The Kite Runner Literary Analysis free essay sample

The expression riddled with guilt is a good way to describe the main characters life, Amir, in the book The Kite Runner, written by Khaled Hosseini. The Kite Runner is a story about an Afghan boy, Amir, who has many hardships throughout his life as he grows from a boy living in war-torn Afghanistan, to a successful writer living in America. Amir experiences many events that caused him to carry a great amount of guilt throughout his life. So much guilt that it even turned him into an insomniac. He needed to find a way to make amends which would allow him to forgive himself and hopefully, one day, be able to sleep soundly again. Guilt was a main theme that occurred over and over again throughout the story. Amir can trace his feelings of guilt back to the moment he was born since his mother died during childbirth and Amir thinks his father blamed him. We will write a custom essay sample on The Kite Runner Literary Analysis or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page Amir often felt he let his father down. He said, I will never forget Babas valiant efforts to conceal the disgusted look on his face. (pg. 21) That was his fathers reaction to his crying after seeing a horseback rider trampled to death. Also when Amir overheard his father say, There is something missing in that boy (pg. 22) and If I hadnt seen the doctor pull him out of my wife with my own eyes, Id never believe hes my son. (pg. 23) he knew that he did not meet his fathers expectations. Amir clearly felt that he was not measuring up to his fathers standards of what boy (or man) should be like. But Amir really wanted his fathers approval. Not only did Amir feel guilt from not meeting his fathers expectations, he felt tremendous guilt when he didnt tell anyone and didnt do anything to help his friend Hassan when he witnessed Hassan being raped. Especially because it happened when Hassan was running after Amirs victory kite. What made this guilt feel so much worse was that Hassan had always been so good and loyal to him. Once, Hassan even defended Amir against the same boys who raped him by aiming his sling shot at them. All this made Amir feel like a coward and compared to Hassans bravery, he even felt jealous. One night he was tossing and turning and said to no one, I watched Hassan get raped. A part of me was hoping someone would wake up and hear so I wouldnt have to live with this lie anymore I was the monster That was the night I became an insomniac. (pg. 86) At that point even being around Hassan was a constant reminder of Amirs failures and that made him angry but feeling angry added even more guilt. In Amirs desperate attempt to get out from under feelings of crushing guilt, he planted his birthday present of a watch and some money under Hassans mattress and told Baba. I knocked on Babas door and told what I hoped would be the last in a long line of shameful lies. (pg. 104) But when Hassan replied yes to stealing, Amir flinched, like Id been slapped. My heart sank and I almost blurted out the truth. Then I understood: This was Hassans final sacrifice for me. (pg. 105) Amir said he loved Hassan in that moment, more than he ever loved anyone but he didnt tell the truth. He remained silent hoping that the stealing would get them fired and he could move on, forget, start with a clean slate be able to breathe again. (pg. 106) However, Baba forgave Hassan for stealing, to Amirs complete shock, but Ali insisted they leave anyway and that broke Babas heart. Amir does move on with his life but doesnt begin to forgive himself or let go of the load of guilt he carried until the story comes full circle with Amir getting the opportunity make things right by helping his brother Hassans son, his nephew. Theres a statement in the beginning that caught my attention, There is a way to be good again. (pg. 2) It is through all Amirs efforts to travel back to Afghanistan to save Hassans now orphaned child, Sohrab, bring him back to America and adopt him that Amir begins to let go of the guilt hes carried for so long. He sees that he can finally start to heal because remembering events from the past stopped hurting as much when he thought about them as they once did. Finally, Hassans son shows his first glimpse of being happy while flying kites at the end, when Amir asks, Do you want me to run that kite for you? He catches Sohrabs glimpse of a smile when he nods yes and said the same thing Hassan once told him, For you, a thousand times over. (pg. 371)