Mistakes haunt you until the day they leave you. Amir struggles with the thought of redemption through most of the story. He thinks he deserves punishment from his past mistakes. Through hardship, Amir proves himself to his father and Hassan but also to himself. Redemption is being saved from sin. Amir tries to convince others, and himself he deserves this throughout the book. Amir's journey and challenges revealed that he is on his way to redemption. Amir feels as though he can earn redemption to Hassan through Sohrab. After being beaten brutally Amir thought “What was so funny was that, for the first time since the winter of 1975 I felt at peace. I laughed because I saw that, in some nook in the corner of my mind, I had been looking forward …show more content…
Amir struggles to earn his father’s love while he is alive, "I would win, and I would run that last kite. Then I'd bring it home and show it to Baba. Show him once and for all that his son is worthy. Then maybe my life as a ghost in this house would finally be over" (60). By winning the tournament Amir is proving to his father he is good enough. Amir thinks all his father wants is for him to win and make the family proud. In this quote, Amir says since he won the kite tournament, the only thing he needs to show his dad is the final kite. Amir thinks that his dad does not love him and unless he wins the kite tournament and brings home the last kite, his dad will continue to not pay attention to him. Sometimes Amir thinks he deserves redemption but he is actually just being selfish and doesn’t deserve it at all. When Amir is alone he has time to gather his thoughts about him father "Because the truth of it was, I always felt like Baba hated me a little. And why not? after all, I had killed his beloved wife, his beautiful princess, hadn't I? The least I could have done was to have had the decency to have turned out more like him. But I hadn't turned out like him. Not at all" (20). Amir is blaming himself for the death of his mother because she died giving birth to him, and he thinks that it was his fault. He thinks that Baba has also blamed him for her death. Amir thinks that he needs to
Hosseini shows that it is Amirs immense guilt that drives him to want to make things right and to earn redemption. We learn the basis Amir's guilt through his memories. It is caused by a lack of response at a time when his loyal servant and close friend Hassan is in trouble. Amir makes a conscious decision to hide in the distance and just watch, not because he was afraid. He sacrifices Hassan in order to earn his fathers attention and affection. This decision results in Hassan suffering though a traumatic experience and is the root of Amir's lasting regret.
Similarly in The Kite Runner, Amir struggles to find a connection with his father, Baba. According to Amir, their bond was a fundamental basis of their lives, however when describing Baba, he claims he is “a force of nature,” using a metaphor to not only place Baba as a superior character, but leaving room for sympathy for Amir as he, like Raimond, feels a distant sense of connection to the world of his father. Another prime example of Amir feeling no connection to the world of his father is the soccer games that he, whilst full of regret, participated in, just to try and feel that sense of belonging he was hoping for. Amir would pretend to enjoy soccer even though he was “hopeless” and his “scraggy legs” couldn’t keep up with the sport. Amir’s condescending tone expresses his embarrassment and hate for the sport but the will to persevere to make his father happy, therefore demonstrating how Amir strives to belong. Amir’s personal relationship with his father was obviously dishonest which contradicts with his father’s
Trying to Impress others is one of the mistakes we make everyday of our lives. Living life to impress others it's comical, put another way, it is not a good way to live your life. If you can not make a joy out of what you are doing in a long run there is not a point. Amir was trying to impress Baba (his father) for most of his life desire for that brought him despair many times. Story of Kite Runner being around Afghanistan, where Amir's father was wealthy and well off; Amir greatly struggled to impress his father, which was more or less the main parent figure in his life. Growing up with his Baba, being around his as much as nobody else, Amir has to learn to deal with all of the high standard his father has, or so he thought. It seems like Baba was one like father that had a rough look from the outside, but has always had love for his son. Amir not seeing it that way has always tried to impress him, which is the best shown at the kite festival which Amir won
How, after years of guilt, self-disgust, and deception, is it possible for one person to become good again? Entrapped in a cage of cowardice for so long, can they ever develop and grow as a normal human being? Amir, the anti-hero in Khaled Hosseini’s The Kite Runner, seeks to answer these questions in his own search for atonement through various existential events in his life.
Throughout the novel , Amir is plagued with guilt. He constantly thinks about his actions, is bothered by them but does not seem to know how to resolve the situation , how to stop the battle going within him, until Rahim Khan gives him a way, a way to be ‘good’ again. First we observe that Amir seems to be guilty as a child as he blamed himself for his mother’s death and believed it was the reason why Baba never truly loved him, he also was ashamed and unsatisfied with himself because he wasn’t strong and masculine like his father. : “ I always felt like
Throughout the novel, the protagonist and narrator Amir receives many acts of loyalty from his brother and friend Hassan; these acts start off simple and almost meaningless to Amir, but as times get harder, Hassan’s loyalty proves strong. Hassan was very loyal and humble to those close to him and showed his devotion when he listened to everything Amir had to say and did whatever he wanted when he asked. Amir was reminding himself of the past and constantly bring him memories of Hassan and felt guilt at every moment. Amir reminded himself of the days in Afghanistan when Ali scolded Hassan for the things he had asked him to do, “But he never told on me. Never told that the mirror, like shooting walnuts at the neighbor’s dog, was my idea” (4). These actions were created by Hassan’s surroundings as he grew up, he was taught to be a Hazara servant, but once that friendship sparked between the two boys, Hassan didn’t want to lose that, Amir was his only friend. These small acts of loyalty sparked and grew more important to Amir. A major turning point in the novel was during the kite tournament, but upon finishing the race, Hassan tells Amir, “For you a thousand times over!” (67). This statement is a constant reminder throughout the novel that Hassan will forever be with him and that he will constantly put himself in danger for him and the people he loves. The proof of his loyalty increased that very same day when Hassan found the kite in an alley, but being cornered and harassed by Assef and his friends, he chose to stay and run that kite for Amir instead of handing it over. “‘Amir agha won the tournament and I ran this kite for him. I ran it fairly. This is his
When Amir and his wife, Soraya, can’t seem to have a child, Amir believes that it is because of his wrongdoings in the past. Right up until Amir is in his 30’s does he confront his mistakes. It takes a call from Rahim Khan to persuade him that there is ‘a way to be good again’ (Pg. 2). Amir knows that he needs to make up to Hassan for the wrong that he did all those years ago, and so by confronting his mistake and trying to redeem himself by rescuing Sohrab, Hassan’s son. Amir’s confrontation with Assef when he is getting back Sohrab made him feel like he was confronting his mistakes and gaining redemption ‘For the first time since the winter of 1975, I felt at peace… In some nook in a corner of my mind, I’d even been looking forward to this.’ (Pg. 265). This is the punishment and redemption that he has been waiting all these years for, because Hassan wouldn’t punish him all those years ago when they were under the pomegranate tree.
The significance of redemption, demonstrated through Amir’s character revelation, in addition to self – examination, paves Amir’s first steps to develop his self - identity. Throughout the novel, Amir tries to find redemption but is held back by his fear and cowardice. However, when Rahim Khan provides him a path, he takes a step forward when he realises, “A way to end the cycle. With a little boy. An orphan. Hassan’s son. Somewhere in Kabul” (Hosseini 239). When Amir examines how America is simply a place to drown his sins, he decides that for him to no longer feel guilty, he needs to seek redemption rather than allowing time heal his sins. This sheds light on his character revelation as he is no longer a twelve - year - old boy who seeks his Baba for guidance in everything, but an individual who is able to make his own decisions. To further exemplify Amir’s call to action, the author uses short sentences and asyndeton to emphasize Amir’s metaphorical awakening where he is now able to seek redemption. Amir realises that he has to take action for redemption and this allows him to develop a sense of his own identity through the examination of what he has done in America. Secondly, the use of a paradox of healing through pain further develops Amir’s self – identity. When Amir and Assef meet again in Kabul, Amir willingly battles Assef to free Sohrab, a Hazara. In doing so he finally retains
The sin that Amir has committed will not disappear. The reminisce of the past will not stay covered up and in hiding until the one convict finds redemption from the situation. The reader learns about the power of guilt, and how it can take over one’s life if one does not seek
Amir competed in the kite fighting competition. He fought the hardest he ever did to capture his father’s, Baba, attention. Amir
After some thought, Amir knows that he must go and find Hassan’s son, his nephew to redeem himself for the things he did to Hassan. Amir thinks to himself, “there is a way to be good again, he’d said. A way to end the cycle. With a little boy. An orphan. Hassan’s son. Somewhere in Kabul” (227). After feeling this sense of redemption, Amir does everything he can to bring Sohrab back to America with him, to help him start a new and better life.
Since he was twelve, Amir has been struggling with his sin against Hassan; the fact that he did not come to the rescue of his friend. Deep down Amir always feels like he should have done something and feels horrible because he had chosen not to. Due to his nagging guilt, Amir is notable to live a peaceful life. Amir has an overwhelming need to be punished, to be redeemed from his sin, so that he does not have to live with his remorse. Amir’s feeling of guilt and his vital need for redemption are always a part of his life as he is growing up.
Throughout the novel, Amir endeavors to be approved by his father, Baba, who is admired by people in Kabul. Unfortunately, Baba believes that Amir, unlike him, is very unmanly “and [that he] never fights back. He just... drops his head ” (Hosseini 24). Since Baba wishes for a son who would stand up for himself, he can’t help but observe that Amir’s friend Hassan, as the guy who “steps in and fends the [bullies] off” (Hosseini 24) is his idea of the ideal son. Though aware of his father’s expectations, Amir is unable to change himself and instead envies Hassan and the fact that Baba treats him like his own son by“[patting]Hassan on the back. [and even putting] his arm around his shoulder [like a fatherly figure]”(Hosseini 15). Despite the manifestation of this hatred in Amir, he continues to recognize the bond that he shares with Hassan, “ brotherhood between people who had fed from the same breast” (Hosseini 11) which is because both their mothers died during birth. The confusing emotions he feels for Hassan has Amir face a situation in which he acts inappropriately and allows the guilt to manifest upon him. After winning a very important kite tournament for the first time and “seeing Baba on that roof, proud of [him] at last” (Hosseini 71) Amir begins to search for Hassan who had gone to run his kite earlier. Finally, Amir finds him in a dark alley and as he “peeks around the corner” (Hosseini 75) he witnesses a sight that eradicated not only his relationship with Hassan but also Baba’s brotherly relationship with Ali, Hassan’s father. Peeking through the corner of the alley, like a bystander, he watches his one and only friend getting raped. The guilt that came upon him was for two reason; one, his lack of courage to stand up to
Although Amir thinks his father, Baba, is angry at him for not living up to his family’s beliefs, Baba does not hate Amir. Baba just wants Amir to be a proud man, so Baba can relate to him and further extend their relationship, but Amir does not live up to his father’s specific expectations. When Baba sees that Amir is not growing up like he did he becomes disappointed in Amir. Baba does not agree with Amir’s love and passion for reading poetry and writing stories, because he believes it shows a lack of courage and this does help their relationship. Amir simply wants to make his father happy and try and live in his footsteps. In the book I believe this relationship is part of the reason why Amir didn’t help Hassan when he was being raped, because he wanted to please his father with the victory kite of the contest. If he were to help Hassan the kite would be taken by Assef, but in actual fact I believe Baba would be happier if he stood up for his friend rather than winning the tournament. Amir could have also left Hassan because he is jealous of his father and Hassan friendship.
This one decision left a stain on Amir for the next thirty years. A quote on pg. 88 states “I wish someone would wake me up, so I wouldn’t have to live with this lie anymore” This quote explains how guilty Amir felt after seeing Hassan get raped as he desperately sought for anyone to find out but didn’t chose to tell anyone the actual truth. Another example from the text is when Amir tries throwing pomegranates at Hassan, as an attempt to get Hassan to fight back and punish Amir for choosing to leave Hassan. However, Hassan refused to throw any pomegranates at Amir, but instead smashed one into his face. A quote on pg.94 states “I wanted Hassan to fight me back for the way I failed him” This quote indicates that Amir wanted Hassan to fight him back, so he could have the “punishment [he] craved” (93) This demonstrates that Amir wanted to feel the act of being punished for his wrongdoing, similar to how Hassan was brutally raped due to Amir’s apparent mistake. Amir’s guilt forces him to travel across two countries to seek redemption for the mistake he made. 15 years later, Amir’s guilt led him to make the hefty decision of returning to Afghanistan “to be good again” (189) by rescuing Hassan’s orphaned son, Sohrab, from the terrible conditions he was left to face in Kabul. Amir sees this as an opportunity to redeem and free himself from