Themes

Redemption:
The conflict of the Novel is predominately Amirs search for redemption, both
from his father and Hassan. Amir first finds the need to redeem himself after his
mother dies in labour giving birth to Amir, he feels responsible for her death and
thinks his father blames him. He is also conscious that his father is disappointed
in the fact Amir is not more like him just because he doesnt play football. This
leads Amir to believe that winning the Kite fighting tournament will bring them
closer. Wining does indeed bring Baba and Amir closer however this was in vain
as they soon drift apart. Winning the kite fighting tournament is ironically the
birth of his next search for redemption. This is because Hassan gets raped while
stopping Assef from trying to take the kite Amir won. Amir watches the event,
helpless and now guilty the conflict of the book continues with Amir trying to
atone himself of his guilt. In the end Amir does indeed find redemption.
A way to be good again the novel is encapsulated in the offer make to him by
Rahim Khan in the opening chapter
Key Quote: when Hassan and Ali leave Babas house, Amir imagines, Id chase
the car...Id pull Hassan out of the backseat and tell him I was sorry, so sorry }
Amir is a storyteller so it is easier for him to imagine than it is for him to actually
do it. Looking back, this is a key moment for adult Amir, as it was the last chance
to make things right. This is a poignant moment, as Amir never sees Hassan
again and never gets to actually say the words he most wants to say Im sorry
Religion
Religion is yet another theme Hosseini eloquently strings along throughout the
kite runner. Religion and Amirs struggle with it is evident in all the key points in
the book. Beginning with Amirs discussion with Baba about sin Amirs struggles
to understand his own beliefs, torn between his educators extremist views and
his fathers modern liberalism. Repeatedly Amir turns to prayer in his time of
need ranging from dealing with his fathers death to his spiritual awakening while
in hospital praying for Sohrabs recovery.
Ethnic differences:
Afghanistan is home to a whole assortment of ethnicities, which provides the
country with a rich history but also many ethnic problems. The Pashtun race, are
the largest ethnicity and also Baba and Amirs race. The Pashtuns are Sunni
Muslims and predominately hold the power in Afghanistan Government and
society. The Hazara ethnicities on the other hand of which Ali and Hassan are a
minority and discriminated
Guilt: The theme of guilt is first established through the opening
chapters of the book:

We learn that Amir's mother died in childbirth, and that this is one of the
sources of his guilt as he holds himself responsible for her death, and
believes his father does too making us feel empathy for Amir.
A good example of this is through the quotation After all, I had killed his
beloved wife, his beautiful princess, hadnt I? (ch.3)

Amirs love of poetry provides a link between him and his mother, and this
is a constant reminder to his father, of his wife and his guilt over the sin
that he has committed.
Quotes such as By the time I was eleven, I could recite dozens of verses
and One time, I took on the whole class and won. I told Baba about it
later that night, but he just nodded, muttered, good. (ch.3)
The theme of guilt is further demonstrated through the character of
Amir and his actions:

The line Prized trophy in my bloodied hands is significant as he comes

back from the kite tournament guilty.

Amirs guilt is clearly evident when he sacrifices Hassan for the kite, the
line Amir agha and I are friends (ch.7) shows this as even though Amir is
listening to Hassan defending him to Assef, he does not go and try to
defend him in return.
The line Redemption. And then? Wellhappily ever after, of course(ch.7)
is ironic because Amir believes that after what has happened that this will
lead to his redemption, but it only further adds to his guilt.

Even years on Amir is still living with his guilt, as during his graduation
Baba states I wish Hassan had been with us today (ch.11) and this only
reminds Amir of everything he has done.

Amirs guilt manifests itself physically, as he is literally sick at the

mention of Hassan's name and also becomes an insomniac. His inability to
sleep is due to him witnessing Hassan be sexually abused but this later
enhances his guilt upon him finding out they are brothers, as he was not
just watching his servant or friend be viciously attacked but his own family.

Sin (on separate sheet)

Fathers and Sons
The absence of women in the novel is evident
Baba and amir have a torn relationship and instead, Rahim Khan is the
surrogate father figure towards Amir, but its Rahim Khans pinky my
fingers are curled around, the parallel structure also shows Rahim Khan
reciting the Ayat-ul-Kursi for Sohrah which is normally done by the
father, so he acted as a father figure for Sohrab as well COMMON
GROUND
Amir has a very complex relationship with Baba, and as much as Amir
loves Baba, he rarely feels Baba fully loves him back.
Amirs desire to win Babas love consequently motivates him not to stop
Hassans rape. Baba has his own difficulty connecting with Amir. He feels
guilty treating Amir well when he cant acknowledge Hassan as his son. As
a result, he is hard on Amir, and he can only show his love for Hassan
indirectly, by bringing Hassan along when he takes Amir out, for instance,
or paying for Hassans lip surgery.
In contrast with this, the most loving relationship between father and son
we see is that of Hassan and Sohrab. Hassan, however, is killed, and
toward the end of the novel we watch Amir trying to become a substitute
father to Sohrab. Their relationship experiences its own strains as Sohrab,
who is recovering from the loss of his parents and the abuse he suffered,
has trouble opening up to Amir.

War and
conflict
Guilt
Moral
conscience
Fatherhood
Loyalty
Prejudice
American

Summary of some other minor themes:

Love
Brotherhood
Atonement
Sacrifice
Truth and lies
Honour
Forgiveness