Rahim Khan's request of Amir to retrieve Sohrab from Afghanistan is the trial of Amir's character. This is symbolic because it is the first time he has done anything for a Hazaara worth noting. In his quest to find Sohrab, the encounter with Assef shows how strong Amir has become in redeeming himself. Redemption is a theme in the novel because Amir tries to prove himself as a man even though he previously despised the Hazaaras. Amir goes so far to get Sohrab accepted into the country despite their hardships with immigration. Amir even tells Soraya's father not to ever call Sohrab a Hazaara again, which shows that he has finally stopped discriminating.
The author uses the device of irony heavily throughout the novel. It is ironic that like Hasaan, Amir now has a harelip from Assef beating him. It is also ironic that Sohrab defends Amir from Assef with a slingshot, just as Hasaan had done many years ago. Another prime example of irony is when Amir flies the kite and Sohrab grabs the string just as Hasaan had.
Amir has gone through significant character development in the final stages of the novel. He has felt the need to redeem himself and sucessfully rescues Sohrab from a suicide attempt. Furthermore, Amir has displayed strength for the first time when he faces Assef; instead of running away he stood up for himself.
Unfortunately, we learn that Hassan has not been lucky enough to live a rewarding life. In the recent post I have detailed that Hassan is a foil of Amir, and it is true that this continues in his adult years. He marries a woman and has a stillborn child, but is able to bear, unlike Amir. Unlike Amir, Hassan "wore black for the next forty days" (208)to show his respect for Baba's death. His fate is that he is shot by the Taliban in the back of the head.
Baba's fate is unfortunate, however it is a path that he partakes in because he does not put much effort into saving himself. The doctors don't do much for him either and he becomes ill with cancer spreading rapidly. Rahim Khan receives the same fate in Afghanistan. Baba finally shows some affection to Amir when he tells his wife, Soraya that he admires Amir's writings. He is also glad about his wedding and kisses them both before he dies in his bed.
Assef is the Taliban man who takes the children from the orphanage and rapes them. Hosseini shows how evil and discriminating man can be through the development of Assef. He has not changed and actually is worse than the way he was in his childhood. In the end, evil is defeated and Sohrab shoots a ball into his eye from his desk.
Major thematic issues prevalent in the novel are redemption because Amir must perform a heroic act to make up for the wrongs he committed. Another theme is discrimination, which is constantly placed upon the Hazaaras from beginning to the end of the novel, reaching a point where Hassan is brutally murdered for no reason. Baba couldn't even share the fact that Hassan was his second son with Amir because of the class hierarchy. Finally, the Kite is symbolic in the final scene of the novel because it shows that Amir has suceeded in making Sohrab happy because of the small smile on his face. The event reminds him of the Kite Running tournament when he was a little boy with Hassan. The novel concludes with Sohrab becoming Amir's and Soraya's son, completing their family which they have struggled to do for so long.
2 comments:
I found an interesting quote to share that I felt sums up the redemption that Amir seeks throughout the latter course of the novel.
"There is a way to be good again." (2)
The quote is significant because Amir goes to Afghanistan to rescue Hassan's son to overcome his sins. It is seen often throughout the novel that Rahim Khan is a close person to Amir, offering him guidance and wisdom positively, and ultimately leaving his possessions to him.
Did you like the novel?
I thoroughly enjoyed the novel and I believe that it is tragic and did make me feel catharsis for the characters who went through hardship. It was one of the more sad novels I have read in my life.
What were your early impressions of the reading, did it change, how/why?
My early impressions of the reading was that it was a good novel, and it explained Amir's childhood which lead to a better understanding of his life's experiences as an adult and how he changed. It changed a little when Amir came to America- the novel became more exciting when he travels to Afghanistan because more shocking events occur.
Would you recommend this reading to others? Why?
Yes I would recommend this reading to others, especially in a time where soldiers are stationed in Iraq and Afghanistan. It is important for people to know what the history of Afghanistan was and the ill-fate that many endured. This is why we need to free both of those countries and prevent further Shi'a/Sunni conflict.
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