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Theme Of Redemption In The Kite Runner

Decent Essays

How does the author, Khaled Hosseini, use literary techniques to explore the search for redemption in The Kite Runner?

A story of love, betrayal and redemption, voiced against the backdrop of Afghanistan, a crumbling country torn by war and the Taliban; The Kite Runner is the heart-breaking debut novel by Khaled Hosseini. Written in first person, from the point of view of the protagonist Amir, this historical fiction novel effectively strikes the true balance between tragic emotions and optimism. Through the effective use of literary techniques such as symbolism, irony and imagery, Hosseini invites readers on an inspirational journey searching for redemption.

Hosseini successfully uses symbolism within The Kite Runner through providing …show more content…

Irony is cleverly used within this narrative and aids Hosseini to position the audience to ponder about the messages being conveyed. The novel’s most extreme irony and greatest tragic point is Amir’s selfish decision of not preventing Hassan’s rape. Amir does not intervene during Hassan’s rape due to his fear of losing the blue kite, the key to Baba’s heart (p.67). However by choosing the decision not to stop Assef, Hosseini displays Amir as the coward Baba dreaded he would become, “A boy who cannot stand up for himself becomes a man who can’t stand up to anything” (p.22) as he unwittingly allows his best friend to experience such abuse due to the narcissistic desire of pleasing his father. Through this irony, Hosseini confronts the audience to question whether Amir is deserving of redemption and to dislike Amir’s character due to his cowardice behaviour. Moreover, Assef, the antagonist, who had raped Hassan and the reason behind Amir’s guilt, becomes the path for Amir to obtain redemption nearing the end of the novel. As the novel progressed, Amir returns to Afghanistan to adopt Sohrab, Hassan’s son. However, Amir ends up rescuing Sohrab from being raped by Assef and feels emotionally restored when he accepts the beating from Assef when rescuing Sohrab, “Healed at last…” (p.266). By successfully conveying the irony of Amir facing Assef again but as …show more content…

Becoming the champion of the kite-flying tournament symbolised Amir gaining redemption for the sin of ‘killing’ his mother from Baba. Hosseini utilised imagery to signify the longing Amir felt to please and feel loved by Baba “…He’d guide the winds, let them blow for me so that, with a tug of my string, I’d cut lose my pain, my longing…” (p.62). Hence, Hosseini succeeded in eliciting sympathy from the audience towards Amir. Similarly, Amir and Baba migrated to America in hopes of a better life; Hosseini illustrates America as a way for Amir to be redeemed for not stopping Hassan’s rape by allowing him to forget about his past “For me, America was a place to bury my memories” (p.120). Likewise, imagery is evident at the conclusion of the novel to express Amir finally achieving redemption. “For you a thousand times over…and I ran…I didn’t care…I ran with a smile as wide as the Valley of Panjsher on my lips…" (p.340). Hosseini uses these sentences as the last paragraph of the novel as they represent Amir finally obtaining acceptance from Sohrab, equalling Amir receiving forgiveness from Hassan. Hence, Hosseini encourages the audience to evoke feelings of happiness towards Amir as he was finally able to feel redeemed and free of

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