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Kite Runner- Betrayal and Redemption

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Kite Runner- Betrayal and Redemption
In the novel, “The Kite Runner”, written by Khaled Hosseini, is a story of a twelve year old Afghan boy, Amir seeking acceptance and approval from his father by entering a kite-fighting tournament along with his servant and friend, Hassan. On that same day a tragedy tears the two boys apart forever. "The Kite Runner" tells us, through Rahim Khan that, "true redemption is when guilt leads to good again..." Throughout the book there are many characters like Amir and Baba that have committed sins and subsequently attempted to redeem themselves. Amir betrayed Hassan several times in this novel. However, the two most important instances were when he did not help Hassan during the rape and when he framed Hassan for stealing the watch and money. When Amir returns to Pakistan, Rahim Khan encourages Amir to find Sohrab from a war torn orphanage and says “there is a way to be good again.” Amir believes he can be redeemed if he can complete this task since Sohrab's parents were executed. Through the redemption process Amir faces problems to get Sohrab from Assef and then bringing Sohrab to America, but finally giving him the peace he has searched his entire life. Another example of betrayal and redemption is witnessed in Baba's relationship with his son, Amir. Baba is unable to accept Amir for who he is during his childhood. He is always comparing him to other boys and criticizing him for his shortcomings. Amir spends most of his childhood trying to please his father which is one of the reasons he did not help Hassan when he was getting raped after winning the kite flying competition. Amir was too concerned with making sure his father was proud of him. But Baba redeems himself by making a new life for him and Amir in America. He is proud of his son after he graduates from college and gives all the money he had for Amir’s wedding with Soraya. “Hell is yourself and the only redemption is when a person puts himself aside to feel deeply for another person. This quote by Tennessee Williams relates to the betrayal that Amir did to Hassan because throughout the majority of this novel and all of Amir's adult life, he is plagued by the memory of Hassan's rape. The immense guilt he feels for tending to his own self interests rather than helping Hassan has hindered his ability to live freely and maintain a sense of self-respect. In conclusion, Amir now understood his goal in life and that was to take care of Sohrab. He needed to repay Hassan back for all the good that he has done for him, even though he knew that nobody could live up to the loyalty and trust that Hassan gave him. Amir loved Hassan and wanted to repay him in as many ways as possible, he would have done anything for him if he was still alive today… a thousand times over.

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