What is the significance of the kite in The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini?

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Nathanael Adrian Putra

What is the significance of the kite in The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini?

Word Count: 1289

The Kite Runner written by Khaled Hosseini is a novel about betrayal and redemption. The novel revolves around kite flying and kite fighting which is given away by the title of the novel itself. The novel begins with the protagonist, Amir, reflecting back at his life when he was still just a boy living in Kabul. Amir belongs to a wealthy family due to his father's business. They lived in a nice home with their two Hazara servants, Ali and his son, Hassan. Hassan and Amir are best friends although Amir often envies Hassan due to Baba's love for Hassan. Unbeknownst to Amir and Hassan, they are actually half-brothers although Amir finds out from Rahim Kahn towards the end of the novel. One winter, Amir partakes in a kite fighting tournament in which Amir wins and Hassan runs for the kite.

Hassan ends up being raped by Assef while Amir does nothing but run away. Their relationship gradually deteriorates which leads to Ali and Hassan moving out. Soon after, the Russians arrived and occupied Afghanistan which led to Baba and Amir moving to Pakistan and eventually the United States. Years pass and Amir receives a phone call from Rahim Kahn who tells him to come to Pakistan. Rahim Kahn tells Amir to rescue Sohrab, Hassan's son, from Afghanistan as Hassan and his wife has died. Amir does as told and decides to adopt Sohrab. Kite is a recurring motif in the novel. It symbolizes different things in the novel and it reveals the ongoing situation and the society of Afghanistan.

Kite flying and kite fighting has been a hobby to people in Afghanistan over the past 100 years. Although...