summary
In the Novel, The Kite Runner, Amir the main character recalls the events of his childhood and transition to America. He lived in Kabul, Afghanistan with his father Baba, a wealthy businessman, as well as their two slaves Ali, the acting father of Hassan, or better known as Amir's loyal best friend. The main confrontation in the story begins when a yearly kite flying competition was held. The goal is to be the last kite to fly as they diminish others from the sky. When Amir wins the tournament, Hassan sets off running to find the fallen kite, soon he vanishes. After Amir endlessly searches for Hassan he soon finds him trapped in the end of an alleyway standing next to Assef, and two other boys their age. Sorrowfully Amir stands in the distance as Hassan is raped by Assef. Pulling his eyes away, Amir acts as if nothing happened, claiming to have not seen anything. By the fault of guilt their close friendship begins to drift. One afternoon Amir slips a watch under Hassan’s pillow claiming he stole it. As Amir tells Baba Hassan admits to the crime even though he had not stolen anything. Ali and Hassan are then both banished from their “home”.
It is now 1981, and Kabul has been invaded by soviets becoming a war zone, Amir and Baba escape in the back of a truck. After a dreadful excursion they are soon in Pakistan. Two years later the two men were located in Fremont, California. Readers are then introduced to General Taheri, an old friend of Baba. Although at this time Amir is not focused on General Taheri as much as he is drawn to his daughter, Soraya. Not long after Baba is diagnosed with lung cancer. Baba is quickly dying, in a hurry Soraya and Amir are married and Baba dies a month after. Rahim Khan, a beloved friend of Baba’s, is soon Amir's father figure. Not long after Rahim Khan returns to Pakistan, unexpectedly getting sick. Urgently Amir packs his belongings and returns to Pakistan. To his surprise he hears news that Kabul had only gotten worse since the invasion. While these events are taking place Hassan has been married to Farzana, and later had a child named Sohrab. Sohrab is forcefully sent to an orphanage after the Taliban had shot both of his parents. Rahim Khan, knowing both Hassan and Farzana makes it his mission to bring Sohrab back to Pakistan. Due to his illness he cannot do this, he then lies to Amir telling him that Baba is Sohrab’s father, convincing Amir to find Sohrab. Amir quickly returns to Kabul and finds one of the officials, immediately realizing it is Assef, the man who raped Hassan years ago. Amir then tries to fight Assef for unsettled business, little does he know Assef was well prepared, splitting his lip and breaking his ribs. During the fight Sohrab tries to use a slingshot to defend Amir, as Assef lunges at Sohrab he is hit in the eye, giving both Amir and Sohrab enough time to escape.
While Amir recovers in the hospital he discovers there had never been a couple that took care of Sohrab. Trying to find a way to adopt Sohrab becomes impossible when Amir and his wife have no evidence of the parents death. Yet after weeks Amir and Soraya figure a way to bring Sohrab to the U.S. before they have the opportunity to tell him, Sohrab tries to take his own life. Luckily he survives but never speaks again. When they return to California, Sohrab and Amir go to the park to attend the kite flying tournament using one of Hassan's favorite tricks they win. The kite falls from the sky and it is Sohrab's duty to retrieve the kite just as Hassan, from then on he was known as the Kite Runner.
It is now 1981, and Kabul has been invaded by soviets becoming a war zone, Amir and Baba escape in the back of a truck. After a dreadful excursion they are soon in Pakistan. Two years later the two men were located in Fremont, California. Readers are then introduced to General Taheri, an old friend of Baba. Although at this time Amir is not focused on General Taheri as much as he is drawn to his daughter, Soraya. Not long after Baba is diagnosed with lung cancer. Baba is quickly dying, in a hurry Soraya and Amir are married and Baba dies a month after. Rahim Khan, a beloved friend of Baba’s, is soon Amir's father figure. Not long after Rahim Khan returns to Pakistan, unexpectedly getting sick. Urgently Amir packs his belongings and returns to Pakistan. To his surprise he hears news that Kabul had only gotten worse since the invasion. While these events are taking place Hassan has been married to Farzana, and later had a child named Sohrab. Sohrab is forcefully sent to an orphanage after the Taliban had shot both of his parents. Rahim Khan, knowing both Hassan and Farzana makes it his mission to bring Sohrab back to Pakistan. Due to his illness he cannot do this, he then lies to Amir telling him that Baba is Sohrab’s father, convincing Amir to find Sohrab. Amir quickly returns to Kabul and finds one of the officials, immediately realizing it is Assef, the man who raped Hassan years ago. Amir then tries to fight Assef for unsettled business, little does he know Assef was well prepared, splitting his lip and breaking his ribs. During the fight Sohrab tries to use a slingshot to defend Amir, as Assef lunges at Sohrab he is hit in the eye, giving both Amir and Sohrab enough time to escape.
While Amir recovers in the hospital he discovers there had never been a couple that took care of Sohrab. Trying to find a way to adopt Sohrab becomes impossible when Amir and his wife have no evidence of the parents death. Yet after weeks Amir and Soraya figure a way to bring Sohrab to the U.S. before they have the opportunity to tell him, Sohrab tries to take his own life. Luckily he survives but never speaks again. When they return to California, Sohrab and Amir go to the park to attend the kite flying tournament using one of Hassan's favorite tricks they win. The kite falls from the sky and it is Sohrab's duty to retrieve the kite just as Hassan, from then on he was known as the Kite Runner.
Favorite Quote
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"I became what I am today at the age of twelve, on a frigid overcast day in the winter of 1975." (p. 1)
This is the first line of the book and it sets the tone for the entire story. Amir is telling the story of his failure to protect the one person in his life worth protecting, his playmate and servant Hassan. Hassan would do anything for Amir, even suffer the indescribable violation of rape, just to satisfy a promise.
This is the first line of the book and it sets the tone for the entire story. Amir is telling the story of his failure to protect the one person in his life worth protecting, his playmate and servant Hassan. Hassan would do anything for Amir, even suffer the indescribable violation of rape, just to satisfy a promise.
Major Themes
Guilt
Redemption/ Punishment
Dominance and power
Redemption/ Punishment
Dominance and power
Argument
One may always be bound in guilt until they face what they have denied about themselves.