosseini, foreshadowing in "the kite runner" by khaled hosseini, guilt and perseverance as the motivation in "the kite runner", the kite runner, the kite runner and "hamlet": internal and external conflict, a study of the theme of redemption in "the kite runner", hassan’s symbolism as a sacrificial lamb in "the kite runner", a sophisticated approach to death in "the kite runner", analysis of the character of assef in "the kite runner", the issue of courage in "the kite runner" by khaled hosseini, the issue of concordance in "the kite runner" and "the communist manifesto", the impacts of bullying on people in "the kite runner", the issues of bravery or cowardice in "the kite runner" and "a thousand splendid suns", a look at literacy as indicated in "the kite runner", coping with the past in "the kite runner", "slaughterhouse five" and "the things they carried", the concepts of fate and free will in "the kite runner" and oedipus.

May 29, 2003, Khaled Hosseini

Novel; Bildungsroman, Drama, Historical Fiction, Coming-of-age Drama

Assef, Rahim Khan, Sanaubar, Soraya, General Taheri, Sohrab, Amir, Hassan, Khala, Baba, Farid, Farzana, Ali

The story has been based on Khaled Hosseini life in Afghanistan before he left for the United States.

Father-son relationship, courage, friendship, childhood, change of regimes, guilt and redemption

The Kite Runner is a challenging book to read since it speaks of guilt and redemption, true friendship, and the changes that a person is going through decades later. Most importantly, it is the run of events that run from the fall of Afghanistan's monarch to the refugees era, and the Taliban regime. The red line is the friendship and the way how human relationships change. It has a complex setting through the decades when the main protagonist Amir, a young boy, is telling about his life, his relationship with Hassan and the events that he could not prevent.

The Kite Runner is a story of Amir and his father who are living in Kabul, Afghanistan. They belong to a major ethnic group called Pashtuns. Amir's best friend is called Hassan who lives with his father, yet they belong to a minor ethnic group called Hazaras. Even though the boys belong to different groups, they are the best friends. As the events unfold, Amir is unable to rescue Hassan from a tragedy that takes place due to lack of courage, which is his guilt years later. As Amir grows up, he moves to the United States where he learns that his friend's (Hassan) son is in the orphanage. Saving the boy with his wife, Amir finds redemption.

According to the author, the book became so popular because it "connects with them in a personal way, no matter what their own upbringing and background" are. The book became the best seller at The New York Times for more than two years. It is believed that the September 11 tragedy has contributed to the novel's admiration in the United States since it has allowed people to see the Afghan culture. The story has also been inspired by the news story about Taliban's banning the kite flying in the country, which has inspired Khail Hosseini for the title and some parts of the story. The short version of the book has been rejected by some publishing houses. The Kite Runner is the first English publication written by the Afghan author. The author did not return to his home country Afghanistan until the time when the book was published. Hosseini believes that his novel is a love story because love is the main protagonist.

“For you, a thousand times over” “It may be unfair, but what happens in a few days, sometimes even a single day, can change the course of a whole lifetime...” “There is only one sin. and that is theft... when you tell a lie, you steal someone's right to the truth.” “When you kill a man, you steal a life. You steal his wife's right to a husband, rob his children of a father. When you tell a lie, you steal someone's right to the truth. When you cheat, you steal the right to fairness.” “I opened my mouth, almost said something. Almost. The rest of my life might have turned out differently if I had. But I didn’t.”

This book became an important example of friendship and living with the guilt that took place as the lack of courage and being brave. As the multi-generational story, it deals with many sides of culture, family life, human relationship, discovering different cultures, and staying true to who you are. The author shows the way Amir grows and how he finally finds his self-identity that he has been seeking so long.

The book, according to the author, is about seeking love and finding it in everything, about friendship, about looking back, and finding redemption and one’s self-identity. While this novel is quite challenging and might even bring up tears while reading, it serves the role of a powerful story about being sincere and earning trust. One can write an essay about it by focusing on cultural, social, or even political aspects as the book runs from the 1970s to 2002.

1. Aubry, T. (2009). Afghanistan meets the amazon: reading the kite runner in America. PMLA, 124(1), 25-43. (https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/pmla/article/abs/afghanistan-meets-the-amazon-reading-the-kite-runner-in-america/2D11194B0891CCB91EABAEB5E6BD865D) 2. Jefferess, D. (2009). To be good (again): The Kite Runner as allegory of global ethics. Journal of Postcolonial Writing, 45(4), 389-400. (https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/17449850903273572) 3. O'Brien, S. (2018). Translating Trauma in Khaled Hosseini's The Kite Runner. Transnational Literature, 10(2), 1-A5. (https://www.proquest.com/openview/5202ba584abd167130cae69acbe52985/1?pq-origsite=gscholar&cbl=1596384) 4. Jocius, R. (2013). Exploring adolescents’ multimodal responses to The Kite Runner: Understanding how students use digital media for academic purposes. Journal of Media Literacy Education, 5(1), 4. (https://digitalcommons.uri.edu/jmle/vol5/iss1/4/) 5. Kai-fu, C. (2019). A Study of Amir's Psychological Change in" The Kite Runner". English Language Teaching, 12(5), 190-193. (https://eric.ed.gov/?id=EJ1214311) 6. Du, J. (2017). A journey of self-actualization of Amir in The Kite Runner. English Language and Literature Studies, 7(3), 90-93. (https://pdfs.semanticscholar.org/9c07/8bb1388903fab1fe437f604fb6c0a15299a6.pdf) 7. Ghafoor, S., & Farooq, U. (2020). Can subaltern be heard: an analysis of the kite runner and the thousand splendid suns by Khalid Hosseini: can subaltern be heard. International Review of Literary Studies, 2(1), 29-38. (http://irlsjournal.com/ojs/index.php/irls/article/view/10) 8. Hunt, S. (2009). Can the West Read? Western Readers, Orientalist Stereotypes, and the Sensational Response to The Kite Runner. (https://core.ac.uk/download/pdf/129489717.pdf) 9. Adhikary, R. P. (2021). Crisis of Cultural Identity in Khaled Hosseini‘s The Kite Runner. Scholar Journal of Arts, Humanities and Social Science, 5, 179-187. (https://saspublishers.com/media/articles/SJAHSS_95_179-187.pdf)

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The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini Essay

Introduction, the kite runner: summary of the novel, the main characters and themes of the narrative, personal opinion about the composition.

The Kite Runner is a novel written by an Afghan-American author Khaled Hosseini. When Hosseini was a child, his family moved from Afghanistan to France, and then to the USA. This experience is partially reflected in the narrative of the author. Hosseini has written three novels, and The Kite Runner “has sold millions of copies worldwide and been classified as one of a classic” (Khadawardi 2017, 88). In this essay, the summary of the story, information on the main characters and themes, as well as a personal opinion about the composition will be presented.

The story revolves around the life of a young boy from Kabul, Amir. He lives with his father, Baba, a wealthy man who never has time to spend with his son. Amir feels jealous when he notices Baba’s cordial treatment of his friend, Hasan, the son of their servant. To deserve his father’s love, Amir decides to take part in the kite competition with Hassan. Even though the two boys could keep their kite in the sky for a long time and won the first part of the competition, the event ended tragically. Hassan runs away, trying to find a place where the kite fell. After waiting for him for a long time, Amir decides to follow his friend and becomes a witness to the rape of Hassan by his enemy Assef. Amir is scared to interfere and help his friend and decides to go away and pretend he did not see anything. Feeling guilty for what he did, Amir stops talking to Hassan and does not want to be his friend anymore. He blames him for being a thief, and Hassan and his father leave their home.

Soon, the Soviet Union troops intervene in Afghanistan. To save their lives, Amir and his father immigrate to the USA. Many years later, after his parent’s death, Amir receives a letter from a family friend. From this letter, he learns that Hassan was his brother and that he knew about Amir’s betrayal but still loved him until the end of his life. Unfortunately, Hassan died with his wife during demonstrations in their country, but their little son, Sohrab, managed to survive. He was sent to an orphanage, and the author of the letter asks Amir to save the child and take him to the USA. Amir decides to go to Afghanistan and finds his nephew there. Even though it turns out to be difficult for Amir to adopt him, he promises Sohrab never to send him to an orphanage again. One day, when Sohrab notices that Amir is about to break his promise, he tries to commit suicide. Even though the boy survives, he starts to keep to himself being silent most of the time. One day, Amir buys a kite for Sohrab, and, for the first time, he sees a smile on his face. Thus, it is not entirely clear if the story has a happy ending or not. Even the protagonist of the story mentions that he does not know for sure if the story of Hassan and his nephew, Sohrab, ends happily (Hosseini 2013). However, the author gives readers the hope that the characters of the story will eventually find peace and harmony.

The protagonist of the story is Amir, a young boy who was born in a wealthy Afghan family. It is not possible to tell if the personage of Amir is positive or negative. On the one hand, his sneaky nature allows him to betray his best friend. On the other hand, he is capable of feeling guilty and admitting his mistakes. Trying to make amends, Amir uses “a chance to put to rest his tortured past” ( Summary and Analysis of The Kite Runner 2016, 8). He puts much effort into taking Sohrab to the USA and giving him a better life.

Baba, the father of Amir and Hassan, also feels guilty for his affair with a servant’s wife. He considers it the worst sin he ever committed, and, in his desire to redeem himself, helps other people until the last days of his life. In contrast to his son Amir, Baba is a very independent and decisive person. However, it turned out that he was not brave enough to tell Amir and Hassan that they were brothers.

It is evident that Hassan and Amir have many differences. Even being unaware of the fact that Amir was his brother, he loved him and considered his best friend. He forgave Amir for his betrayals and was always ready to spend time with him. Amir, on the contrary, “never displayed his feelings toward Hassan” (Hosseini and Zohdi 2016, 37). It remains unclear if it is caused by the lack of Amir’s love for Hassan or by peculiarities of his personality. Being a very kind person, Hassan also forgave his mother, who left him when he was a child and sheltered her at his house during the war in the 1970s.

The main themes of the book are forgiveness and friendship. The author shows that for friendship, it does not matter if people have or do not have much in common. Hassan and Amir are two boys from two different worlds. Amir belongs to the aristocratic part of the society, while Hassan is from a low-income family of servants. Baba is a handsome man, and Hassan’s father is miserable and limp. Hassan has an ugly harelip, while the deformity of Amir is not noticeable from the outside. Despite all these differences, the two boys become soul mates and real friends. Unfortunately, Amir’s weakness and villainy trigger the end of their friendship. However, nothing can make Hassan stop communicating with his friend, even Amir’s betrayal. Being aware of every harmful deed done by Amir, Hassan is still looking up to Amir, ready to forgive him for everything. Thus, the author shows that forgiveness is the main element of people’s lives that helps individuals to build happiness.

The Kite Runner is one of the rare novels that invite readers to feel all the mental experience of the protagonist. This novel evokes a strong emotional response of readers and teaches them to be braver in some situations to avoid regrets in the future. It also shows that sometimes people neglect those who are sincere with them, and when they realize that they made a mistake, it is sometimes too late. This book shows the weaknesses and vices of human nature and makes readers think about their behavior.

It can be concluded that the novel The Kite Runner contains many significant ideas about people’s relationships. It teaches how important it is to forgive betrayals, love despite all, and bring goodness to this world. It also makes readers think about protagonists’ emotions and feelings and involves them in the process of reflections on their life. The author created an engaging narrative that should be read by both youth and adults because it raises questions that are always topical for all generations.

Hosseini, Akram, and Esmaeil Zohdi. 2016. “ The Kite Runner and the Problem of Racism and Ethnicity.” International Letters of Social and Humanistic Sciences, vol. 74, 33-40.

Hosseini, Khaled. 2013. The Kite Runner. 10th ed. London: Bloomsbury Publishing PLC.

Khadawardi, Hesham. 2017. “Superego Guilt, Redemption and Atonement in Khaled Hosseini’s the Kite Runner .” International Journal of Humanities, Social Sciences, and Education 4 (2): 88-99.

Summary and Analysis of the Kite Runner: Based on the Book by Khaled Hosseini. 2016. New York: Worth Books.

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IvyPanda. (2019, December 3). The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini. https://ivypanda.com/essays/the-kite-runner-by-khaled-hosseini/

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IvyPanda . 2019. "The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini." December 3, 2019. https://ivypanda.com/essays/the-kite-runner-by-khaled-hosseini/.

1. IvyPanda . "The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini." December 3, 2019. https://ivypanda.com/essays/the-kite-runner-by-khaled-hosseini/.

Bibliography

IvyPanda . "The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini." December 3, 2019. https://ivypanda.com/essays/the-kite-runner-by-khaled-hosseini/.

The Kite Runner

Introduction of the kite runner.

The Kite Runner is based on the childhood memories of Khaled Hosseini of his homeland, Afghanistan. It was published in 2003 by Riverhead Books, and immediately created ripples on the US shelves. The unusual appearance of the story seems to present the Afghan background, culture, and ethnic tensions in the city of Kabul and the country on a wider scale. Though it also encompasses the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan, Afghan cultural erosion, and Pakistan’s support of the refugees . The story revolves around the character of Amir and his friend Hassan in the same backdrop.

Summary of The Kite Runner

The storyline starts with Amir recalling 26-year old Afghanistan and picturing himself as a boy, living at a luxurious home with  Baba,  his father. Two servants, the father and the son, Ali, and Hassan from the Hazara community of northern Afghanistan are serving both of them. Even though Hassan was a servant boy, Baba would always let Hassan sit on his lap leaving no room for affection for Amir. Amir always wanted to win Baba’s validation since he was always condemned by him for being feminine because he was more interested in writing. Then he recalls, Rahim Khan, a friend of his Baba, who often visits them who Amir considered as a father figure as he felt more appreciated by him. Meanwhile, Assef the kid from the neighborhood who was half Pashtun himself who has a German mother always picked on Hassan because of his Hazara community.

The story, then, moves to the kiteflying tournament in which the boys participate using different tactics on the kite strings to cut off the kites of the opponents. The boys running after the cut-off kites are the kite runners. When Amir cuts off a kite, Hassan runs to catch it but finds himself trapped in a blind alley when Assef sodomizes him, and Amir pretends as nothing has happened as he feared his father’s anger for showing the act of cowardice. Later, he tries to get Hassan and Ali expelled by Baba by orchestrating the money stealing issue as he puts some money under the pillow of Hassan as he couldn’t live with the guilt. This incident makes them move away from each other.

It happens in 1981, then, when Baba and Amir are leaving Kabul after the USSR invasion. They reach Pakistan from where they leave for Fremont where Baba starts working and educating Amir who attends a college. With the passage of time, they meet other such immigrants among which General Taheri is important whose daughter Soraya also visits them. Both of them start meeting but their elders tell them that they would decide the issue of their marriage which is settled amicably. Although they start wedding preparations, Baba’s health suddenly deteriorates due to terminal cancer. Shortly, after the wedding, Baba dies. Amir and Soraya, then, face another misfortune of not able to bear children.

Time passes by quickly. It happens that Rahim Khan, after getting sick, calls Amir to visit him when he is in Pakistan. He tells him about the situation in Kabul. The departure of the Soviets and arrival of the Taliban has further played havoc with the city and life in general, he tells him adding when they left Kabul, he coaxes Hassan to come with his wife, Farzana live in Baba and Amir’s house and be a caretaker but the Taliban shot him and his wife dead in front of the whole street when he tried to stop them from confiscating the house. They left a baby Sohrab behind. Now Rahim wants Amir to bring Sohrab to Pakistan and who will be taken care of by a couple. He also reveals that Hassan was his half-brother, as he was Baba’s son from a Hazara lady, though Baba handed him over to Ali to bring him up, living close to him, to keep the issue under the carpet. Amir soon leaves for Afghanistan but finds nothing as he runs from pillar to post to find Sohrab after watching a gruesome scene of stoning a woman to death. The next day, he meets an official who takes him to meet Sohrab who appears feminine after having suffered several sexual attacks. Suddenly Amir senses that the official is Assef who starts beating Amir, while Sohrab shoots him with his slingshot in his eye. Meanwhile, they flee from the scene and reach Pakistan where he finds out that after all there was no one to take care of Sohrab.

Finally, Sohrab becomes their adopted son as Soraya and Amir take him in their fold. However, before taking him to the United States, they would have had to prepare papers for him. . When Amir tells Sohrab he’s going to put him briefly in an orphanage, Sohrab tries to commit suicide. When they take him to California after finally becoming successful in getting a visa for him, they visit a park where Sohrab who is his old mate Hassan’s son is now his son. flies a kite and starts a kite-cutting contest where he runs the kite for him saying, ‘For you, thousand times over.

Major Themes in The Kite Runner

• Homeland: Love for one’s homeland is the major theme of the novel as Amir shows that though they live in luxury in Fermont in California, he longs to return to his land, Kabul, where he spent his childhood despite living and enjoying the freedom and open-minded society for having a choice. However, pangs of nostalgia force him to respond to the calls of Rahim from Pakistan and return to get Sohrab back to the United States. Amir later adopts him as a son. He does it wholeheartedly to compensate for the cruelty he demonstrated toward Hassan during his childhood – his own flesh and blood. Both Soraya, his wife, and he become quite happy and satisfied after making Sohrab a part of their family and teach him to fly a kite in California. At that moment, he finds that he feels at home after visiting his homeland.
• Betrayal: The Kite Runner shows the thematic strand of betrayal through the characters of Baba, Amir, and Hassan. Baba betrays his wife from the Hazra community, and then leaves his son Hassan with Ali to fend off themselves. Amir betrays Hassan by leaving him in the cul de sac to fend off himself, though, Hassan has always stood by him through thick and thin. Unfortunately, Hassan dies leaving his son Sohrab to take care of himself. Although it is not a betrayal in that sense, yet Sohrab is left alone in the world.
• Guilt and Redemption: The theme of guilt and its redemption occurs through the character of Baba who has a wife and a child in the city, living with him yet he does not dare own them publicly. However, later, he tries to redeem it by demonstrating his love for Hassan, yet that, too, does not prove fruitful, or of any use to him. It rather causes jealousy to Amir which he later redeems by taking Hassan’s son, Sohrab, out of Kabul to California.
• Familial Relationships: The novel allows the readers to discover twisted familial relations through Baba, Hassan, Amir, and Sohrab. Baba has two sons, but he could only claim Amir and not Hassan who is from the mother , having considered lowly ethnic background. Therefore, Hassan becomes an outcast in the Kabul society despiting the son of an aristocrat, while Amir leaves for California with Baba. Later, when Amir and Soraya do not have their own children, Amir comes to take Sohrab back after the latter loses his father in the war-torn Kabul. These familial relations and their interaction become another theme of the novel.
• Memory and Nostalgia: When Amir remembers Kabul while living in California, America , Baba narrates to him about Kabul and Afghan stories. Baba recollects those memories that keep haunting the old man and his son in the United States. The nostalgia forces Amir later to seek immediate flight to Pakistan, meet Rahim in Peshawar and pick up Sohrab in a daredevil feat. Even the taking of Sohrab to California is an action of effort to forget the nostalgia of leaving Kabul.
• Kite Flying: The game of kite flying shows human effort, growth, aspirations, and love for each other. When Amir loves flying kites, Hassan stands by him in the flying contest and runs after kites for him. However, when it comes to Amir, he abandons Hassan with fear and hurry. Later, he redeems by rescuing Sohrab, Hassan’s son, when he takes him to California adopting him as his son.
• Politics: The novel shows global politics at work due to its references to Communism, jihad , departure of Baba, and Amir to the United States and the free society of California. It tries to portray the United States as a paradise that extends refuge to people like Baba and Amir, from the war-torn Afghanistan, where even generals are roaming around. It also shows the ethnic fissures between the Pashtun, Hazara, and sectarian issues of Shia and Sunni that have led to the devastation of Afghanistan.
• Racial Discrimination: Racial and ethnic discriminations continue to destroy the social fabric of Kabul and Afghanistan. Although Baba is quite liberal and possesses good fortune, he cannot dare to own Hassan as his son from a Hazara lady due to the reprisals from the Pashtuns. He can only extend his love. However, Amir does not fear taking Sohrab who is from Hazara ethnicity and brings him to live in the United States.
• Marginalization of Femininity: The novel shows the marginality of the ethnicity and minority through the character of Hassan and Sanaubar. Hassan represents the ethnicity of Hazara and its significance in the Afghan social structure, while Sanaubar’s role and her story show the marginality of femininity.

 Major Characters in The Kite Runner

• Amir: The main character and protagonist of The Kite Runner , Amir is Baba’s representative of the elite structure of Kabul having all the luxuries and privileges. Despite this, he feels detached from the existing realities and does not show bravery which Baba desires him to show when it comes to human contests. For example, he does not extend protection to Hassan or protects Hassan when others violate his honor, while Baba does not express pleasure over this betrayal. His attempt of insulting Hassan, though, emerges from his jealousy of Baba’s love for Hassan. Later, Amir repents and realizes his flaw, when he comes to meet Rahim in Peshawar to redeem himself from this guilt. Hence, he redeems himself when he takes Sohrab with him to California and plays kite flying with him in a park.
• Hassan: Despite being subservient to Amir, Hassan’s character does not seem subdued by the circumstances. Belonging to a marginal ethnicity rather makes him a favorite character in the novel as he grows up under the shadow of Amir yet makes him seek Hassan’s support where he does not think himself fit to fight others. Even the end of the novel makes him repent over his prejudicial attitude toward Hassan, who is not present, yet his son Sohrab wins love from Amir as his adopted son.
• Baba: Baba is a highly esoteric character in those several aspects of his personality emerge on the scene after his death. Amir comes to learn that Hassan was his son too, and he cannot reconcile with this idea. He wonders why he had never expressed the truth or treated him on equal footing with Amir as a son. However, he senses that his love for Hassan must have a cause behind it that he sees himself. Amir later learns that the old aristocrat from Kabul, perhaps, failed to adapt himself to the urban setup of Kabul where prejudice and malice still existed at that time. However, Baba might have seen that California would dispel these negative emotions from Amir and it proves right when Amir comes back to take Hassan’s son.
• Rahim Khan: Rahim Khan’s character is also an important one. He asks Amir to visit Peshawar as he has some important news for him. He utilizes his old business terms with Baba and when Amir comes to meet him, he tells him the whole story behind Hassan and Baba’s relation and tries to make him understand the significance of Sohrab and his safety.
• Sohrab: Hassan’s son Sohrab becomes significant in the novel in that Amir considers him his own son instead of just the son of his stepbrother, Hassan. Therefore, he does not leave any stone unturned to save him from the clutches of Assef when he visits Afghanistan for this very purpose at the request of Rahim Khan. Later, he provides Soraya and Amir a chance to win happiness.
• Assef: Despite belonging to double ethnicities, Assef becomes a bully as well as a villain of The Kite Runner. His brass knuckles and his bullying makes him the bad character who demonstrates his anti-Hazara sentiments whenever an opportunity arises. He sexually molests Hassan, however, proves dear to him when it comes to Sohrab who is timely saved by Amir. In fact, he shows the unpleasant and dangerous side of life among the good characters of Amir, Soraya, and others.
• Soraya: The significance of Soraya lies in that despite being a daughter of an ex-general, she happily marries Amir and agrees to adopt Sohrab when she knows that she can never bear a child. This kind act of the lady wins the heart of the readers by the end.
• Ali: Despite being a secondary character, Ali has two drawbacks that force Baba to show his humane character. Not only is he limped, but also is a Hazara, and to top all this, he is a Shia. Almost all of these drawbacks make him a target during the melee following the chaos after the USSR invasion. However, he wins the love of Baba which reveals its cause later when Amir comes to take Sohrab to California.
• Sanaubar and Farid: Sanaubar, though, appears for a brief period, is significant. She is Hassan’s mother and belongs to the Hazara community after marrying secretly to Baba, while the significance of Farid lies in his assistance extended to Amir when he comes to take Sohrab.

Writing Style of The Kite Runner

Khaled Hosseini adopted the personal and direct style in his novel, The Kite Runner. The main character, Amir, brings recollections out of his sunken memory presented as long flashbacks , bordering hyperbolic use of personal memories. As Khaled is an ESL speaker , his diction is mostly formal, though, occasionally he has resorted to shaping English to demonstrate the true Afghani cultural nuances in the globalized American value structure. However, the self-translation of one cultural construct might have hampered his abilities. Therefore, the novel mostly seems written in formal language though somewhat broken and choppy dialogs of Assef and other characters living in the vicinity of Kabul shows Khaled Hosseini’s real intention in writing personal memories in the global language. Therefore, this style of writing in formal English suits his requirements.

Analysis of Literary Devices in The Kite Runner  

• Action: The main action of the novel comprises Amir’s migration to California with Baba and then return to Kabul through Peshawar to take Sohrab, Hassan’s son with him. The rising action occurs when Amir sees that Hassan becoming the victim of bullying, yet he does not come to help him. The falling action occurs when Baba and Amir leave Kabul for the United States.
• Anaphora : The Kite Runner shows the use of anaphora . For example, i. I looked up at those twin kites. I thought about Hassan. Thought about Baba. Ali. Kabul. I thought of the life I had lived until the winter of 1975 came along and changed everything. (One) The sentence shows the repetitious use of “I thought.”
• Antagonist : The Kite Runner shows the character of Assef, Russian soldiers, and the Kabul elite as the main antagonists on account of their bad behavior toward Baba, Hassan, and the ethnic Hazra community.
• Allusion : There are a good number of examples of allusions in the novel. i. After I hung up, I went for a walk along Spreckels Lake on the northern edge of Golden Gate Park. (One) ii. … can still see Hassan up on that tree, sunlight flickering through the leaves on his almost perfectly round face, a face like a Chinese doll chiseled from hardwood: his flat, broad nose and slanting, narrow eyes like bamboo leaves, eyes that looked, depending on the light, gold, green, even sapphire. (Two) iii. Gold-stitched tapestries, which Baba had bought in Calcutta, lined the walls; a crystal chandelier hung from the vaulted ceiling. (Two) iv. I remember the day before the orphanage opened, Baba took me to Ghargha Lake, a few miles north of Kabul. (Three) v. He told us one day that Islam considered drinking a terrible sin; those who drank would answer for their sin on the day of Qiyamat, Judgment Day. (Three) vi. We saw Rio Bravo three times, but we saw our favorite Western, The  Magnificent Seven, thirteen times. With each viewing, we cried at the end when the Mexican kids buried Charles Bronson—who, as it turned out, wasn’t Iranian either. (Three) The first two allusions are related to geographical points, while the third and fourth are related to Indian and Afghan landmarks and the last one is related to the theological concept of Islam. However, the last one shows cross -cultural allusions; American, Mexican, and Iranians.
• Conflict : The are two types of conflicts in the novel . The first one is the external conflict that is going on between the local Afghan elite society and the foreign conspirators. Another conflict is in the mind of Amir about his position as a boy, his gentlemanly learning, and his behavior toward Hassan, his half-brother.
• Characters: The Kite Runner presents both static as well as dynamic characters. The young man, Amir, is a dynamic character as he faces a huge transformation during his growth and migration from Afghanistan to the United States. However, the rest of the characters do not see any change in their behavior, as they are static characters like Sanauber, Ali, Rahim Khan, Baba, and even Hassan.
• Climax : The climax takes place when Amir returns to Kabul to take Sohrab, son of Hassan, his half-brother, to the United States.
• Foreshadowing : The novel shows the following examples of foreshadowing . i. I became what I am today at the age of twelve, on a frigid overcast day in the winter of 1975. (One) ii. When we were children, Hassan and I used to climb the poplar trees in the driveway of my father’s house and annoy our neighbors by reflecting sunlight into their homes with a shard of mirror. (Two) iii. It was Rahim Khan who first referred to him as what eventually became Baba’s famous nickname, Toophan agha, or “Mr. Hurricane.”. (Three) These quotes from The Kite Runner foreshadow the coming events.
• Hyperbole : Hyperbole or exaggeration occurs in the novel at various places. For example, i. At parties, when all six- foot -five of him thundered into the room, attention shifted to him like sunflowers turning to the sun. (Three) ii. The generation of Afghan children whose ears would know nothing but the sounds of bombs and gunfire was not yet born. (Five) These sentences are hyperboles. The first one shows how Baba’s figure has been exaggerated by comparing him with the sun, while the second shows exaggeration about the Afghan nation.
• Imagery : Imagery is used to make readers perceive things involving their five senses. For example, i. Sitting cross-legged, sunlight and shadows of pomegranate leaves dancing on his face, Hassan absently plucked blades of grass from the ground as I read him stories he couldn’t read for himself. (Three). ii. Something roared like thunder. The earth shook a little and we heard the rat-a-tat-tat of gunfire. “Father!” Hassan cried. We sprung to our feet and raced out of the living room. We found Ali hobbling frantically across the foyer. (Four) iii. The streets glistened with fresh snow and the sky was a blameless blue. Snow blanketed every rooftop and weighed on the branches of the stunted mulberry trees that lined our street. Overnight, snow had nudged its way into every crack and gutter.(Seven) The imagery shows the use of images of sound, color, and nature.
• Metaphor : The Kite Runner shows good use of various metaphors such as, i. My father was a force of nature, a towering Pashtun specimen with a thick beard, a wayward crop of curly brown hair as unruly as the man himself. (Three) ii. Just before sunrise, Baba’s car peeled into the driveway. (Five) iii. Outside the walls of that house, there was a war raging. (Sixteen) The first example shows the father compared to a model, the second sun to a knife, and the third war to a furious person or bull.
• Mood : The novel shows various moods in the beginning; nostalgic, neutral, and indifferent, but it turns out tragic and at times darkly humorous when the tragic tale of Farzana, Hassan, and Sanauber are told, and when Rahim calls Amir to save Sohrab from abuse.
• Motif : Most important motifs of the novel are pomegranate, kite, kite contestants, migration, and seasons.
• Narrator : The novel is narrated from the first-person point of view , Amir.
• Protagonist : Amir is the protagonist of the novel. The novel starts with his entry, reminiscing about Kabul and his life in that city and ends with his memories of the same thing after looking at Sohrab flying his kite.
• Parallelism : The novel shows parallelism in the following examples, In the end, I was a Pashtun and he was a Hazara, I was Sunni and he was Shi’a, and nothing was ever going to change that. Nothing. (Four).
• Rhetorical Questions : The novel shows good use of rhetorical questions at several places such as, i. She had a large purple bruise on her leg for days but what could I do except stand and watch my wife get beaten? If I fought, that dog would have surely put a bullet in me, and gladly! Then what would happen to my Sohrab? (Seventeen) ii. How could I have been so blind? The signs had been there for me to see all along; they came flying back at me now:  (Eighteen) iii. In his rearview mirror, I saw something flash in his eyes. “You want to know?” he sneered. “Let me imagine, Agha sahib. You probably lived in a big two- or three-story house with a nice backyard that your gardener filled with flowers and fruit trees.  (Nineteen) This example shows the use of rhetorical questions posed but different characters not to elicit answers but to stress upon the underlined idea.
• Setting : The setting of the novel spread over three countries; Afghanistan, Pakistan, and the United States.
• Simile : The novel shows good use of various similes. For example, i. So I read him unchallenging things, like the misadventures of the bumbling Mullah Nasruddin and his donkey. (Four) ii. Something roared like thunder. (Five) iii. Flanked by his obeying friends, he walked the neighborhood like a Khan strolling through his land with his eager-to-please entourage. (Six). These are similes as the use of the word “like” shows the comparison between different things.

Related posts:

• The Kite Runner Themes
• The Kite Runner Characters
• The Kite Runner Quotes
• As High As a Kite
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• Khaled Hosseini

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The kite runner – student example essay.

Here is a student example of an essay at Higher level. You will have to excuse the spelling and punctuation errors, there hasn’t been time yet to correct them!

Choose a novel in which has one of the following as its theme; sacrifice, unrequired love; isolation. Discuss the techniques by which the novelist establishes one of these themes and go on to show how, in the end, he or she achieves a satisfactory resolution.

The Kiterunner by Hosseini Khald is a novel in which has a theme of sacrifice; Hassan sacralises himself for Amir. This essay will discuss techniques by which the novelist establishes the theme of sacrifice and will go on to show how in the end Amir achieves a satisfactory resolution by rescuing Hassan’s son from an orphanage in Kabul. A scene within the book shows the theme of sacrifice is just after the win of the Kite Tournament for Hassan and Amir, Hassan goes to find the kite which was run off and Amir goes off to find him once he has been away for a long time. Amir finds him cornered by Assef whom is demanding the kite however, Hassan refuses. “It’s only going to cost you that blue kite” Assef states, however, Hassan still refuses to give up the kite. Amir stays hidden as he is scared to interfere. This results in the rape of Hassan by Assef due to Hassan refusing to give up the kite, showing his love for Amir as Amir values the kite due to the winning of the Kite Tournament with it. This scene shows a theme of sacrifice as Hassan has sacrificed himself for the Kite to keep Amir happy. After the rape, Amir frames Hassan for the stealing of his birthday money and his brand new watch that Baba bought for Amir. The reason Amir does this is because he can barely stand to be around Hassan due to his guilt overcoming him for not stepping in and interfering with the rape. “Baba ‘did you steal that money? Did you steal Amir’s watch Hassan?” and “Hassan’s reply was a single word, delivered with a thin raspy voice ‘Yes’. Amir was token back with Hassan’s reply as Amir knew he was the one who planted the watch in Hassan’s possession. Amir realized that this was Hassan’s last sacrifice for him, as if Hassan had said no, Baba would have believed him and put the blame on Hassan. This shows that Hassan has sacrificed himself for Amir again and Amir has only thrown it back in face. When Amir goes to Afghanistan to save Sorhab from the orphanage, Amir find’s out that Assef is actually the one who is keeping Sorhab hostage. When Amir attempts to take Sorhab away from Assef, it results in a fight between them both. Here an incidence of sacrifice is shown as Assef has Amir on the ground beating into him, when Sorhab sacrifices himself by aiming Hassan’s sling shot at Assef’s face causing Assef to stop beating Amir, giving a flashback of when Assef and his bullies confronted Amir and Hassan as children. “The slingshot made a twiiiiiit sound when Sorhab realised the cup, then Assef was screaming”. This shows us that Sorhab has put his life in danger by piping up when Assef was beating Amir to save Amir’s life by using the sling shot. This conveys the theme of sacrifice as Sorhab has sacrificed himself to save Amir from Assef. The next incidence is when Amir is confronted by Assef at the Taliban headquarters, at this point we see Amir redeem himself by finally standing up to Assef and putting him in his place by taking Sorhab home, in a way this is Amir finally standing up for Hassan as he is now saving his son for when Amir refused to save Hassan during the rape. Amir sacrafises himself by putting himself in a position where he could get killed to save Sorhab. However, this quote states that he has finally redeemed himself “My body was broken – just how badly I wouldn’t find out until later – but I felt healed. Healed at last. I laughed”, this shows us that after Assef beat Amir, he has sacrificed himself and by doing so he saved Sorhab and finally stood up for Hassan. In conclusion Hassan sacrificed himself for Amir many times; he refused to give up the kite to Assef as he knew Amir would have been devastated which in turn lead to the rape of Hassan, which is sacrificing himself for Amir. Hassan sacrifices himself again when Amir frames him for stealing his new watch, in which Hassan agrees to have stolen. Amir also sacrificed himself to save Sorhab from the Taliban and to take him back to America. This shows that throughout this tale, Amir and Hassan have both sacrificed themselves at one point to benefit each other in return.

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The Kite Runner - Free Essay Samples And Topic Ideas

The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini delves into the intricate web of personal and societal relationships amidst the turbulent historical and political backdrop of Afghanistan. Essays could explore the complex themes of guilt, redemption, and the search for identity as experienced by the protagonist Amir. The discussions could also delve into the nuanced portrayal of father-son relationships, friendship, and the divisive social hierarchy depicted in the narrative. Furthermore, essays might examine the impact of historical and political turmoil on individual lives and societal structures as portrayed in the novel. The discussion could extend to the exploration of the narrative techniques employed by Hosseini, the cultural insights offered through the narrative, and the broader implications concerning ethnic tensions, diaspora, and the human capacity for both betrayal and redemption. The discourse might also touch upon the novel’s impact on the contemporary literary landscape and its contribution to creating a dialogue on Afghanistan’s history and culture. A substantial compilation of free essay instances related to The Kite Runner you can find at PapersOwl Website. You can use our samples for inspiration to write your own essay, research paper, or just to explore a new topic for yourself.

The Kite Runner Final

In the Kite Runner, the major underlying theme is the relationships between characters. These relationships grow and change through the events and conflicts in the story. The theme of sin and forgiveness is prevalent in the novel Throughout the first part of the novel, the character Ali is introduced along with his personality and his character. Two of his most predominant traits displayed in the text are the affection he shows towards others and his ability to accept and forget […]

Theme of Redemption in the Kite Runner

It is only normal for humans to make mistakes, but it is how the mistakes are resolved that will dictate ones’ fate. In The Kite Runner, written by Khaled Hosseini, he describes the life of a young boy named Amir whose mistake haunts him for years, and his journey to find a way to relieve the guilt he had to live with. The author demonstrates how guilt can physically and psychologically push a person to search for ways to redeem […]

Amir in the Kite Runner

The Kite Runner takes place in Afghanistan, which is a very religious country. Most people in Afghanistan practice Sunni Islam. Sunni is one of the two major denominations of Islam; Shi'a is the other one. In the novel The kite runner, there is a discrimination of religion's differences, because Hasan is an ethnic Hazara and practices Shi'a Islam, therefore the Afghan people mistreat him because of his race and religion. They consider that Hazaras as a slave in their community.For […]

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Guilt in the Kite Runner

By not facing the past, internal conflict becomes prevalent in life and can prevent one from moving forward. In The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini, Amir lives in Kabul, Afghanistan with his father, Hassan, and Ali during 1963-1981. Hassan and Amir grew up with each other and were each other's best friends, but when the bully Assef raped Hassan, both of their lives changed. In his novel, Hosseini explores the internal conflicts of jealousy and guilt, ultimately portraying how neglecting […]

The Symbolism of the Pomegranate Tree in “The Kite Runner”

In The Kite Runner, written by Khaled Hosseini, there are several symbols throughout the text such as kites, the hairelip, and the pomegranate tree. These symbols represent the central concern of guilt and redemption which make up much of the novel's plot. More specifically, the pomegranate tree is significant because it reveals the true nature of Hassan and Amir's relationship. The changing depiction of the tree represents the changing connection between them throughout the novel. Pomegranates are traditionally seen as […]

The Kite Runner Redemption

 The Kite Runner is filled with many compelling characters that have struggled much throughout story and transform into their better halves by redeeming themselves into a better person. Amir is the narrator and the protagonist that is driven by his guilt caused by his desire to win over his father’s affection. Throughout the book, Amir is searching for countless ways to to deal with his guilt by redeeming himself. In the book, The Kite Runner written by Khaled Hosseini, Amir […]

The Kite Runner about an Afghan Boy

The Kite Runner is a story about an Afghan boy, Amir, who goes from living in war-torn Afghanistan, to a successful writer living in America that faces many hardships throughout his life. The novel explores class consciousness, guilt, betrayal, and the complex nature of friendship. Characters in The Kite Runner, by Khaled Hosseini are primarily motivated by their loyalty and desire for approval which reflects on their morals and values, those who seek redemption in the book are also heavily […]

The Kite Runner Loyalty

When choices become critical, make no mistake, one wrong move and everything will come tumbling down. Hassan, the protagonists' servant in Khaled Hosseini’s The Kite Runner, is a Hazara boy living in Afghanistan as a servant to his best friend Amir when a traumatizing event causes him to change. Mazikeen, the main character's ally in the Hulu series Lucifer, is a demon who holds the form of a young woman and the best friend of Lucifer and works alongside him […]

The Kite Runner Summer Reading

All of the characters in The Kite Runner are compelling and significant. However, Hassan is the most interesting and he stands out from every other character because of this. The audience was intrigued with Hassan because of his friendly personality and constant cheerfulness. He was always watching out for other characters and putting those around him before himself. He overcame struggles that no other character had to face, due to his ethnic background and the troubles within his relationship with […]

The Kite Runner a Novel Full of Betrayals

The Kite Runner, author Khaled Hosseini is a novel full of betrayals and people seeking their redemptions. The novel is based off a major betrayal but is surrounded by other betrayals. The main character Amir betrayed his best friend Hassan and later in his life he tries to seek redemptions for past deeds. After twenty-six years, Amir returns to Afghanistan in order to redeem himself but falls short of acquiring full redemption. Amir cannot completely redeem himself due to watching […]

Theme of Betrayal in the Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini

Firstly I would like to start by explaining what the difference between pashtuns and hazaras are in the book The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini’s in afrighanistan there are two different races and ethnics groups. The first group are called pashtuns and they are known for being the sunni mislims, they are also known for being rich, strong, and having a higher class than any hazaras. On the other hand there are the hazaras who are looked down upon, they […]

The Kite Runner Movie and Book Comparison

In the Kite Runner, there were some main differences that stood out in the movie from the book. One difference is that in the book Hassan had a cleft lip and for his birthday Baba pays for Hassan to get a surgery as a birthday gift. “It’s an unusual present, I know,” Baba said. And probably not what you had in mind, but this present will last forever” (Hosseini, 46). In the movie Hassan doesn’t have this facial deformity, so […]

“The Kite Runner”: Soraya’s Struggle for Independence and Identity

The Kite Runner: Depiction of Women in Afghan Society The book, The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini is a story that follows the life of Amir. Living in Kabul, Afghanistan, during his childhood made him the person he is today. He lived in a nice house with his father, Baba, and their two servants, Ali and Hassan. Throughout this novel, women are depicted as objects and not humans. Due to long-held societal views, women who seek a profession are often […]

Deciphering ‘The Kite Runner’: SparkNotes’ Insightful Analysis

In the realm of literary wonders, few narratives enrapture the soul quite like Khaled Hosseini's "The Kite Runner." Nestled within the tumultuous embrace of Afghanistan's history, this tale stitches together threads of friendship, betrayal, redemption, and the enduring weight of guilt. As readers journey through its pages, they're beckoned into a realm where the human experience is laid bare, resonating with universal truths. Amidst this literary landscape, SparkNotes emerges as a beacon, illuminating the depths of this masterpiece with its […]

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How To Write an Essay About The Kite Runner

Understanding the kite runner.

Before starting an essay on Khaled Hosseini's 'The Kite Runner', it's important to have a comprehensive understanding of the novel. 'The Kite Runner' is a powerful story set in Afghanistan, spanning from the final days of the monarchy to the present, dealing with themes of betrayal, redemption, and the complex nature of relationships. Start by outlining the plot, focusing on the relationship between the two main characters, Amir and Hassan, and the pivotal events that shape their lives. Understanding the socio-political context of Afghanistan during this period, as well as the cultural and ethical dilemmas presented in the novel, is crucial for a deep analysis of its themes.

Developing a Thesis Statement

A strong essay on 'The Kite Runner' should be centered around a clear, concise thesis statement. This statement should present a specific viewpoint or argument about the novel. For instance, you might analyze the theme of redemption and its significance in the story, the impact of socio-political changes on the characters, or the role of friendship and betrayal. Your thesis will guide the direction of your essay, providing a structured and focused exploration of the novel.

Gathering Textual Evidence

To support your thesis, gather evidence from the text. This involves closely reading the novel to find relevant quotes, dialogues, and narrative descriptions that support your argument. For example, if discussing the theme of redemption, identify key moments in Amir’s journey that reflect his struggle and eventual redemption. Use these examples to build your argument and give depth to your analysis.

Analyzing Hosseini's Techniques and Themes

Analyze how Hosseini uses literary techniques to develop the novel's themes and characters. Discuss his use of narrative structure, symbolism (such as kites and the pomegranate tree), and character development. For example, explore how the shifting narrative perspective enhances the story's emotional impact or how the setting contributes to the overall mood of the novel. This analysis should demonstrate a deep understanding of the text and how Hosseini communicates his ideas.

Concluding the Essay

Conclude your essay by summarizing the main arguments and restating your thesis in light of the discussion. Your conclusion should tie together your insights into 'The Kite Runner,' emphasizing the significance of your findings. Reflect on the broader implications of the novel, such as its relevance to contemporary issues or its contribution to the genre of modern literature.

Reviewing and Refining Your Essay

After completing your essay, review and refine it. Ensure that your arguments are coherent, your evidence is clearly presented, and your writing is free of grammatical errors. Consider seeking feedback from teachers or peers to help improve your essay. A well-written essay on 'The Kite Runner' will not only demonstrate your understanding of the novel but also your ability to engage critically with literary texts.

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The Kite Runner Character Analysis, Essay Example

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In “The Kite Runner” by Khaled Hosseini, the character Hassan is used to represent stability; throughout the book, Hassan seems to be the same person from his initial appearance in the story through to his death. We are first introduced to Hassan as Amir’s servant. In the first three pages of the second chapter, his physical appearance is described in detail. Specifically, the book describes him as having a China doll face, green eyes, and a cleft lip. We can infer more detailed information about his appearance based on what we know about the Hazara people.

First of all, the book explains that Hassan is a Hazara; this means that his physical characteristics differ from the other characters in the book. In fact, he is made fun of Pashtun people such as Assef based solely on this fact. Hazara people stand out compared to other races in Afghanistan because they are believed to have descended from Eastern Asians, meaning they have features that appear somewhat Mongolian. Hassan has a very distinct appearance on top of his genetic heritage because he has a cleft lip; this is a birth defect that affects the upper lip, creating a gap in the middle.

The contrast between Amir and Hassan that we are presented with throughout the book is interesting because we later find out that the two share the same father. Hassan’s misfit and somewhat ugly seeming appearance supports our understanding of his character; despite his unfortunate luck in this regard, he has a very strong personality. While Amir is born a selfish child who always gets what he wants and develops into a better person as an adult, Hassan has never had this need. Hassan remains loyal, forgiving, and good natured throughout the story, even though he is presented with many challenges, some of which we would expect to be very damaging.

Hassan remains loyal to Amir throughout the book, which serves as an extreme contrast to Amir’s personality. When Hassan attempts to get the last kite cut for Amir, he is beaten and raped by Assef who wants the kite. Amir observes this but does nothing to interject because he wants the kite to make his father proud. Even though Hassan dealt with this situation in order to do something for his friend, Amir’s guilt was so strong that he was no longer able to face him. Hassan’s loyalty continues even further when Amir tries to make his father force him to leave. When Amir sets Hassan up to make it seem that he is stealing money and valuables, Hassan claims that he is guilty for committing the act even though he knows that this was likely Amir’s doing. Towards the end of the book, we learn that Hassan is loyal to Amir and his family that he was willing to give up his life for them. When the Taliban tries to confiscate Amir’s house in Kabul, Hassan sacrifices both his and his wife’s lives in order to protect it.

Hassan’s physical characteristics match his personality traits well; because he is plain and doesn’t have much to offer in terms of looks, he is satisfied by simply trying to please those around him that he loves. It is very unfortunate for him that this love isn’t reciprocated by Amir until it is too late; Amir was very selfish during his childhood and failed to appreciate the services Amir provided. When Amir finally appreciates Hassan, it is too late because Hassan’s loyalty to Amir literally killed him. This connection between the physical characteristics of Hassan’s character, his social status, and his personality reflects discrimination seen in many parts of the world; just because someone looks different doesn’t mean they should be treated as inferior.

Works Cited

Hosseini, Khaled. The Kite Runner. The Penguin Press, 2003. Print.

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