Betrayal In The Kite Runner, By Khaled Hosseini

One of the greatest inflictions in life is betrayal. It destroys trust, and thus, eradicates the relationships which allow society to function. In most scenarios, a betrayal takes place between two individuals that are close or directly related to one another, and can be difficult to predict until it has already occurred. If not managed correctly, devastation is the only outcome for those who are betrayed, which can lead to their demise both mentally and physically. This can be distinctly observed within the novel, The Kite Runner, by Khaled Hosseini, when focusing on the character of Hassan. Throughout his short-lived life, Hassan is subjected to many forms of betrayal, with each ultimately breaking his morale despite his optimism. Through the …show more content…
Instead of reading, Hassan is attacked, with Amir stating, “I hurled the pomegranate at him. It struck him in the chest, exploded with a spray of red pulp” (92). At this point, the tree transitions to a battlefield that Hassan is subjected to from Amir’s refusal to talk to him that only gets worse afterwards. Subsequently, the tree begins to suffer, just as Hassan does, with it failing to produce fruit and later dying, which Amir indicates by saying, “By looking at the wilted, leafless tree, I doubt it ever will” (264). Because of this, the tree is a symbol of the verbal relationship between the two that presents Hassan’s declining state based on the silence Amir shows him. In addition, symbolism is used to portray how Hassan’s betrayal of himself leads to his decline from his trust and loyalty. Hassan’s unquestionable trust is first observed when he is recalling a dream he had where Amir jumped into a lake that people thought a monster was in, stating, “So everyone is scared to go in the water and suddenly . . . you dive in the water, start swimming away. I follow you in . . . They see