Central Themes in the Khaled Hosseini’s Novel the Kite Runner Are Redemption and Atonement.

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Khaled Hosseini’s novel The Kite Runner is the journey of a boy, as he tries to find peace through atoning of his sins. Amir is the protagonist who goes on this journey. Amir’s father, Baba, has high expectations of Amir, which causes a strain relationship as Amir is unable to fulfill what is expected of him. This strain then acts as a catalyst for Amir’s crime against Hassan. This crime against Hassan and Amir’s subsequent guilt permeate the texture of the narrative. After trying to repress his guilt, Amir finds it impossible, consequently sparking his journey to find peace through atoning for his crime as he begins his search for Sohrab. In the final chapters of the novel, Amir atones for his sin and is finally able to experience forgiveness and redemption. Thus his journey to find peace is complete through the atoning of his sin. The strained father son relationship that Baba and Amir have is the catalyst for Amir’s crime against his half-brother Hassan. Amir’s strained relationship with Baba and his need for Baba’s acceptance has blinded Amir so that he is unable to see that his actions towards Hassan in the alley were unacceptable. The responder is given as insight into Amir’s thoughts through the use of first person narration, before, during and after the rape. This allows the reader to observe how the strained relationship between Baba and Amir has affected the motivation of Amir to commit his sin. Throughout the early chapter of the book we learn that Amir has “always felt that Baba hatted [him] a little.” He has always longed for his father’s approval, acceptance and admiration, as he feels responsible for the death of his mother. “After all, had killed his beloved wife, his beautiful princess, hadn’t I?” As a result, he tries desperately not to “disappoint him” by “faking interest” in soccer and doing things that Baba expected of boys his age. As Amir is

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