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The Kite Runner
Introduction
The Kite Runner is a book which tells about the life of a young boy in Afghanistan, a country torn with conflicts, wars, violence, prejudice and controversy. Amir, the young child who is one of the main characters, is growing up, and his relationships with his father, servant's son and others are illustrated. One of the strong themes the book addresses is that of guilt and redemption.
The grown Amir, who is already a grown man in the USA, is being contact by a man from his past, a friend of his father's and his, that tells him that he's needed. He tells him that there is a way to be good again, there is a way to redeem himself of his past misdeeds, and there is a way to atone for his past sins (Housseini, 2005; Hayes, 2003).
Amir's description
Amir grows up in a country full of prejudice, injustice, wars and conflicts, and without a mother. He is therefore eager to please his father, make him proud of him, and show him that he has what it takes to be a competent member of society one day. But Amir is portrayed as a child who lacks some qualities like courage, conviction, daring. He is quite fearful, perhaps even gentle and timid, preferring not to get into trouble, to stay out of harm's way.
When he is approached, teased or attacked, and his best friend Hassan, the son of his father's longtime servant and good friend, jumps in to save him and suffer the consequences- Amir is ashamed of himself, of his inability to step in and help the fight, help his friend Hassan. Hassan steps in to save Amir each time, and Amir cowers and doesn't participate in these fights. This is seen at its worst when Hassan runs all over town to bring Amir a kite and is caught by some taunting kids he and Amir know. One of them decides to punish him and brutally rapes him, as Amir is standing at the background, listening and doing nothing. As Hassan leaves the street later, his eyes encounter Amir's, as he leaves behind a trail of blood.
His eyes are filled with disappointment, sadness, but he does not say anything or blame Amir (Stagnetto, 2008). Amir is therefore so full of guilt, remorse, shame that he cannot bear being around Hassan anymore. Hassan has always stood up to him, and has now paid the ultimate price for this. After the terrible incident, Hassan is not the same child again. He refrains from being in contact with others, just does his chores and returns to sleep in his bed, and becomes an unhappy, detached child. Amir is so guilt ridden that he plans for Hassan to be accused of theft, and as a result Ali and Hassan leave the house. Hassan knows once again what Amir has done, yet he says nothing.
Amir's guilt is also fuelled by his feeling of jealousy towards Hassan, who has the qualities Amir so lacks, something which is especially important to him because he wants to please Baba and make him proud of him. Amir resents the pride Baba feels towards Hassan and the special attention he receives (Rankin-Brown, 2008).
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