The Kite Runner(原版)

Human Nature and Redemption
——Thoughts on Reading The Kite Runner
Name:周仙Class:英语三班Number:122214101320 Score:_____
I . Abstract
Though the plot of Khaled Hosseini's novel The Kite Runner is simple, it has attracted millions of readers all over the world. By describing and analyzing the "betrayal", "guilt", and "redemption" of the main characters of the novel, the author conveys us a good understanding of the theme——human nature. He believes that man is born to be good and kind-hearted, although he may sometimes become immoral in the "bad" environments and commit all kinds of sins. However, once he realizes the mistakes he has made, he will try his best to get his soul redeemed and return to good again. Just as Rahim Khan in the book says:"There is a way to be good again. "
II. Introduction
The Kite Runner is Khaled Hosseini's first novel[1], and it is a wonderful story set in Afghanistan and the United States between the 1970s to the present day. It mainly tells about the stories of a young boy Amir, and his best friend Hassan , who are torn apart at last. The whole story is narrated by Amir, the main character of the novel.
In this book, the author shows us the human weakness, betrayal, and redemption in different levels. The main characters involved in the theme "human nature and redemption" are Amir and Baba(Amir's father).
III. Different Types of Redemption
1. The Redemption of Amir
The twelve-year-old Amir, whose Baba is a big gun in that area, grows up with his closest friend, Hassan, a servant in his house. As Hassan is illiterate and harelipped, Amir often teases him. In spite of that, Hassan always takes the blame for those faults of Amir and never complaints. On the contrary, Amir watched Hassan being raped by others without giving any help to his friend. Instead, he ran way. After fifteen minutes, Hassan met him:
" He had the blue kite in his hands: that was the first thing I saw. And I can't lie now and say my eyes didn't scan it for any rips. His chapan had mud smudges down the front and his shirt was ripped just below collar. He stopped.
Swayed on his feet like he was going to collapse. Then he steadied himself.
Handed me the kite. " (Hosseini, 100)[2].
In fact, the blue kite is a sign of Amir's betrayal of Hassan[3]. It indicates that Amir is too cowardly to protect his friend when he faces the event. After that incident, Amir couldn't treat Hassan as usual as before since he couldn't overcome the guilt inside his heart after seeing what has happened to Hassan.
He beat him, he threw pomegranates at him, and he was no longer willing to be his friend, even though Hassan still treated him like before. Every time Amir saw Hassan, the sense of guilt always reminded him of that incident. So it led him to betray Hassan again——forcing Hassan to leave by framing him as a thief. Finally, Hassan falsely confessed and left with his father, which made Amir more guilty.
Things begin to change after knowing that Hassan is his half-blooded brother. Amir feels very regretful for what he has done to Hassan. In order to atone for his
crime, he finally decided to take a risk to save Hassan's son, Sohrab, from the neighborhood bully Assef. This is where redemption was found in the book. As the most important character, Amir in the novel began by betraying someone, but at the end, he got the chance of redemption.
At the end of the story, Amir was flying a kite with Sohrab, he said to Sohrab, “For you, a thousand times over! [4]”. Those words, which Hassan had said to him before, move the readers deeply.
2. The Redemption of Baba
In this novel, many deeds need forgiveness; many individuals seek redemption, and at the end, they all find it. Besides the redemption of Amir, there is also the redemption of his father.
Amir's father, a wealthy merchant, loves both his boys. As a successful businessman, he aids the community by creating businesses for others and building a new orphanage. He is always kind to others without asking for a reward. However, as a father, he is often critical of Amir, considering him weak and lacking in courage. He seldom shows directly his love to his son. Maybe it is because that he is also the biological father of Hassan that he hides from both of his children. As a friend, he did something unforgivable to his servant, Ali——having an affair with his wife, Sanaubar and giving birth to a son, Hassan secretly.
In his eyes, Amir is lack of something that will contribute to him to become a real man[5]. He can't be brave enough to face difficulties and achieve what he has made. It seems that this is a kind of prejudice to Amir. On the contrary, because the mistakes he has made to Ali's family, h e seems to focus more on Hassan and try to get his soul redeemed. No wonder Amir always wants to get all his Baba's love, which causes the jealousy of him and the later tragedies.
In the annual kite flying tournament, Amir is determined not just to win the
competition but to prove to his Baba that he has the makings of a man. He is eager to earn Baba's praise. He witnesses the humiliation of Hassan hut he doesn't show up. He knows that if he fails to bring home the kite, Baba would be less proud of him. He feels incredibly guilty but knows his cowardice would destroy any hopes for Baba's affections, so he keeps quiet about the incident.
Apart from that, Amir begins to believe that life would be easier if Hassan were not around, so he puts a watch and some money in Hassan's room hoping that Baba will make him leave; Hassan falsely confesses when confronted by Baba. Although Baba believes "there is no act more wretched than stealing", he forgives him. To Baba's sorrow, Hassan and Ali leave anyway and forever.
To some extent, Amir's wrong behaviours are based on Baba's prejudice and ignorance. If only he has treated his two sons equally, things will not happen.
Five years later, Baba and Amir escape to California. Baba is diagnosed with terminal cancer but is still capable of granting Amir one last favor before he dies: he asks Soraya's father's permission for Amir to marry her. At last, his way of redemption comes to an end.
IV. Conclusion
In the book The Kite Runner, we can see that e veryone has his kite and everyone is a kite runner at the same time. We have to take the responsibilities that belong to us and admit the errors we made. It is never late to redeem ourselves and follow our heart. Just as the author says;"There is a way to be good again."
V. References
[1]Hosseini, Khaled (September–December 2004). "The Kite Runner". World Literature Today
[2]Jain, Saudamini (May 24, 2013). "COVER STORY: the Afghan story teller Khaled Hosseini".
[3]Khaled Hosseini discusses The Kite Runner on the BBC World Book Club
[4]Schwarzbaum, Lisa (January 9, 2008). "The Kite Runner webite
[5]卡勒德·胡赛尼《追风筝的人》2003。