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Theme: True redemption is when guilt leads to good.

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Theme: True redemption is when guilt leads to good.

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The Kite Runner
Author: Khaled Housseini

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"I had one last chance to make a decision. One final opportunity to decide who I was going to be. I could step into that alley, stand up for Hassan--the way he'd stood up for me all those times in the past--and accept whatever would happen to me. Or I could run...In the end, I ran." (Amir 77)

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"I had one last chance to make a decision. One final opportunity to decide who I was going to be. I could step into that alley, stand up for Hassan--the way he'd stood up for me all those times in the past--and accept whatever would happen to me. Or I could run...In the end, I ran." (Amir 77)

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In this scene, Assef is raping Hassan in an alleyway. Amir is having an internal battle of whether or not to intervene. This is one of the first hard decisions that Amir encounters in the novel and his decision affects the course of events that follow. The decision Amir makes will show his level of loyalty to Hassan. Unfortunately, Amir fails to overcome his fear of confronting the situation and him and Hassan's relationship is never the same as it was before the incident. Amir ends up running away from the situation rather than helping his friend. When Amir runs away from Hassan, he knows he is doing the wrong thing yet does it anyway. Amir's cowardly decision leads him to decades of reoccurring guilt.

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"I was sorry, but I didn't cry and I didn't chase the car. I watched Baba's car pull away from the curb, taking with it the person whose first spoken word had been my name... I stepped back and all I saw was rain through the windowpanes that looked like melting silver." (Amir 109)

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"I was sorry, but I didn't cry and I didn't chase the car. I watched Baba's car pull away from the curb, taking with it the person whose first spoken word had been my name... I stepped back and all I saw was rain through the windowpanes that looked like melting silver." (Amir 109)

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In this part of the story, Alli and Hassan are leaving Amir's house for good. The reasoning behind this occurrence is that Amir framed Hassan for stealing his money because Amir's guilt inhibits him from being able to look Hassan in the eye anymore. The key words in this passage are, "I stepped back." Yet again, Amir steps back from his opportunity to even somewhat salvage his relationship with Hassan. This additional missed opportunity of Amir's adds more stress to his life. Amir continues to sin and pile on the guilt and shame that leads him down a path that is not the ideal path.

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"I finally had what I'd wanted all those years. Except now that I had it, I felt as empty as this unkempt pool I was dangling my legs into" (Amir 85).

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"I finally had what I'd wanted all those years. Except now that I had it, I felt as empty as this unkempt pool I was dangling my legs into" (Amir 85).

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At this point in the novel, Amir possesses one of his greatest wishes: his father's love and attention. However, despite his fulfillment in this aspect of his life he continues to feel empty. Consequentially, Amir is getting karma for his wrongdoings and his cowardice has left him unfulfilled in life. He feels guilt not only for his wrongdoings but also because Hassan has an undying loyalty for Amir no matter the wrong he commits. Amir was never able to admit that Hassan was his friend. Amir failed to take the opportunity to help Hassan and to teach him how to read. On the other hand, Hassan jumps at the opportunity to help Amir whenever and wherever he can. In a sense, Hassan is similar to the pomegranate tree. Hassan gave all he could and Amir continued to pick the pomegranates until they are all gone. Amir see the importance of Hassan's role in his life until Hassan was gone.

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"But how could I pack up and go back home when my actions may have cost Hassan a chance at those very same things?" (Amir 226)

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"But how could I pack up and go back home when my actions may have cost Hassan a chance at those very same things?" (Amir 226)

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Amir reveals this question after visiting Rahim Khan in his sickly state. Rahim Khan asks Amir to find Hassan's child, Sohrab, and bring him out of Afghanistan. Amir sees that the things holding him back from going to find Sohrab were the things Hassan might have had if he were still living and Amir had not disturbed his peace. Rahim Khan intended for Amir to find Sohrab as a way to atone for his past evil acts towards Hassan. If Amir's actions were different then Hassan could have potentially been alive, free, and with his family today. However, Amir's actions led everyone to his or her current state and he now is obliged to save Hassan's son due to his wrongdoings towards Hassan in the past. This question is the climax of the novel because Amir finally recognizes and admits his misconduct. Amir is carrying the weight of guilt daily because he knows that he in a way inhibited what could have been a happy future for Hassan.

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" A way to end the cycle. With a little boy. A orphan. Hassan's son. Somewhere in Kabul.....Then I told him I was going to Kabul." (Amir 227)

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" A way to end the cycle. With a little boy. A orphan. Hassan's son. Somewhere in Kabul.....Then I told him I was going to Kabul." (Amir 227)

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The previous four quotes exemplify Amir's cycle of faults in life which oftentimes come along with guilt. This cycle began a long time ago when Amir had a chance to save his best friend yet he ran away from that chance. However, life has yet again given Amir a chance to redeem himself. Life is giving Amir the chance to break the wheel that represents his cycle of sin and guilt. This opportunity for atonement lies in Amir's chance to rescue Hassan's only living child: his son Sohrab. The last line of this quote represents Amir's choice and his first step in his path to redemption. This choice is so significant and different from his last choice because this time he made the right choice. Amir is now overcoming his multitude of fears for the sake of saving the people he loves. Amir's past experience of wrong decisions and guilt leads him to find redemption through saving Hassan's son.

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"I was afraid that I'd let the waters carry me away from what I had to do. From Hassan. From the past that had come calling. And from this one last chance at redemption. So I left before there was any possibility of that happening." (Amir 231)

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"I was afraid that I'd let the waters carry me away from what I had to do. From Hassan. From the past that had come calling. And from this one last chance at redemption. So I left before there was any possibility of that happening." (Amir 231)

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This was in the midst of the period of time right after Amir decides he is going to find Sohrab. Knowing himself, Amir knows that he needs to begin his venture soon or he may begin to doubt his decision and withdraw from his commitment. He then leaves for this mission before there is any possibility for him to back out. In addition, he does not tell his wife that he is going to Afghanistan because he does not want to worry about anyone or anything interfering in this already difficult mission. Again, Amir exemplifies strength through his decision to take action and leave right away. He now is aware and honest about his own self and he does what he needs to do to ensure that he does not make his past mistakes. He logically knows that this is his last chance to atone for his sins. In this quote, he acknowledges his fear which he allowed to define his decisions in the past. Even more, his fear led him to ignore his problems. His ignorance then resulted in guilt and the loss of his loved ones. All of these things left a void in his life, one that he could not continue to ignore. Because he has been down roads that have led him to loneliness and despair, he now has more clarity of which roads may lead him to a fulfilling life.

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"For the first time since the winter of 1975, I felt at peace....My body was broken--just how badly I wouldn't find out until later--but I felt healed. Healed at last." (Amir 289)

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"For the first time since the winter of 1975, I felt at peace....My body was broken--just how badly I wouldn't find out until later--but I felt healed. Healed at last." (Amir 289)

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As Amir continued to search for Sohrab, Amir discovers that Sohrab is in the hands of a violent member of the Taliban who wears sunglasses. In Amirs efforts to retrieve Sohrab, he discovers that Sohrab is in the hands of his childhood enemy, Assef. Assef dressed Sohrab in a way that ridiculed his manhood and Assef violated Sohrab. Amir and Assef decide to duel with the hopes that Sohrab will remain with the one who wins or is still alive. In the midst of Amir's fight with Assef, Amir finally feels peace. In a way, he feels that his fight recompenses for his sins. While he may be physically shattered, he is now mentally prepared for the events to come. He feels that he is finally putting up the fight for Hassan that Hassan had put up for him for so long. This quote illustrates Amir's redemption and peace as a result of guilt.

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"But I'd like to be your friend. I think I could be a good to you. Would that be alright? Would you like that?" (Amir 306)

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"But I'd like to be your friend. I think I could be a good to you. Would that be alright? Would you like that?" (Amir 306)

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In this scene, Sohrab is telling Amir what he heard from his father, Hassan, about him and Amir's relationship. Sohrab notes that his father said Amir was the best friend he ever had. On the other hand, Amir feels that he could have been a much better friend to Hassan. Considering that idea, Amir chooses to be a great friend to Sohrab. Rather than dote on past mistakes he cannot change, Amir sees that sees the importance of making the most of one's life in the present. The quote above exemplifies another one of Amir's choices to redeem himself and to be good again. Since it is too late to salvage him and Hassan's relationship, he is going to devote himself to Hassan's son. This quote shows Amir's enthusiasm and desire to take action and to be a part of Sohrab's life. Similar to how Hassan did all he could to make Amir's life better, Amir is going to do the same thing for Hassan's son.