The Kite Runner Essays

The Kite Runner
Objective Summary In The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini, the readers start off following Amir
in 1970s Afghanistan. Amir is a rich child who lives with his father and their servants. Their
servants are Ali and his son Hassan. Hassan and Amir are best friends. One day, the two boys run
into the town bully Assef. Assef threatens them because Hassan is a Hazara which is basically a
second class citizen. Hassan then threatens Assef with a slingshot pointed at his eye and he escapes
with Amir. Amir has a inadequate relationship with his father, Baba. Baba and Amir do not share
the same interests. For instance, Amir writes a story and tries to show it to his father. Instead of
reading the story, Baba's friend Rahim Khan reads it and praises Aamir...show more content...
Now about five years older, Amir and Hassan have a problem in their relationship due to Amir
feeling guilt over Hassan's rape. Amir did not step in and save Hassan when he was being
sexually assaulted, so Amir tries to avoid Hassan and the guilt that comes with him. They talk
under the pomegranate tree and Amir pelted Hassan with pomegranates asking Hassan to hit him
back. Hosseini writes, "I don't know how many times I hit him. All I know is that, when I finally
stopped, exhausted and panting, Hassan was smeared in red like he'd been shot by a firing squad.
I fell to my knees, tired, spent, frustrated. Then Hassan did pick up a pomegranate. He walked
toward me. He opened it and crushed it against his own forehead. 'There,' he croaked, red dripping
down his face like blood. 'Are you satisfied? Do you feel better?' He turned around and started down
the hill"(Hosseini, 2003, p. 93). Amir throwing the pomegranates at Hassan represented their
relationship because Amir was only throwing them to get Hassan to punish him not only for the
pomegranates, but for letting him get sexually assaulted. Hassan hitting himself over the head shows
the audience that Hassan does not blame Amir for letting it happen. The tree was a place that
showed a nurturing, beautiful, and innocent relationship to the audience, but now it is a place that
shows guilt, anger, and hatred between the
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The Kite Runner
A story of friendship, rape, betrayal and redemption, but there is one question that persists... is it
true? The book, The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini, is about an Afghan boy named Amir and
his servant Hassan. Hassan comes from an ethnic group known as the Hazara that is, according to
the book, generally mistreated and at a disadvantage from birth. Hassan is always a loyal friend to
Amir, while Amir only hangs out with Hassan when nobody else is around. Amir realizes this
when Assef, a bully that hates the Hazara, threatens to beat Amir up for being friends with a
Hazara and Amir's response is almost to reject him to save himself. Amir later allows Assef to rape
Hassan so he could impress his father with a prize kite that Hassan had caught...show more content...
The author of The Kite Runner, Khaled Hosseini, uses his subjective experiences to create a more
lifelike novel. The Academy of Achievement wrote Khaled Hosseini, M.D. a biography on Khaled
Hosseini due to the success of The Kite Runner and A Thousand Splendid Suns. Hosseini was
born in Afghanistan around the year 1965, which would mean he is about the same age as Amir
was in the story. Like Amir, Hosseini also grew up in a wealthy family in Kabul, which allowed
him to create an accurate depiction of what it was like to be a kid in Kabul around the 1970s. The
Academy of achievement stated that Hosseini was an avid kite fighter and when the Taliban took
over they banned kite flying, this inspired Hosseini to write The Kite Runner (Khaled Hosseini,
M.D.). Hosseini befriended their Hazara cook and taught him how to read right and threw this
realized how unfair society was to the Hazara. Hosseini left Kabul after the government was
overturned, just like Amir. When they came to America Khaled and his family lost all their wealth
and lived on welfare and thrift shop profits. Khaled went on to become a doctor and eventually wrote
The Kite Runner so he could inform people of what Afghanistan used to be like before the Taliban.
After writing the book Khaled returned to Afghanistan and was pleased that the Afghan spirit of
hospitality and generosity was unchanged even though the war destroyed the country (Khaled

The Kite Runner
Recently, my AP Literature teacher assigned our class to read the 2003 novel The Kite Runner by
Khaled Hosseini. Candidly, with a full schedule of AP classes and mid–term exams fast
approaching, reading this novel was the last thing I wanted to do. However, as I began to read
the story of Amir's journey through sin, guild, forgiveness and redemption, I realized the book
was about more than just one man's life. The author has written this novel to actively encourage
the reader to look at the world in a new way. In reality, the novel is the author's hope for the
redemption of his own country, Afghanistan, which has been so cruelly taken over and controlled
by the Taliban. And it is also a plea for people the world over to recognize that even though we may
look different or speak a different language, we are essentially the same....show more content...
As an 18 year old in the United States, I am able to vote for the first time in the upcoming
Presidential election. Prior to reading the novel, I took little interest in the candidates and what
they had to say about our country. Of course I watched the debates on television and wrote reports
and updates for my AP Government class, but I really didn't seriously reflect on each candidate's
words and the potential impact he or she may have on our country and my future. I was focused
on the here and now. Graduating from high school and selecting a college were my priorities.
This lackadaisical approach to our country's future ended with my reading of The Kite Runner.
The novel taught me that in reality people all the world over have the same hopes, dreams and
fears as we do in the United States. While they may look different or worship a different god, that
does not make a person "evil," regardless of what some political forces wish us to

The Kite Runner Essay
"There is a way to be good again" (2). This is the line that rolls through Amir's mind over and over
throughout Khaled Hosseini's novel, The Kite Runner. This is the story of a mans struggle to find
redemption. The author illustrates with the story of Amir that it is not possible to make wrongs
completely right again because its too late to change past. In this novel Hosseini is telling us that
redemption is obtainable, and by allowing us to see Amirs thought process throughout the novel,
Hosseini shows us that it guilt is the primary motivation for someone who seeks redemption.
Hosseini also uses not only the main character, but other secondary characters to show how big of a
part that guilt plays in the desire for redemption. In this...show more content...
A past that has been hovering over his life. He gives us the idea that he is not happy with who he
has become, and it was his wrong doing that made it that way. Hosseini shows that it is Amirs
immense guilt that drives him to want to make things right and to earn redemption. We learn the
basis Amir's guilt through his memories. It is caused by a lack of response at a time when his
loyal servant and close friend Hassan is in trouble. Amir makes a conscious decision to hide in
the distance and just watch, not because he was afraid. He sacrifices Hassan in order to earn his
fathers attention and affection. This decision results in Hassan suffering though a traumatic
experience and is the root of Amir's lasting regret. At first, Amir does not seek to earn redemption.
We know that he is ashamed at what he has done but he prefers to hide his guilt rather than
confess and redeem himself right away. After the incident, Amir attempted to avoid Hassan at all
costs. Even when Hassan approached him to see if he wanted to go for a walk, like they used to
do frequently, Amir refused to go with him and told him to go away (88). He knew that he didn't
deserve his friends unwavering love and loyalty. This is just the beginnings of his guilt. We leave
Amirs childhood memories and return to the summer of 2001, where Amir and Baba, Amir's father,
have moved to America (191). Amir

The Kite Runner
The Kite Runner Essay
"That was a long time ago, but it's wrong what they say about the past, I've learned, about how you
can bury it. Because the past claws its way out. Looking back now, I realize I have been peeking
into that deserted alley for the last twenty–six years." (Hosseini 1–2) Khaled Hosseini published the
book The Kite Runner in 2003. This book includes the characters Amir, Hassan, Baba, Rahim Khan
and many more. This book is mainly about Amir's childhood in Kabul, his move with baba to
California, and lastly his return to Kabul. Amir is also someone who falls in the shadow. He doesn't
really know who he is because of the things that happened to him in the past. In this book he also
gives the reader an understanding of what...show more content...
That is a vicious cycle within this book. For most of the book Amir deals with his problems
simply by brushing them under the rug. By doing that he then creates a deeper hole than what he
is already in. That is why Hassan's name is such a sensitive subject. "I actually aspired to
cowardice, because the alternative, the real reason I was running, was that Assef was right:
Nothing was free in this world. Maybe Hassan was the price I had to pay, the lamb I had to slay,
to win Baba." ( Housini 77) For example when his name is spoken Amir gets a funny feeling and
instantly feels down. "I flinched, like I'd been slapped... Then I understood: This was Hassan's
final sacrifice for me... And that led to another understanding: Hassan knew. He knew I'd seen
everything in that alley, that I'd stood there and done nothing. He knew I had betrayed him and yet
he was rescuing me once again, maybe for the last time." (Housini 105) When he finds out that
Baba betrayed Ali he then realises that everything that he thought he knew was all a lie. "Huddled
together in the dining room and waiting for the sun to rise, none of us had any notion that a way of
life had ended." (Housini 36) That then made him feel betrayed by Baba. Baba has been dead for a
while now. There isn't much that Amir can do about that situation. Betrayal and punishment aren't
enough for him to feel redeemed. When he takes Sorab to the united states he then feels a sense of
redemption

The Kite Runner
For my AP English Summer homework I had to read this book called "The Kite Runner". I really
enjoyed the book so I think that you should promote it as a book that everyone in Laurel should
read. The reasons for this are: 1. It leaves a great emotional impact, 2. The desriptions of the
events are very vivid, and 3. The story has a happy but mysterious ending. The story is about an
Amir and his best friend Hassan, who gets raped by a sociopathic bully after refusing to give up a
kite he won in a contest. The scene of Hassan being molested really tore me up. His saddened
behavior following the attack brought out even more stronger emotion from the audience and even
left us holding thoughts of anger toward the main protagonist. Who is names Amir.

Theme of The Kite Runner Essay
What is the Theme of The Kite Runner? The Kite Runner was written by Khaled Hosseini and
published in 2003. It tells the story of Amir, a young boy from Kabul, Afghanistan, and Hassan, his
father's Hazara servant. The story is set against a backdrop of tumultuous events, from the fall of
Afghanistan's Monarchy, through the Soviet Military intervention, the exile of Pakistan refugees to
America, and the rise of the Taliban. The main theme of this book focuses on guilt and redemption.
Throughout the novel, Amir is constantly trying to redeem himself. Early on, Amir strives to redeem
himself through his father's eyes primarily because his mother died giving birth to him, and he feels
responsible. The more important part of Amir's search for...show more content...
Though Hassan was his best friend, Amir feelt that Hassan, a Hazara servant, was beneath him.
He passively attacked Hassan by mocking and taunting him. Amir never learned how to affirm
himself against anyone because Hassan always defended him. All of these factors lead to Amir
not being able to stand up for Hassan when he needed him most. One triumphant day, Amir won
the local kite fighting tournament and finally earned Baba's praise. Hassan ran to retrieve the
losing kite, which was considered a trophy, and told Amir "For you, a thousand times over".
When Hassan finally obtained the kite, he was cornered by Assef and his friends. Assef was the
neighborhood bully and had tortured Amir and Hassan for years. When Hassan refused to give up
the kite, Assef beat and raped him. Amir watched the whole thing but didn't interfe because he
didn't want to lose the respect of his father. The guilt ate Amir alive. "That was a long time ago,
but it's wrong what they say about the past, I've learned, about how you can bury it. Because the
past claws its way out. Looking back now, I realize I have been peeking into that deserted alley for
the last twenty–six years." Soon after the incident, Amir tried to distance himself from Hassan and
Hassan and his father eventually leave. A couple years later, Amir and Baba flee to America to
escape the war in Afghanistan. Amir graduates and gets married but even after all those years;

The Kite Runner
There are numerous methods to store and present information, each with their own benefits and
drawbacks. As a result of this, whenever a creative work is adapted into a new medium, the source
material is altered to ensure optimal communication of the original work's ideas. After reading the
novel The Kite Runner by Khald Hosseini and analyzing the merits and faults of the film adaptation,
it can be concluded that the adaptation deserves praise. This assertion is based on the success of
three elements employed by the filmmakers when converting the novel to film, notably, the
exclusion of unnecessary plot, the representation of Afghan culture, and the interpretation of major
scenes. While there are many reasons to hold this film in high...show more content...
The film The Kite Runner deserves praise because of the representation of Afghan culture. Firstly,
both media include situations framed within historical events important to Afghanistan. This
includes Amir and Baba's immigration to America corresponding to the Soviet Union's military
invasion, as well as Amir's experiences after returning to Afghanistan corresponding to the country's
control by the Taliban. Afghanistan's culture is also displayed in both media through the
incorporation of Afghan social norms. These include social issues, such as the differences between
Pashtuns and Hazaras being shown by contrasting Amir and Hassan, as well as traditions, such as the
courting ritual expected before Amir and Soraya's marriage. The final way both pieces of media
display Afghan culture is through the inclusion of Afghanistan's official language, Dari. While the
novel features a few English words and phrases being replaced by Dari equivalents, the film extends
this by having actors perform entire scenes in Dari and providing the English translation. Although
additions like subtitles make the work more difficult to consume, the feeling of authenticity provided
by the Dari is well worth the cost of including it. Other ways the film outperforms the novel in the
representation of Afghan culture include the visual representation of Afghan life through their

The Kite Runner
The book The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini is marked as a must read for many schools. It is
not simply a good book, but a book that deeply touches every reader's souls. Hosseini's detailed
writing portrays a realistic emotions that can echo with the readers. Everyone has a story of the
past that is fresh in your brain and you try to save it. Whether it is for a redemption or aspiration,
you become a kite runner. The Kite Runner begins with a flashback to the narrator's childhood in
1975. Amir, the narrator of the book, grew up in the upper class in Afghanistan and were close
friends with the son of his house servant, Hassan. They shared a brotherly relationship until the
incident at a kite–fighting tournament. Amir desperately wanted...show more content...
Ever since the beginning Amir was the most important person to Hassan. This can be shown
through Hassan's first word he said, "Amir". When he grew up he was even willing to "eat dirt" if
Amir wanted him to. During the kite–fighting tournament, he was able to win and make Amir be
closer to Baba, in sacrifice of his dignity. The reason why Hassan sacrificed so much was fear. He
feared that if he did not do so, Amir would not feel his love and leave him. Amir's first word was
"Baba", meaning that Baba was the one closest to Amir, so it would not be a surprise if Amir
chose to sacrifice Hassan for Baba. From here, we can see that Amir and Hassan held an unequal
position in this relationship, leading to an inevitable tragic end. After the death of Hassan, the role
of the sacrificer were given to Amir, starting his road of

The Kite Runner Essays

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