The Themes Of Redemption In Khalid Hosseini's The Kite Runner

The author Khalid Hosseini portrays himself as a selfish coward in his novel, The Kite Runner. In his novel, several themes emerge throughout the story, though the dominant theme I have obtained is redemption. Throughout this book, the writer shows how he has grown and matures from a selfish little boy into a courageous man. Amir seeks redemption for his betrayal of his childhood best friend, Hassan. As a young boy, Amir feels though he should be put through emotional and physical pain to be able to find his redemption. Hosseini writes that Hassan represents Amir 's failure in his childhood and as Amir grows into an adult, while Hassan 's son, Sohrab represents Amirs redemption. The author Hosseini starts the story out with the love and tension between a father and his sons. Baba had two sons, Amir and

In the winter of that year, 1975, the kite flying tournament is held in Amir’s neighborhood; besides this year, it 's different. Each neighborhood has its own competition, but this year all nearby districts compete together. Right before the tournament Baba casually tells Amir, “I think maybe you 'll win the tournament this year. What do you think?” (Hosseini 56). An overwhelming desire to win seizes Amir as he thinks this will earn him Baba’s approval. Hours after flying; all that remain are Amir’s kite and one other, a blue kite. They battle and Amir wins, sending the blue kite flying loose. Hassan goes running for the kite but hours later he hasn 't returned. Amir goes looking for him, only to find him getting raped by Assef and his two friends. Amir struggles to do something, to stop Assef but instead, he ran. He thinks to himself, “I actually aspired to cowardice, because the alternative, the real reason I was running, was that Assef was right: nothing was free in the world. Maybe Hassan was the price I had to pay, the lamb I had to slay, to win Baba” (Hosseini 77). Amir became selfish, knowing what he did was wrong but grateful for Baba becoming