Kite Runner themes PDF

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Deatiled themes of Kite Runner...

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Kite Runner themes Sin and Redemption - Amir’s quest for redemption lies at the heart of the novel - He’s constantly trying to redeem himself in Baba’s eyes as he believes that he killed his mother when she gave birth to him - The kite running tournament is extremely symbolic of Amir’s alleged redemption for his father, however due to his ignorance, selfish and complete obsession with looking like a star in his father’s eyes, he leaves Hassan to be raped and from then on, his and Hassan’s life are put into a downward spiral (Amir’s life never actually get out of that spiral until Sohrab, even then, it's not explicitly stated that life gets better for him) - Baba’s betrayal of Ali could portray that it runs in Amir’s family – Hosseini’s social and political protests message that the Pashtuns have been betraying Hazaras for a long time. - Compare this to Charles Dickens ‘A Christmas Carol’ – Scrooge looking for redemption, but scrooge is metonymic for all the upper-class people who were tight with their money - Uses structure to emphasise the theme of redemption – he tells the story in retrospect, so every memory is tainted by Hassan’s rape. - Rahim Khan carries out the novels didactic message about forgiveness – ‘God will forgive’ – so truly atoning for one’s sin means coming to terms with yours sins, by yourself. Amir begs God to not leave ‘Sohrab’s blood on his hands’ instead of asking for him to be recovered – bound by fear and guilt. Literacy and the written word - Baba equates bookishness with weakness - Writing is a dividing and uniting force – separates Amir and Baba. - Hassan’s illiteracy brings him closer to Amir, however, Amir realises that this gives him power over Hassan…making up stories and teases him – metonymic for Pashtuns power over Hazaras. - Soraya taught a woman to read and write – unified them - Hassan’s letter and Rahim Khans letter reveal the truth – power in words Friendship and loyalty - Amir and Hassan, Baba and Ali, Baba / General Taheri are loyal to Pashtuns - Amir and Hassan – friendship, brothers, strong bond – Hassan was always loyal to Amir, but only in his adult life did Amir show this back to Hassan - Ali and Baba – Hassan mirrors Ali’s behaviour – hazaras being oppressed – slaves for generations, when Baba’s dad took Hassan in, he could’ve raised him as a child, but raised hum as a slave instead – highlights innocence of Hazaras and link to S&PP as some typical features of S&PP link to powerlessness (Hazaras) and control (Pashtuns) Kites - Kite tournament is set in 1975 – cannot separate kite fighting from his own betrayal and cowardice. The act of kite running finally makes him feel redeemed, as this is where he went wrong in the first place. This creates a sort of circular structure. Multiple layers of symbolism around kites. One boy controls the kite, whilst the other

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assists by feeding the string (always going to be the assistant. Hassan’s joy and excitement is vicarious – living his life through Amir, e.g. in Baba’s household.) Kite fighting is violent – represents the conflict that rages Afghanistan – the warring factions of Afghanistan are represented by the hundreds of kites battling each other haphazardly. The action of kite flying is innocent and has connotations of freedom and childhood – which shows that the youth of Afghanistan are victims of their situation Kite fighting brings people together – brings Amir and Hassan together (they are on the same team). Kite represents rewards – after years for striving for Baba’s love and attention, he finally got it, forsaking Hassan along the way

Hosseini presents a world in which ethnic differences always lead to violence - Pashtuns and Hazaras – not really - Taliban and Hazaras – Mazar-i-Sharif, death of Ali and wife, stadium stoning, Hassan and Sohrab rape - Soviets and rich Pashtuns – yes – near rape of woman in truck and Hassan and Baba fleeing to America - Americans and Afghans – Baba at the store owned by Mr and Mrs Ngyuen - Not violence carried out by a person, however, the violence caused by cancer to Baba’s body and mind - Other violence in America – no - Sohrab and Amir – no - I agree to a moderate extent that Hosseini presents a world in which ethnic differences always lead to violence. This may be because he’s trying to demonstrate the innocence of the Hazaras, through the constant attack of them and maybe trying to demonstrate that stubbornness of the patriarchal and patriotic society that lives in Afghanistan – links to social and political protest as ruling class or group and patriarchy are typical elements of this literature, didactic novel The kite runner does not really give voice to the powerless in society… - Doesn’t literally give voice to them, but maybe wanted to make it realistic – by not giving them a voice (and through the actions of them and others) it allows the reader to understand that they are powerless and what its like for them in society - Hazaras – only show them doing good deeds and are literally cut out the novel through the America chapters - Women – Baba’s wife is gone so she literally can’t have a voice, Sanaubar only shows up in the middle and stays for a bit, dying shortly, Mrs Taheri literally doesn’t have a voice as her husband doesn’t allow her to sing – shows her powerlessness and reflects on patriarchal society that still runs through Afghans

The division between the Pashtuns and he Hazaras is central to the narrative… - Yes, the division is central to the narrative (quite a large extent) - Hosseini does this – due to it being a didactic novel and he wants to show innocence of hazaras and that they should not be discriminated against (let the western

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audience know that there isn’t just a war with Afghanistan and other countries but its internalised within Afghanistan Yes – Amir and Hassan – come from different ethnic groups and are central Yes – Taliban No – moving to America and Baba dying

In Hosseini’s Kite runner, Afghanistan is the biggest victim - Agree to full extent - That's why Hosseini wrote this novel - It could be argued that the Hazaras are the biggest victim – something bad happens to all of them – runs in their blood (family tree) - But Taliban, addition of soviets, bloodless coup may argue otherwise

The kite runner is a story which explores many conflicts between those in power and those who aren’t - Yes – main feature of social and political protest literature - Hazaras and Pashtuns - Women and men – mention Mrs Taheri and Soraya...