The Kite Runner
Khalded Hosseini
Hosseini makes Soraya out to be a round character in The Kite Runner. When Amir first married Soraya, he neglected to disclose much information about his past. However, since Amir realizes he cannot leave for America without Sohrab, he must tell Soraya about his past. When he calls Soraya, he tells her everything. He also wants to ask her permission to bring Sohrab back to America with him. Amir worries that Soraya will not be accepting of Sohrab, but he could not have been more wrong. "Amir, he's your qaom, your family, so he's my qaom too"(Hosseini, 326). This shows that she views Sohrab as a member of her family before she has even met the boy. Hosseini shows that Soraya is a very loving character who is more than willing to be accepting. Soraya is a perfect complement to Amir. He needs a woman who can handle his complicated past. Her love is exactly what will get Amir through his hardships.
Sunday, April 14, 2013
Relationship Strengthened
The Kite Runner
Khaled Hosseini
Hosseini stresses the awkwardness that lies in the relationship between Amir and Sohrab in The Kite Runner initially. Sohrab is very tentative because of his corrupted childhood up until this point in his life. He is finally interacting with an adult who seems to care about him since his parents had passed away. Amir truly cares for Sohrab. However, Sohrab is having trouble grasping the fact that Amir is not going to abandon or hurt him. Sohrab believes that Amir will not continue to care about him, but Amir wants to dispell all of Sohrab's trust issues. It is through both Amir and Sohrab's hardships that they have faced in their lives that they are able to become closer. "Now, as the boy's pain soaked through my shirt, I saw that a kinship had taken root between us too"(Hosseini, 320). This shows that through Sohrab's emotional release, Amir is able to finally connect with him on a deeper level. I feel as though Amir and Sohrab's relationship will not stay this strong for long though. Once someone shows signs of trust issues, I feel as though those trust issues may take some time to disappear.
The Unsuspecting Hero
The Kite Runner
Khaled Hosseini
Hosseini makes an effort to put a great deal of conflict into The Kite Runner. Once Assef's identity is exposed and Sohrab is found in his home, there is immediately a conflict between Assef and Amir. All Amir wants is to take Sohrab with him, away from Assef. However, Assef does not want for Amir to have what he desires so easily. Assef says Amir can take Sohrab with him if Amir can prove to beat Assef in a fight. As Sohrab was watching Assef and Amir fight, he was overcome with emotion and could not take the fighting anymore. He picked up a slingshot and "the slingshot made a thwiiiit sound when Sohrab released the cup. Then Assef was screaming"(Hosseini, 291). Sohrab's courage saved Amir's life. However, Sohrab's courage was not expected from Amir. He stood up for Amir, and because of this, he was able to escape from Assef's home.
Sunglasses Removed
The Kite Runner
Khaled Hosseini
Hosseini utilizes imagery in The Kite Runner. One image that occurs around chapter twenty-two is the image of a man's sunglasses. These sunglasses keep his identity secretive and unknown. This man is the man who Amir believes knows where Sohrab is located. When Amir encounters the man wearing the sunglasses, he thinks that he recognizes the man from somewhere. This man proves to be none other than the man who hurt Hassan when Amir and Hassan were children: Assef. "But he was already here, in the flesh, sitting less than the feet from me, after all these years. His name escaped my lips: 'Assef'"(Hosseini, 281). The ambiguity of Assef's sunglasses were a strong image that represented the unknown, unattended aspects of Amir's past. His past was closing in on him as he knew it. The world that Amir had tried to escape from was slowly coming back into his life. The imagery of Assef allows for the reader to be overcome with shock that Assef has come back into Amir's life. Before, he had stolen Hassan's innocence, but now he attempting to corrupt Sohrab, the next closest thing to Hassan.
Khaled Hosseini
Hosseini utilizes imagery in The Kite Runner. One image that occurs around chapter twenty-two is the image of a man's sunglasses. These sunglasses keep his identity secretive and unknown. This man is the man who Amir believes knows where Sohrab is located. When Amir encounters the man wearing the sunglasses, he thinks that he recognizes the man from somewhere. This man proves to be none other than the man who hurt Hassan when Amir and Hassan were children: Assef. "But he was already here, in the flesh, sitting less than the feet from me, after all these years. His name escaped my lips: 'Assef'"(Hosseini, 281). The ambiguity of Assef's sunglasses were a strong image that represented the unknown, unattended aspects of Amir's past. His past was closing in on him as he knew it. The world that Amir had tried to escape from was slowly coming back into his life. The imagery of Assef allows for the reader to be overcome with shock that Assef has come back into Amir's life. Before, he had stolen Hassan's innocence, but now he attempting to corrupt Sohrab, the next closest thing to Hassan.
Wednesday, April 10, 2013
Fatherhood
The Kite Runner
Khaled Hosseini
As The Kite Runner continues, Hosseini makes use of the literary device of irony. One thing that is consistent throughout the novel is Amir's confusing feelings for his father. Amir is intimidated, yet admires his father even so. When Amir and Soraya try to have children, they realize that they cannot have children. They also seem to not be extremely keen on the idea of adoption. Much like Amir's relationship with his father, he says that "the idea of fatherhood unleashed a swirl of emotions in me"(Hosseini, 184). Amir's father was his hero. The fact that Amir will never be a father is somewhat ironic. Amir has always wanted to please his father, and I think the fact that he cannot have children is perhaps what his father may have wanted. If Amir could not be the same type of father for his children as his father was for him, then I believe that Amir would have parented his children is different way compared to his father.
Khaled Hosseini
As The Kite Runner continues, Hosseini makes use of the literary device of irony. One thing that is consistent throughout the novel is Amir's confusing feelings for his father. Amir is intimidated, yet admires his father even so. When Amir and Soraya try to have children, they realize that they cannot have children. They also seem to not be extremely keen on the idea of adoption. Much like Amir's relationship with his father, he says that "the idea of fatherhood unleashed a swirl of emotions in me"(Hosseini, 184). Amir's father was his hero. The fact that Amir will never be a father is somewhat ironic. Amir has always wanted to please his father, and I think the fact that he cannot have children is perhaps what his father may have wanted. If Amir could not be the same type of father for his children as his father was for him, then I believe that Amir would have parented his children is different way compared to his father.
Baba's Last Gift
The Kite Runner
Khaled Hosseini
One theme that Hosseini presents throughout The Kite Runner is the theme of different relationships. One relationship that flourishes is the relationship between Soraya and Amir. In Amir's culture, most marriages were approved of by both families. When Baba continued to debilitate in health, Amir wanted to make sure that his marriage took place while Baba was still living. Once Baba was discharged from the hospital, Amir said that he wanted Baba to "ask General Taheri for his daughter's hand in marriage" (Hosseini, 161). Baba wanted to give one last gift to Amir; the gift of Soraya's hand in marriage. On Amir's wedding day, Baba said it was "the happiest day of my life"(Hosseini, 166). Both Soraya and Amir were madly in love with each other. Unlike marriages today, Amir and Soraya really did not know each other that well before they married. However, after their unity in marriage, they have gotten to know each other's families better; thus, they have both strengthened relationships.
Khaled Hosseini
One theme that Hosseini presents throughout The Kite Runner is the theme of different relationships. One relationship that flourishes is the relationship between Soraya and Amir. In Amir's culture, most marriages were approved of by both families. When Baba continued to debilitate in health, Amir wanted to make sure that his marriage took place while Baba was still living. Once Baba was discharged from the hospital, Amir said that he wanted Baba to "ask General Taheri for his daughter's hand in marriage" (Hosseini, 161). Baba wanted to give one last gift to Amir; the gift of Soraya's hand in marriage. On Amir's wedding day, Baba said it was "the happiest day of my life"(Hosseini, 166). Both Soraya and Amir were madly in love with each other. Unlike marriages today, Amir and Soraya really did not know each other that well before they married. However, after their unity in marriage, they have gotten to know each other's families better; thus, they have both strengthened relationships.
Tuesday, April 9, 2013
So What Can Women Do?
The Kite Runner
Khaled Hosseini
In The Kite Runner, Hosseini makes the views of women in Afghanistan quite clear. Women are not acknowledged hardly at all compared to men. When Baba and Amir are trying to escape away from Kabul, their covered bus comes across a Russian guard. The bus driver has worked out an arrangement for their bus to pass by without any troubles. However, the Russian guard says the bus may only pass if the Russian gets to have alone time with one of the women in the bus. Women were viewed as material possessions or some type of currency. The bus driver says that sexual relations are the soldier's "price for letting us pass"(Hosseini, 115). This shows that the bus driver may disapprove of these actions, but he is more concerned with the bus being allowed to pass. The woman "burst into tears" (Hosseini, 115) when she heard what the Russian soldier expected of her. The women clearly did not approve of the treatment they received from the men.
Khaled Hosseini
In The Kite Runner, Hosseini makes the views of women in Afghanistan quite clear. Women are not acknowledged hardly at all compared to men. When Baba and Amir are trying to escape away from Kabul, their covered bus comes across a Russian guard. The bus driver has worked out an arrangement for their bus to pass by without any troubles. However, the Russian guard says the bus may only pass if the Russian gets to have alone time with one of the women in the bus. Women were viewed as material possessions or some type of currency. The bus driver says that sexual relations are the soldier's "price for letting us pass"(Hosseini, 115). This shows that the bus driver may disapprove of these actions, but he is more concerned with the bus being allowed to pass. The woman "burst into tears" (Hosseini, 115) when she heard what the Russian soldier expected of her. The women clearly did not approve of the treatment they received from the men.
5 Year Transformation..Or Not So Much
The Kite Runner
Khaled Hosseini
In The Kite Runner, Amir, the main character, seems to develop as a character a great deal throughout the novel. Earlier in the novel, the reader is able to notice some of the direct characterization of Amir. Many of Amir's attitudes toward Baba contribute to his characterization. As Amir grows up from a thirteen year old boy into an eighteen year old adult, he begins to transform and develop his character. When Amir was younger, he idolized Baba. However, as he grows up, he begins to have a more realistic view of his father. He says that "Baba was like the widower who remarries but can't let go of his dead wife"(Hosseini, 129). Hoseeini is showing Amir's characterization through his thoughts about Baba. His thoughts of Baba were thoughts of intimidations mixed with admiration. However, as he grew older, he begins to become wiser about who Baba was. Amir became less intimidated by his father as he grew up.
Khaled Hosseini
In The Kite Runner, Amir, the main character, seems to develop as a character a great deal throughout the novel. Earlier in the novel, the reader is able to notice some of the direct characterization of Amir. Many of Amir's attitudes toward Baba contribute to his characterization. As Amir grows up from a thirteen year old boy into an eighteen year old adult, he begins to transform and develop his character. When Amir was younger, he idolized Baba. However, as he grows up, he begins to have a more realistic view of his father. He says that "Baba was like the widower who remarries but can't let go of his dead wife"(Hosseini, 129). Hoseeini is showing Amir's characterization through his thoughts about Baba. His thoughts of Baba were thoughts of intimidations mixed with admiration. However, as he grew older, he begins to become wiser about who Baba was. Amir became less intimidated by his father as he grew up.
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