Many characters in literature often must contend with their past. In The Kite Runner, by Khaled Hosseini the protagonist, Amir, must do just this. When Amir does not prevent his friend’s rape, this element of his past drives his actions. Hosseini uses Amir’s efforts to forget, his reoccurring guilt, and the symbolism of kites throughout the novel to illustrates that guilt from the past can torment an individual until they find a way to right their past wrongs. After allowing Hassan’s rape, Amir tries to forget his guilt, but the guilt of his actions is constant when in the presence of Hassan. In an effort to forget, Amir “lifted Hassan’s mattress and planted my new watch and a handful of Afghani bills under it” (104) in hopes of getting him
…show more content…
The first chapter of Amir’s life begins as a young boy in Afghanistan happily fighting kites with Hassan. In this part of his life, Amir is happy and innocent and the kite is a symbol of joy. Soon, however, the kite fighting comes to an end when Hassan is raped and the symbolism of the kite becomes one of guilt. In this second chapter in Amir’s life, there is no mention of kites unless it accompanies Amir’s reoccurring guilt or his efforts to forget. The kites return at the end of the novel, “A half a dozen kites were flying high, speckles of bright yellow, red, and green against a gray sky” (366). The return of the kites and their symbolism of hope for the future, rather than a reminder of guilt, comes only after Amir saves Sohrab and brings him to America with him. Before Amir is able to move onto this chapter symbolically through flying a kite, he saves Sohrab, thus correcting his past wrongs. The character Amir is used to illustrate that guilt from the past can be all consuming. All of his efforts to forget are in vain and bring him nothing more than brief artificial peace in between torrents of guilt. True peace can only come once Amir rights his wrongs. By using Amir’s character and his past, Hosseini is able to validate his message to the readers that past wrongs and the guilt that torments an individual can only be silenced once those past wrongs are made
The first chapter of Amir’s life begins as a young boy in Afghanistan happily fighting kites with Hassan. In this part of his life, Amir is happy and innocent and the kite is a symbol of joy. Soon, however, the kite fighting comes to an end when Hassan is raped and the symbolism of the kite becomes one of guilt. In this second chapter in Amir’s life, there is no mention of kites unless it accompanies Amir’s reoccurring guilt or his efforts to forget. The kites return at the end of the novel, “A half a dozen kites were flying high, speckles of bright yellow, red, and green against a gray sky” (366). The return of the kites and their symbolism of hope for the future, rather than a reminder of guilt, comes only after Amir saves Sohrab and brings him to America with him. Before Amir is able to move onto this chapter symbolically through flying a kite, he saves Sohrab, thus correcting his past wrongs. The character Amir is used to illustrate that guilt from the past can be all consuming. All of his efforts to forget are in vain and bring him nothing more than brief artificial peace in between torrents of guilt. True peace can only come once Amir rights his wrongs. By using Amir’s character and his past, Hosseini is able to validate his message to the readers that past wrongs and the guilt that torments an individual can only be silenced once those past wrongs are made