Hope In The Kite Runner
As former Secretary of State and Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton once said, “It is often when night looks darkest, it is often before the fever breaks that one senses the gathering momentum for change, when one feels that resurrection of hope in the midst of despair and apathy.” Even through the hardships and toils of life, one still finds solace in the darkest of days. Guilt is often the source of such despair, and one can achieve a resurrection of hope through true redemption. In The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini, the main character Amir finds himself in a place of apathy after a series of events identified by detachment, betrayal, and guilt. As Clinton said, His resurrection of hope is found in a time of darkness, and his
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Throughout the first few pages of the novel, Amir and Baba, his father, are distant from each other. In context, the reason for this divide stems from Amir’s mother dying in childbirth. Since her death, Baba is resentful of Amir because of his lack of masculinity, and that he is not his ideal son. This disconnection leads Amir to crave Baba's affection, and thus he uses Hassan to obtain it. Hassan and Amir enter a kite race, which is one of the hallmarks of young Afghani life. After the boys win, Hassan goes to retrieve the kite for Amir to show his father as proof of his athleticism. As Hassan looks for the kite he runs into Assef, a bully who often mocks and degrades Hassan because of his social status. Due to his evil and conniving nature, he abuses Hassan by harassing and violating him in an alleyway. Amir is present to watch the entirety of the situation, and looks from behind a wall, unbeknownst to Hassan. Behind that wall, Amir sees Assef stripping away Hassan’s dignity by raping him. Instead of stopping Assef or calling for the help of the authorities, Amir walks away. Within himself, Amir believes that “Hassan is the price [he] has to pay, the lamb [he] has to slay, to win Baba” and tells himself that “[Hassan] is just a Hazara” (Hosseini 77). Not only does fleeing his brother's rape prove Amir’s selfishness, but comparing
Throughout the first few pages of the novel, Amir and Baba, his father, are distant from each other. In context, the reason for this divide stems from Amir’s mother dying in childbirth. Since her death, Baba is resentful of Amir because of his lack of masculinity, and that he is not his ideal son. This disconnection leads Amir to crave Baba's affection, and thus he uses Hassan to obtain it. Hassan and Amir enter a kite race, which is one of the hallmarks of young Afghani life. After the boys win, Hassan goes to retrieve the kite for Amir to show his father as proof of his athleticism. As Hassan looks for the kite he runs into Assef, a bully who often mocks and degrades Hassan because of his social status. Due to his evil and conniving nature, he abuses Hassan by harassing and violating him in an alleyway. Amir is present to watch the entirety of the situation, and looks from behind a wall, unbeknownst to Hassan. Behind that wall, Amir sees Assef stripping away Hassan’s dignity by raping him. Instead of stopping Assef or calling for the help of the authorities, Amir walks away. Within himself, Amir believes that “Hassan is the price [he] has to pay, the lamb [he] has to slay, to win Baba” and tells himself that “[Hassan] is just a Hazara” (Hosseini 77). Not only does fleeing his brother's rape prove Amir’s selfishness, but comparing