Kite Runner Characters

Throughout the course of our lives, we make plenty of mistakes and try and learn from them and ask for forgiveness. Some mistakes are more serious than others and affect us throughout the rest of our lives until they're finally dealt with. Redemption is defined as the action of saving or being saved from sin, error, or evil. You simply cannot be redeemed overnight or in a single day. Redemption is a process that can either take days, weeks, months- or even years to achieve. In The Kite Runner, redemption is vital because sin is so frequent and a reoccurring theme from Amir witnessing the rape of Hassan, and Baba not being honest about his past, sin is almost what keeps the story going. Redemption is a reoccurring theme in Khaled Hosseni's The Kite Runner and several characters are bound by fear and guilt that lasts throughout the course of the story.

The road to redemption can be a long and uncomfortable ride, especially in the case of Amir. Amir opens the story by telling the reader how he had sinned, not exactly the consequences that came along with these sins. Amir represents throughout the story what guilt does to those and how effectively it damages relationships and destroys the life of oneself. The road of redemption is often paved with pain and regrets until it is finally reached. Amir feels guilty for his betrayal of Hassan and the rape that he allowed happen as he merely stood by and did nothing to help the situation. To make it worse, Hassan stays loyal and true to his master and would sacrifice anything for him. Amir even feels responsible for the murder of Hassan by the Taliban since he set up

the events that lead up to Hassan's death when Hassan and Ali leave their house.

The Kite Runner's biggest irony is that Amir did not stop Hassan's rape and Amir does this because he wants Baba's approval, which can be earned by bringing home the kite representing Amir as a winner. In reality, this is the opposite of what Baba would've wanted Amir to do because it shows how much of a weakling Amir comes to be. Not only did Amir betray Hassan, but he does so again by making it seem Hassan had stolen money from Amir's birthday. Amir knows that the one sin Baba believes in is theft, which causes Hassan and Ali to leave the house of Amir and Baba.

Redemption is a reoccurring theme in The Kite Runner and makes up the heart of the novel. Amir has to face his past by proving that he has the courageousness to stand up for what is right, what Baba had been trying to teach for him throughout his whole life. It's fortunate that Amir answered the phone call from Rahim Khan regarding a suggestion that would allow him to deal with his past and find solace for the rest of his life.