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The Kite Runner Cleft Lip Analysis

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The author of ‘The Kite Runner,' Hosseini, employs a variety of symbols to create a deeper meaning throughout the book. Symbolism is used to create deeper a meaning in in many ways in the book especially in objects like kites which represent happiness when the kite is flying high and guilt about the blue kite. Symbolism is also present in people especially the cleft lip which is a symbol of betrayal of brothers and also represents Baba’s and Amir’s redemption. The cleft lip symbolises betrayal of brothers and also represents Baba’s and Amir’s redemption. The cleft lip symbolises Baba's betrayal of his brother because he sleeps with Ali’s wife, resulting in Hassan being born. The cleft lip is now a reminder of Baba's betrayal of Ali and also …show more content…

The kite represents Amir’s happiness because it connects him with Baba, this is very important for Amir because Baba believes his son is a coward who isn’t strong enough to stand up for himself. Although to impress Baba Amir lets Hassan get raped by Assef so he can bring home the blue kite, he states, “I actually aspired to cowardice, because the alternative, the real reason I was running, was that Assef was right: Nothing was free in this world. Maybe Hassan was the price I had to pay, the lamb I had to slay, to win Baba.” Amir has just witnessed Assef rape Hassan and instead of intervening he runs away. Amir says he aspired to cowardice because he believed that what he did was worse than cowardice, he feared that by intervening Assef would hurt him and that was the reason he ran. Although, he tries to justify this thought to make himself feel better, because the real reason he allowed the rape to happen was he wanted the blue kite. He believed the kite would prove that he was a winner like Baba was. The he had to price for the kite was Hassan to ultimately to gain Baba’s affection. Amir has never been able to fly a kite since, although after he redeems himself in Afghanistan, where he stands up for himself now kites are no longer a symbol of guilt, but rather a reminder of his childhood. This is apparent

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