P2+Alex+A

Alyx Adams

THEME: Truth- Redemption or change of destiny? Baba told Amir when he was a child, “There is only one sin, only one. And that is theft. Every other sin is a variation of theft” (Hosseini 17). After Amir betrayed Hassan, taking his innocence away from him by not stopping his rape, Amir lived his life in a heavy guilt. He viewed his father as the holiest of holy because he had thought Baba never did anything like he had done to Hassan. Yet, Baba stole the right of having a brother away from Amir. When Amir finds out the truth about Hassan and his son, he is offered a chance of redemption. Rahim hints to Amir that he can be saved from his sins against Hassan, by caring for his orphaned child, Sohrab. And by taking the mission of finding and caring for Hassan’s son, Amir’s destiny changes. His destiny is to walk the righteous path and save his brother’s son from a life of lonliness and terror.

KEY EVENT: The killing of Hassan As a child, Amir was told Hassan was his servant. Amir resented Hassan and constantly tested him as a friend because he was ashamed of the thought that a servant could be his best friend. Hassan always looked up to Amir as a brother and sacred friend. Amir was jealous of Hassan because Hassan had what it took to be the son Baba wanted. Amir’s jealousy went far enough to betray Hassan in his darkest time of need. When Amir found out Hassan was actually his half brother, the guilt he had carried all those years of the betrayal felt like death upon his shoulders. Amir also learnt of Hassan’s son, Sohrab, who was rendered an orphan after his parents were brutally killed. Hassan’s death represents an opportunity for Amir to be forgiven for his sins against Hassan; “a way to be good again” (Hosseini). The secrets Amir hears about transform how he has always thought, and starts a new path in his destiny.

KEY SYMBOL: The name Sohrab Sohrab was Hassan's favorite hero from the story Shahnamah, a story Amir read to Hassan when they were young. Hassan naming his son Sohrab is a key element to how much Hassan is still grateful that Amir was in his life. "Do you remember how we used to sit under the pomegranate tree there and read form the Shahnamah? The droughts have dried the hill and the tree hasn't borne fruit in years, but Sohrab and I still sit under its shade and I read to him from the Shahnamah" (Hosseini). Hassan told Amir in his letter to him about how he is sharing the same stories and the good times that he had with Amir all those years ago, now with his son; Amir's nephew. The name Sohrab is a main example of how Hassan continuously shows his love for Amir throughout his whole life. Hassan had always treated Amir like a brother, even though he didn't know it was a real connection. The name Sohrab is what's left of Hassan's devoted love to Amir.

WORKS CITED:

Hosseini, Khaled. __The Kite Runner__. New York: the Penguin Group, 2003.