The Kite Runner. My final thoughts.

In The Kite Runner, a historical fiction novel written by Khaled Hosseini about a man that struggles through life to obtain salvation from what had happened in his childhood years. His best friend, brother, role-model Hassan a mere Hazara, stays with Amir throughout his childhood journey. When one day Hassan faces a struggle between friendship and his life, he chooses his loyalty over everything for Amir. Amir maintains a stable lifestyle in America when he receives a message notifying him about what had happened with Hassan and his son and most importantly the spacious Kabul, his hometown. In this novel, Amir struggles to create balance from his past and present. This book tells the story of the mind set of a young man racing to make things right with his best friend. Along the way, he faces many obstacles that could only be passed by with perserverence and his will for a better life in the end.

Throughout The Kite Runner, Hassan and Amir’s friendship is greatly expressed. Their friendship can be closely relaated to a rollercoaster. At times Hassan and Amir can act as if they are brothers. Other times, when the rollercoaster dips down, they can face many awkward moments.

“The words I’d carved on the tree trunk with Ali’s kitchen knife, Amir and Hassan: The Sultans of Kabul... I couldn’t stand looking at them now.” (PG. 89)

Amir can’t bear to look at the pomegranate tree after noticing the words engraved in it. Would they ever be friends again? After what had happened at the kite running tournament, Amir carries a load of guilt and regret with him when he watches Hassan get sexually harassed by Assef. The guilt is too much to bare and feels that Hassan is too loyal to Amir, every day is filled with another sweep of heart ache and Amir can no longer stay Hassan’s friend. Amir constantly tries to test Hassan’s loyalty because he wonders how far Hassan would go before finally saying no to Amir. Also if Hassan finally figured out that he was a back up friend that Amir was ashamed about, would he still feel the need to be friends with Amir? When Amir takes Hassan to their pomegranate tree after the incident, he begins to test Hassan’s loyalty by seeing if he would react to the pomegranates that Amir threw at him.

“I don’t know how many times I hit him...I fell to my knees, tired, spent, frustrated. Then Hassan did pick up a pomegranate. He walked toward me. He opened it and crushed it against his own forehead.”(PG.93)

When Amir hits Hassan, his only intentions were to ease the guilt that was piled on him from betraying Hassan when he needed Amir most. Although Hassan knew that Amir saw him getting harassed, he still did no feel the need to be angered with Amir. Hassan proves that he does not need the affection of Amir to make him happy, it’s the other way around.

“...he croaked, red dripping down his face like blood. ‘Are you satisfied? Do you feel better?’ I let the tears break free, rocked back and forth on my knees. ‘What am I going to do with you Hassan?’...I knew the answer to that question.” (PG.93)

Here Amir feels the guilt finally break him, Hassan does not need Amir. Amir needs Hassan.
Amir is afraid to be Hassan’s true friend because of their religious and social backgrounds. Hassan, a Hazara followed the faith of Shi’a. While the Pashtuns were Sunni Muslims. Amir is ashamed for people to know that Hassan is his friend because of these circumstances.

“The book said that my people had killed the Hazaras, driven them from their lands, burned their homes, and sold their women. The book said part of the reason Pashtuns had oppressed the Hazaras was that Pashtuns were Sunni Muslims, while Hazaras were Shi’a...people called Hazaras mice-eating, flat-nosed, load-carrying donkeys. I...heard some... kids...yell those names to Hassan.” (PG.9)

Amir is very ashamed because of this prejudice that overwhelms many unaware Pashtuns. When Assef threatens to hurt Amir with his brass knuckles, Assef begins with despising Hassan and Amir’s friendship, disgusted by the fact that a Hazara and a Pashtun could ever be friends.
“

But he’s not my friend! I almost blurted. He’s my servant!...I treated Hassan well, just like a friend, better even, more like a brother. But if so, then why, when Baba’s friends came to visit with their kids, didn’t I ever include Hassan in our games? Why did I play with Hassan only when no one else was around?” (PG.41)

Here Amir reveals his feelings towards his friendship with Hassan. He refers to Hassan as his servant around other people, but on the inside he treats Hassan as if he were one of his brothers. Later on, Hassan stands up for Amir with his slingshot pointed directly in front of Assef’s left eye. He threatens Assef that if he tries to hurt one of them, Assef would lose on of his eyes. Hassan stands with the slingshot carrying the essence of courage, bravery, loyalty and honor with him. Throughout the book, Hassan can be found standing up for Amir yet Amir struggles to do the same for Hassan. Why is that? Does Amir need Hassan more than Hassan needs Amir?

“‘You are right, Agha. But perhaps you didn’t notice that I’m the one holding the slingshot. If you make a move, they’ll have to change your nickname from Assef ‘the Ear Eater’ to ‘One-Eyed Assef’ because I have this rock pointed at you left eye.”...[Assef replies] ‘Your Hazara made a big mistake today, Amir,’ (PG.43)

After reading The Kite Runner, I noticed that the main message in the book was that Amir faces many tragedies when trying to make things right with his friendship with Hassan. Along the way he has to overcome many obstacles that overwhelm him. He manages to fight his fears and gain the courage that he never had in the end. Khaled Hosseini’s work is admirable and I enjoyed reading The Kite Runner very much.

[Question came from back of book #2]