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The Kite Runner By Khaled Hosseini

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An Analysis of Themes in The Kite Runner If a story has no theme, then what is its purpose? According to the Britannica Dictionary, a theme is “the main subject that is being discussed or described in a piece of writing, a movie, etc”. A theme is a story's main point; often, stories have multiple themes. The same is displayed in The Kite Runner, by Khaled Hosseini, as numerous themes intertwine within the novel. Hosseini’s novel follows the lives of Amir and his father Baba along with their servants, Hassan and his father Ali. The novel mainly follows Amir specifically, and the events that occurred in his life that led to him moving to California despite growing up in Afghanistan. Through Hosseini’s incredible writing in The Kite Runner, …show more content…

Amir is constantly in search of redemption after he witnessed Hassan’s rape. Instead of helping Hassan through the issue, Amir avoided confrontation and framed Hassan, forcing Hassan and Ali to move away. As a result of this, Hassan was killed and Amir never received the closure he needed to make their situation right. Rahim Khan offers an opportunity for redemption when he asks Amir to come to Afghanistan, claiming that “‘There is a way to be good again’” (Hosseini 192). Rahim Khan says this to Amir to show how there is a chance for Amir to make things right between him and Hassan in some way. After Amir comes to Pakistan, Rahim Khan informs him that he has to go rescue Hassan’s son, Sohrab, who is in an orphanage in Afghanistan. Amir initially declines, asking why someone else can’t take the venture and even offers to pay, to which Rahim Khan responds “‘It isn’t about money, Amir!...I’m a dying man and I will not be insulted! It has never been about money with me, you know that. And why you? I think we both know why it has to be you, don’t we?’” (Hosseini 221). Rahim Khan knows about the rape incident with Hassan and through this quest, Amir will seek redemption. He will be able to make up for his past mistakes with Hassan by rescuing his son. Hosseini uses the theme of redemption to show how one can make amends for past mistakes, but seeking redemption is not always

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