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The themes of the novel The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini are how Amir, the main character, deals with guilt and the past and searches for redemption. Amir, for the second half of the novel, is searching for "redemption" from his past mistakes. A huge weight on Amir's shoulders is finally lifted at the very end of the novel when he ultimately reaches peace while flying a kite with Sohrab his nephew. Another theme of the novel is the broken relationship between Amir and his father as Amir constantly battles for Baba's approval and love. Amir feels like he is never enough for his dad, and he is jealous about of the relationship that Baba and Hassan have because Hassan is just his servant.

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"It's wrong what they say about the past, I've learned, about how you can bury it. Because the past claws its way out" (page 1).

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"It's wrong what they say about the past, I've learned, about how you can bury it. Because the past claws its way out" (page 1).

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This quote is about the very powerful and thought provoking way that Hosseini begins his novel. It effectively hooks the reader and makes them wonder what is it that Amir tries to bury in his past, and how is this "thing" going to "claw" its way out. This quote is important because it introduces the themes of dealing with the past and guilt. I believe this is one of the most important quotes in the novel because of the weight it carries and how it resonates with the readers. This quote also serves as an effective hook to get the reader interested in Amir’s life story, and what ultimately leads him to this fate of so much guilt and pain.

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"The least I could have done was to have the decency to have turned out a little more like him. But I hadn't turned out like him. Not at all" (page 19).

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"The least I could have done was to have the decency to have turned out a little more like him. But I hadn't turned out like him. Not at all" (page 19).

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This quote emphasizes the guilt that Amir feels towards his broken relationship with his father. Amir lives most of his childhood feeling like he is not enough for his father and like he is a disappointment to Baba. He feels like he is nothing like his father, and this is the reason why he does not have a strong bond with Baba. Amir constantly struggles with the guilt of taking his mother’s life, his father’s princess’s life, in childbirth. Overall, Amir feels like if only he were more like Baba he would be closer to him, and maybe Baba would not feel so distant to him.

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"My suspicions had been right all those years. He knew . . . He had always known. ‘Come. There is a way to be good again’" (page 192).

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"My suspicions had been right all those years. He knew . . . He had always known. ‘Come. There is a way to be good again’" (page 192).

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Rahim Khan is very close to Amir and his Baba. He is very wise, and he is someone Amir looks up to his entire life. Amir always suspects that Rahim Khan knows what he did in the past to Hassan to make him have to leave, especially because Rahim Khan knows Amir so well. When Amir finds out that Rahim Khan is dying, he is urged to go home to see him one more time; however, I do not believe that Amir knew what his decision to go back home would lead him to. This one decision is what sparks the beginning of Amir's path to redemption. This quote is important because it highlights the theme of Amir searching for redemption from his guilt and the suffering caused by his past.  This quote from Rahim Khan helps Amir realize that there is a way to alleviate his guilt from his past decisions and “to feel good again.”

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"I'm a thirty-eight year old man and I've just found out my whole life is one big lie!" (page 232).

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"I'm a thirty-eight year old man and I've just found out my whole life is one big lie!" (page 232).

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This quote embodies the anger and confusion that Amir faces after he finds out the truth about his father and Hassan. Throughout the beginning of the novel Amir is bothered by the relationship that Baba and Hassan have, but Amir never knew why it was so strong, especially because Amir was Baba's only son and Hassan was only a servant. Rahim Khan finally reveals to Amir that Hassan was his half brother, and that is why Baba has such a special relationship to him. This quote highlights an underlying theme of the broken relationship between Amir and Baba. Amir growing up always feels like he is not enough for his father; however, now he sees why. The reader feels pity for Amir as his life and everything he thought was the truth has been torn up. Amir also feels even more guilty for what he has done to Hassan, his half brother, now that he knows the truth, and he is even more compelled to make things right and search for redemption.

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"The slingshot made a thwiiiiit sound when Sohrab released the cup. Then Assef was screaming. He put his hand where his left eye has been just a moment ago" (page 291).

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"The slingshot made a thwiiiiit sound when Sohrab released the cup. Then Assef was screaming. He put his hand where his left eye has been just a moment ago" (page 291).

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This quote is a very important part of the theme of Amir's redemption for Hassan. It is redemption for Amir because he is finally fighting Assef for Hassan, instead of the other way around. This fight is long overdue and is very important because it symbolizes the fight Amir should have fought with Assef in the alley years ago to protect Hassan. Amir was too much of a coward at that time to fight, but now Amir has a motive. He needs to win this battle to get Sohrab, to redeem his sins, and to prove his loyalty to Hassan. This fight is the first time that Amir is fighting Assef. Amir was too much of a coward to fight Assef himself, so Hassan would defend him instead. There is a lot of symbolism in this quote including when Sohrab shoots Assef in the left eye with a slingshot, just like his father, Hassan, threatened to do many years before to protect Amir.

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"For you a thousand times over" (page 371).

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"For you a thousand times over" (page 371).

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This quote is repeated many times in the book by Hassan, but this is the first time that Amir is actually saying it. This quote emphasizes that Amir feels like he has redeemed himself for what he has done to Hassan by adopting Sohrab and making him happy. I believe that quote is especially important because it is from the moment that Amir finally feels free from his guilt from his past. As Amir is running the kite, which is a motif in the novel, he smiles and finally forgives himself for his past guilt. I believe that in this moment Amir becomes Hassan. He quotes Hassan, and he runs the kite like Hassan used to do for him. Overall, this is the moment that Amir and Sohrab ultimately bond, in a final redemption for Amir. It is also the first time that Amir sees Sohrab smile, which makes the moment even more special.

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"A man who has no conscience, no goodness, does not suffer" (page 301).

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"A man who has no conscience, no goodness, does not suffer" (page 301).

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This quote said by Rahim Khan helps Amir understand the guilt he faces for what he did to Hassan. Rahim Khan is explaining to Amir why Amir feels this strong guilt for what he did so long ago. However, Rahim Khan also tries to help Amir realize why he committed that sin to his half brother and his best friend and forgive himself for doing it. This quote is part of a letter that Rahim Khan writes to Amir. The letter explains the sorrow Rahim Khan felt for young Amir as he battled for Baba’s affection. Rahim Khan also apologizes to Amir for keeping the truth from him and Hassan for all those years. Overall, this letter from Rahim Khan helps Amir find his redemption and forgive himself for what he did to Hassan.