The Themes Of Betrayal And Redemption In The Kite Runner

The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini is a historical fiction novel set mostly in Kabul, Afghanistan and Fremont, California. The novel spans the time periods before, during, and after the reign of the Russians (1979-1989) and the Taliban’s takeover (1996) of Afghanistan. It is told through the first person perspective of Amir alongside his father, Baba, his half-brother, Hassan, and Baba’s companions Ali and Rahim Khan. Growing up, Amir and Hassan are practically inseparable, as they are always playing games, reading poetry, or simply spending time together. Hassan’s mother, Sanaubar, is never present during the children’s youthful years, but they both have Baba as a shared father figure in their lives. The themes of betrayal and redemption†¦show more content†¦Hassan allows Assef to rape him because Assef threatens to take away the last kite that Amir has cut to win the competition. Since he seeks Baba’s approval, he wants to present it to h im to establish a better* relationship with him. Therefore, he views Hassan’s rape as a sacrifice for his desires. Directly before the incident, Amir â€Å"[catches] a glimpse† of Hassan’s face, and describes his face as holding â€Å"resignation in it† (76). He then goes on to compare his expression to the â€Å"look of a lamb† (76). In this quote, Amir is referring to the sheep that he witnesses the mullah kill on a Muslim holiday, the tenth day of Dhul-Hijjah, which he and his family celebrate every year. Amir believes that the lamb sees itself as a sacrifice, and accepts its unwanted fate, which is how he believes that Hassan feels too. Though Amir later feels immense guilt for his actions*, he is able to disregard* his regrets when he and Baba move to America to escape the Russian takeover. Amir compares America to a â€Å"river, roaring along†, and views it as being â€Å"unmindful of the past† (136). He describes forgetting his mistakes in America as entering the river, â€Å"[letting] [his] sins drown to the bottom†, and allowing, â€Å"the waters† to â€Å"carry [him] someplace far.† (136). Because of this, Amir enjoys thinking of America as a place with â€Å"no ghosts, no memories,†, and â€Å"no sins†, and relishes in his forgetful state (136). However, as one can not continueShow MoreRelatedRedemption in The Kite Runner1038 Words   |  5 Pagesâ€Å"For you, a thousand times over.† In The Kite Runner by Kahled Hosseini, there is a recurring theme of redemption that is portrayed by various literary devices. Kahled excellently juxtaposes devices such as irony, symbolism, and foreshadowing to show redemption within his first novel. 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. 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So opens the pivotal event in The Kite Runner, a novel by Khaled Hosseini. The movie version, which is now in theatres, was nominated for a Golden Globe as best foreign-language film of 2007. Amir and Hassan, inseparableRead MoreRedemption: The novel begins with an adult Amir looking back on the events of his childhood. He is700 Words   |  3 PagesRedemption: The novel begins with an adult Amir looking back on the events of his childhood. He is trying desperately to ignore his unatoned sins, but realizes that â€Å"it’s wrong what they say about the past†¦about how you can bury it. Because the past claws its way out†(Hosseini 1). Even after Amir and his father flee to America to one afternoon from decades ago still haunts him. Amir’s inaction that day impacts the rest of his life and leads to lies, betrayal, and guilt. 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The novel opens during a peaceful time in Kabul and tells the story of Amir and his friend and servant, Hassan. It tells us about Amir looking for approval from his father, Baba, the ethnic tensions in Afghanistan and the eventsRead MoreKhaled Hosseini s The Kite Runner1679 Words   |  7 PagesHosseini s homeland was the inspiration for his novel, The Kite Runner, which gave his readers a taste of what Afghanistan was before the brutal invasions of the Taliban. He spent his early childhood living in Tehran, Iran, where he befriended his family s cook. The unexpected friendship between a young Afghan and a member of the Hazara ethnic group exposed Hosseini to the acts of injustice against minority groups in Afghanistan, a major theme in his writi ng (Bloom). Khaled s works are centered