Introduction and Works Cited

The purpose of this web page is to explore the different levels of loyalty and betrayal in the New York Times  bestseller, "The Kite Runner". 

Works Cited

Hosseini, Khaled. The Kite Runner. New York: Riverhead, 2013. Print.

"Kite Flying in Afghanistan and the Types of Afghani Fighter Kites." Kite Flying in Afghanistan and the Types of Afghani Fighter Kites. N.p., n.d. Web. 03 Apr. 2017.

Semple, Kirk. "For Afghan Boys and Men, Kite Flying Is a Way of Life." The New York Times. The New York Times, 14 Dec. 2007. Web. 03 Apr. 2017.

Kite Running

Kite running was and still is a very popular competition in Afghanistan, Pakistan, India, and Iran. Kite running is when you run after a drifting kite that has been cut lose through kite fighting. These competitions are held throughout the year but most prominent at kite festivals. 

The kite represented the happiness of Amir, but it was also a representation of his guilt. It represents his happiness because as a child this was one of his favorite things to do. But it took on a whole different meaning when Amir does nothing about Hassan's rape. He wants to bring the kite back to Baba, to prove that he is worthy of being his son. But through this, the kite now represents his betrayal to Hassan. 

  At the end of the novel, when Amir redeems himself, he is able to fly kites again. It is no longer a representation of his guilt, but instead acts as a way of connecting with Sohrab. 

Betrayal

Betrayal helps define some of characters in the novel.  One of the most important events in this book is during the rape of Hassan. While it is brutal, violent, and wrong, it is important to think about what it means. To Amir, it was a sacrifice. Amir describes it as Hassan resembling the lamb that was slaughtered during the Muslim Celebration of Eid Al-Adha, which honors Abraham's near sacrifice of his son for God. Through this sacrifice, he was able to obtain the blue kite, which would supposedly redeem his relationship with Baba. But it also was a monstrous betrayal to his best friend and brother, and it changed his life forever. Baba also betrays his best friend, Ali, by sleeping with his wife. 

Loyalty

Loyalty is seen throughout the book. One day, Amir asks Hassan to go up to the hill with him. He tells him that he wants to read him a new story that he had written, but his real motivation behind this was to pick a fight with Hassan so he could  "recieve the punishment" that he craved. He threw pomegranates at Hassan relentlessly, but Hassan, being loyal to Amir, picks up a pomegranate and crushes it agains his own forehead to show that he will not betray Amir by hitting him. Another example of loyalty, is when Rahim Khan agrees to take care of the house for Baba when they move to America.  All of the years they lived in America, Rahim Khan cared for their home. However, when Baba died, he felt like the house was empty and he felt lonely. So he decides to find Hassan and ask him if he would come live with him. Hassan accepts the offer, and once again proves his loyalty to Amir's family by not only living in the house with Rahim Khan, but by helping to take care of it.