Redemption is the act of redeeming or atoning for a fault or mistake, or the state of being redeemed. This essay will follow a young man who goes through a journey of redemption to atone for past mistakes. The novel The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini follows the life of a young boy, Amir, who grows into a man and, like everyone else, makes mistakes along the way. In the novel, Amir tries to atone for past mistakes by seeking redemption. This essay will discuss how the author uses the themes of guilt, betrayal, and forgiveness to showcase Amir's journey to redemption. By using these themes one can find redemption and be at peace and happy. Firstly, the author uses the theme of guilt through Amir multiple times throughout the novel to find redemption. …show more content…
This first betrayal leads to Amir betraying Hassan again when, instead of trying to atone for not standing up for Hassan, he decides to let their relationship grow apart. This betrayal ultimately leads to Amir finding redemption. Lastly, Hosseini uses the theme of forgiveness through Amir so that he can find redemption. Early in the novel, after the kite tournament ends, Hassan tells Amir, "For you a thousand times over." ( Ch. 7) This shows that Hassan was willing to do anything for Amir a thousand times over because he worshipped him and thought of him as a brother. This quote is said again, but by Amir Sohrab in chapter 25, in the kite fighting tournament. Amir and Sohrab are in the kite fighting tournament, and there is a moment where Sohrab smiles and Amir sees it, but then he quickly stops smiling. Then Amir asks him if he wants him to run the kite for him, and he nods. While running, he tells Sohrab, "For you, a thousand times over." ( Ch. 25) This is crucial in the novel because Amir is only able to get to this point by forgiving himself and not letting the guilt of his betrayal consume
Amir felt very guilty throughout the book starting when he witnessed Hassan's rape, and proceeded to keep it a secret. In the end of the book after Amir brought sohrab back to america he felt like he redeemed himself. So he forgave himself for all his shortcomings through life. Lastly Amir forgave soraya for not being a
While living in Afghanistan, Amir witnesses the raping of his loyal friend and servant, Hassan. Instead of stepping up and stopping the horrific event from happening, "[Amir] bit on [his] fist. Shut [his] eyes" (73). Amir harbored the pain of witnessing his best friend suffering and believed that if he told anyone what had happened that he would be a disgrace to his father. Throughout the rest of his life, Amir believed that every bad situation was God punishing him for not standing up for Hassan. Because Amir was not able to forgive himself, he was unable to move on with his life and be at peace. He believed he was not good enough for anyone's forgiveness. After about twenty-five years, Amir saw his chance at redemption--his chance for forgiveness. He learned of Hassan's death, and that his only son, Sohrab was in an orphanage. Knowing the conditions of Afghanistan, Amir went to save Sonrab and bring him back to America for a better life. Upon returning to America, Amir had admitted his horrific event to Soraya and gained her
This process involves not only making things right with others, but also Amir understanding his own emotions and the deep bond he shared with Hassan. By addressing the outcomes of his jealousy, Amir experiences significant personal growth and starts to grasp the importance of forgiving both himself and others, marking a key development in his character and the story's message about the power of redemption and the human capacity to
With friendship, comes forgiveness, and Hassan perfectly embodies how a real friend should forgive. Amir needs forgiveness, not from Hassan, but from himself because it is the only way he will find redemption. In this book, Hosseini tests the limits of friendship, forgiveness, and redemption.
Forgiveness and redemption make up considerable parts of our lives, as we all make mistakes. For some of these mistakes, we need to atone ourselves, and gain forgiveness of either ourselves or another individual. Many times, we make big decisions based receiving forgiveness on the past mistakes we have made. This theme of forgiveness and atonement is also conveyed in the Kite Runner written by Khaled Hosseini. Forgiveness and atonement is a significant theme throughout the Kite Runner because it causes many of the major events in the story, which is illustrated when characters do certain actions or make decisions driven by the possibility of atonement or forgiveness.
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
Forgiveness and redemption make up considerable parts of humans lives, as everyone makes mistakes. For some of these mistakes, we need to atone ourselves, and gain forgiveness of either ourselves or another individual. Many times, people make big decisions based receiving forgiveness for the past mistakes they have made. The Kite Runner, written by Khaled Hosseni, also conveys this, where forgiveness and atonement are major themes. Forgiveness and atonement are significant themes throughout the Kite Runner because they causes major events in the story, illustrated by characters such as Amir and Baba, who makes important decisions driven by the possibility of atonement and forgiveness.
In Khaled Hosseini’s novel, The Kite Runner, two reoccurring themes are forgiveness and redemption. The main character Amir, has wrong many people and spends his adult life trying to find forgiveness and redemption from not only those he hurt but also from himself. In December of 1975, Amir watched his friend get rapped. This is one of the incidents that shape the rest of Amir’s life. Once Amir and his father, Baba, move to America, Amir does whatever he can to redeem himself in the eyes of his father. It is not until his graduation and the day he gets married, where he finally feels redeemed by Baba. Even though he is redeemed by Baba, he still feels the guilt of what happened in 1975. He never gets the chance to ask Hassan for forgiveness and to redeem himself, so he tries to find it through Hassan’s son, Sohrab. In Khaled Hosseini’s novel, The Kite Runner, the main character Amir desires forgiveness and redemption from his actions, ultimately he succeeds this as an adult.
Even of the sins committed by Amir, in the end he ends up redeeming himself and forgiving himself for what he did to Hassan as he was a child. The actions he did to redeem himself greatly exceed the sins he has done to Hassan as a child. Amir risking his life for a
That, and a breakfast I hardly finished anymore” (85). Amir’s cowardice ruins the bond he and Hassan previously had. As well, in the ninth chapter of the novel, Amir betrays Hassan by framing him for theft (the unforgivable sin) of his watch and money, but Hassan does not deny this and Amir begins to understand why: “He knew I’d seen everything in that alley, that I’d stood there and done nothing. He knew I had betrayed him and yet he was rescuing me once again, maybe for the last time” (111). Amir’s
In many novels, it is known for a character to sacrifice, surrender, or forfeit something to illuminate their values. This holds true in The Kite Runner by Khaled Houssini when Amir goes back to Afghanistan to save Sohrab and seek forgiveness. From Amir’s actions, an overall theme of redemption exists even after bad times.
Ever since Amir was little “someone had always done my fighting for [Amir] […] but maybe not yet too old to start doing my own fighting […] I was going to Kabul [ to save Sohrab]” (Hosseini, 239). Amir is finally acknowledging his guilt and finds his resolve to start redeeming himself. During Hassan and Amir’s childhood, Hassan was always fighting, protecting and doing things Amir, while Amir does nothing in return. Now Amir is helping Hassan by saving Sohrab from Kabul himself and not letting someone else do it for him. In addition to that, when Amir was about to take Sohrab away with him Assef reminded Amir that they have some unfinished business from when they were little, “Assef had back down [from the fight and] promised that in the end he’d get us both.
He knew he deserved it eventually. Khaled Hosseini’s purpose of this theme was to show “There was a way to be good again.” It is significant to resolving the conflict of this story, and to make Amir good again. I conclude that the theme Sin and the request for redemption. In life second chances are rare, but Amir is given a way to be good
Amir’s Quest for Redemption People need redemption from our continual sin, otherwise, we just wallow in the shallowness of that aspect of our lives. Sin stays with an individual and effects the way their lives are lived. Unless they confront their past the sin will always be present. For example, Khaled Hossei’s , The Kite Runner explains how Amir- one of the main characters in the novel redeems himself because he undergoes strong guilt from his past sins. By examining Amir’s sins in his childhood, in his teenage years and in adulthood, his attainment of atonement is revealed.
The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini tells the coming of age story of the main character Amir. Throughout the novel, many themes are apparent as Amir gets older and deals with the events of his past. One of the main themes is regardless of any action there is always a way to redeem yourself. There are many examples of this theme in The Kite Runner, like when Rahim Khan tells Amir that he can redeem himself, another would be when Assef beats up/hurts Amir but he feels healed, finally were Amir is flying a kite with Sohrab and he smiles. The theme of redemption is present throughout the events of the novel.