International Journal of Science and Research (IJSR)

ISSN: 2319-7064
SJIF (2019): 7.583

An Analysis of “The Kite Runner” by Khaled

Abstract: In “The Kite Runner” by Khalid Hosseini, the readers are exposed to the realities of war-torn Afghanistan. The book shows
the two sides of Afghanistan: the one before the Russians arrived and the one after. Not only that but also how it affected the lives of the
Afghans residing there before the war came. The story takes the readers on a journey filled with mixed emotions like joy, sorrow, heart-
break and so on. There are multiple times in the book where the readers shed tears. Tears of joy as well as tears of sorrow. This shows
how emotionally attached the readers become with the characters and with the story. The readers dive deep into the lives of the
characters and learn more about them with every chapter and every page. It is seen that the readers become engrossed with the story. So
much so that the story is the only thing on their minds for the time they spend on reading the novel. The author, through the story, has
focused on various important aspects which are applicable in the real-world as well. The author has used the characters, in a coherent
way, to portray such aspects in order to connect with the readers. This research paper will focus on the many themes and sub-themes
that the author has portrayed in the novel. This research paper will dive deep into understanding the various aspects of the novel using
the qualitative method of research. The research objective of this paper is to understand and easily comprehend the social and cultural
aspects of the novel with the help of various examples.

Keywords: Afghanistan, Betrayal, Atonement and Emotional Turmoil

1. Introduction betrayal written all over it. One of the major events of the
novel, after which the book takes shape, can be considered
About the Author as betrayal as well.
Just as the protagonist of the novel, Amir, Khaled Hosseini
was born in Kabul, Afghanistan. In1980, he moved to the Atonement is another major theme of the story. When the
United States of America. Being the author of three New story moves into its second half, we see that Amir returns to
York Times Bestsellers “The Kite Runner”, “A Thousand Afghanistan to atone for his sins from his childhood. It is the
Splendid Suns” and “And the Mountains Echoed”,he is one major, if not the only, reason why Amir returns to
of the most recognised writers in the world today. Apart Afghanistan. Therefore, it can be concluded that atonement
from that, he is also a Goodwill Envoy to the UNHCR and is one of the major themes of the story.
the UN Refugee Agency. He is also the founder of the not-
for-profit organisation, “The Khalid Hosseini Foundation” Emotional Turmoil is another theme which deals, majorly,
which provides humanitarian assistance to the people of with the lives of Amir and his father, Baba. Amir, who saw a
Afghanistan. horrifying event in his childhood which changed his life,
went through an emotional turmoil for the rest of his life. He
About the Novel would question himself at every step that he took in life and
In “The Kite Runner”, the story of two friends, Amir and it all went back to that event. Baba, who had to keep a life-
Hassan, has been highlighted. The story takes shape in the changing secret from Amir and Hassan, also went through
winter of 1975 when Amir and Hassan compete in the local an emotional turmoil. Although the novel does not highlight
kite fighting tournament, which was a usual sight in much about the emotional turmoil of Baba, it is evident
Afghanistan. But none of the two friends could foresee what when the secret is out in the open. It is agreed that Hassan
would happen to Hassan that day which would change their went through an emotional turmoil as well but as the novel
lives forever. When the Russians invade their homeland, the does not focus much on that, this research paper will not
family is forced to leave Afghanistan and flee to the United include Hassan‟s and Baba‟s emotional turmoil and will
States of America. Due to unforeseen circumstances, Amir only focus on Amir‟s emotional turmoil.
returns to Afghanistan with a hope to atone his sins from the
past.
The Cultural Aspect:
The Social Aspect: A major part of “The Kite Runner” talks about Afghans and
In the novel, there are various parts where the social aspect the culture of Afghanistan. It can be seen that even after the
can be seen. The social aspect comes in the form of various war came to Afghanistan and a lot of Afghans had to flee,
themes which can be connected to the real world. These like Amir and Baba, the culture was still followed. The
themes will be thoroughly analysed in the later stage of this culture is in the blood of the Afghans. Therefore, this
research paper. research paper will discuss the culture of Afghanistan that
has been portrayed by Khaled Hosseini in “The Kite
Betrayal is one of the major themes of “The Kite Runner”. Runner”.
The word „betrayal‟ has been used multiple times in the
novel as well. In the story, one of the major plot twists has
Volume 10 Issue 5, May 2021
www.ijsr.net
Licensed Under Creative Commons Attribution CC BY
Paper ID: SR21422205742 DOI: 10.21275/SR21422205742 76
 International Journal of Science and Research (IJSR)
ISSN: 2319-7064
SJIF (2019): 7.583
2. Research Methodology committed by Amir and Baba against Hassan and Ali,
respectively. Not altogether but in separate instances. For
The researcher has conducted the research in a qualitative further convenience, this observation has been divided into
manner using secondary sources like journal articles, two parts: [1.1.1] Amir’s Betrayal and [1.1.2] Baba’s
websites and books for reference. The research methodology Betrayal.
also includes critical analysis and in-depth reading of “The
Kite Runner” by Khaled Hosseini. The researcher has [1.1.1] Amir’s Betrayal
identified and thoroughly analysed the various themes and In the novel, the friendship between Amir and Hassan has
aspects that have been highlighted in the novel. been portrayed as a „one-sided relationship‟ where Hassan
was ready to do anything for Amir but from the perspective
3. Literature Review of Amir, it was a different story. The researcher is not
suggesting that Amir had no love for Hassan. The researcher
The literature that was pertinent to the present paper is as is stating that Amir did not consider Hassan as an equal to
follows: him. He did not try to teach him how to read or write.
1) “The Kite Runner” by Khaled Hosseini: Instead, Amir used to mock him because he could not read
The researcher has included the novel itself as a part of (Khadawardi, 2017). But Amir did have love for Hassan. At
the literature as the novel was key to understanding the one point in the novel, Amir gave him a kiss and said that,
story and the lives of the characters. The researcher has “You‟re a prince, Hassan, you‟re a prince and I love you”
also used the novel as a base for comparison and (Hosseini, 2013).
interpretations to identify the various themes and aspects.
The story takes shape after Hassan is molested by Assef and
2) “Superego Guilt, Redemption and Atonement in Khaled his friends. The incident took place after the kite running
Hosseini‟s the Kite Runner” by Hesham Khadawardi: tournament had come to an end. Amir had won that
The researcher has used the above journal article to tournament with Hassan who ran after the final kite to catch
understand the themes that have been highlighted in the it. Hassan found the kite but was stopped by Assef and his
present research paper. Furthermore, this journal article friends. They had cornered him in a dark alleyway but he
has provided the researcher with some insight on the stood up to them. They wanted the kite but Hassan refused
story. to let them have the kite. At this point, Amir was standing
close by and was anxiously watching the entire scene. After
3) Khaled Hosseini‟s Website: refusing to give the kite up, the boys held him down and
The researcher has used the author‟s website to attain Assef raped him. Amir did nothing but stand by and watchas
some background information about the author which Assef raped Hassan. This incident also marks the beginning
has been included in the present research paper. of the emotional turmoil of Amir, which is another theme
that will be discussed later on. Amir did not defend Hassan.
4) “Analysis of Hassan‟s Tragedy in the Kite Runner from He did not save Hassan. He betrayed their friendship. He
the Three-dimensional Ethical Perspective” by Peng betrayed Hassan‟s trust. Most importantly, he betrayed
Yuan-yuan: Hassan. Even though Amir did an awful thing, he did realise
The researcher has used the above journal to understand his mistake and felt sorry for Hassan. He felt the guilt for
the mindset of Amir and his emotions towards Hassan in many years after that incident until he atoned for his sins.
the novel. This is how Amir betrayed Hassan in the novel, “The Kite
Runner”.
4. Analysis [1.1.2] Baba’s Betrayal
Amir, the protagonist, is the son of Baba. Similarly, Hassan
The analysis of the various themes surrounding “The Kite is the son of Ali who is the servant of Baba. Hassan and Ali
Runner” has been divided into two parts. The first part will lived in a shed which was inside the compound of Baba‟s
discuss [1] the Social Aspect which has been highlighted in mansion. Throughout the eighteen years that Amir lived in
the novel and the second part will discuss the [2] the that big mansion, he was always jealous of how Baba used
Cultural Aspect of the novel. to treat Hassan. Amir felt that Baba favoured Hassan more
than him because Amir could not live up to Baba‟s
[1] The Social Aspect expectations. It was later on in the story that the readers get
The social aspect of the novel consists of various themes to know about Baba‟s betrayal.
which the author has highlighted in the novel. All the themes
which will be discussed are major themes which the story Baba and Ali‟s relationship is similar to that of Amir and
revolves around. The Social Aspect of the novel is divided Hassan‟s relationship. Baba and Ali grew up together, just
into three parts: [1.1] Betrayal, [1.2] Atonement and [1.3] like Amir and Hassan. They had a forty-year-old
Emotional Turmoil. relationship.
[1.1] Betrayal Rahim Khan, a dear friend and partner of Baba, had called
In “The Kite Runner”, betrayal has been portrayed as a Amir to Pakistan in 2001. He revealed to Amir that Baba
major theme of the story. There are many instances in the was the real father of Hassan. Baba had slept with Ali‟s
novel where the theme of betrayal can be pointed out. wife, Sanaubar, who was Hassan‟s mother.By doing this, not
According to the researcher, betrayal, in the novel, was only did Baba betray his long time friend, Ali, but also
Volume 10 Issue 5, May 2021
www.ijsr.net
Licensed Under Creative Commons Attribution CC BY
Paper ID: SR21422205742 DOI: 10.21275/SR21422205742 77
 International Journal of Science and Research (IJSR)
ISSN: 2319-7064
SJIF (2019): 7.583
betrayed Amir because at that time, Amir could not this and would occasionally make fun of Hassan for not
understand why Baba would treat Hassan in such a loving knowing certain words of the English language. He always
way(Yuan-yuan, 2018). Amir assumed that Baba favoured tried to earn Baba‟s approval. In the opinion of the
Hassan because Amir did not live up to the expectations of researcher, the insecurities of Amir were one of the reasons
Baba. This led to a major emotional conflict within Amir. behind the destruction of the relationship between Amir and
Hassan.
It could be said that if Amir would have known that Hassan
was his half-brother, he would not have mocked him or [1.3.2] The Rape Incident
taunted him. He would not have condescended him. It could The rape incident has been highlighted earlier in the research
also be said that Hassan would not have been raped if Baba paper under [1.1.1]. Hassan was raped by Assef while Amir
had come out with the truth. But Baba did not tell the truth stood by and did nothing. He did not save Hassan. This
to anyone. His betrayal of Ali and Amir not only destroyed incident filled Amir with guilt. Guilt that he did not stand up
the relationship between him and Ali but also between Amir for Hassan when Hassan had stood up for him countless
and Hassan. It is also ironic how the father-son duo of Baba times. He knew that if Hassan were in his position, he would
and Amir betrayed their childhood friends Ali and Hassan, do anything to save his Amir agha. Amir and Hassan did not
respectively. talk to each other for months. Amir tried to avoid Hassan as
much as he could because he did not have the courage to
[1.2] Atonement face him. In a cowardly attempt to get rid of the guilt, Amir
In “The Kite Runner”, the theme of atonement can be seen in planted his watch and some money under Hassan‟s pillow to
the second half of the novel when Amir receives an show that he had committed theft. Even though Baba
opportunity to atone for his sins. When the Taliban invaded forgave Hassan, it was Hassan who insisted on leaving.
Afghanistan, a lot of Afghans fled from their homes, Amir never saw him again after that day.
including Baba and Amir. Their journey from Afghanistan
took them to the United States of America. The guilt followed Amir all the way to the United States of
America. He would have flashbacks of the incident and
Now residing in San Francisco, California, Amir receives a would see Hassan‟s face in that dark alleyway. Eventually,
call from Rahim Khan asking him to come to Pakistan. he became an insomniac. However, Amir felt at peace after
Rahim Khan gave Amir an opportunity to atone for his sins atoning for his sins by adopting Sohrab and raising him as
by requesting him to go back to Kabul and bring Sohrab, his own in San Francisco.
Hassan‟s son, to Pakistan and away from the Taliban.
[2] The Cultural Aspect
After going to Kabul, Amir found out that Sohrab was made In “The Kite Runner”, the culture of Afghanistan has been
to dance in front of a few Taliban leaders in his old mansion vastly highlighted through the eyes of Amir. The major part
which he grew up in. He was confronted by Assef, now a of the novel is set in Afghanistan. Specifically, in Kabul,
Taliban leader, who challenged him to a duel. Assef Afghanistan. Even that part of the novel which is set in the
mercilessly beat Amir in front of Sohrab. But Amir did not United States of America shows the Afghan-American
fight back. He had been wanting this beating for all the sins community and how the culture of Afghanistan lives within
that he had committed against Hassan in his childhood. He the Afghans and not just Afghanistan as a whole.
had felt healed. During the beating, Amir said that, “What
was so funny was that, for the first time since the winter of In the novel, it has been portrayed that a major characteristic
1975, I felt at peace. I laughed because I saw that, in some of the culture of Afghanistan is kite flying. Before the
hidden nook in a corner of my mind, I had been looking Taliban and the Russians invaded Afghanistan, there were
forward to this.”(Hosseini, 2013) In the end, Sohrab saved several kite flying tournaments held which were looked
Amir‟s life by using his slingshot against Assef. upon enthusiastically by the people. The excitement of Amir
for the local kite flying tournament shows that kite flying is
To fully atone for his sins, Amir decided to take Sohrab to a part of their culture and traditions. Even at the end of the
San Francisco with him to raise him as his own. By doing novel, kite flying brought a smile to face of Amir and all the
this, Amir atoned for the sins of his childhood. Afghani pedestrians nearby. Kite flying brings Afghans
together.
[1.3] Emotional Turmoil
In “The Kite Runner”, it can be seen that Amir goes through 5. Conclusion
emotional turmoil almost throughout the novel from viewing
certain incidents of his childhood. This observation is further “You can take Afghans out of Paghman, but you can‟t take
divided into two parts: [1.3.1] Amir’s Insecurities and Paghman out of Afghan”(Hosseini, 2013). This quote from
[1.3.2] The Rape Incident. the novel shows that the people of Afghan cherish their
culture. Present Afghanistan might not look like anything
[1.3.1] Amir’s Insecurities close to how it used to before the Taliban and the Russians
Amir felt very insecure about Baba‟s feelings towards him arrived. We are only left with the stories of the past. The
and how Baba would favour Hassan over him. He always only thing one can do is picture how Afghanistan used to
felt that he did not live up to the expectations of Baba. Baba look like through the eyes of the author. The various themes
wanted Amir to be more athletic but Amir was always and aspects that the author has highlighted in the novel is
interested in reading and writing. On the other hand, Hassan coherent with the lives of the characters. Even though it is a
was an athletic and brave boy. Amir felt very insecure about work of fiction, there is still some reality in the story that
Volume 10 Issue 5, May 2021
www.ijsr.net
Licensed Under Creative Commons Attribution CC BY
Paper ID: SR21422205742 DOI: 10.21275/SR21422205742 78
 International Journal of Science and Research (IJSR)
ISSN: 2319-7064
SJIF (2019): 7.583
cannot be denied. By reading and reviewing this novel, the
researcher has realised the beauty of Afghanistan, the
Afghani people and their culture and traditions.

References
[1] Hosseini, K. (2013). The Kite Runner. Bloomsbury
Publishing.
[2] Khadawardi, H. (2017). Superego Guilt, Redemption
and Atonement in Khaled Hosseini‟s the Kite Runner.
International Journal of Humanities Social Sciences
and Education (IJHSSE).
[3] Khalid Hosseini. (2018). Retrieved from Khalid
Hosseini's Website: https://khaledhosseini.com/bio/
[4] Yuan-yuan, P. (2018). Analysis of Hassan‟s Tragedy in
the Kite Runner from the Three-dimensional Ethical
Perspective. English Language Teaching.

Volume 10 Issue 5, May 2021