The Kite Runner Flashcards
Amir’s search for redemption
- his search for Sohrab stems from Hassan
- Amir strives to redeem himself to his dad as he feels responsible for his mothers death
- confrontation with Assef
- “a boy who doesn’t stand up for himself becomes a man who doesnt stand up to anything”
Tension between fathers and sons
Baba feels guilt demonstrating emotions towards Amir and treating him well when he can’t acknowledge Hassan as his son, however, he makes up for this by paying for Hassans lip surgery
Hassan & Sohrab are the contrast of Amir & Baba
Amir as an allegory
- Chapters leading to Hassan’s rape, Soviet Union invades Afghanistan, meaning, in an allegorical scheme, Amir would represent the international community who stood by while the Soviets ‘raped’ Afghanistan
- Amir later becomes a US citizen, furthering the idea of him representing the western community
- Just like the international community failed to protect Afghanistan, Amir failed to protect Hassan from Assef
- Assef isn’t 100% afghan as his mother is German contributing to the idea that Assefs descends form a foreign country linked to totalitarian rule
Symbolism of the monster in the lake dream
Hassans dream of no one going into the lake ghargha due to there being a monster is significant where Amir goes in and Hassan follows which results in them renaming the lake to Lake of Amir & Hassan the Sultans of Kabul (POMEGRANATE TREE)
- Hassan might’ve made the dream up in order to make Amir feeling less nervous be free the tournament OR
- Later on, Hassan gets raped by Assef while Amir stands by and watches symbolising that Amir is the monster in the lake or that Amir’s jealousy of Hassan is the real monster
- Rahim Khan & Baba cheering Amir on makes them oblivious of the monsters
Symbolism of the pomegranate tree
- at first represents the bond between Amir & Hassan carving their names on tree “Sultans of Kabul” idea of setting it on stone
- then becomes a symbol of guilt & betrayal where Amir wants to be held accountable for Hassan’s rape, but instead, Hassan remains loyal to Amir by bearing the burden of rape on his own
- finally becomes a symbol of the travesties caused by the war and a representation of the near lifeless Kabul in which the tree is shrivelled & near to death
Symbolism of Baba and the Black Bear
-during Amir’s dream in C3, he can’t tell the bear and Baba apart, could signify how towering of a figure Baba is to Amir
-shows Amir’s distant awe of Baba, as he believes the tale
-oddity of the bear & Baba morphing into each other shines light to perhaps Baba becoming a fearful beast
-Baba in wrestling with his sins, merges with them
Amir’s dream at the end sees that it is himself defeating the bear, expressing that
-finally achieved manhood
-taken in his fathers sins
Maybe Amir was truly fighting Baba when he couldn’t tell them apart
Symbolism of Kite fighting
- major theme throughout the novel
- when Amir thinks of something happy it will relate to kite flying with Hassan where mental images relates to freedom & happiness
- however, kites become constant reminder of his betrayal and his need to win his fathers love
- when Amir and Sohrab are flying the kites, it allows Amir to return to his past without the feeling of guilt
What do the kites represent at the end
Almost redemptive and mnemonic images
However, hosseini, refuses to answer the question on whether Amir has truly redeemed himself so maybe the image of the kite holds the possibly of redemption
-kites are violent objects driven by the natural force of wind where their glass sheathed strings are attached to come thing light and free illustrating how an image can contain both tenderness and cruelty just like the novel
Juxtaposition of the settings in the beginning
Descriptive setting & language in Amir’s house in order to portray wealth, this contrasts with Hassans “mud shack” presenting an opulence setting “crystal chandelier”
“Carve our names on it : Amir & Hassan, sultans of Kabul”
Illustrating the equality between them two, not one above the other. However, some aspects of their relationship presents the opposite where Amir sees him as merely a servant, but Hassan questions these roles by questioning Amir’s writing which Amir doesn’t take too kindly
“Perhaps you didn’t notice that I’m the one holding the slingshot” Hassan to Assef
This role reversal and shift in the hierarchy represents that Hassan has taken, yet again, the role of defending Amir. This represents that Hassan is mentally more prepared than Hassan
“Someone had challenged their God. Humiliated him. And worst of all, that someone was a skinny hazara”
Appearances are a deception within is novel. This incident is acritical
