Introduction

Introduction

The Kite Runner is a novel by Khaled Hosseini' based on Amir and Hassan who grow up together in Afghanistan like brothers, although they are both fairly different. Amir being wealthy and Hassan being his servant both of their innocence is tested. This book introduces you to composite characters and different views on friendship. Outlooks on loyalty, betrayal, cruelty, yearning for acceptance, redemption, and sustaining oneself. This story deals with issues that are universal, and cultural context. The cynosure will be about loyalty and betrayal.

 

Loyalty

      Loyalty is a strong feeling of support or faithfulness, in which Hassan and other characters expresses numerous instances of loyalty in the story. The story shows different levels of how you can express loyalty, and get betrayed as a result. Below are a few examples.

     
        One day Hasan and Amir were bored so they decided to go climb their tree. As Hassan and Amir are traveling to go to their tree their stopped by Assef, and his disciples Wali and Kamal. Assef oppress them and then threatens to hit Amir with his brass knuckles, but with fear Hassan stands up for him. Hassan pulls out his slingshot as protection, and goes on to threaten Assef by saying "They'll have to change your name from the 'The Ear Eater' to 'One Eyed Assef '". Not taking any chances Assef says it is not over, and then precedes to leave them alone. 

      Another example of loyalty is when Amir wins the kite fighting tournament, Hassan promises to run the last kite for him. While running the kite he runs into Assef and his gang who precedes to chase him into a alleyway. Assef then gives Hassan an option to give up the kite, Hassan says "Amir agha and I are friends" believing him and Amir are friends, and being the loyalist he is he did not give up the kite for the sake of Amir. Not taking the option given he was viciously raped by Assef, yet still having the strength to return the kite to Amir.

Betrayal

Betrayal 

Betrayal is the breaking or violation of trust, or confidence that produces moral and psychological conflict within a relationship amongst individuals. The Kite Runner presented many vivid ideas of utter betrayal between the characters in which helped defined many themes and actions in the story.

      

               For instance, When Amir was looking for Hassan he heard voices which lead him to the alleyway, where he seen Amir getting raped and tortured by Assef and his disciples. Afraid and clueless he stood and contemplated whether he should step in and help Hassan or should he should just run. Amir stood and wondered will his life be the same or will it be different if he tried to help Hassan. In the end, Amir choose to run and save his own self from being harmed. He goes on to say "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". Amir choose to act as if nothing and happened and separate himself from Hassan and treat him poorly. Amir did not stand up for Hassan, yet Hassan stood up for Amir numerous times.

  

   Furthermore, after Amir's 13th birthday Amir waited until Hassan and Ali left to go grocery shopping. He then planted his watch, and a handful of afghan bills that he received for his birthday under Hassan's mattress. He then preceded to tell his father BaBa that his stuff went missing. Hassan and Ali finally returned, and BaBa called them in for a meeting. Hassan was then asked did he steal Amir's things, and shockingly he responded "yes" still conveying his loyalty towards Amir. Amir continues by saying "I flinched, like I'd been slapped. My heart sank and I almost blurted out the truth. Then I understood: This was Hassan's final sacrifice for me." Believing this was Hassan's last sacrifice for him he let him take the blame for it. After this last betrayal Hassan and Ali packed up and left and Amir never seen him again.  

   

     

Cultural Context

 Kite running is the practice of running after drifting kites in the sky that have been cut loose in kite fighting. Whoever had the last fallen kite wins the tournament. Kite fighting has been a common sport in Afghanistan for almost 100 years. It was then made into a tournament in districts all oversees. Just as sports such as football and basketball are popular sports in America, kite fighting is a popular sport oversees. Many people have made this into an art idea and has become addicting to young afghans even around war time.

     As in the Kite runner, every winter the kite-fighting tournament was one of the highlights of districts in Kabul in which every young boy wanted to be apart of. This allows you to understand why Amir believed getting the kite was the way to Baba's heart, and why it was such a prized possession.   

Info- http://www.afghanistan-culture.com/kite-flying-in-afghanistan.html