Symbolism, Betrayal, and Redemption in The Kite Runner by Hosseini

This essay provides an in-depth analysis of the symbolism employed by Khaled Hosseini in his novel, "The Kite Runner." It explores the significance of various symbols, including the kite, the pomegranate tree, the sacrificial lamb, the myth of Rostam and Sohrab, and the slingshot, to illuminate key themes of the novel. The essay examines how these symbols contribute to the portrayal of betrayal, loyalty, and the quest for redemption in the life of the protagonist, Amir. It delves into Amir's complex relationships with his father, his childhood friend Hassan, and his journey to confront his past and atone for his mistakes. The analysis highlights how Hosseini uses these symbols to create a rich narrative that reflects the cultural and historical context of Afghanistan and explores the universal human experiences of guilt, forgiveness, and the search for identity. The essay concludes by emphasizing the effective use of symbolism in conveying the central themes of the novel and its lasting impact on the reader.

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Introduction
The Kite Runner, by Khaled Hosseini, is a novel that narrates the life of Amir, a Sunni
Muslim. In the story, Khaled gives a vivid illustration of how Amir tries to rediscover himself
and fit in the world after having undergone traumatic childhood experiences. A grown-up Amir
opens his story in the modern America with an unclear allusion to one of his childhood
experiences, and later the novel recaptures the full details of Amir’s early life in Afghanistan. In
addition to his early life events, Amir tries hard to falsify a healthy relationship with Baba, his
father; with ascertaining the exact relationship he shares with his Shia’s Muslim helper; and
finally find a means to redress his pre-adolescent mistakes that had long lasting repercussions
(Malik, Shah and Mahmood, 2013, pp 161). Throughout the novel, readers are taken through a
series of Amir’s experiences in a single-parent household. His situation was quite similar to
numerous contemporary homes. This essay will, therefore, take a look at the different elements
of symbolism used by Khaled Hosseini to bring out some key ideas and illuminate the themes of
betrayal, loyalty, and redemption.
The Kite
The kite is used in the novel to symbolize Amir’s guilt and also his happiness. As a child,
Amir enjoyed flying kites. Moreover, it was one of the unusual ways he connected wholly with
Baba, a once kite fighter champion (Pratiwi and Candraningrum, 2017, pp 31). The significance
of the kite shifts when Amir permits Hassan to be sexually assaulted because he wanted to
redeem the blue kite and take it back to Baba. His reminiscence after the incidence depicts the
kite as an indicator of his disloyalty to Hassan. The guilt in him was so intense that he found it
difficult to fly a kite again, until at the end of the novel where he eventually redeems himself. At
that point, the kite reminds him of his childhood and also helps him to relate with Sohrab,
reflecting the role of the kite in Amir’s bond with Baba.
The Pomegranate Tree
During their childhood, Amir and Hassan lived a carefree and close life as twins can be.
They would sculpt their names in the Pomegranate tree, and it produces fruits. The tree,
therefore, acted as a symbol of their close and tight relationship. After the death of Hassan and

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Amir suffers great guilt, the tree still stands strong but is no longer productive, just like Amir’s
recollections (Saraswat, 2014, pp 23). The tree symbolizes the strong bond between Hassam and
Amir and also acts as the origin of the division. Amir suggests that Hassan strikes him with a
fruit from the pomegranate tree to wreak physical pain and reduce his guilt. Instead, Hassan
picks the fruit and breaks it over his skull.
The Sacrificial Lamb
According to the Islam religion, same as Christianity, the lamb is a symbol of the
sacrifice of a guiltless. According to Amir, both Sohrab and Hassan are sacrificial lambs waiting
for the slaughter knife. Amir said this when Hassan was being raped, noting that Hassan
appeared like the lambs slaughtered during major Muslim occasions such as Eid Al-Adha, which
honors and commemorates the incident when Abraham was almost sacrificing his son for God
(Parveen, 2015, pp 2500). Similarly, Amir sees Sohrab as a sacrificial lamb when he sets his eyes
on Sohrab with Assef for the first time. Amir indicates that the mullah would put mascara on the
sacrificial lamb before slaughtering it. Likewise, Amir in the company of others would apply
mascara on Sohrab’s eyes. Sohrab and Hassan are faultless individuals who are symbolically
sacrificed through rape. However, the sacrifices carry distinct meanings. In Sohrab’s case, Amir
prevents Sohrab from being sexually abused. But in Hassan’s case, Amir fails to stop the rape of
Hassan because he wanted to take the blue kite back to his father (Tak, 2015, pp 50). In the
sacrificial lamb’s context, sacrifice is depicted as the abuse and oppression of the faultless.
The myth of Rostam and Sohrab
Myths, stories, and literacy, in general, symbolize or portray the differences and
similarities between the Sunni and Shi’a Muslims. The social or economic conditions influence
the understanding and literacy levels, but they may not assure heroic attributes, actions, or
attitudes (Alamour, 2015, pp 21). The heroes of Middle Eastern and Afghan cultures relate to
those people with different socioeconomic conditions and beliefs. Rostam, in his character,
shows dishonor to the king by going to bed with his daughter. This action symbolizes Amir. On
the other side, Sohrab, who is unaware of who his father is, also Hassan’s dearest hero, and who
comes face-to-face with his ill-timed death, acts as a symbol of Hassan.

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The slingshot
For many years, the slingshot has been predominantly used for punishing the wrong
doers. Although it is viewed as a primitive weapon, the slingshot was helpful in shaping the
behaviors of Hassan, Sohrab, and Amir. The slingshot acts as a representation of two
generations. Both the childhood and the need to advocate for what is ethical are symbolized by
the slingshot. The slingshot is used by Sohrab and Hassan to stop Assef. Hassan threatens to use
his slingshot while Sohrab inflicts the punishment. Amir uses the slingshot for his personal gains
and therefore; Amir does not mature until he is fully grown up (Qiao-yi, 2012, pp 19). At the
beginning of the novel, the slingshot’s primary purpose was to entertain Hassan and Amir. The
slingshot serves to save Hassan and Amir from instant pain but eventually ends up harming
them. The slingshot extended the time Amir needed to master to stand up for himself and fight
his battles.
Conclusion
Khaled Hosseini comprehensively uses the various symbols explained in this essay to
bring out the themes of loyalty, redemption, and betrayal. In the novel, Amir handles his guilt by
steering clear of it. By doing this, Amir only keeps himself away from redemption, and hence his
guilt persists (Banu, 2016, pp 17). This is the reason why he shrinks when Hassan’s name is
referred. The kites are a significant image in the novel. For Amir, the kites symbolize his
betrayal of Hassan and his childhood joy. The kite reminds him of his early days when he used to
live a carefree and happy life with Hassan. They used to be the inseparable and loyal friends who
would fly the kites together.

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Bibliography
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