Redemption In The Kite Runner

In life, many people have a list of things they would do if they could “have their life to live over,” mostly the things they regret. In The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini, a reoccurring theme is redemption and how it is achieved through honor and sacrifice. In the novel, Amir regrets his former treatment of his best friend, Hassan, yet finds redemption by sacrificing his success to restore his honor by going into dangerous Afghanistan to rescue and take care of Hassan’s son, Sohrab. Although there are many reasons why Amir goes to rescue Sohrab, one sticks out more than the others: guilt. Amir grieves over the way he behaved towards Hassan when he was younger, which is why he decides to save Sohrab and bring him to security. After he hears …show more content…
Although he feels skeptical that he might put his family and career in danger, Amir asks, “how could I pack up… when my actions may have cost Hassan a chance at those very same things?” (Hosseini 226). Amir understands that he appear to look like his former cowardly self if he went back home instead of seeking for Hassan’s son, and he also wonders if Hassan would have been in a superior place if Amir didn’t act selfishly as a child. Furthermore, Amir feels he should immolate his career in order to save Hassan’s son so that Sohrab can live in a better world than Hassan did. Amir’s sacrifice symbolizes his caring attitude for Hassan, which is something he never encountered as a child. Because he cannot apologize to Hassan personally since Hassan is dead, Amir wants to compensate for his history by giving Hassan’s son the opportunity to succeed. Amir declares this is the best “way to the end the cycle” (Hosseini 227). Although Amir knows the danger of going into Afghanistan under the rule of the Taliban, he doesn’t want Sohrab to live the life his father didn’t get to experience. Therefore, Amir sacrifices his safety, status, and well-being, all in order to allow Sohrab this