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