The story centers on Amir and his friend Hassan. Throughout their childhood, Hassan is very loyal to Amir to an extent that it one day runs in to trouble. While protecting Amir’s kite from a bully known as Assef, he ends up being raped. Amir witnesses all this but because he is afraid, does not help him out. The guilt eats at him even further when Hassan never mentions the matter to anyone and acts in a saintly manner. Soon after, a war breaks out and Amir and his father flee to the United States where they try to make ends meet. Here, Amir marries Soraya soon after his father dies of small cell carcinoma.
A few years pass and Amir is informed that Hassan had been killed by Taliban insurgents while trying to protect Amir’s mansion back in Afghanistan. Apparently, Hassan was Amir’s stepbrother and had left around a young boy known as Sohrab. Amir takes to the task of finding Sohrab. The journey is not the easiest and when he finally does find him, he is being held by Assef. When all is settled, Amir takes Sohrab to the United States with him as his adopted. Friendship and loyalty is a key theme in this book. In addition, it is evident that things have a way of settling out: no deed goes unpunished and there is always an opportunity for those that want to redeem themselves.
Friendship has been propagated throughout the story. From early on, Amir and Hassan are portrayed to be the closest of friends despite their differences. While Amir is the son of a rich man, he has no problem befriending the son of his father’s servant, Hassan. In addition, Hassan is a Hazara thus is discriminated against by the likes of Assef (10). On his part, Hassan considers Amir his best friend would do anything for him even if it would get him in trouble. Amir’s father, Baba as he is known, is also relatively close to Hassan’s father, Ali who happens to be his worker.
Loyalty is also a major theme in the book. In the book, loyalty is best portrayed by Hassan who would do anything for Amir. Early on, Hassan steps in to protect Amir from Assef after he threatens to be beat him up for befriending a Hazara (23). Later on, Hassan does get in trouble with Assef and even is raped for refusing to give up Amir’s kite (41). Even though Amir is away, Hassan never moves into his mansion because he feels it would be disrespectful. His loyalty does finally cost him his life. When the Taliban come demanding to move into the house, Hassan refuses to give it up forcing the Taliban to kill him and his wife (112).
Some aspects of karma and repetitive coincidences can be observed after reading through the book. Repetitive coincidences can be seen when Assef rapes Hassan and it is later implied that he also raped Sohrab. Sohrab says, "I'm so dirty and full of sin. The bad man and the other two did things to me." In addition, the fact that the bully from their childhood turns out to be the villain in future is also proof of repetitive coincidence. Finally, Amir was once protected by Hassan from Assef who had threatened to take his eye out with his slingshot. In future, he is protected by Hassan’s son from Assef when he actually takes his eye out (136).
Finally, those that wish to redeem themselves always have the opportunity to do so. Rahim say, “There is a way to be good again.” (3). From his childhood, Amir felt distraught when he did not step in to help out Hassan when he was raped. This even had the effect of drawing them apart. However, Amir gets the chance to redeem himself by helping Sohrab from the same rape situation that his father faced in the past. He even takes a beating on behalf of Sohrab so that he can protect him from the same bully that tormented his father. He later adopts and takes him to America to provide for him a better life.
From the novel, friendship and loyalty is a key theme in this book. In addition, it is evident that things have a way of settling out: no deed goes unpunished and there is always an opportunity for those that want to redeem themselves. Not all is lost when we feel that we have made mistakes, as we will finally get the opportunity to redeem ourselves. However, for those that are not repentant, karma has a way of catching up with them.
Works cited
Hosseini, Khaled. The Kite Runner. New York: Riverhead Books, 2003. Print
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