The Kite Runner Passage Analysis

In the novel, The Kite Runner, by Khaled Hosseini, the attack of Hassan is a significant event as it is the beginning of Amir, the narrator’s search for redemption. The opening chapter of the novel starts with Amir who lives in Pakistan with his father, Baba, and his servant, Hassan. Amir starts by retelling his childhood memories, particularly, his regrets for not rescuing Hassan who is his friend and secretly his half brother during the attack from Assef. Through Hosseini’s clever use of circular structure, dialogue, and the significant event of Amir’s betrayal of Hassan when he was attacked in the alley, illustrates the theme of “search for redemption” to show the change in Amir’s attitude as initially he couldn’t stand up for Hassan but …show more content…
This is evident when he opens the novel by saying “I crouched down behind a mud wall, peeking into the deserted alley for the last twenty-six years”. The fact that it’s been twenty-six years suggests that while he tries to forget what had happened, his sins took over his life as it has been a twenty-six years journey to redeem himself. In addition to forgetting the significant event of Hassan’s attack, he thinks he can get away with his betrayal but later in the novel he didn’t. Amir soon realizes that his guilt is greater than him so he sins yet again. Therefore, slowing the process of his “search for redemption”. Additionally, Amir couldn’t stand seeing Hassan living in the same house as him because he is constantly reminded of his sins. As a result, he accused Hassan for stealing and lied to his father. He “took a couple of the envelopes of cash from the pile of gifts and my watch, and tiptoed out…I lifted Hassan’s mattress and planted my new watch and a handful …show more content…
The change in location can be deemed as Hosseini’s intention to foreshadow another way of Amir’s escape from his sins as he is in a different location, which may allow him to forget about his past. However, during a conversation between Baba and Rahim Khan (Baba’s best friend) which Baba said “A boy who won’t stand up for himself becomes a man who can’t stand up to anything”. Hence, he ran away during the attack of Hassan as he couldn't stand up for himself and determine what is right and wrote at that time. However, this further pushed Amir’s need for redemption because all he wanted was his father’s love and by doing so would create a win-win situation for the time being and beyond as redemption will ultimately put his mind to ease and feel relieved as it will change his way of life. Hence, Amir felt the need to be punished for his sins since he cannot change the past so instead focuses on receiving similar suffering as experienced by Hassan. For example, he said “Hit me back!’ I spat…I wished he would. I wished he’d give me the punishment I craved, so maybe I’d finally sleep at night. Maybe then things could return to how they used to be between us.” This links to the concept of punishment that fits the crime as it allows the offender to experience similar pain, which would make them realize how difficult it is to go through the trouble/pain that the