Wounds Of Change In The Kite Runner By Khaled Hosseini

Name: Aidyn Thao
Professor Name: Ms. Caponigri
Subject: Honors English 10
Due Date: 2/13/2023
Wounds of Change
In the book The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini, Hosseini uses the motif of wounds to show how they can change a person’s personality, or their relationship with others.
This motif can be shown throughout the story. This can be first seen towards the beginning of the book. Amir would find Hassan being harassed by Assef. Assef threatens them both and Hassan protects Amir so Amir could run away. Amir wanted to do something, but he was a coward: “I stopped watching… I was still biting down on my fist, hard enough to draw blood from the knuckles… I had one last chance to make a decision… In the end, I ran” (77). Amir ended up gnawing on his fists, waiting for it all to end, instead of using those fists to help Hassan. The blood on his hands can be used to represent that Hassan's blood is on his hands. This can be used to symbolize that Amir betrayed his relationship with Hassan because he didn’t help him. This would lead to Amir’s never ending guilt for not helping and the losing of his best friend.
Another time that wounds were used was toward the middle of the book. Amir and Baba moved to

Amir is trying to find a way to legally have Sohrab in America. Amir would tell Sohrab that he will have to go back to an orphanage, which would upset him. Amir would later find that Sohrab has cut his wrist opens in a attempt of suicide. Amir would call an ambulance, and a doctor would later tell Amir: “ the boy has cut himself deeply and had lost a great deal of blood… [Amir’s] mouth begins to mutter that prayer again… [Sohrab] is alive… [Amir weeps his] relief into this stranger’s small, meaty hands” (348-349). Amir never really showed as much desperation for a person before as he did everything in hopes that Sohrab survives. Amir made it his mission to protect Sohrab after he attempted