You should have read the book by now. Below are some quick notes to get you thinking about how Hosseini has created characters, setting, themes and symbols.
In chapter 7 Hassan is abused by Assef and his friends whilst defending a kite. Whilst Assef attacks Hassan, Amir shuts his eyes and pictures the Eid sacrifice. This sacrifice is part of the Islamic festival called Eid al-adha. Muslims will sacrifice a goat or sheep and divide the parts amongst their family, friends and the poor. It is done in remembrance of Abraham and his son, Ishmael. Abraham was asked by God to sacrifice Ishmael and Ishmael accepted this fate. When Abraham went to cut Ishmael’s throat he found instead a dead ram. Ishmael’s willingness to die proved his love of God. In much the same way, Hassan’s acceptance of the rape demonstrates his deep love and loyalty to Amir and reflects his earlier statement that he “would eat dirt for [Amir].”
Amir however, does not stick to Hassan’s earlier claim that Amir would never ask him to do this as he stands by and allows his best friend to be raped by their biggest enemy. We can question to what extent Amir can be blamed for these events. Amir is several years younger than Assef and his friends, he knows that he and Hassan will be outnumbered three to two and he has been stranded in a neighbourhood where everyone else seems to have deserted the streets for the main Eid festival celebrations. He is unable to call for an adult for help. Amir knows that if he confronts Assef he will probably be beaten up quite severely. However, Assef feels able to sexually assault Hassan here because he thinks there are no witnesses. If Amir were to interrupt it is likely that Assef would only have beaten up the two younger boys. Also Assef knows that Amir is likely to tell his father which would result in Assef getting into a lot of bother. Baba knows Assef’s father quite well and Baba believes that the Hazara community should be treated with respect. We can accept then that Amir faces a big dilemma at this point.
Amir decides in Chapter 9 that he will plant his birthday presents in Hassan’s room so that Hassan gets into trouble. Amir hopes that by doing this, Hassan will be sent away (and that Amir’s guilt at not intervening will also disappear). Instead, Baba calls a meeting between himself, Amir, Hassan and Ali. Hassan is questioned about the ‘stolen’ goods. He admits to stealing them, which leaves Amir gobsmacked. Baba then tells Hassan that he forgives him. Ali reveals that he and Hassan were going to leave Kabul anyway, as Ali no longer feels the city is safe for him or his son.
Baba’s reaction to Ali’s decision is startling. He becomes greatly distressed and is practically begging his old friend to stay. He even goes so far as to forbid Ali to leave. In fact, you could argue it is almost like Baba feels someone is trying to take his child from him! (Plot spoiler: Someone is trying to take his child from him!)
At the end of chapter 16 Amir has gone back to Pakistan to hear what Rahim Khan has to say, he finds out that Hassan has died at the hands of the Taliban, and worse, his death has left his son alone in Afghanistan. Rahim Khan tells the story in a specific order: it is clear from the telling that Hassan’s life had mirrored Amir’s. He had given himself some form of education, he had found a wife and he had seen the death of his father. Where Amir and Soraya had failed to conceive a child, Hassan and his wife had Sohrab. The build-up of the story would also suggest it was leading to a happy ending, instead it takes a horrific turn with the death of Hassan and his wife.
In chapter 18 Amir states ‘like father, like son’. Baba told Amir that the worst thing you can do to a person is steal from them. When you fail to be honest with someone, you are stealing the truth from that person. It has been revealed in this chapter that both men have concealed the truth in some way that has had devastating consequences: Baba failed to reveal that Hassan was his son, causing Amir to feel unexplainable resentment for his best friend and hurt between Baba and Ali. Amir fails to intervene when Hassan is assaulted and later cannot admit this cowardice or what he saw to himself or Hassan. The two characters are similar in that their ‘lies’ have knock-on effects for other people.
Hosseini reveals in chapter 20 that the orphanage has no money and cannot be run properly. Some support is provided by the local Taliban leader who provides money every so often in return for a child. The manager claims he does not know what purpose the child serves but it is implied that they probably end up abused. It turns out that Hassan’s son, Sohrab, is just the latest in a long line of victims to be removed by this terrible man. The manager claims he is sacrificing one child for the greater good of the others. By letting one child go, he is able to feed, clothe and shelter the remaining orphans. If he didn’t do this, it is highly likely that the Taliban men would simply take the children they wanted anyway. We can understand the manager’s reasons for allowing this to happen even if we do not agree with his decision.
In Chapter 21 Amir attends a football game. During half-time, the pitch is taken over by the Taliban group who lead out a woman and man, both blindfolded. The pair are buried up to their chests before being stoned to death. They have been accused of adultery. This is a shocking scene for many reasons. Firstly, one would not expect this to occur at a football match. It would seem that the pair did not have a formal trial. Lastly, this is a cruel and public death sentence. This is certainly not a fair version of justice.
The events in Chapter 22 are important as they show Amir finally redeeming himself. The fatal mistake he made earlier in his life was to not step in and help Hassan against Assef. At the Taliban headquarters he has the chance to make up for this as Sohrab is being held by Assef. He finally stands up to Assef, even though this time it will probably result in him being beaten to death. It is Sohrab who makes it possible for them to escape when he fires a slingshot pellet into Assef’s eye, blinding him. Sohrab’s actions here make him appear almost like Hassan’s ghost come to protect Amir again.
In Chapter 24, we see that Sohrab is understandably struggling to come to terms with the trauma of the past few months – the death of his parents, being held hostage by abusive Taliban men and almost witnessing Amir being beaten to death. The majority of this chapter seems hopeful that Amir will be able to adopt Sohrab and take him back to America to live as a family with Soraya. In the closing paragraphs of this chapter we discover the adoption will be a lengthy process and Sohrab will have to go back to an orphanage. Sohrab attempts suicide at this news. This adds another twist to the plot. Amir does not stop screaming the whole way to the hospital which contrasts with Sohrab’s silence.
In chapter 25 we see the psychological toll of Sohrab’s experience being suggested through his continued silence. He no longer talks to anyone and withdraws himself as much as possible from people. This is at a peak when Soraya’s parents visit for dinner. However it gives Amir the chance to show he has finally become the man his father wanted him to be. Here, the General makes a snidy comment about the ‘Hazara boy’ living with them. Amir makes it very clear that the child is his nephew and that this is what should be told to the nosy people that inquire about Sohrab. He also states clearly to the General that Sohrab is not to be referred to as the ‘Hazara boy’ in a derogatory tone ever again. Amir has finally grown a backbone.
Most people would agree that the end to this novel is largely a positive one, certainly in terms of the hope it demonstrates. Although a serious amount of trauma has been experienced by all parties involved most of the characters have found a happy ending. Amir has finally redeemed himself and stopped being a coward. He has finally become the man his father wanted him to be, whilst still being true to himself with his work as a writer. Soraya desperately wanted children despite being unable to conceive and now she has Sohrab to look after. We can imagine that the bond between these two will grow and strengthen. Sohrab, although he has lost his biological parents is at least still with family and can begin to restore himself. Some might argue that it would have been nice to find out what happened to Rahim Khan, but his elusive ending is in keeping with his fairy-godfather-esque part. There are those as well that think Assef should have suffered a much worse fate than simply losing one eye.
The Kite Runner definitely conjures scenes of the Middle East. When one delves into the book, it can seem a strange title. The book is really one story about two boys – Amir who does something wrong as a boy and must right it as an adult and Hassan who is forever good. The whole book is about Amir learning the depth of his own loyalty to his best friend and brother and it is fitting that the title of a book almost becomes an ode to this character. The Kite Runner is clearly Hassan.
