The Kite Runner Essay

In this novel, The Kite Runner written by Khaled Hosseini uses numerous effective language features such as foreshadowing, and symbolism to help develop the main character, Amir. This character then goes on to help the reader understand the themes of the book betrayal and redemption. The author uses symbolism, foreshadowing and narrative point of view to represent Amir’s life and his relationships with Hassan and his father; Baba. This then helps us understand the theme of the novel with is betrayal and redemption. The first paragraph is about how the author uses symbolism to help us understand Amir’s relationships and how he betrays Hassan but then redeems himself. Secondly, foreshadowing throughout the novel gives the reader an insight into what is to come and what kind of character Amir is. Finally, the narrative point of view is Amir’s so we as the reader understand his emotion and personal responses clearer. This then also relates to how Amir did see what he did to Hassan as a betrayal but then realizes and moves on to redeem his past mistakes.

Throughout the novel, Khaled uses kite running and Hassan’s dream as a symbol to foreshadow what is going to happen further on in the book as well as the theme of the book which is betrayal and redemption. At the beginning of the novel when Amir and Hassan first enter the kite fighting competition it all seems very innocent and fun to both of them, but as the book goes on Amir is constantly reminded by kites on just how he betrayed his only friend Hassan in the Ally 20 years ago from the present at the beginning of the book. The kites are also a way for Amir to prove himself to his father and earn his love as well as pride. Baba has always wanted a sporty, tough son; the opposite of Amir so he sees kiter running as an opportunity to achieve just that as it is the biggest event in Afghanistan.”We won! We won!” was all I could say. This wasn’t happening. In a moment, I’d blink and rouse from this beautiful dream… Back to my old life. Then I saw Baba on our roof…pumping both of his fists. Hollering and clapping. And that right there was the single greatest moment of my twelve years of life, seeing Baba on that roof, proud of me at last.” This quote is after Amir made the sacrifice for a closer relationship with Baba that will only last for a brief amount of time. Whereas the choice to leave Hassan will haunt Amir for the rest of his life. Another example of symbolism is at the end of the book when Amir adopts his nephew and is on the road to redemption.“Do you want me to run that kite for you…For you, a thousand times over, I heard myself say. It was only a smile, nothing more… A tiny thing… But I’ll take it. With open arms. Because when spring comes, it melts the snow one flake at a time, and maybe I just witnessed the first flake melting.” This quote is at the end of the novel after Hassan dies and his son becomes an orphan, Amir adopts him and takes him outside to do kite flying. At this point, Amir feels like he has redeemed himself because he couldn’t talk to Hassan and apologie to him so instead, he did the activity Amir and his best friend once loved with his nephew. Therefore the kites are also a symbol for redemption throughout the novel, as they go through Amir’s journey of how innocent they both were at the start, how he lost Hassan and become filled with guilt, then at the end when Hassan is gone and Amir has once and for all redeemed himself. 


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