How the idea of redemption impacts the main character in The Kite Runner
In "The Kite Runner," the concept of redemption has a profound influence on the protagonist, Amir. His journey is marked by complex relationships and moral dilemmas, particularly with his childhood friend, Hassan.
How the idea of redemption impacts the main character in The Kite Runner
Thesis Statement: Through the Portrayal of guilt, Hassan's betrayal, and Impact of friendship In the book The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini, readers can connect to the message, this enables the author Khaled Hosseini to convey that even if you betray someone you can always redeem yourself.
Betrayal is what fuels Guilt
(Characterization)portrayal of Guilt
This can be compared to how people use guilt as a driving factor to seek forgiveness.
Amir's choice to save Sohrab(Hassan's son) is driven by guilt. E.X Amir goes back to Afghanistan and saves Sohrab from Assef. "I hope your suffering comes to an end with this journey to Afghanistan."(259 Hosseini). Amir makes his way back to Kabul.
guilt is a relevant topic throughout the story as the author portrays it to be Good and bad. “I ran because I was a coward. I was afraid of Assef and what he would do to me. I was afraid of getting hurt. That’s what I told myself as I turned my back to the alley, to Hassan. That’s what I made myself believe. I actually aspired to cowardice, because the alternative, the real reason I was running, was that Assef was right: Nothing was free in this world.”(65 Hosseini), In this quotation Amir decides to run from Hassan while he is being raped and realizes how much of a coward and guilty he is for Hassan's traumatizing life.
Impact of friendship
Good, bad, and frightening are what the author portrays friendship to be.
Gives a guiding light into the right direction. E.X Rahim Khan has given Amir many messages to stop living in guilt and turn it into good. "There is a way to be good again, he’d said. A way to end the cycle. With a little boy. An orphan. Hassan’s son. Somewhere in Kabul" (192 Hosseini) This was Rahim calling Amir.
Rahim helps Amir to come back home and undo the wrongs, this shows how Friendship can be powerful. "Baba and I were more alike than I’d ever known. We had both betrayed the people who would have given their lives for us. And with that came this realization: that Rahim Khan had summoned me here to atone not just for my sins but for Baba’s too" (192 Hosseini) Rahim Khan give Amir a message to be good again.
Friendship is also What brings jealousy which makes Amir become un-loyal to Hassan. "I'd change my mind and ask for a bigger and fancier kite, Baba would buy it for me—but then he'd buy it for Hassan too. Sometimes I wish he wouldn't do that. I wish he'd let me be the favorite" (41 Hosseini)
Betrayal
The author gets the message across that betrayal is selfish and no one should ever go through this pain. The author also displays that even if you betray someone you can redeem yourself for your sins.
The leading factor to all of Amir's guilt is his betrayal of Hassan and also the leading reason for his redemption story. E.X, When Hassan was being raped in that alley Amir did nothing but watch Hassan being tortured. "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 stepped 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" (65 Hosseini). Amir backs out of saving Hassan from being raped in a alley, this made Amir a coward and a fraud in this point of the story.
The Impact of friend ship can result in immortal unloyalty and betrayal.