The Kite Runner

It’s never too late to Amend There is famous saying that, “Life repeats following a circular path. That is why history repeats itself”. Circularity has a strong connection to the main theme in the novel- sin and atonement. This idea is portrayed throughout Khaled Hosseini’s first novel The Kite Runner. The novel takes place in Afghanistan where the main characters Amir and Hassan grow up. Through a beautiful yet devastating love story, Amir betrays the one person who has always been loyal to him; his best friend Hassan. Years after their separation Amir is given the chance to “become good again” from Rahim Khan who was an uncle-like figure in Amir’s life. Circularity, one of the key concepts in the novel, is used as a narrative technique by Hosseini. He uses circularity in his novel, by portraying Amir’s redemptions years after his betrayal of Hassan, through Wahid, Sohrab and Assef. Amir is given an opportunity to atone for his sins in the middle of the novel, where Amir has returned to Afghanistan and is staying the night at Wahid’s house. In the beginning of the novel, after Hassan’s tragedy, Amir and Hassan’s relationship fell apart. No longer did Amir and Hassan speak to each other. In fact both boys avoided confrontation with each other altogether. With their relationship falling further apart Amir decides to frame Hassan with stealing some of his birthday presents. Amir states, “I went down stairs, crossed the yard, and entered Ali and Hassan’s living quarters by the loquat tree. I lifted Hassan’s mattress and planted my new watch and a handful of Afghani bills under it” (104). By doing this Amir is betraying Hassan by framing him for theft in hope that Baba will get angry with Hassan and stop including Hassan when he takes Amir places. Baba thinks that theft is the one unforgivable sin that a person can make. So when Baba forgives Hassan, Amir is beside himself. Amir doesn’t understand how Baba forgive Hassan who has just committed the worst sin,