P2+Keaton+and+Ethan

Keaton Rueter and Ethan Halvorson

**Symbol: Infertility**
The symbol of infertility plays a major part in the development of the theme of The Kite Runner. Infertility effects many of the main characters throughout the novel. Infertility takes a toll on three of the main characters in the novel, Amir, his brother Hassan, as well as Hassan's adopted father Ali. In Ali's case, he was unable to conceive a child with his wife, but fortunately for him, another major character, Baba, allowed Ali to adopt his child, Hassan. The main character, Amir, was also found to be infertile. In search of a solution, Amir chose to speak with a doctor. The doctor was unable to provide a solution for Amir stating, “When the tests were over, he explains that he couldn’t explain why we couldn’t have kids. And, apparently, that wasn’t so unusual. It was called “Unexplained Infertility” (Hosseini 185). This news is obviously quite tragic to Amir, he blames his past for making him infertile. It is almost as if the guilt he feels for not standing up for Hassan in the past is being used as a scapegoat for any bad things that may have happened to him. Hassan, on the other hand, although not stricken by infertility was hit with a tragedy of another kind. He and his wife were able to conceive, however, they lost their child during birth. Hosseini, Khalaed. //Kite Runner//. New York: Riverhead Books, 2004. Print.

** Theme: Redemption **  The entire novel seems to have a common theme of redemption. Specifically for Amir. The entire story is about Amir searching for acceptance and trying to redeem himself for the wrongs he has done. Amir knows the mistakes he made in the past ruined the relationship he had with his one true friend, his brother, Hassan. The theme of redemption is very clearly summed up by one quote,“There is a way to be good again. I looked up at those kites. I thought of Hassan” (Hosseini 2). Although Amir is very down on himself, and dwells on the mistakes of the past, the author offers a bit of optimism from Amir's point of view. "There is a way to be good again", Amir feels that there is a way to fix the mess that he has created for himself, hence, redemption. Hosseini, Khalaed. //Kite Runner//. New York: Riverhead Books, 2004. Print.