Themes and Motifs in The Kite Runner

Themes and Motifs in
The Kite Runner

Kites and Kite Flying Tournaments
Kites can symbolize the
Kites are also linked to the idea of escaspism and
relationship found between

freedom for Amir. When Baba tells him to "think of
betrayal and redemption, a

something good [...] something happy" In chapter
major theme omnipresent in

10, Amir recalls a memory of him and Hassan kite
the novel. Kite tournaments

flying in order to escape the hardships he was
only occur twice, in chapter 7

experiencing in the fuel truck.
and the final chapter. The
Another idea Hosseini presents through kites is the class

effect that these
difference between Amir and Hassan. Just as Hassan is
tournaments have on the
Amir's servant, he could only assist Amir in kite fighting
course of the novel are
by feeding the string. This highlights the power
significant as the first
dynamics set in place through the opressive system
tournament was followed by
found in Aghan culture, Hassan doesn't have much
a of path betrayal, whilst the
control and eventually gets caught in the crossfire due
second tournament caused
to the way he is percieved by others around him.

Amir to finally feel a sense of
redemption.
Pomegranate Tree
Once Amir throws the pomegranate at Hassan, the fruit has lost
its symbol of brotherly love and has gained Amir’s bitterness,
guilt, and anger.

Hassan and Amir carve their names in a pomegranate tree which
bares fruit. The tree symbolizes their relationship. After Hassan’s
death and Amir’s guilt-ridden state, the tree still exists but no
longer bears fruit; signifying a unifying force between the two but
also serving as a source of division.

Place: The Deserted Alley, Winter, and The Snow
The fact that the rape scene occurred in the snow could indicate the
loss of innocence within Amir and Hassan as the snow’s white colour
had been tainted with Hassan’s blood through the aftermath of the
violence that had been inflicted upon him. It could also suggest the
image of a blank canvas being painted on, foreshadowing/predicting
the future turmoil Afghanistan and the characters in the novel will
face.
"those tiny drops that fell from between his legs and stained the
snow black"
The Lamb
The lamb is a religious allusion and motif used to amplify
what happened to Hassan, a sacrifice. It also serves as a
reminder of Amir's guilt as the religious sacrifice
happens yearly
"Maybe Hassan was the price I had to pay, the lamb I had to slay,
to win Baba"
Dualities (of life in Afghanistan versus life in the
Western World; summer versus winter; lies and
truth; and good and evil).

The opening chapter highlights the contrasting ideas
surrounding the East and the West through dark and
bright imagery
"peeking into the alley near the frozen creek/ The early afternoon sun
sparkled on the water"

"Crouching/Soaring"
Loyalty and Friendship
"For you, a thousand times over"
It is made clear that Hassan and Amir's friendship is fragmented and
twisted as theres an unbalanced dynamic between the two. This is
evident in Hassan's subservience towards Amir even after the kite
tournament. When he questions Amir's closed off and avoidant
treatement of Hassan, he asks if he did something wrong and says
"you can tell me, I'll stop doing it". This empasises Hassan's constant
need to satisfy Amir, bringing us back the quote above.

Father/Son Relationships
There are multiple father and son relationships presented in the novel, the
central one being Amir and Baba's relationship. The author makes it evident that
baba fails to accept Amir for who he is, suggesting he harbours neglect towards
him. They're characteristics are distinquishable as Amir's unconfrontational
nature and love for literature completely contradicts Baba's assertive nature and
business oriented mindset

Baba's feeling of disconnect towards his son is supported through what he says in
chapter 3 with his conversation with Rahim Khan
"If i hadn't seen the doctor pull him out of my wife with my own
eyes, I'd never believe he's my son"

Although Amir's jealousy towards Hassan is somewhat
credited to the close knit relationship between Baba and
Hassan, once the true nature of their relationship is
revealead, the idea of Baba's compation towards Hassan
shifts as he failed to claim he is his true father. This
underlines his absent paternal role in both Amir and
Hassan's lives
Wounds and Scars
Hassan's harelip disadvantages him as it puts him on the forefront of
bullying and discrimination

Amir's scar symbolizes his brotherhood with Hassan as he now has his
own ‘harelip’ becoming physically like his half-brother.

Slingshot
Symbolizes both childhood as well as the
need to stand up for what is right.

Redemption
"There is a way to be good again"

Thank you

Themes and Motifs in The Kite Runner

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

Themes and Motifs in The Kite Runner

Uploaded by

Document Information

Copyright

Available Formats

Share this document

Share or Embed Document

Sharing Options

Did you find this document useful?

Is this content inappropriate?

Copyright:

Available Formats

Themes and Motifs in The Kite Runner

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

Themes and Motifs in

The Kite Runner

relationship found between

betrayal and redemption, a

major theme omnipresent in

the novel. Kite tournaments

only occur twice, in chapter 7

Another idea Hosseini presents through kites is the class

difference between Amir and Hassan. Just as Hassan is

tournaments have on the

Amir's servant, he could only assist Amir in kite fighting

course of the novel are

by feeding the string. This highlights the power

significant as the first

dynamics set in place through the opressive system

tournament was followed by

found in Aghan culture, Hassan doesn't have much

a of path betrayal, whilst the

control and eventually gets caught in the crossfire due

second tournament caused

to the way he is percieved by others around him.

its symbol of brotherly love and has gained Amir’s bitterness,

guilt, and anger.

bares fruit. The tree symbolizes their relationship. After Hassan’s

also serving as a source of division.

image of a blank canvas being painted on, foreshadowing/predicting

The lamb is a religious allusion and motif used to amplify

what happened to Hassan, a sacrifice. It also serves as a

reminder of Amir's guilt as the religious sacrifice

Western World; summer versus winter; lies and

truth; and good and evil).

surrounding the East and the West through dark and

sparkled on the water"

It is made clear that Hassan and Amir's friendship is fragmented and

twisted as theres an unbalanced dynamic between the two. This is

evident in Hassan's subservience towards Amir even after the kite

tournament. When he questions Amir's closed off and avoidant

treatement of Hassan, he asks if he did something wrong and says

need to satisfy Amir, bringing us back the quote above.

him. They're characteristics are distinquishable as Amir's unconfrontational

business oriented mindset

chapter 3 with his conversation with Rahim Khan

eyes, I'd never believe he's my son"

credited to the close knit relationship between Baba and

Hassan, once the true nature of their relationship is

revealead, the idea of Baba's compation towards Hassan

shifts as he failed to claim he is his true father. This

underlines his absent paternal role in both Amir and

Hassan's harelip disadvantages him as it puts him on the forefront of

bullying and discrimination

own ‘harelip’ becoming physically like his half-brother.

Symbolizes both childhood as well as the

need to stand up for what is right.

"There is a way to be good again"

You might also like

Pfad - The Proxy pFad of © 2024 Garber Painting. All rights reserved.