Kite Runner Redemption Theme

As humans oftentimes act in ways that are cruel or unfair, redemption is an important and recurring theme of life. This aspect of life is heavily present in the novel The Kite Runner, written by Khaled Hosseini. Hosseini uses many catastrophes and events to create a setting in which redemption is necessary for the characters involved. Amir, the protagonist and narrator of the story, experiences life-changing events that constantly shape and mold his character throughout the book. Through these events, redemption and atonement emerge as one of the overlying themes. As the reader follows Amir through his journey in both Afghanistan and America, his guilt and regret cripples his sense of worthiness. This emotional damage becomes the underlying …show more content…
Hassan, Amir’s best friend, is attacked and raped by a sadist named Assef early in the novel. This takes place in Kabul, after 12 year old Amir and Hassan had been flying kites. Because Amir witnessed this incident and did not attempt to help Hassan, the guilt he acquires follows him for decades. Amir’s emotional state deteriorates as he subconsciously blames himself for the demise of Hassan. This deterioration can be seen soon after Hassan’s attack. While Amir and Hassan talk underneath their special spot, the pomegranate tree, the reader sees an explicit show of Amir’s self-blame and guilt. This becomes evident when Amir says, “I wished he would. I wished he’d give me the punishment I craved, so maybe I’d finally sleep at night” (Hosseini 92). Prior to Amir’s admittance of self blame, the reader is only privy to Amir’s denial and deliberate ignorance of the incident. After Amir reveals his true feelings about the attack and how it has affected him, the reader understands the internal conflict that Amir is experiencing. Hosseini uses this quote to change the reader’s perception of Amir and to expose Amir’s need to be reprimanded for his actions. Amir mentions that he wants Hassan to “give [him] the punishment [he] craved, so maybe [he’d] finally sleep at night”. This shows that Amir has an internal conflict that needs to be solved in order for him to stop suffering. His insomnia is just one indication of the level of guilt he feels towards Hassan. Years after the incident, Amir still bears the burden of guilt. When Amir goes to America with his father, Baba, it is evident that the event still haunts him. In this quote, Amir acknowledges these “ghosts” when he says that “Kabul had become a city of ghosts for me. [...] America was a river [...] I could wade into this