Sean Ziaie Ziaie 1

Professor Rosenbaum

Literature and Composition

16 February 2023

The Kite

Every child had their favorite pastime. Some play games, and others read books, but in

Khaled Hosseini’s novel, The Kite Runner, our protagonist, Amir’s favorite pastime is fighting

kites. Especially with his friend Hassan. While the kite may not be the most commonly occurring

object in the novel, it can certainly be seen as an extremely influential symbol for the novel's

characters. Hosseini uses the kite to symbolize the relationship between Amir and Hassan. This

is incredibly important to the story, because Amir and Hassan's relationship is incredibly

dynamic. This means that the symbolic meaning of the kite changes throughout the events of the

novel and parallels Hassan and Amir’s relationship. The kite represents the key themes of

betrayal, redemption, and especially- hope.

As adolescents, Amir and Hassan spent their childhood together, fighting kites. This

activity was a great way for them to bond, as both children were required to successfully steer

their kite to victory. Amir directs the kite, while Hassan retrieves the kite before it lands, so

Hassan is technically the kite runner. In chapter seven, Hassan and Amir take part in a kite flying

tournament in 1975. They do exceptionally well and win the entire tournament. Amir revels in

the moment as the younger kids pat him on the back and ruffle his hair. Meanwhile, Hassan goes

to an alleyway to retrieve their blue kite. What should have been a joyous moment for the boys

quickly turns sour, as Hassan is cornered in the alleyway by Assef and his accomplices, Kamal

and Wali, where they proceed to sexually assault him. This was primarily due to the fact that

Hassan is a ‘Hazara’. A group in Afghanistan that faced overwhelming discrimination. The Kite

was right there in the alley, and so was Amir, just far enough to see the horrors that Assef
 Ziaie 2

committed against Hassan. After contemplating whether or not Amir should go help Hassan, or

whether to run away, Amir proclaims, “In the end, I ran. I ran because I was a coward. I was

afraid of Assef and what he would do to me.” (Hosseini 65.) This decision changes the course of

Amir and Hassan’s lives, as Amir develops guilt so substantial that his and Hassan's relationship

is completely tarnished. It is at this moment that the kite transforms from a symbol of unity and

teamwork to a symbol of betrayal and guilt, as Amir doesn’t fly a kite for many years after that

incident. Only until the very end of the novel, when Amir is an adult, does the reader see Amir

teach the child of Hassan, Sohrab, how to direct the kite, after his fathers passing.

A second theme that the kites take on is the theme of redemption. Throughout Amir’s

whole life, he was given more privileges over Hassan than he could count. From his social class,

to his education, to his ethnicity, Amir believed he was better than Hassan. Despite all this, Amir

develops a deep jealousy towards Hassan, as he believes his father Baba gives Hassan more

attention than to his own son. Even when Amir teases Hassan for his illiteracy, Hassan still

commits acts to protect Amir, demonstrating selfless courage that unfortunately for Hassan,

Amir fails to return. After Amir witnesses Hassan’s rape, he goes even further and gets Ali and

Hassan kicked out of Baba’s compound. Guilt built up in Amir after every terrible action against

Hassan. In the year 2000, Hassan is killed by the Taliban. The following year, Amir and his wife,

Soraya turned their study into a bedroom for Hassan’s child, Sohrab. Amir makes the decision to

include Sohrab in his life, not because he feels he is obligated to, but because he believes it’s the

right thing to do. He knows Hassan would have done the same for him. In chapter twenty-five,

Amir admits his feelings to Sohrab, stating, “You know, I've done a lot of things I regret in my

life," I said, "and maybe none more than going back on the promise I made you. But that will

never happen again, and I am so very profoundly sorry. I ask for your bakhshesh, your
 Ziaie 3

forgiveness. Can you do that? Can you forgive me? Can you believe me?" I dropped my voice.

"Will you come with me?"” (Hosseini 314.) In the end, Amir ends up adopting Sohrab where

ultimately, Sohrab is saved from the Taliban, and the orphanage he once resided. While it is

difficult to say whether someone has redeemed themselves from their past actions, it can

certainly be said that Amir’s guilt led him to an ongoing path of redemption he will pursue for

the rest of his life.

Lastly, we see kites take on a different meaning in Hosseini’s narrative. In chapter

sixteen, Amir reveals to the reader that following the Taliban’s takeover of Afghanistan, in 1996,

“the Taliban banned kite fighting.” (Hosseini 182.) As a result, Afghanistan became void of any

more kite fights. The Taliban took one of the few things some of the Afghan children had. For

years, the ideal activity for Amir, Hassan, and hundreds of other kids in Afghanistan was

suddenly gone. Fast forward a few years later, and Amir has adopted Sohrab. Sohrab spent his

life as an orphan, at one point, he was in the hands of the Taliban. He was a refugee of war, and a

rape victim. Sohrab did not know how to fly a kite, until the end of the novel where Amir teaches

Sohrab how to fly a kite. In a field of other kids kite running, Amir felt like it was a new

beginning. He states, “I ran. A grown man running with a swarm of screaming children. But I

didn't care. I ran with the wind blowing in my face, and a smile as wide as the Valley of Panjsher

on my lips. I ran.” (Hosseini 328.) This quote alone conveys something that Amir has attempted

to achieve for a long time. A sense of hope. Now, there is no Taliban, and there is no monster.

It’s in this instance that Amir has finally gotten over his past. He, Soraya, and Sohrab can move

forward in life with hope for the future.

The story of the Kite Runner is a beautiful narrative that centers around the themes of

grief, guilt, redemption, hope, and many other feelings and emotions. All of these themes can be
 Ziaie 4

interpreted from kites in the story. Kites are such a crucial symbol in the novel. This is so

important in the story because everytime there is a kite, there is a shift. A relationship will

change, a new opportunity will open. Ultimately, the most prominent object that remained

consistent throughout the story from beginning to the end, was the inclusion of kites.

Work Cited:

Hosseini, Khaled. The Kite Runner. Bloomsbury Publishing PLC, 2018.