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The Complex Character of Baba in The Kite Runner

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Theme of Betrayal in "The Kite Runner" by Khaled Hosseini

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Cruelty and Abuse of Power in "The Kite Runner"

A look at the culture in afghanistan in "the kite runner", the theme of maturity in "the kite runner" by khaled hosseini, the use of khaled hosseini’s book as a reference point, the real friend as shown in "the kite runner" by khaled hosseini, foreshadowing in "the kite runner" by khaled hosseini, guilt and perseverance as the motivation in "the kite runner", the kite runner, the kite runner and "hamlet": internal and external conflict, a study of the theme of redemption in "the kite runner", hassan’s symbolism as a sacrificial lamb in "the kite runner", a sophisticated approach to death in "the kite runner", analysis of the character of assef in "the kite runner", the issue of courage in "the kite runner" by khaled hosseini, the issue of concordance in "the kite runner" and "the communist manifesto", the impacts of bullying on people in "the kite runner", the issues of bravery or cowardice in "the kite runner" and "a thousand splendid suns", a look at literacy as indicated in "the kite runner", coping with the past in "the kite runner", "slaughterhouse five" and "the things they carried", the concepts of fate and free will in "the kite runner" and oedipus.

May 29, 2003, Khaled Hosseini

Novel; Bildungsroman, Drama, Historical Fiction, Coming-of-age Drama

Assef, Rahim Khan, Sanaubar, Soraya, General Taheri, Sohrab, Amir, Hassan, Khala, Baba, Farid, Farzana, Ali

The story has been based on Khaled Hosseini life in Afghanistan before he left for the United States.

Father-son relationship, courage, friendship, childhood, change of regimes, guilt and redemption

The Kite Runner is a challenging book to read since it speaks of guilt and redemption, true friendship, and the changes that a person is going through decades later. Most importantly, it is the run of events that run from the fall of Afghanistan's monarch to the refugees era, and the Taliban regime. The red line is the friendship and the way how human relationships change. It has a complex setting through the decades when the main protagonist Amir, a young boy, is telling about his life, his relationship with Hassan and the events that he could not prevent.

The Kite Runner is a story of Amir and his father who are living in Kabul, Afghanistan. They belong to a major ethnic group called Pashtuns. Amir's best friend is called Hassan who lives with his father, yet they belong to a minor ethnic group called Hazaras. Even though the boys belong to different groups, they are the best friends. As the events unfold, Amir is unable to rescue Hassan from a tragedy that takes place due to lack of courage, which is his guilt years later. As Amir grows up, he moves to the United States where he learns that his friend's (Hassan) son is in the orphanage. Saving the boy with his wife, Amir finds redemption.

According to the author, the book became so popular because it "connects with them in a personal way, no matter what their own upbringing and background" are. The book became the best seller at The New York Times for more than two years. It is believed that the September 11 tragedy has contributed to the novel's admiration in the United States since it has allowed people to see the Afghan culture. The story has also been inspired by the news story about Taliban's banning the kite flying in the country, which has inspired Khail Hosseini for the title and some parts of the story. The short version of the book has been rejected by some publishing houses. The Kite Runner is the first English publication written by the Afghan author. The author did not return to his home country Afghanistan until the time when the book was published. Hosseini believes that his novel is a love story because love is the main protagonist.

“For you, a thousand times over” “It may be unfair, but what happens in a few days, sometimes even a single day, can change the course of a whole lifetime...” “There is only one sin. and that is theft... when you tell a lie, you steal someone's right to the truth.” “When you kill a man, you steal a life. You steal his wife's right to a husband, rob his children of a father. When you tell a lie, you steal someone's right to the truth. When you cheat, you steal the right to fairness.” “I opened my mouth, almost said something. Almost. The rest of my life might have turned out differently if I had. But I didn’t.”

This book became an important example of friendship and living with the guilt that took place as the lack of courage and being brave. As the multi-generational story, it deals with many sides of culture, family life, human relationship, discovering different cultures, and staying true to who you are. The author shows the way Amir grows and how he finally finds his self-identity that he has been seeking so long.

The book, according to the author, is about seeking love and finding it in everything, about friendship, about looking back, and finding redemption and one’s self-identity. While this novel is quite challenging and might even bring up tears while reading, it serves the role of a powerful story about being sincere and earning trust. One can write an essay about it by focusing on cultural, social, or even political aspects as the book runs from the 1970s to 2002.

1. Aubry, T. (2009). Afghanistan meets the amazon: reading the kite runner in America. PMLA, 124(1), 25-43. (https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/pmla/article/abs/afghanistan-meets-the-amazon-reading-the-kite-runner-in-america/2D11194B0891CCB91EABAEB5E6BD865D) 2. Jefferess, D. (2009). To be good (again): The Kite Runner as allegory of global ethics. Journal of Postcolonial Writing, 45(4), 389-400. (https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/17449850903273572) 3. O'Brien, S. (2018). Translating Trauma in Khaled Hosseini's The Kite Runner. Transnational Literature, 10(2), 1-A5. (https://www.proquest.com/openview/5202ba584abd167130cae69acbe52985/1?pq-origsite=gscholar&cbl=1596384) 4. Jocius, R. (2013). Exploring adolescents’ multimodal responses to The Kite Runner: Understanding how students use digital media for academic purposes. Journal of Media Literacy Education, 5(1), 4. (https://digitalcommons.uri.edu/jmle/vol5/iss1/4/) 5. Kai-fu, C. (2019). A Study of Amir's Psychological Change in" The Kite Runner". English Language Teaching, 12(5), 190-193. (https://eric.ed.gov/?id=EJ1214311) 6. Du, J. (2017). A journey of self-actualization of Amir in The Kite Runner. English Language and Literature Studies, 7(3), 90-93. (https://pdfs.semanticscholar.org/9c07/8bb1388903fab1fe437f604fb6c0a15299a6.pdf) 7. Ghafoor, S., & Farooq, U. (2020). Can subaltern be heard: an analysis of the kite runner and the thousand splendid suns by Khalid Hosseini: can subaltern be heard. International Review of Literary Studies, 2(1), 29-38. (http://irlsjournal.com/ojs/index.php/irls/article/view/10) 8. Hunt, S. (2009). Can the West Read? Western Readers, Orientalist Stereotypes, and the Sensational Response to The Kite Runner. (https://core.ac.uk/download/pdf/129489717.pdf) 9. Adhikary, R. P. (2021). Crisis of Cultural Identity in Khaled Hosseini‘s The Kite Runner. Scholar Journal of Arts, Humanities and Social Science, 5, 179-187. (https://saspublishers.com/media/articles/SJAHSS_95_179-187.pdf)

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kite runner essay examples

The Kite Runner Essay (Critical Writing)

Introduction, theme of sin and redemption, works cited.

Written by Khaled Hosseini and narrated by Amir, the story’s protagonist, The Kite Runner expatiates how a single event changed Amir’s life completely. Amir narrates of his childhood back in Afghanistan as he grew up in one of the wealthiest families in Kabul back then. Violence in the volatile Afghanistan dominates the text of this book as people try to replace monarchy with republicanism.

The book cuts across many social aspects tackling different themes ranging from inhumanity, through nationalism to family relations among others. This paper elaborates the theme of sin and redemption as applied in The Kite Runner.

Redemption comes only after sin and this idea of redemption stands out in The Kite Runner because sin is so bearing. The story starts by highlighting the enduring nature of sin in this society.

Amir says, “It’s wrong what they say about the past, I’ve learned, about how you can bury it. Because the past claws its way out” (Hosseini 1). What creeps back from the past? It is sin in this context. Amir betrays Hassan twice despite the fact that they are friends. The first incidence occurs when he finds Assef raping Hassan in the alley.

Even though Hassan had stood for Amir in the past, Amir does not help him from his predicament or report the issue to Ali for he would help Hassan! Amir is sinning by betraying his close friend. During his thirteen birthday celebrations, Amir betrays Hassan once again by plotting to bring him out as a thief. Again, sin abounds.

As the story unfold, it becomes clear that everyone is almost guilty of sin and he or she needs redemption. Assef is a sinner for he rapes Hassan. Amir learns later in the story how Baba, his father sinned. After Rahim Khan discloses Baba’s secret to Amir, he realizes that everyone is sinful and the reason why Baba was tough on is that he was guilty of his sin.

This makes Amir realize that their life has been one big lie; sin prevailed from yesteryears, and his betrayal to Hassan is just but a drop in a sea of sins. On the other side, to justify their cold blood killing of the adulteress, the Taliban are busy skewing Muhammad’s words to vindicate their actions.

They are sinful and they know that they need redemption and this is why they change Muhammad’s words; something that Amir compares to his sin. Unfortunately, Amir does not know the way to redemption. He asks Hassan to hit him to get hurt and repay his sins. Amir feels that the only way to redemption is getting hurt the way he hurt Hassan.

Amir does not complain after Assef tries to kill him for he thinks he deserves all this as atonement for his past sins. Soraya is guilt of her sin of running away with another man and she asks Amir to forgive her. Rahim Khan is shameful of her sinful nature of not disclosing to Amir what Baba had done.

She kept this as a secret even after Baba died; she could have told Amir for it is his right to know anything to do with his father. The woman soldier at the border is sinful for asks Baba to sleep with her even though she is married.

The idea of redemption sets in at last after Amir realizes that his past sins together with those of his father can only be atoned for by being good to people. He has to let go the sin of discrimination that he has kept for years. He realizes that helping others would bring joy to his life and this is why he decides to help Sohrab up the ladder of success and felicity.

Nevertheless, Rahim Khan wraps up the theme of redemption in this story. In his letter, Khan says, “I know that in the end, God will forgive. He will forgive your father, you, and me too … Forgive your father if you can. Forgive me if you wish. But most important, forgive yourself” (Hosseini 209). It is God only who forgives sins and redeems people from their sinful nature.

Amir understands this very well towards the end of the book when he asks God to remove Sohrab’s blood from his hands. People can also be redeemed from their sins by forgiving themselves. God is willing to forgive people of their sins; unfortunately, people hold on to their sins, letting guilt to haunt them while God has already forgiven them. As the book closes, Amir redeems himself after forgiving himself of his past sins.

One of the most outstanding themes in The Kite Runner is the theme of sin and redemption. Most of the major characters are sinful.

Amir sins by betraying his close friend Hassan. He lets Assef rape Hassan whilst he could do something to rescue him. His sin follows him and he betrays Hassan again during his birthday party. Baba has done many mistakes in the past and Khan is guilty of keeping Baba’s secret from Amir. Assef, the rapist is a sinner while Soraya has committed the sin of running away with another man.

Amir does not get the issue of redemption and he thinks the only way to it is by paying for it through suffering. However, Khan sheds light on the issue of redemption by indicating that God will forgive all people and people could redeem themselves by forgiving themselves. The theme of sin and redemption comes out clearly in this book.

Hosseini, Khaled. “The Kite Runner.” New York: The Berkeley Publishing Group, 2003.

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Persistence of the Past and Present in "The Kite Runner"

Persistence of the Past and Present in "The Kite Runner" essay

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The Kite Runner

By khaled hosseini, the kite runner essay questions.

Could the story of the novel exist without the class difference between Amir and Hassan? Make a case, using specific plot points and historical facts to ground your argument.

Examine the concept of circularity in the novel. What important cycles exist in the characters' lives and histories? How is circularity connected to redemption?

Explore the way in which courage is portrayed in the novel. What constitutes true bravery? What are the key moments when characters are brave and who is the bravest character, if any? Use specific examples from the text to support your argument.

Each character in the novel is shaped not only by his particular circumstances, but by the historical and political events that occur during his life. Consider Sohrab, the only character of his generation; how is he different from the other characters and how are these differences a function of what he has experienced?

Consider the idea of a homeland or "watan." How do you think the novel defines a homeland? Make sure to consider the opinions of Farid and Assef. Also, consider this question in terms of Amir and Sohrab, two characters who leave Afghanistan when they are still growing up.

Even though countless events occur in the novel, the title refers to kite fighting and kite running. What do these activities represent in the novel and why are they so important? To whom or what does the title, "The Kite Runner," refer?

Examine what it means to be American in the novel. How do different characters see America and is there one perspective that comes across most definitively? Some characters you may want to consider: Amir, Baba, General Taheri, Omar Faisal, Farid.

Think about the fathers in the novel. According to the novel, what does it mean to be a father? How can one measure one's success at fathering? Some characters to consider: Baba, Ali, Amir, Hassan, General Taheri, Farid, Wahid, Raymond Andrews.

"Like father, like son." "The apple doesn't fall far from the tree." "Monkey see, monkey do." Use one of these cliches as a starting point to consider the way characters in the story behave. Characters to consider: Amir, Hassan, Assef, Baba, Sohrab, Rahim Khan.

Make a list of instances in the novel where someone is forgiven. What constitutes true forgiveness? Why is forgiveness so important? You may want to consider moments between Hassan and Amir, Baba and Hassan, Hassan and Sanaubar, Amir and Sohrab, General Taheri and Soraya, and Amir and himself.

Think about acts of violence in the novel individually and as a whole. Why is violence so essential to the story? Could the story occur without so much violence? Using your answer from the previous question, explain what you think Hosseini is using violence to say. You may want to consider: Hassan's rape, Sohrab's rape, the stonings at Ghazi Stadium, Assef and Amir's fight, Sohrab's suicide attempt, the story of Kamal and his father, Hassan and Farzana's murders, Sanaubar's appearance at the house, and the activity of kite fighting.

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The Kite Runner Questions and Answers

The Question and Answer section for The Kite Runner is a great resource to ask questions, find answers, and discuss the novel.

Kite Runner Khaled Hosseini chapter 2&3

I'm not sure what your question is here.

Baba gets lung cancer. What has Baba been trying to teach Amir?

He wants to teach Amir how to be on his own.

What must grooms do before they ask a girl to wed?

Grooms must ask the father's (of the bride) permission first.

Study Guide for The Kite Runner

The Kite Runner is a novel by Khaled Hosseini. The Kite Runner study guide contains a biography of Khaled Hosseini, 100 quiz questions, a list of major themes, characters, and a full summary and analysis.

  • About The Kite Runner
  • The Kite Runner Summary
  • Character List

Essays for The Kite Runner

The Kite Runner essays are academic essays for citation. These papers were written primarily by students and provide critical analysis of The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini.

  • Amir’s Quest for Salvation in The Kite Runner
  • A Journey for Redemption in The Kite Runner
  • Redemption in Kahled Hosseini's The Kite Runner
  • Assef: Why Is He the Way He Is?
  • Emotional Intertextuality Between Death of a Salesman and The Kite Runner

Lesson Plan for The Kite Runner

  • About the Author
  • Study Objectives
  • Common Core Standards
  • Introduction to The Kite Runner
  • Relationship to Other Books
  • Bringing in Technology
  • Notes to the Teacher
  • Related Links
  • The Kite Runner Bibliography

Wikipedia Entries for The Kite Runner

  • Introduction
  • Composition and publication
  • Plot summary

kite runner essay examples

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Essays on The Kite Runner

Comparison of the kite runner and a separate peace, kite runner: war. politics and rapes in afghanistan, the kite runner: revealing of violence, the kite runner: the themes of justice and destiny, the kite runner: the theme of guilt.

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The Kite Runner: The Portrait Of Amir

Phases of the development in khaled hosseini’s novel: “the kite runner”, book review: the kite runner, kite runner: guilt and redemption, theme of masculine hegemony in the kite runner: analytical essay, top similar topics.

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The Kite Runner Essay Examples

The kite runner by khaled hosseini: the figure of father baba.

Most parents have parenting styles and techniques that differ from each other. Despite this, parents have one thing in common; their profound love for their children. With a love such as this, a parent only wants the best for their child and sometimes neglects the...

Traumatic Childhood Experience in the Kite Runner and I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings

Renowned therapist, Zoe Reyes, presents the argument that ‘Childhood experiences lay the groundwork for what will be our general attachment style throughout our lives, how we bond with another person, as well as how we respond emotionally when that person is separated from us.’  In...

Depiction of Trauma and Tragedy in the Novel "The Kite Runner"

Traumatic events and tragedies can heavily affect people and change the course of their lives. These traumatic events can be a result of a person’s fate or their lack of action taken to make it avoidable. Trauma can be experienced at any age, from childhood...

Defining the Central Motifs Explored in the Kite Runner

The novel The Kite Runner, written by Afghan-American author is about the fierce cruelty and fierce yet redeeming love. There are many noticeable motifs in this novel, the first and most important symbol in the novel is “The Kite”, it appears only at the beginning...

The Kite Runner: the Book’s Superior Plot

Have you heard about chasing kites? It is a traditional competition in Kabul. Both the book The Kite Runner written by Khaled Hosseini was published in 2003 and the movie of the same name directed by Marc Forster released in 2007 introduce the competition well....

Symbolism of Kite in the Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini

The beginning of Kite Runner is talks about the narrator, Amir received a call from Rahim Khan in Pakistan, which cause him to remember the past, a boy who running kite for him. In the whole novel, kite through all plot and connect all of...

Guilt and Redemption in the Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini

The major themes of the novel are guilt and redemption. Guilt is the fact of having committed a specified or implied offence or crime. Redemption is compensation for one’s sins through actions that relieves one from guilt. In the novel, The Kite Runner, the author...

Betrayal in Khaled Hosseini’s the Kite Runner

Khaled Hosseini had an abnormal childhood. He grew up in Afghanistan in the pre-soviet war era. Both of his parents where college educated. His father was a diplomat for the Foreign ministry and his mother a high school history teacher at an all-girls Highschool. In...

The Theme of Redemption in the Reluctant Fundamentalist and the Kite Runner

Rahim Khan’s statement “there is a way to be good again”, signals the beginning of Amir’s journey for redemption in The Kite Runner. It can be argued that The Reluctant Fundamentalist is also a novel about redemption with Changez seeking redemption for pursuing the American...

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