Too Violent?
The Kite Runner tells the story of Amir, a man who is struggling with the effects of traumatic events from his childhood. As a child, Amir struggles with forming a closer relationship with his father Baba and not knowing how to feel about his relationship with his friend Hassan who is also his servant. Even though Hassan is Amir's servant, he and Amir are the best of friends and spend a lot of time together especially flying kites. But one day after winning a kite fight, Hassan runs the kite for Amir but runs into some enemies and ends up getting raped. This is the main reason why there is controversy over “The Kite Runner” and why it is seen as too violent for students to read. But the rape and other violent scenes is crucial to the plot. From Hassan being raped and Amir beaten, readers can learn from the mistakes Amir made …show more content…
Amir is also jealous the attention that Baba gives Amir. “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.” (Hosseini) Amir says that Hassan being raped was the price Amir had to pay to win Baba over. Amir believes that the Kite is what will prove to Baba that he is a winner. Amir believes that the Kite will finally win over Baba’s love and approval. But the price of that love was Hassan which is why Amir calls Hassan the lamb he had to slay. In the violence of Hassan's rape, Amir watches in the shadows and does nothing. “I ran because I was a coward. I was afraid of Assef and what he would do to me. I was afraid of getting hurt.”(Hosseini 157) Because of this Amir lives with years of guilt from letting his fear control him and not standing up for what he believes in. Instead of standing up for Hassan Amir tries to escape his guilt by taking it out on Hassan. But in the long run it doesn't help Amir in anyway and always comes back to haunt
The Kite Runner tells the story of Amir, a man who is struggling with the effects of traumatic events from his childhood. As a child, Amir struggles with forming a closer relationship with his father Baba and not knowing how to feel about his relationship with his friend Hassan who is also his servant. Even though Hassan is Amir's servant, he and Amir are the best of friends and spend a lot of time together especially flying kites. But one day after winning a kite fight, Hassan runs the kite for Amir but runs into some enemies and ends up getting raped. This is the main reason why there is controversy over “The Kite Runner” and why it is seen as too violent for students to read. But the rape and other violent scenes is crucial to the plot. From Hassan being raped and Amir beaten, readers can learn from the mistakes Amir made …show more content…
Amir is also jealous the attention that Baba gives Amir. “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.” (Hosseini) Amir says that Hassan being raped was the price Amir had to pay to win Baba over. Amir believes that the Kite is what will prove to Baba that he is a winner. Amir believes that the Kite will finally win over Baba’s love and approval. But the price of that love was Hassan which is why Amir calls Hassan the lamb he had to slay. In the violence of Hassan's rape, Amir watches in the shadows and does nothing. “I ran because I was a coward. I was afraid of Assef and what he would do to me. I was afraid of getting hurt.”(Hosseini 157) Because of this Amir lives with years of guilt from letting his fear control him and not standing up for what he believes in. Instead of standing up for Hassan Amir tries to escape his guilt by taking it out on Hassan. But in the long run it doesn't help Amir in anyway and always comes back to haunt