‘To what extent is The Kite Runner a story of redemption?’ Khaled Hosseini’s The Kite Runner is largely about the life of Amir, an Afghan man who is troubled by his past. Through the experiences of Amir and also those of his father Baba, and his wife Soraya, Hosseini’s main concern is to explore that atonement for our sins is only possible when we confront those events in our lives. It is known from the very beginning of Hosseini’s novel that Amir is troubled by his “past of unatoned sins”. He is a man who cannot escape his past and needs to be accountable for his actions “the winter of 1975”. The event that is at the centre of his story and provides this anguish for Amir, is his act of cowardice against his childhood friend, Hassan, who “never denied” him of anything and had a strong “kinship” with him from a young age.
"The Kite Runner" tell us, through Rahim Khan that, "true redemption is when guilt leads to be good again..." (page 40). Amir betrayed Hassan several times in this novel. However, the two most important instances were when he did not help Hassan during the rape and when he framed Hassan for stealing the watch and money. Amir’s actions show his poor personal agency. When Amir returns to Pakistan, Rahim Khan encourages Amir to find Sohrab from a war torn orphanage and says “there is a way to be good again” (page 2).
Amir stands up for Sohrab by fighting Assef for him. When Amir returns to Afghanistan to find Sohrab proves to be the solution to his quilt towards Hassan, it also is the source of the redemption he so desperately wants to seek. He chose to find Sohrab and tries his hardest to give him a better life even if that does mean sacrificing his own safety. Therefor throughout “The Kite Runner” Amir is portrayed as a boy who is always trying to make up or redeem himself for the mistakes he made, but does redeem himself towards his father, Sohrab and especially Hassan. As Hassan’s and Amir’s father would say “a boy who can’t stand up for himself becomes a man who can’t stand up to anything” but Amir indicates he can
My response to this prompt is written in the form of an expository essay, and directed towards people who is enthusiast of the movie and the book “The Reluctant Fundamentalist “. The prompt I have chosen is that ‘Changez’s failed relationship with Erica mirrors his relationship with America.’ My point of this prompt is to contented that his failed relationship with Erica alter his life and become unbearable to him, and chose to quit at Underwood Samson that lead to hatred to America. Erica’s influence on Changez and his feelings are arguably the most highlighted aspects of Changez’s development. This is instantly apparent when he meets Erica for the first time even then, he’s describing her as ‘stunningly regal’, and before he even begins to speak to her, Changez becomes jealous of locals acting pretentiously for her attention. Additionally, he’s so overcome with obsession and affection for Erica that the significance of her dead lover, Chris, towards her goes unnoticed.
Young Amir says “Baba waved. I couldn’t tell if he was waving at me or Hassan” which reminds the reader yet again of Amir’s troubled relationship with his father. Hosseini uses this to effectively create pathos for Amir, and remind the reader of chapter 3 where the reader feels the most sympathy for Amir, despite the fact we have seen a darker side to him. Structurally, this is also very important as it make the reader support Amir through the kite tournament. Hosseini does this as the readers opinion of Amir will be dramatically be altered
Later down the road, Amir decides to redeem himself as a person and make everything right again. Amir believes that his next action will led him to redemption. He adopts Hassan’s son, Sohrab, after discovering Hassan’s death. Amir seeks redemption through Sohrab as an effort for trying to gain Hassan’s forgiveness. Amir discovers how badly he treated Hassan in their past, that he wants to make up for it.
The truth is that Amir is more like Baba than he knew. Like father like son, Amir follows his father’s footsteps by keeping Pashtuns and Hazara’s separate, continuing the cycle of guilt until Amir breaks the cycle for both Baba and himself by doing what is right, out of love. The guilt begins with Baba and threads through out his life into Amir’s life, until unconditional love cuts it out of the cycle. One act of selfishness, begins the cycle. Baba betrayed his friend in the worst way an Afghan man could be disgraced: “How had Ali lived in that house day in and day out, knowing he had been dishonored by his master in the single worst way an Afghan man can be dishonored?” (225) Baba stole Ali’s honor.
Sentence Outline Introduction and Thesis In the novel The Kite Runner, Khaled Hosseini presents the internal desire for redemption and forgiveness that Amir dedicates himself to getting. The need for redemption and forgiveness starts right at the beginning of the book when he is born and his mother dies, making Amir feel as if his father Baba holds him accountable. As the story progresses Amir witnesses a horrific event occur to his best friend Hassan that he could have prevented but chose not to due to his inability to deal with a foe. The ways Amir attains the forgiveness ad redemption from his family and peers throughout the book vary in ways due to the unique situations. In the end he finds that by attempting to make peace with his past and peers allows himself to regain peace with himself.
However, through an attempt to overcome the shame of his past, Amir is able to find comfort and hope. By the end of The Kite Runner, Amir has become kamyab through the peace and renewal he finds in reconciling his past. Sohrab helps Amir overcome the guilt he felt for Hassan’s rape. At the beginning of the novel, Khaled Hosseini introduces Amir’s unhappiness that follows this guilt. Even as an old man narrating the story, Amir is still haunted by the memories of Hassan’s rape.
The dialogue also helps foreshadow the story. This is because Millar has them speak as if they’re telling fate. How John speaks like a hard worker, one who regrets his bad choices in life and he speaks as if he would do any thing for a second chance to prove his loyalty to all around him; foreshadows how he refuses to sign a contract that will betray his friends. In the crucible three characters are introduced and they hold their ways of doing things through the story. This shows great characterization in the play.