The Pomogranate Tree In The Kite Runner

In the Kite Runner, the pomogranate tree is a reoccuring symbol of Amir and Hassan’s friendship throughout the book. At the beginning of the boys lives, the tree served as a happy place and shelter. After a tragic event with Hassan, the tree doesn’t hold the same meaning for the two of them. Then, at the end of the book, when Amir returns to Kabul he finds the pomegranate tree is dead, just like the boys friendship. Amir and Hassan’s relationship through the book changes drastically and the author uses the pomagranate tree to symbolize this. In the beginning of the book, Amir and Hassan spent a lot of time under the pomegranate tree. It sheltered them while Amir read to Hassan. On page 27, Amir says “One summer day, i used one of Ali’s kitchen knives to carve our names on it: ‘Amir and Hassan, the sutans of Kabul.’ Those works made it formal: the tree was ours.” This shows that the boys saw the tree as their special place and that their friendship would last forever. Furthermore, at this point in their lives, the tree represents innocence. Amir and Hassan were young and didn’t recognize differences between them, which allowed them to have such a genuine friendship. …show more content…
At this point, the tree is no longer a special place for them. Amir even throws pomegranates from the tree at Hassan and wants him to throw them back. He does this because he wants Hassan to show how angry he is at him hoping that the physical punishment would lessen the guilt he feels. However, Hassan simply hits the pomegranate over his own head showing that he has no intention of wrong doing Amir. This in itself symbolizes Hassans loyalty. The pomegranate tree transformed from being a special place of happiness to a place filled with Amirs guilt and