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Introduction:

The Kite Runner is a historical novel written by Khaled Hosseini, an Afghan-American author. It was published in 2003. The book introduces itself with the main character and a narrator, Amir, who tells the story of his childhood with his best friend, Hassan. However, Hassan gets harmed by a bully, Assef, and Amir feels ashamed because he wasn’t able to save Hassan like he did when Assef bullied Amir. 

Plot:

Growing up in Afghanistan with his wealthy father, Baba, and their Hazara servants, Ali and Hassan, grown-up Amir recalls a moment that changed his life. Amir’s guilt drives a wedge between them after he does nothing to stop Hassan from being beaten by a bully named Assef, which ultimately results in Hassan and his father leaving their house. Amir grows up, marries Soraya, and attempts to pursue a career in writing in California after he and Baba escape the Soviet invasion years later. Rahim Khan, an old friend of Baba’s who is near death, calls Amir and requests that he go back to Pakistan. Amir discovers that Hassan was, in fact, his half-brother and that the Taliban killed Hassan and his wife, leaving behind a son named Sohrab. Rahim requests that Amir save Sohrab from a Kabul orphanage. Amir discovers Sohrab in the house of Assef, a Taliban official. Amir is saved after being severely beaten when Sohrab hurts Assef with a slingshot and aids in their escape. Legal issues make it all but impossible for Amir to bring Sohrab to America, and Sohrab, dejected, tries suicide. He lives, but he stops talking and withdraws emotionally. Although Sohrab is eventually brought to California by Amir and Soraya, he stays far away. Then, when they win a kite battle during a kite-flying event, Amir finally gets to see Sohrab grinning. Amir runs the winning kite for Sohrab in the hopes of restoring happiness and trust, just as Hassan did for him.

Analysis:

The book shows the relationship between Amir and Hassan, comparing them with their financial status. Although they had different financial classes, their relationship was very close and they hung out like best friends. Assef, the antagonist, bullies both Amir and Hassan, just because Hassan is a Hazara. During the fight, Hassan was able to show his bravery and courage by protecting Amir but on the other hand, Amir proves how he is fool by how he runs away from when Hassan was being raped. It shows a traumatic moment for Hassan, with both Assef and Amir, as Amir also had “betrayed” Hassan. It shows the innocence and kindness of Hassan, although he knew that he wasn’t the person who stole the watch and money, he lied for Amir’s sake. It also shows how brutal the family was, hiding the fact that Hassan is a half-brother of Amir. As Afghanistan is one of the least-developed countries, it proves its status again through how they don’t have a developed adoption system that prevented Amir from legally adopting Sohrab. Sohrab is an intelligent young boy who is reflected in Hassan’s qualities. He is talented with a slingshot, as he also saves Amir from Assef with a slingshot. However, when Amir breaks Sohrab’s heart, like Hassan’s, by breaking his promise not to send him back to the orphanage, it reflects again on how Amir betrayed Hassan. However, the book ends on hopeful terms as Sohrab reopens his heart to Amir when they get to fly the kite together in the Afghan town. The book introduces themes such as the love between fathers and sons and the history of the past. The history between Hassan and Sohrab is almost like it’s repeating itself, and it shows how Amir loves his “nephew.”

Conclusion:

The Kite Runner is a historical novel written by Khaled Hosseini, an Afghan-American author. It was published in 2003. Growing up in Afghanistan with his rich father and their Hazara servants, Amir’s life takes a drastic turn when he is unable to prevent a bully from injuring his friend Hassan. Amir is asked by an old family friend to go back to Pakistan and save Hassan’s orphaned son, Sohrab, from the Taliban, years after relocating to the United States and beginning a new life. Amir eventually brings Sohrab to California despite his trauma, and on a day when they are flying kites, Sohrab smiles once more, giving Amir hope that they can recover together. The history of the past and the love between father and son.