The Kite Runner: Themes

The pursuit of love and affection is a theme that ties together everything else in

the book. Relationships between father and son differ from Amir and Baba compared to

Hassan and Sohrab based on the love presented in each pair. Hassan throughout the novel

represents selfless, unconditional love towards those in his life-his actions are pure and

genuine from his heart. Contrary to that, Amir possessed selfish love, or love that

benefited him. In a sick sense, Baba felt obligated to ‘love’ Amir; his struggle to do so

was a reflection on his torment over not being able to openly love Hassan the same way.

This quote, “Maybe Hassan was the price I had to pay, the lamb I had to slay, to win

Baba.” (Hosseini 77) symbolizes the sacrifice of Amir seeking Baba’s love, consequently

allowing Hassan to be raped for it-another example of his selfless love. Amir admittedly

never considered Hassan his friend, everything Hassan had done for him as well as Amir

eventually coming back to Kabul for Sohrab; the two have signs of a true friendship.

Affection is seen as a possession and brings up the question of what it means to receive

such emotion; do you have to win affection from your relatives? “He was standing on the

edge, pumping both of his fists. Hollering and clapping. And that right there was the

single greatest moment of my twelve years of life, seeing Baba on that roof, proud of me

at last.” (Hosseini 67) This quote gives a glimpse into how Amir spent most of his

childhood trying to receive affection and be accepted from Baba-one moment would be a

small turning point in their relationship. Amir and Baba seek love wither it be through

having a child, trying to mend heartache, through helping others or making somebody

proud yet both men seize to realize that they must love and accept themselves in order to

feel affection from others.

The search for redemption is the driving backbone and primary theme of this

novel. Each character had their reasons for wanting redemption, as well as their own

ways of succeeding it, but for whom were they seeking it for? Ironically, Amir seeking

forgiveness with Baba for the death of his mother by presenting him with the losing kite

from the kite tournament only causes him more guilt and torment as with the prize of the

kite came the loss of friendship and innocence for both Amir and Hassan. Challenged

with the journey for redemption, Amir must not only seek it for Hassan, but himself.

“There is a way to be good again, he’d said. A way to end the cycle. With a little boy. An

orphan. Hassan’s son. Somewhere in Kabul.” (Hosseini 227) This quote presents the

solution to half of the problem; Amir must bring Sohrab to the U.S and give him the life

Hassan was deprived of. Through the redemption of his past sins, Amir finds forgiveness

with himself as seen with the quote, “My body was broken…but I felt healed. Healed at

last.” (Hosseini 289) The fight scene between Assef and Amir is parallel to what should

have happened so many years that day in the alley, thus redemption accomplished

through the cycle. Amir seeking redemption from Baba in the first place was twisted;

Baba was seeking such forgiveness himself. “…I was learning that Baba had been a thief.

And a thief of the worst kind, because the things he’d stolen had been sacred: from me

and the right to know I had a brother, from Hassan his identity, and from Ali his honor.”

(Hosseini 225) Baba was portrayed as being such a great man yet if it weren’t for his

guilt would he have been genuine enough to build an orphanage or give money to those

in need? The good deeds were Baba’s way of fulfilling redemption with himself. The

circle of events between a father and son leaves a lasting impact on how redemption

serves its purpose in the novel and what it means to different individuals.