The Kite Runner Literary Analysis

For years history has been known to bring people together, but drive people away, force people to learn or make similar mistakes. In Khaled Hosseini’s The Kite Runner, it plays an essential role in both the character and plot development of the story. As shown in The Kite Runner history is not always on the side of the oppressed as sometimes it can come back to haunt you, regardless, being able to create a teachable moment out of a poor decision in the past is a valuable lesson. History can be shown to be haunting through the author’s use of literary devices, the physical history of Afghanistan, and how easy it is to make the same mistakes.
One of the factors that forces guilt amongst Amir is the way the author strategically uses flashbacks, symbols, and familiar scenery to provoke the ghosts of Amir’s past. Throughout the novel Amir is put in situations where he finds it hard to conform to his surroundings and to remain calm he thinks back to memories with Hassan. Although the flashbacks begin with scenes of peace, they soon turn dark, describing them as “color [...] on what our lives became” (123). Trying to recollect the positive thoughts of Hassan only serves as an indication of his own cowardice. In addition to flashbacks, symbols also play an essential role in …show more content…
The sporadic appearances and mentions of the blue kite, which Amir wanted at the stake of Hassan’s well-being, are a reminder of what happened on that fateful day and his journey to atone for his haunting past. During Amir’s journey back to his homeland he is confronted with scenes from “the winter of 1975” that force him to think of his past wrongdoings and to redeem himself by saving Sohrab (289). The reappearance of the streets he once walked in peace, but now are warzones, enforces Amir’s drive to save the son of Hassan and restore glory to himself and his father. The use of literary devices serves a great purpose in showing how history is unavoidable and the guilt will