Kite Runner Betrayal Analysis 1254 Words | 6 Pages The novel then details his years with Baba in Fremont, California; and, finally, Amir's return to Kabul. In Amirs neighborhood, there is an annual kite-fighting tournament during the icy season when schools close. $18.74/subscription + tax, Save 25% Summer has taught creative writing and sciences at the college level. Teacher Editions with classroom activities for all 1725 titles we cover. (Chapter 7). Sometimes it can end up there. And why not? There was a monster in the lake I was that monster. It divides into three main sections of the main character Amir's life. Nothing. Baba and Ali grew up together, paralleling the relationship of Amir and Hassan, but despite their closeness they never seemed equal. This situation emphasizes the idea of circularity because Ali devotes his whole life to serve Baba, with Hassan later showing a similar level of dedication towards Amir. 20% I promise." The migration was beneficial especially for Amir because he meets Soraya . Plus, get practice tests, quizzes, and personalized coaching to help you The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini is a historical fiction novel set mostly in Kabul, Afghanistan and Fremont, California. I deserved this (355). This passage goes back to when Amir was a kid, and how on multiple occasions had asked Hassan to prove that he was a loyal friend to him. (Chapter 3). In The Kite Runner Amir blatantly betrays his dear friend Hassan , Hassan is scarred by being betrayed . "You mean an orphanage?" Betrayal In The Kite Runner "The Kite Runner" introduces the reader to a world full of betrayal that makes Amir become a bad person who only thinks for himself. The Theme Of Betrayal In The Kite Runner By Khaled Hosseini [He] laughed because [he] saw that, in some hidden nook in the corner of [his] mind, [he'd] even been looking forward to this [His] body was broken- just how badly [he] wouldn 't find out until later- but [he] felt healed" (289). Basically, Rahim Khan is saying to Amir: "Here's how you can undo the damage you lavished on Hassan." He inserts his own stories into the tales he reads to Hassan. The novel is very forward in its themes of guilt, betrayal, and redemption. Sometimes it can end up there. . His voice was breaking, tears pooling in his eyes. Further developing the meaning of the story, connoting the mental struggle and the way priorities change over time, keeping readers mindful of the motifs and how they impact each character. Sohrab, I cant give you your old life back, I wish to God I could. Because when spring comes, it melts the snow one flake at a time, and maybe I just witnessed the first flake melting. Subscribe now. (9.21-22). Use up and down arrows to review and enter to select. He knew I had betrayed him and yet he was rescuing me once again, maybe for the last time. SparkNotes PLUS And that led to another understanding: Hassan knew. He cannot tell him he is sorry anymore. In fact, why did he ever have to feel Latest answer posted May 23, 2020 at 12:44:11 PM. And this is what I want you to understand, that good, real good, was born out of your fathers remorse. In reality, Baba is the biological father of Hassan. In the wintertime, Hassan took his son kite running. "What are some quotes or examples of betrayal expressed in The Kite Runner?" After all, didn't all fathers in their secret hearts harbor a desire to kill their sons? I was afraid of getting hurt. When you betray someone, it might seem like a good idea in . There is no monster, hed said, just water. You remember, Amir jan, what a good kite runner Hassan was? The choice he makes is to run away and leave Hassan to face his rapist alone. Throughout the novel, Hosseini hints at betrayal, especially when Amir orders Hassan to eat dirt and uses the analogy that he was the ant and I was holding the magnifying glass (Hosseini 54). I flinched, like Id been slapped Then I understood: This was Hassans final sacrifice for me And that led to another understanding: Hassan knew. Redemption. eNotes Editorial, 21 May 2021, https://www.enotes.com/homework-help/what-are-some-quotes-or-examples-of-betrayal-328045. One of the themes, Personally, I couldnt see the tragedy in Rostams fate. Renews May 8, 2023 Did you have children? '', Create an account to start this course today. Amir recognizes his selfishness and feels some guilt for betraying Hassan, but not enough to keep from making a bad situation worse. Please wait while we process your payment. The idea of redemption becomes a lesson for Amir when he is a witness to the tragic sexual assault of his childhood friend, Hassan. Amir and Hassan were each others best friends and they grew together like brothers, though they didnt know at the time. Amir and Hassans relationship throughout the book, The Kite Runner, is based off of love, betrayal, and forgiveness. Something warm was running down my wrist. Contact us We had both betrayed the people who would have given their lives for us. Copyright 2023 IPL.org All rights reserved. Returning to Kabul to rescue Hassans son Sohrab, who is now an orphan, is the only way to end the cycle of betrayal both he and his father put into motion. Long before the Roussi army marched into Afghanistan, long before villages were burned and schools destroyed Kabul had become a city of ghosts for me. (14.18-19). Amir knew this more than anything else. After all these years, Amir has said nary a word about the alleyway and the mattress and now he lets loose 371 pages worth of words. Looking back now, I realize I have been peeking into that deserted alley for the last twenty-six years (Hosseini 1). In the book, the Kite runner by Khaled Hosseini betrayal is a very important theme and affects Amir's life greatly. Even when Baba is on his deathbed, Amir remains silent. Maybe Hassan was the price I had to pay, the lamb I had to slay . Definitions and examples of 136 literary terms and devices. In contrast, Rahim also exhibits a sense of tenderness and caring when needed. on 50-99 accounts. A land mine. Later, he tells his father-in-law to never speak of Sohrab as a "Hazara boy." The Kite Runner is a novel that is filled with betrayal, guilt, and redemption. If you don't see it, please check your spam folder. . These low points in the two mens lives create a sense of tension and guilt throughout the novel, but the betrayals of Amir and Baba also lead to quests for redemption that bring about some good in the end as Baba leads a principled, charitable life, and Amir rescues Sohrab from Assef. While Hassan faces the unspeakable to loyally return the kite to Amir, Amir considers Hassan an expendable Hazara that may be sacrificed for Amir's relationship with his father. The guilt of his inaction overwhelms him and leads him to plant his watch among Hassans belongings to make it appear that Hassan had stolen it. . . In order to not lie anymore, Amir needs Baba to fire Hassan and Ali. Had you married? (8.63). Thanks for creating a SparkNotes account! Kind of like when we used to play insect torture. Avoiding past acts of betrayal leaves remorse for Amir, Baba, and even Sanaubar. During majority of the novel, Amir attempts to deal with his guilt by avoiding it. 9 chapters | In the end, I ran. "There is a way to be good again." (Hosseni 192) These words hold a powerful meaning to Amir, the main character of Khaled Hosseni's novel The Kite Runner. Why doesnt Amir help Hassan in the alley? And thou didst it of thine obstinacy. Amir in The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini | Who is Amir? Sometimes Amir is a jerk. Thanks for creating a SparkNotes account! 110 lessons Members will be prompted to log in or create an account to redeem their group membership. He recalls Hassans dream about a lake and reimagines himself as the monster in the dream, dragging Hassan down to his death. Understand The Kite Runner through its characters' eyes as Shmoop breaks down The Kite Runner's important quotes, with page numbers and analysis. He reached for me, but I shed his hand. Betrayal, a form of sin turns into a never ending cycle of guilt throughout the book. Finally, during this tournament, Amir wins, sending a blue kite into the sky. He did not intend to betray Hassan, but he lacked the courage to step in and confront the other boys. Unlike Amir, Baba keeps the reminders of his guilt around. In The Kite Runner, Amir and Baba engage in the act of betrayal however Hassan never betrays. Betrayal is described by World Book Online as a . He had always known. Spell. It becomes apparent that from generation to generation, humiliating and taking advantage of people like Ali and Hassan has become a cycle of life for the Afghans. He uses Hassan as a scapegoat to win Baba, but upon accomplishing this task, he is riddled with guilt. Betrayal is the action of disloyalty towards ones country, a group or a person. Another symbol of betrayal is the watch and money that Amir hides until Hassan's mattress so that Baba will think Hassan is a thief and send him away. Amir had went looking for Hassas because he was suppose to be chasing down the winning kite of the Kite Fight. It's bad enough for someone who regards himself as the epitome of moral decency to do such a thing, but it's worse still that he insists on giving Amir pompous lectures about stealing the right to fairness when you cheat. Why does Amir accept Soraya even after she tells him of her past? Seriously, Ali is even more innocent than Hassan Ali had no part in the alleyway incident and has served Baba faithfully his whole life. What are Ali and Hassan's distinct physical characteristics? Take a look at this passage, which is from Amir's perspective: After Amir witnesses Hassan being raped, he cannot stand being around him, which is a problem because Hassan is Amir's servant who lives on the same property. Why did Baba lie about Hassan being his son? By never revealing the truth to them about Hassan's parentage, he denies them the opportunity to connect as brothers and denies Hassan the privileges that Amir has. Want 100 or more? Amir believes that in this moment, he has won salvation and redemption, for his fathers respect and his mothers death he believes he caused. Purchasing All rights reserved. But doing this clearly does nothing toward redeeming himself, and thus his guilt endures. And I would have told, except that a part of me was glad. A third symbol of betrayal is Hassan himself. These selfish decisions of betrayal can cause lasting negative effects, damaging relationships and trust. Continue to start your free trial. In this way, Amir is totally and tragically wrong in saying he's "[g]lad this would all be over with soon. For the next 7 days, you'll have access to awesome PLUS stuff like AP English test prep, No Fear Shakespeare translations and audio, a note-taking tool, personalized dashboard, & much more! In the end, Amir decides to flee, resulting in Amir having to live with the guilt of leaving Hassan behind to be assaulted. I waited another thirty minutes. His letter, which explains why they keep Amir in the dark illustrates the pain Baba faces as a man torn between two halves, a parent who [loves Amir and Hassan] both, but [cannot] love Hassan the way he [longs] to (Saraswat 8) (Hosseini 316). This quote from the novel hints at the main point of the story and the reason he is telling it. Want 100 or more? As time goes by this clearly does nothing towards him redeeming himself and therefore his guilt remains. Amir's broken promise has disastrous consequences: Sohrab tries to kill himself. These words, first spoken by Rahim Khan to Amir over the phone, echo in Amirs mind. I realized something else. Notice Amir never tells Baba what happened to Hassan, or how he brought about Ali and Hassan's departure. Save over 50% with a SparkNotes PLUS Annual Plan! Why he only plays with you when no one else is around? Your subscription will continue automatically once the free trial period is over. Thats what I told myself as I turned my back to the ally, to Hassan Hassan was the price I had to pay, the lamb I had to slay, to win Baba. Amir thinks of all the reasons he ran. 'I envied her. The Kite Runner centers around Amir's betrayal of Hassan when they were young boys. Baba. on 2-49 accounts, Save 30% When Hassan is confronted by Assef he wants the blue kite but Hassan will not give it up. The Kite Runner Betrayal Quotes Analysis. People would talk. Continue to start your free trial. ("Cain and Abel" seems just as appropriate as "Rostam and Sohrab. But does this really help Amir? By experiencing cruelty and the obstacles of ethnic differences, Amirs closest and most loyal companion, Hassan, must deal with the issues that uncover the negative side of society causing Hassans loss of innocence throughout The Kite Runner. Come. The answer floated to my conscious mind before I could thwart it: He was just a Hazara, wasn't he? There were not nearly as many kite tournaments as in the old daysno one felt safe outside for too longbut there were still a few scattered tournaments. Her secret was out. Amirs entire life takes a certain path because of what he did or didnt do during and after Hassans assault. . Khaled Hosseini uses past events to show how they can affect a character in both a negative and positive way. I turned around, lifted the tarpaulin, and threw up over the side of the moving truck. Throughout the book, The Kite Runner, author Khaled Hosseini portrays the theme of betrayal in various ways through the actions of Amir, Baba, and Assef. Ace your assignments with our guide to The Kite Runner! Hassan's favorite book by far was the Shahnamah, the tenth-century epic of ancient Persian heroes. Another example is Babas sleeping with Alis wife and fathering Hassan. Amirs decision not to act also underscores the ethnic tensions between the Pashtuns and Hazaras, as Assef remarks coldly, its only a Hazara.. Although Ali is a Hazara and Baba is a Pashtun, Baba and Ali are raised like brothers after Baba's father adopts the orphan at 5 years old. If he'd said no, Baba would have believed him because we all knew Hassan never lied. Isaac's theory on betrayal, shows that betrayal is linked to guilt. I felt like a man sliding down a steep cliff, clutching at shrubs and tangles of brambles and coming up empty-handed. As it turned out, Baba and I were more alike than I'd ever known. Most individuals choose their actions based on the situation and what the best possible outcome is for themselves. Like Rostam, Amir figures out much too late who fathered Hassan. I could wade into this river, let my sins drown to the bottom, let the waters carry me someplace far. Free trial is available to new customers only. The store will not work correctly in the case when cookies are disabled. Explanation: The quote puts emphasis on the idea that Amir is a very jealous towards Hassan. 500 Words; 2 Pages; Kite Runner Betrayal Quotes. The original text plus a side-by-side modern translation of. His abandonment of Hassan weighs on Amir throughout his life. A few sweat beads rolled from his bald scalp. Get Annual Plans at a discount when you buy 2 or more! The novel, The Kite Runner, written by Khaled Hosseini, is a story about betrayal, forgiveness, and redemption that revolves around that two main characters, Amir and Hassan. (Chapter 7). The novel is set in Afghanistan where loyalty and pride are held above all other standards, which is why Amir hides his many betrayals with lies or silence. Hosseini has Amir betray Hassan or at least be cruel to Hassan in all sorts of small ways. Enrolling in a course lets you earn progress by passing quizzes and exams. 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He says, ''Congratulations,I was praying for you the whole time.'' Later the same day, Amir does nothing as Hassan is raped by. What are Ali and Hassan's distinct physical characteristics? Because the past claws its way out. He was talking to someone now, about a shipment of rugs due to arrive next week. Amir once believed that winning the kite tournament would relieve him of his guilt over his mothers death and make him worthy in his fathers eyes, but his betrayal of Hassan has made that impossible. for a customized plan. On the other hand, Baba and Amir would not do anything for Ali and Hassan. By entering your email address you agree to receive emails from SparkNotes and verify that you are over the age of 13. Not only that, but he's also cheated Amir, his own flesh and blood, by depriving him of a role model, someone he can look up to. My students love how organized the handouts are and enjoy tracking the themes as a class., Requesting a new guide requires a free LitCharts account. Maybe Hassan [is] the price [he] ha [s] to pay, the lamb he ha [s] to slay to win Baba. The first time that Amir betrays Hassan is when he chooses not to help Hassan because he wanted to show his father that he had captured the kite in the competition. This is his chance to now become a man. He likes to present himself as a moral man, a man to be admired, a respectable pillar of the local community. On one level, Baba celebrates Amir's athleticism and courage in the kite tournament. Just when you thought Amir did something nice for a changehe goes back on his promise to Sohrab. Use up and down arrows to review and enter to select. May 2, 2023, SNPLUSROCKS20 Hassan had tracked down the kite. The novel The Kite Runner is a story about an Afghan named Amir who experiences and causes betrayals between friends and family. theft." There is a way to be good again, Rahim Khan had said on the phone just before hanging up.
