thesis statement examples for the kite runner

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The Kite Runner Thesis Statements and Essay Topics

Below you will find four outstanding thesis statements / paper topics for “The Kite Runner” by Khaled Hosseini that can be used as essay starters. All four incorporate at least one of the themes found in “The Kite Runner” and are broad enough so that it will be easy to find textual support, yet narrow enough to provide a focused clear thesis statement. These thesis statements offer a short summary of “­­­­­­­The Kite Runner” in terms of different elements that could be important in an essay. You are, of course, free to add your own analysis and understanding of the plot or themes to them. Using the essay topics below in conjunction with the list of  important quotes from “The Kite Runner”  our quotes page, you should have no trouble connecting with the text and writing an excellent essay.

Topic #1: The influence of Afghan culture and historical events

The setting for this book is in three places. The first is Amir’s childhood in Afghanistan. Then at the beginning of violent conflicts, Baba and Amir leave Afghanistan for America. Baba goes from being a wealthy man to a poor immigrant. The third part of the book is about Amir’s return to Afghanistan and his discovery that it has changed. While the book is fiction, some of the work is inspired by Hosseini’s own life and experiences. There are many examples of Afghan culture and outlines of real events that took place in Afghanistan over the past several decades. It is significant that this book shows a much different country from the one that is often presented in the American media. Address the differences and similarities of Afghanistan events and culture in the book and in media coverage.

Topic #2: The significance of the title

At the beginning of the book, Hassan is Amir’s kite runner. They are very close friends and actually half-brothers, though neither is aware of that fact. Then Amir sees Hassan being raped by Assef and does nothing about it. This incident slowly drives a wedge between Hassan and Amir. Amir is forever haunted by the memory. Then he is contacted by his old mentor, Rahim Khan, that there is an opportunity for redemption. When he arrives back in Afghanistan, he is told that Hassan had a son who was sent to live in an orphanage when Hassan and Farzana are both dead. Amir visits the orphanage only to learn that Sohrab has been taken already. He tracks down the man who has Sohrab and discovers that it is actually Assef. In many ways, it is like his past has come back full force. Assef has repeatedly raped and abused Sohrab. He has also allowed others to do the same. Amir gains custody of Sohrab after allowing Assef to beat him. He eventually returns to America with Sohrab, who is damaged in many ways. Toward the end of the book, Amir becomes Sohrab’s kite runner. The relationship has come full circle. However, does Amir ever truly redeem himself from saying nothing when Hassan is raped? Describe how things would have been different if Amir had spoken up, even if it was afterward to an adult.

Topic #3: The parents’ secret

Although Amir and Hassan are supposed to be friends, Amir believes that Hassan is the son of his father’s servant. Because of this, he does not understand and is often jealous of how much his father, Baba, seems to prefer Hassan over Amir. He does not interfere or speak up when Assef rapes Hassan. He tries to frame Hassan for stealing money and jewelry. Many years later, after Hassan is dead, Amir finds out that they were actually half-brothers. He deals with many emotions over not having been told sooner. Given the way that events turned out, would things have been different if Amir and Hassan had known? Would Amir have been kinder to Hassan or would it only have increased his jealousy? Amir states in the book that Hassan knew him better than anyone. Explain how the relationship would have changed if Amir and Hassan had been given that important knowledge.

Topic #4: Child sexual abuse

In the book, Assef’s character represents several of the evils in our society. Among them are rape, pedophilia, and bullying. Assef rapes Hassan at a young age. He finds ways to harass and intimidate Amir. As an adult, he adopts children so that he can abuse and rape them. Amir allows Assef to beat him up at the end of the book so that Amir can take Sohrab with him. This final act of abuse toward Amir is what Assef wanted to do for a number of years. Assef seems to escape prosecution for his various crimes. Explore how this fits in with the other events of the book.

The Kite Runner

Introduction of the kite runner.

The Kite Runner is based on the childhood memories of Khaled Hosseini of his homeland, Afghanistan. It was published in 2003 by Riverhead Books, and immediately created ripples on the US shelves. The unusual appearance of the story seems to present the Afghan background, culture, and ethnic tensions in the city of Kabul and the country on a wider scale. Though it also encompasses the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan, Afghan cultural erosion, and Pakistan’s support of the refugees . The story revolves around the character of Amir and his friend Hassan in the same backdrop.

Summary of The Kite Runner

The storyline starts with Amir recalling 26-year old Afghanistan and picturing himself as a boy, living at a luxurious home with  Baba,  his father. Two servants, the father and the son, Ali, and Hassan from the Hazara community of northern Afghanistan are serving both of them. Even though Hassan was a servant boy, Baba would always let Hassan sit on his lap leaving no room for affection for Amir. Amir always wanted to win Baba’s validation since he was always condemned by him for being feminine because he was more interested in writing. Then he recalls, Rahim Khan, a friend of his Baba, who often visits them who Amir considered as a father figure as he felt more appreciated by him. Meanwhile, Assef the kid from the neighborhood who was half Pashtun himself who has a German mother always picked on Hassan because of his Hazara community.

The story, then, moves to the kiteflying tournament in which the boys participate using different tactics on the kite strings to cut off the kites of the opponents. The boys running after the cut-off kites are the kite runners. When Amir cuts off a kite, Hassan runs to catch it but finds himself trapped in a blind alley when Assef sodomizes him, and Amir pretends as nothing has happened as he feared his father’s anger for showing the act of cowardice. Later, he tries to get Hassan and Ali expelled by Baba by orchestrating the money stealing issue as he puts some money under the pillow of Hassan as he couldn’t live with the guilt. This incident makes them move away from each other.

It happens in 1981, then, when Baba and Amir are leaving Kabul after the USSR invasion. They reach Pakistan from where they leave for Fremont where Baba starts working and educating Amir who attends a college. With the passage of time, they meet other such immigrants among which General Taheri is important whose daughter Soraya also visits them. Both of them start meeting but their elders tell them that they would decide the issue of their marriage which is settled amicably. Although they start wedding preparations, Baba’s health suddenly deteriorates due to terminal cancer. Shortly, after the wedding, Baba dies. Amir and Soraya, then, face another misfortune of not able to bear children.

Time passes by quickly. It happens that Rahim Khan, after getting sick, calls Amir to visit him when he is in Pakistan. He tells him about the situation in Kabul. The departure of the Soviets and arrival of the Taliban has further played havoc with the city and life in general, he tells him adding when they left Kabul, he coaxes Hassan to come with his wife, Farzana live in Baba and Amir’s house and be a caretaker but the Taliban shot him and his wife dead in front of the whole street when he tried to stop them from confiscating the house. They left a baby Sohrab behind. Now Rahim wants Amir to bring Sohrab to Pakistan and who will be taken care of by a couple. He also reveals that Hassan was his half-brother, as he was Baba’s son from a Hazara lady, though Baba handed him over to Ali to bring him up, living close to him, to keep the issue under the carpet. Amir soon leaves for Afghanistan but finds nothing as he runs from pillar to post to find Sohrab after watching a gruesome scene of stoning a woman to death. The next day, he meets an official who takes him to meet Sohrab who appears feminine after having suffered several sexual attacks. Suddenly Amir senses that the official is Assef who starts beating Amir, while Sohrab shoots him with his slingshot in his eye. Meanwhile, they flee from the scene and reach Pakistan where he finds out that after all there was no one to take care of Sohrab.

Finally, Sohrab becomes their adopted son as Soraya and Amir take him in their fold. However, before taking him to the United States, they would have had to prepare papers for him. . When Amir tells Sohrab he’s going to put him briefly in an orphanage, Sohrab tries to commit suicide. When they take him to California after finally becoming successful in getting a visa for him, they visit a park where Sohrab who is his old mate Hassan’s son is now his son. flies a kite and starts a kite-cutting contest where he runs the kite for him saying, ‘For you, thousand times over.

Major Themes in The Kite Runner

• Homeland: Love for one’s homeland is the major theme of the novel as Amir shows that though they live in luxury in Fermont in California, he longs to return to his land, Kabul, where he spent his childhood despite living and enjoying the freedom and open-minded society for having a choice. However, pangs of nostalgia force him to respond to the calls of Rahim from Pakistan and return to get Sohrab back to the United States. Amir later adopts him as a son. He does it wholeheartedly to compensate for the cruelty he demonstrated toward Hassan during his childhood – his own flesh and blood. Both Soraya, his wife, and he become quite happy and satisfied after making Sohrab a part of their family and teach him to fly a kite in California. At that moment, he finds that he feels at home after visiting his homeland.
• Betrayal: The Kite Runner shows the thematic strand of betrayal through the characters of Baba, Amir, and Hassan. Baba betrays his wife from the Hazra community, and then leaves his son Hassan with Ali to fend off themselves. Amir betrays Hassan by leaving him in the cul de sac to fend off himself, though, Hassan has always stood by him through thick and thin. Unfortunately, Hassan dies leaving his son Sohrab to take care of himself. Although it is not a betrayal in that sense, yet Sohrab is left alone in the world.
• Guilt and Redemption: The theme of guilt and its redemption occurs through the character of Baba who has a wife and a child in the city, living with him yet he does not dare own them publicly. However, later, he tries to redeem it by demonstrating his love for Hassan, yet that, too, does not prove fruitful, or of any use to him. It rather causes jealousy to Amir which he later redeems by taking Hassan’s son, Sohrab, out of Kabul to California.
• Familial Relationships: The novel allows the readers to discover twisted familial relations through Baba, Hassan, Amir, and Sohrab. Baba has two sons, but he could only claim Amir and not Hassan who is from the mother , having considered lowly ethnic background. Therefore, Hassan becomes an outcast in the Kabul society despiting the son of an aristocrat, while Amir leaves for California with Baba. Later, when Amir and Soraya do not have their own children, Amir comes to take Sohrab back after the latter loses his father in the war-torn Kabul. These familial relations and their interaction become another theme of the novel.
• Memory and Nostalgia: When Amir remembers Kabul while living in California, America , Baba narrates to him about Kabul and Afghan stories. Baba recollects those memories that keep haunting the old man and his son in the United States. The nostalgia forces Amir later to seek immediate flight to Pakistan, meet Rahim in Peshawar and pick up Sohrab in a daredevil feat. Even the taking of Sohrab to California is an action of effort to forget the nostalgia of leaving Kabul.
• Kite Flying: The game of kite flying shows human effort, growth, aspirations, and love for each other. When Amir loves flying kites, Hassan stands by him in the flying contest and runs after kites for him. However, when it comes to Amir, he abandons Hassan with fear and hurry. Later, he redeems by rescuing Sohrab, Hassan’s son, when he takes him to California adopting him as his son.
• Politics: The novel shows global politics at work due to its references to Communism, jihad , departure of Baba, and Amir to the United States and the free society of California. It tries to portray the United States as a paradise that extends refuge to people like Baba and Amir, from the war-torn Afghanistan, where even generals are roaming around. It also shows the ethnic fissures between the Pashtun, Hazara, and sectarian issues of Shia and Sunni that have led to the devastation of Afghanistan.
• Racial Discrimination: Racial and ethnic discriminations continue to destroy the social fabric of Kabul and Afghanistan. Although Baba is quite liberal and possesses good fortune, he cannot dare to own Hassan as his son from a Hazara lady due to the reprisals from the Pashtuns. He can only extend his love. However, Amir does not fear taking Sohrab who is from Hazara ethnicity and brings him to live in the United States.
• Marginalization of Femininity: The novel shows the marginality of the ethnicity and minority through the character of Hassan and Sanaubar. Hassan represents the ethnicity of Hazara and its significance in the Afghan social structure, while Sanaubar’s role and her story show the marginality of femininity.

 Major Characters in The Kite Runner

• Amir: The main character and protagonist of The Kite Runner , Amir is Baba’s representative of the elite structure of Kabul having all the luxuries and privileges. Despite this, he feels detached from the existing realities and does not show bravery which Baba desires him to show when it comes to human contests. For example, he does not extend protection to Hassan or protects Hassan when others violate his honor, while Baba does not express pleasure over this betrayal. His attempt of insulting Hassan, though, emerges from his jealousy of Baba’s love for Hassan. Later, Amir repents and realizes his flaw, when he comes to meet Rahim in Peshawar to redeem himself from this guilt. Hence, he redeems himself when he takes Sohrab with him to California and plays kite flying with him in a park.
• Hassan: Despite being subservient to Amir, Hassan’s character does not seem subdued by the circumstances. Belonging to a marginal ethnicity rather makes him a favorite character in the novel as he grows up under the shadow of Amir yet makes him seek Hassan’s support where he does not think himself fit to fight others. Even the end of the novel makes him repent over his prejudicial attitude toward Hassan, who is not present, yet his son Sohrab wins love from Amir as his adopted son.
• Baba: Baba is a highly esoteric character in those several aspects of his personality emerge on the scene after his death. Amir comes to learn that Hassan was his son too, and he cannot reconcile with this idea. He wonders why he had never expressed the truth or treated him on equal footing with Amir as a son. However, he senses that his love for Hassan must have a cause behind it that he sees himself. Amir later learns that the old aristocrat from Kabul, perhaps, failed to adapt himself to the urban setup of Kabul where prejudice and malice still existed at that time. However, Baba might have seen that California would dispel these negative emotions from Amir and it proves right when Amir comes back to take Hassan’s son.
• Rahim Khan: Rahim Khan’s character is also an important one. He asks Amir to visit Peshawar as he has some important news for him. He utilizes his old business terms with Baba and when Amir comes to meet him, he tells him the whole story behind Hassan and Baba’s relation and tries to make him understand the significance of Sohrab and his safety.
• Sohrab: Hassan’s son Sohrab becomes significant in the novel in that Amir considers him his own son instead of just the son of his stepbrother, Hassan. Therefore, he does not leave any stone unturned to save him from the clutches of Assef when he visits Afghanistan for this very purpose at the request of Rahim Khan. Later, he provides Soraya and Amir a chance to win happiness.
• Assef: Despite belonging to double ethnicities, Assef becomes a bully as well as a villain of The Kite Runner. His brass knuckles and his bullying makes him the bad character who demonstrates his anti-Hazara sentiments whenever an opportunity arises. He sexually molests Hassan, however, proves dear to him when it comes to Sohrab who is timely saved by Amir. In fact, he shows the unpleasant and dangerous side of life among the good characters of Amir, Soraya, and others.
• Soraya: The significance of Soraya lies in that despite being a daughter of an ex-general, she happily marries Amir and agrees to adopt Sohrab when she knows that she can never bear a child. This kind act of the lady wins the heart of the readers by the end.
• Ali: Despite being a secondary character, Ali has two drawbacks that force Baba to show his humane character. Not only is he limped, but also is a Hazara, and to top all this, he is a Shia. Almost all of these drawbacks make him a target during the melee following the chaos after the USSR invasion. However, he wins the love of Baba which reveals its cause later when Amir comes to take Sohrab to California.
• Sanaubar and Farid: Sanaubar, though, appears for a brief period, is significant. She is Hassan’s mother and belongs to the Hazara community after marrying secretly to Baba, while the significance of Farid lies in his assistance extended to Amir when he comes to take Sohrab.

Writing Style of The Kite Runner

Khaled Hosseini adopted the personal and direct style in his novel, The Kite Runner. The main character, Amir, brings recollections out of his sunken memory presented as long flashbacks , bordering hyperbolic use of personal memories. As Khaled is an ESL speaker , his diction is mostly formal, though, occasionally he has resorted to shaping English to demonstrate the true Afghani cultural nuances in the globalized American value structure. However, the self-translation of one cultural construct might have hampered his abilities. Therefore, the novel mostly seems written in formal language though somewhat broken and choppy dialogs of Assef and other characters living in the vicinity of Kabul shows Khaled Hosseini’s real intention in writing personal memories in the global language. Therefore, this style of writing in formal English suits his requirements.

Analysis of Literary Devices in The Kite Runner  

• Action: The main action of the novel comprises Amir’s migration to California with Baba and then return to Kabul through Peshawar to take Sohrab, Hassan’s son with him. The rising action occurs when Amir sees that Hassan becoming the victim of bullying, yet he does not come to help him. The falling action occurs when Baba and Amir leave Kabul for the United States.
• Anaphora : The Kite Runner shows the use of anaphora . For example, i. I looked up at those twin kites. I thought about Hassan. Thought about Baba. Ali. Kabul. I thought of the life I had lived until the winter of 1975 came along and changed everything. (One) The sentence shows the repetitious use of “I thought.”
• Antagonist : The Kite Runner shows the character of Assef, Russian soldiers, and the Kabul elite as the main antagonists on account of their bad behavior toward Baba, Hassan, and the ethnic Hazra community.
• Allusion : There are a good number of examples of allusions in the novel. i. After I hung up, I went for a walk along Spreckels Lake on the northern edge of Golden Gate Park. (One) ii. … can still see Hassan up on that tree, sunlight flickering through the leaves on his almost perfectly round face, a face like a Chinese doll chiseled from hardwood: his flat, broad nose and slanting, narrow eyes like bamboo leaves, eyes that looked, depending on the light, gold, green, even sapphire. (Two) iii. Gold-stitched tapestries, which Baba had bought in Calcutta, lined the walls; a crystal chandelier hung from the vaulted ceiling. (Two) iv. I remember the day before the orphanage opened, Baba took me to Ghargha Lake, a few miles north of Kabul. (Three) v. He told us one day that Islam considered drinking a terrible sin; those who drank would answer for their sin on the day of Qiyamat, Judgment Day. (Three) vi. We saw Rio Bravo three times, but we saw our favorite Western, The  Magnificent Seven, thirteen times. With each viewing, we cried at the end when the Mexican kids buried Charles Bronson—who, as it turned out, wasn’t Iranian either. (Three) The first two allusions are related to geographical points, while the third and fourth are related to Indian and Afghan landmarks and the last one is related to the theological concept of Islam. However, the last one shows cross -cultural allusions; American, Mexican, and Iranians.
• Conflict : The are two types of conflicts in the novel . The first one is the external conflict that is going on between the local Afghan elite society and the foreign conspirators. Another conflict is in the mind of Amir about his position as a boy, his gentlemanly learning, and his behavior toward Hassan, his half-brother.
• Characters: The Kite Runner presents both static as well as dynamic characters. The young man, Amir, is a dynamic character as he faces a huge transformation during his growth and migration from Afghanistan to the United States. However, the rest of the characters do not see any change in their behavior, as they are static characters like Sanauber, Ali, Rahim Khan, Baba, and even Hassan.
• Climax : The climax takes place when Amir returns to Kabul to take Sohrab, son of Hassan, his half-brother, to the United States.
• Foreshadowing : The novel shows the following examples of foreshadowing . i. I became what I am today at the age of twelve, on a frigid overcast day in the winter of 1975. (One) ii. When we were children, Hassan and I used to climb the poplar trees in the driveway of my father’s house and annoy our neighbors by reflecting sunlight into their homes with a shard of mirror. (Two) iii. It was Rahim Khan who first referred to him as what eventually became Baba’s famous nickname, Toophan agha, or “Mr. Hurricane.”. (Three) These quotes from The Kite Runner foreshadow the coming events.
• Hyperbole : Hyperbole or exaggeration occurs in the novel at various places. For example, i. At parties, when all six- foot -five of him thundered into the room, attention shifted to him like sunflowers turning to the sun. (Three) ii. The generation of Afghan children whose ears would know nothing but the sounds of bombs and gunfire was not yet born. (Five) These sentences are hyperboles. The first one shows how Baba’s figure has been exaggerated by comparing him with the sun, while the second shows exaggeration about the Afghan nation.
• Imagery : Imagery is used to make readers perceive things involving their five senses. For example, i. Sitting cross-legged, sunlight and shadows of pomegranate leaves dancing on his face, Hassan absently plucked blades of grass from the ground as I read him stories he couldn’t read for himself. (Three). ii. Something roared like thunder. The earth shook a little and we heard the rat-a-tat-tat of gunfire. “Father!” Hassan cried. We sprung to our feet and raced out of the living room. We found Ali hobbling frantically across the foyer. (Four) iii. The streets glistened with fresh snow and the sky was a blameless blue. Snow blanketed every rooftop and weighed on the branches of the stunted mulberry trees that lined our street. Overnight, snow had nudged its way into every crack and gutter.(Seven) The imagery shows the use of images of sound, color, and nature.
• Metaphor : The Kite Runner shows good use of various metaphors such as, i. My father was a force of nature, a towering Pashtun specimen with a thick beard, a wayward crop of curly brown hair as unruly as the man himself. (Three) ii. Just before sunrise, Baba’s car peeled into the driveway. (Five) iii. Outside the walls of that house, there was a war raging. (Sixteen) The first example shows the father compared to a model, the second sun to a knife, and the third war to a furious person or bull.
• Mood : The novel shows various moods in the beginning; nostalgic, neutral, and indifferent, but it turns out tragic and at times darkly humorous when the tragic tale of Farzana, Hassan, and Sanauber are told, and when Rahim calls Amir to save Sohrab from abuse.
• Motif : Most important motifs of the novel are pomegranate, kite, kite contestants, migration, and seasons.
• Narrator : The novel is narrated from the first-person point of view , Amir.
• Protagonist : Amir is the protagonist of the novel. The novel starts with his entry, reminiscing about Kabul and his life in that city and ends with his memories of the same thing after looking at Sohrab flying his kite.
• Parallelism : The novel shows parallelism in the following examples, In the end, I was a Pashtun and he was a Hazara, I was Sunni and he was Shi’a, and nothing was ever going to change that. Nothing. (Four).
• Rhetorical Questions : The novel shows good use of rhetorical questions at several places such as, i. She had a large purple bruise on her leg for days but what could I do except stand and watch my wife get beaten? If I fought, that dog would have surely put a bullet in me, and gladly! Then what would happen to my Sohrab? (Seventeen) ii. How could I have been so blind? The signs had been there for me to see all along; they came flying back at me now:  (Eighteen) iii. In his rearview mirror, I saw something flash in his eyes. “You want to know?” he sneered. “Let me imagine, Agha sahib. You probably lived in a big two- or three-story house with a nice backyard that your gardener filled with flowers and fruit trees.  (Nineteen) This example shows the use of rhetorical questions posed but different characters not to elicit answers but to stress upon the underlined idea.
• Setting : The setting of the novel spread over three countries; Afghanistan, Pakistan, and the United States.
• Simile : The novel shows good use of various similes. For example, i. So I read him unchallenging things, like the misadventures of the bumbling Mullah Nasruddin and his donkey. (Four) ii. Something roared like thunder. (Five) iii. Flanked by his obeying friends, he walked the neighborhood like a Khan strolling through his land with his eager-to-please entourage. (Six). These are similes as the use of the word “like” shows the comparison between different things.

Related posts:

• The Kite Runner Themes
• The Kite Runner Characters
• The Kite Runner Quotes
• As High As a Kite
• Woman with Kite
• Khaled Hosseini

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The Kite Runner

Khaled hosseini, ask litcharts ai: the answer to your questions.

The betrayal of a loyal friend by a wealthier, more corrupt “master” is a recurring motif in The Kite Runner , and Amir and Baba ’s feelings of guilt for their betrayals drive much of the novel’s action. The central betrayal comes when Amir watches and does nothing as Hassan , who has always stood up for Amir in the past, gets raped by Assef . Amir then worsens the betrayal by driving Ali and…

The quest for redemption makes up much of the novel’s plot, and expands as a theme to include both the personal and the political. Throughout his childhood, Amir ’s greatest struggle was to redeem himself to Baba for “killing” his mother during childbirth, and for growing up a disappointing son who was unlike Baba himself. After Hassan ’s rape, Amir spends the rest of his life trying to redeem himself for his betrayal of his…

Fathers and Children

The most important relationships in The Kite Runner involve fathers and their children, usually sons. The central relationship is between Baba and Amir , as Amir struggles to win his father’s affections and Baba tries to love a son who is nothing like him. When Amir learns that Baba is Hassan ’s father as well, he realizes that Baba also had to hide his natural affection for Hassan – an illegitimate son who was also…

Violence and Rape

Rape occurs several times in The Kite Runner as the ultimate act of violence and violation (short of murder) that drastically changes the lives of both the characters and the country. The central act of the novel is Amir watching Hassan ’s rape by Assef . There are more peripheral instances of rape as well – it is implied that Kamal , one of Hassan’s tormentors, was raped by soldiers, and Baba saves a woman…

Memory and the Past

Throughout The Kite Runner , many characters are haunted by memories of the past. Amir is constantly troubled by his memory of Hassan ’s rape and his own cowardice, and it is this memory that leads Amir to his final quest for redemption. Baba is also haunted by his past sins of adultery with Ali ’s wife Sanaubar , and his memories cause him to be both strict with Amir and charitable and selfless with…

Politics and Society

The movements of history are constantly interfering with the private lives of characters in The Kite Runner . The Soviet War in Afghanistan interrupts Amir ’s peaceful, privileged life and forces him and Baba to flee to America. After the fall of the USSR, Afghanistan continues to be ravaged by violence, and when Amir does finally return to find Sohrab , the Taliban regime rules the country with violent religious laws. It is the Taliban…

Examples of Loyalty in Khaled Hosseini’s “The Kite Runner” Essay (Book Review)

Analysis of friendship between amir and hasssan, loyalty as an intermedium for friendship.

The reading of Khaled Hosseini’s novel The Kite Runner leaves very little doubt as to the fact that the theme of loyalty plays a rather important role in defining the novel’s semiotic significance. After all – it is after having proven his loyalty to Hassan by the means of bringing his son Sohrab to the U.S. that the novel’s protagonist Amir was able to attain inner peace – hence, providing a semantic wholesomeness to the plot. In our paper, we will aim to explore the nature of loyalty in The Kite Runner .

For the first time, the theme of loyalty comes to its prominence in the novel’s scene when, while trying to defend Amir, Hassan aims his slingshot at Assef: “I turned and came face to face with Hassan’s slingshot… Hassan held the slingshot pointed directly at Assef’s face” (21). Even though, while remaining friends with Amir, Hassan never ceased being treated with a subtle disdain, due to his ethnic background and his low social status, Hassan’s helping hand was always there for Amir. Thus, Hassan’s loyalty to Amir is evident.

Unfortunately, the same cannot be said about Amir because the main character’s lessened sense of loyalty did not derive out of his existential idealism, as it was the case with Hassan, but was instead a byproduct of his rationally functioning psyche.

The plausibility of this suggestion becomes evident in the scene when, after having considered the possible consequences of his involvement, Amir refrains from stepping forward, in order to prevent Hassan from being raped by Assef – hence, proving himself an ultimate coward in its own eyes: “I had one last chance to make a decision.

One final opportunity to decide who I was going to be. I could step into that alley, stand up for Hassan… Or I could run. In the end, I ran. I ran because I was a coward” (39). As the theme essay on The Kite Runner implies, at that time, Amir was not aware of the fact that his refusal to stand up for Hassan accounted for his lessened ability to act like a man while facing life’s challenges, as in the case when he resents Hassan.

Nevertheless, as the novel’s plot unraveled, it was becoming increasingly apparent for Amir that, for him to be able to relieve his deep-seated sense of guilt, due to the memory of what had happened, he would have to prove its loyalty to Hassan somehow. The problem was that, as it has been revealed to Amir by Rahim Khan, Hassan ended up being killed by a ravaging mob of Taliban guerillas. Yet, Hassan’s son Sohrab was able to survive an ordeal.

And, after having been presented with Hassan’s post-mortem letter, where his former friend was asking him to take care of Sohrab, Amir realized that his willingness to look into Hassan’s request would account for his ability to repay for Hassan’s loyalty with loyalty. This was precisely the reason why, despite being perfectly aware of the full spectrum of dangers associated with taking a trip to Afghanistan, Amir nevertheless had decided in favor of this undertaking.

It was Amir’s ever-present sense of guilt for his betrayal, which had prompted him to go to Afghanistan: “I have a wife in America, a home, a career, and a family. But how could I pack up and go back home when my actions may have cost Hassan a chance at those very same things?” (114).

After having arrived to Afghanistan, however, Amir realized that his price for proving loyalty to Hassan was even higher – it was not only that he had to face dangers of staying in Taliban-ruled Afghanistan, but that he also had to face the ultimate showdown with Assef, who by that time became one of Taliban’s war-lords. As such, his actions may be considered as one of the examples of loyalty in The Kite Runner .

And, it was not because he was able to subdue Assef physically, but because, for once in his life, Amir did not have any second thoughts, while defying his old arch-enemy, that he ended up achieving a moral victory over Assef: “I don’t know at what point I started laughing…

And the harder I laughed, the harder he kicked me… What was so funny was that, for the first time since the winter of 1975, I felt at peace” (147). The reason why, while fighting Assef, Amir experienced a sensation of inner peace, is that by doing it, he was able to prove its loyalty to Hassan.

As the novel’s consequential and highly mystical scene implies, the deceased Hassan did, in fact, appreciate Amir’s long-awaited token of loyalty. Just as Hassan used to do, his son Sohrab raised a slingshot and shot Assef right into his eye: “The slingshot made a thwiiiiit sound when Sohrab released the cup.

Then Assef was screaming. He put his hand where his left eye had been just a moment ago. Blood oozed between his fingers” (148). The context of this particular scene suggests that the consequence of Amir proving himself courageous enough to act loyally towards Hassan’s son, was the reestablishment of a friendship between Amir and Hassan, even though the latter was no longer living.

Thus, just as we had pointed out earlier, there are good reasons to believe that it is specifically the theme of loyalty in The Kite Runner , which binds the plot’s spatial developments into the semantically unified compound. Hosseini’s message about the importance of loyalty, forgiveness, and love is evident in the story. Apparently, it is the author’s masterful exploration of this particular theme throughout the novel’s entirety, which provides readers with insight into the fact that the extent an individual’s ability to act loyally towards his friends is being reflective of the extent of such person’s existential manliness.

Hosseini, Khaled. The Kite Runner . New York: Riverhead, 2003.

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IvyPanda. (2023, August 21). Examples of Loyalty in Khaled Hosseini's "The Kite Runner". https://ivypanda.com/essays/the-theme-loyalty-in-the-kite-runner/

"Examples of Loyalty in Khaled Hosseini's "The Kite Runner"." IvyPanda , 21 Aug. 2023, ivypanda.com/essays/the-theme-loyalty-in-the-kite-runner/.

IvyPanda . (2023) 'Examples of Loyalty in Khaled Hosseini's "The Kite Runner"'. 21 August.

IvyPanda . 2023. "Examples of Loyalty in Khaled Hosseini's "The Kite Runner"." August 21, 2023. https://ivypanda.com/essays/the-theme-loyalty-in-the-kite-runner/.

1. IvyPanda . "Examples of Loyalty in Khaled Hosseini's "The Kite Runner"." August 21, 2023. https://ivypanda.com/essays/the-theme-loyalty-in-the-kite-runner/.

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IvyPanda . "Examples of Loyalty in Khaled Hosseini's "The Kite Runner"." August 21, 2023. https://ivypanda.com/essays/the-theme-loyalty-in-the-kite-runner/.

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The Kite Runner - Free Essay Samples And Topic Ideas

The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini delves into the intricate web of personal and societal relationships amidst the turbulent historical and political backdrop of Afghanistan. Essays could explore the complex themes of guilt, redemption, and the search for identity as experienced by the protagonist Amir. The discussions could also delve into the nuanced portrayal of father-son relationships, friendship, and the divisive social hierarchy depicted in the narrative. Furthermore, essays might examine the impact of historical and political turmoil on individual lives and societal structures as portrayed in the novel. The discussion could extend to the exploration of the narrative techniques employed by Hosseini, the cultural insights offered through the narrative, and the broader implications concerning ethnic tensions, diaspora, and the human capacity for both betrayal and redemption. The discourse might also touch upon the novel’s impact on the contemporary literary landscape and its contribution to creating a dialogue on Afghanistan’s history and culture. A substantial compilation of free essay instances related to The Kite Runner you can find at PapersOwl Website. You can use our samples for inspiration to write your own essay, research paper, or just to explore a new topic for yourself.

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In the Kite Runner, the major underlying theme is the relationships between characters. These relationships grow and change through the events and conflicts in the story. The theme of sin and forgiveness is prevalent in the novel Throughout the first part of the novel, the character Ali is introduced along with his personality and his character. Two of his most predominant traits displayed in the text are the affection he shows towards others and his ability to accept and forget […]

Theme of Redemption in the Kite Runner

It is only normal for humans to make mistakes, but it is how the mistakes are resolved that will dictate ones’ fate. In The Kite Runner, written by Khaled Hosseini, he describes the life of a young boy named Amir whose mistake haunts him for years, and his journey to find a way to relieve the guilt he had to live with. The author demonstrates how guilt can physically and psychologically push a person to search for ways to redeem […]

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The Kite Runner takes place in Afghanistan, which is a very religious country. Most people in Afghanistan practice Sunni Islam. Sunni is one of the two major denominations of Islam; Shi'a is the other one. In the novel The kite runner, there is a discrimination of religion's differences, because Hasan is an ethnic Hazara and practices Shi'a Islam, therefore the Afghan people mistreat him because of his race and religion. They consider that Hazaras as a slave in their community.For […]

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Guilt in the Kite Runner

By not facing the past, internal conflict becomes prevalent in life and can prevent one from moving forward. In The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini, Amir lives in Kabul, Afghanistan with his father, Hassan, and Ali during 1963-1981. Hassan and Amir grew up with each other and were each other's best friends, but when the bully Assef raped Hassan, both of their lives changed. In his novel, Hosseini explores the internal conflicts of jealousy and guilt, ultimately portraying how neglecting […]

The Symbolism of the Pomegranate Tree in “The Kite Runner”

In The Kite Runner, written by Khaled Hosseini, there are several symbols throughout the text such as kites, the hairelip, and the pomegranate tree. These symbols represent the central concern of guilt and redemption which make up much of the novel's plot. More specifically, the pomegranate tree is significant because it reveals the true nature of Hassan and Amir's relationship. The changing depiction of the tree represents the changing connection between them throughout the novel. Pomegranates are traditionally seen as […]

The Kite Runner Redemption

 The Kite Runner is filled with many compelling characters that have struggled much throughout story and transform into their better halves by redeeming themselves into a better person. Amir is the narrator and the protagonist that is driven by his guilt caused by his desire to win over his father’s affection. Throughout the book, Amir is searching for countless ways to to deal with his guilt by redeeming himself. In the book, The Kite Runner written by Khaled Hosseini, Amir […]

The Kite Runner about an Afghan Boy

The Kite Runner is a story about an Afghan boy, Amir, who goes from living in war-torn Afghanistan, to a successful writer living in America that faces many hardships throughout his life. The novel explores class consciousness, guilt, betrayal, and the complex nature of friendship. Characters in The Kite Runner, by Khaled Hosseini are primarily motivated by their loyalty and desire for approval which reflects on their morals and values, those who seek redemption in the book are also heavily […]

The Kite Runner Loyalty

When choices become critical, make no mistake, one wrong move and everything will come tumbling down. Hassan, the protagonists' servant in Khaled Hosseini’s The Kite Runner, is a Hazara boy living in Afghanistan as a servant to his best friend Amir when a traumatizing event causes him to change. Mazikeen, the main character's ally in the Hulu series Lucifer, is a demon who holds the form of a young woman and the best friend of Lucifer and works alongside him […]

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All of the characters in The Kite Runner are compelling and significant. However, Hassan is the most interesting and he stands out from every other character because of this. The audience was intrigued with Hassan because of his friendly personality and constant cheerfulness. He was always watching out for other characters and putting those around him before himself. He overcame struggles that no other character had to face, due to his ethnic background and the troubles within his relationship with […]

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Firstly I would like to start by explaining what the difference between pashtuns and hazaras are in the book The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini’s in afrighanistan there are two different races and ethnics groups. The first group are called pashtuns and they are known for being the sunni mislims, they are also known for being rich, strong, and having a higher class than any hazaras. On the other hand there are the hazaras who are looked down upon, they […]

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In the Kite Runner, there were some main differences that stood out in the movie from the book. One difference is that in the book Hassan had a cleft lip and for his birthday Baba pays for Hassan to get a surgery as a birthday gift. “It’s an unusual present, I know,” Baba said. And probably not what you had in mind, but this present will last forever” (Hosseini, 46). In the movie Hassan doesn’t have this facial deformity, so […]

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Deciphering ‘The Kite Runner’: SparkNotes’ Insightful Analysis

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How To Write an Essay About The Kite Runner

Understanding the kite runner.

Before starting an essay on Khaled Hosseini's 'The Kite Runner', it's important to have a comprehensive understanding of the novel. 'The Kite Runner' is a powerful story set in Afghanistan, spanning from the final days of the monarchy to the present, dealing with themes of betrayal, redemption, and the complex nature of relationships. Start by outlining the plot, focusing on the relationship between the two main characters, Amir and Hassan, and the pivotal events that shape their lives. Understanding the socio-political context of Afghanistan during this period, as well as the cultural and ethical dilemmas presented in the novel, is crucial for a deep analysis of its themes.

Developing a Thesis Statement

A strong essay on 'The Kite Runner' should be centered around a clear, concise thesis statement. This statement should present a specific viewpoint or argument about the novel. For instance, you might analyze the theme of redemption and its significance in the story, the impact of socio-political changes on the characters, or the role of friendship and betrayal. Your thesis will guide the direction of your essay, providing a structured and focused exploration of the novel.

Gathering Textual Evidence

To support your thesis, gather evidence from the text. This involves closely reading the novel to find relevant quotes, dialogues, and narrative descriptions that support your argument. For example, if discussing the theme of redemption, identify key moments in Amir’s journey that reflect his struggle and eventual redemption. Use these examples to build your argument and give depth to your analysis.

Analyzing Hosseini's Techniques and Themes

Analyze how Hosseini uses literary techniques to develop the novel's themes and characters. Discuss his use of narrative structure, symbolism (such as kites and the pomegranate tree), and character development. For example, explore how the shifting narrative perspective enhances the story's emotional impact or how the setting contributes to the overall mood of the novel. This analysis should demonstrate a deep understanding of the text and how Hosseini communicates his ideas.

Concluding the Essay

Conclude your essay by summarizing the main arguments and restating your thesis in light of the discussion. Your conclusion should tie together your insights into 'The Kite Runner,' emphasizing the significance of your findings. Reflect on the broader implications of the novel, such as its relevance to contemporary issues or its contribution to the genre of modern literature.

Reviewing and Refining Your Essay

After completing your essay, review and refine it. Ensure that your arguments are coherent, your evidence is clearly presented, and your writing is free of grammatical errors. Consider seeking feedback from teachers or peers to help improve your essay. A well-written essay on 'The Kite Runner' will not only demonstrate your understanding of the novel but also your ability to engage critically with literary texts.

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Home — Essay Samples — Literature — Symbolism — The Kite Runner Symbolism Analysis

The Kite Runner Symbolism Analysis

• Categories: Symbolism

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Published: Mar 13, 2024

Words: 598 | Page: 1 | 3 min read

Table of contents

Symbolism of the kite, symbolism of the pomegranate tree, symbolism of the cleft lip.

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