Written with Style

While the analysis of an author’s writing style is often done in the first couple of chapters, I am glad that saved this task for the end book because as the story of The Kite Runner came to a close some devices became apparent that before were unclear.  I am also able to comment on the evolution of my opinion of the books writing style and plausibility from start to finish. 

As I mentioned in a previous blog post, the events that happen in the end of the novel create a sort of symmetry as they reflect the beginning of the story.  The novel ends with Amir returning to his homeland where he visits sites containing significant childhood memories.  This literary technique shows how time warped the beautiful land of Amir’s childhood into a decrepit, war-torn country and Amir seeing his home in this harsh candid light gives him a sense of closure for his long-ended childhood.  The author also uses symbolism throughout the book.  There are, of course, kites, which are used to convey freedom and happiness and often seem to embody the spirit of Hassan.  The last scene of the book is dedicated to kite flying.  This section is the turning point where Sohrab seems to finally begin to heal.  Watching Amir in the kite fight finally reengages him.  He is described as “His gaze flitted between our kite and the green one.  His face was a little flushed, his eyes suddenly alert.  Awake. Alive.” (pg. 396).   This was the first time since Sohrab's hospitalization that he began acting like a child again.  Another important symbol that I have mentioned before in my blog is the pomegranate tree marked “’Amir and Hassan, the sultans of Kabul.’”(pg. 27).  During their childhood the tree bared delicious fruit that the boys enjoyed, but as Amir and Hassan are separated and their childhoods end, the tree withers and eventually no longer produces fruit.  This tree symbolizes the happy times the two had in Kabul together and also the death of their childhoods.

This book begins as a recollection of the narrator’s childhood, which he then goes on to tell the story of his life.  There are some gaps in time that are left out of the novel and occasionally another character will tell a story from their perspective, but as a whole the story is recalled by Amir in chronological order.  The first half of the book can be described as relatively realistic. Amir’s reminiscence of his childhood appears to be without significant embellishment and seems to be an accurate depiction of the life of a wealthy Afghan boy in the 70s.   It becomes clear that the novel is fictitious in the second half of the book.  It was just is too perfect that Assef was the Talib who took Sohrab and that Amir was finally able to face him and confront his guilt.  Other points where the novel lacked realism were due to the author making a literary device a bit too obvious.  For example when Amir remarks that the scar on his mouth was, “Like a harelip.”(pg. 297), insinuating a connection between him and Hassan, this could have been more subtle.    Even though this novel would be hard to pass off as a true story, the development of the characters and the story it tells makes The Kite Runner a meaningful well-told story that I would recommend anyone to read.

Many Meanings

I believe that the final chapters of The Kite Runner perfectly wrapped up a remarkably told story.  The novel did not finish with heroic triumph or a neatly wrapped-up happy ending.  Like Amir said, “…life is not like a Hindi movie.” (pg. 357), there is never a definitively positive or negative conclusion.  But as I was feverishly reading the last chapters, I found myself only hoping that Sohrab would survive and immediately find contentment in the United States, easily assuming the role of loving son to Amir and Soraya.   At that time I only cared if “…was there happiness in the end…”(pg 357).  The author of course included this commentary on Hindi movies to make a point that this story would not have a perfect ending.  Hosseini took the time necessary to properly depict Sohrab’s trauma and eventual healing.  To gloss over his loss and the affects of sexual abuse on a child would be an injustice to his character as well as the children today whom his fictitious situation is their reality.   

 The majority of this book is focused around Amir’s guilt and how he tries to distance himself from these problems.  It is only in the last quarter of the novel that Amir truly begins his quest for redemption, which reveals a major point the author tries to get across to reader.  He feels disgrace for multiple reasons, but the most prevalent being that he allowed Hassan to be raped and then drove him and Ali away out of selfishness.  Escaping to America distanced Amir from the site of his misdeeds, but he continued to carry his grief well into his adult life.  Amir does not return to Kabul and save Sohrab with redemption in mind, but does it because of his love and duty to Hassan.  In Hassan’s letter to Amir we find that even though Amir treated him poorly, Hassan never had anything but love for him saying, “…I dream that someday you will return to Kabul to revisit the land of our childhood.  If you do, you will find an old faithful friend waiting for you.” (pg. 218).  Amir has the love and support of all those who matter to him: Hassan, Baba, Soraya, and Rahim Khan.  None of them blame him for the mistakes he made as a child, especially after adopting Sohrab, but why was Amir still burdened down by guilt?  The key to him finding peace, and a major theme of the book, was that he finally forgave himself.  Things that once caused him jealousy and shame, like Baba’s adoration for Hassan no longer bother him.  He comes to terms with his mistakes and all that selfish guilt is replaced with concern for Sohrab.  Amir realizes his forgiveness and wonders “if that was how forgiveness budded; not with the fanfare of epiphany, but with pain gathering its things, packing up, and slipping away unannounced in the middle of the night.” (pg. 359).

 A novel like The Kite Runner is so full of powerful messages that it is impossible to boil down the story to one definite meaning.  These outstanding, messages include the importance of forgiveness, family, or friendship.  The book’s message that was the most crucial to me and what I believe is the most applicable to the problems the world faces today, is to never place someone below you due to their race, religion, social caste, or any other misguided base of prejudice.  The way that Hassan and Ali accepted their subordinate roles in society was due to generations of conditioning making them believe that it was their place to be uneducated servants.  But this caste system is so very insignificant next to the blind inhumanity of the Taliban.  The message in The Kite Runner to value all different groups of people is so important to remember because it seems to be in mankind’s nature to find scapegoats.  Amir has these prejudices in him as a child, but we see how he has overcome them when his father-in-law calls Sohrab the “Hazara boy” and Amir states, “You will never again refer to him as ‘Hazara boy’ in my presence.  He has a name and it’s Sohrab.” (pg. 361).

AP Worthy?

When one thinks of a novel that would typically be studied in an AP English class, what comes to mind is usually a dense book with a convoluted plot that contains the most subtle themes that can only be picked out by reading with a fine toothed comb.  This kind of book, however, is not the only brand of novel worthy of being AP material.  For the past few weeks I have been thoroughly enjoying reading The Kite Runner. Unlike all other prior experiences with assigned books, I actually enjoy reading it.  For the first time in my life when I reach the required amount of pages for the week, I willingly continue on with the story.  Even though the themes and motifs of the book are easily distinguished, the author is still able to convey a moving, complex story.  The relationships created between characters capture the essence of Afghan society and culture, while also showing emotions that all people can relate to.  The relationships Amir has with his father and Hassan are especially important and can be used as examples in AP writing passages.   Also the author has created the story as if it is a circle with symmetry which is an aspect worthy of analysis.  

The reason why I have such an appreciation for this story is because of how masterfully the characters have been created.  The emotions that Amir feels, you cannot help but experience yourself.  The guilt and regret he feels for mistreating Hassan are emotions that could easily be applicable to AP writing prompts.  During our AP English mid term this year I was so tempted to use The Kite Runner as an example but restrained myself because I do not know what the end result of this guilt will be.  A perhaps even more relevant character relationship would be that between Amir and his father.  Their relationship perfectly shows one were the child idolizes the parent, but does not receive all the attention they crave.  This seems to be an age-old dynamic and having a novel devoted to it would be a valuable asset to call upon in an AP setting.  The idolization of Baba and his and Amir’s strained relationship can be further analyzed.   When the two go off to America we see a strange shift in which they before more loving and comfortable with each other.   The writer uses their new life in America to show how their relationship is evolving.  The characters and their relationships with each other can be analyzed at an AP level and used as examples in AP exams.

A new stylistic technique that I am now noticing especially in this past reading is that the story is developing symmetry.  The book begins in Kabul with Amir and Hassan as children.  Amir recalls often visiting a pomegranate tree, in which he and Hassan carve “’Amir and Hassan, the sultans of Kabul.’”(pg. 27).  He also mentions how the tree was full of fruit and how he “climbed its branches and snatched its bloodred pomegranates.”  Decades later Amir returns to the tree and recalls Hassan’s letter to him, “ Hassan had said in his letter that the pomegranate tree hadn’t borne fruit in years.  Looking at the wilted, lifeless tree, I doubted it ever would again.” (pg. 264)  The state of the tree not only reflects the mood of the scene but also shows how childhood is finite and Amir’s days of reading to Hassan in that tree are over.  Another example of the author’s purposefully circular story is how Ali came into Baba’s life because he was an orphan and Baba’s father felt that it was his duty to raise him like a son.  I am not sure of this yet, but I think a safe prediction is that Amir is going to adopt Sohrab, much like his grandfather raised Ali.  In both cases two grown men with established lives choose to lovingly raise a Hazara boy out of a sense of duty.  What makes me confident in this prediction is because of something a hotel owner says to Amir while he is frantically looking for Sohrab, “’I don’t take your money,” he said bowing by me.  “I will drive you because I am a father like you.”’ (pg. 315)  This stylistic device and attention to detail is exactly what the AP course teaches you to look for, which is why The Kite Runner is eligible to be an  AP book and is one that I highly recommend.

Changing Relationships

Up until this last section of reading, The Kite Runner has been chronologically progressing through the significant events of Amir's childhood.  In the last couple chapters we have seen a major shift in time.  Chapter ten ends with Amir and Baba struggling to smuggle themselves out of Afghanistan, while chapter eleven begins with them settling into their new lives in America.  I can only guess that the reason that Amir chose not share that part of his journey was that the experience was too unpleasant to recall upon.  Or perhaps it simply was not important towards the message the author is trying to convey in the novel.  We can only find out through reading further.
Predictably, Amir adjusts to American life much easier than Baba.  He is a young intelligent boy whom now has a world of opportunity open to him, while Baba has gone from a wealthy respected man to a gas station attendant.  Despite this social status change, Baba is still as dignified, generous, and hard-working as he was in Kabul.  The major change in Baba is how Amir's view of him is shifting.  His father, whom he once placed on a pedestal like a divine hero, is finally showing that he is human.  The laborious work and stress begins to show and Baba ages.  Amir recalls his high school graduation looking at Baba and thinking, "...hadn't he been taller in Kabul?"(131).  Though Baba's decline distresses Amir, he now seems to be less insecure of himself no longer seeing Baba as a paragon of strength and power.  While in Kabul, Baba always made it clear that he cared for his son, but the two never really bonded with each other.  In America their relationship changes, becoming more sentimental.  The first truly tender exchange they have is when Baba gives Amir his first car.  This tenderness goes on further when Baba teases Amir for his interest in Soraya.  By the time Baba gets sick their relationship has completely transformed to one that was once characterized by shame and embarrassment to one where the two now openly love and understand each other.  Baba's last gift of love to Amir is helping him ask for Soraya's hand in marriage.  When Baba dies his relationship with Amir was in a much better place than I would have expected possible.  Although Amir never confesses to him what he did to Hassan, their relationship had an important sense of closure.  Amir watched his father lose his independence and die a demeaning slow death, yet he is still able to admire him saying, "But even then, he had lost on his own terms." (174)  After all that has happened and changed, Amir still has unwavering respect and love for his father.

Characters

Amir~ The Kite Runner is told from the perspective Amir, a wealthy boy living in Afghanistan.  Amir’s mother died from giving birth to him so his only parental figure is his father whom he calls Baba.  From a young age Amir idolizes his father and is constantly working for his attention and approval.  This is difficult for Amir because he lacks the athleticism, bravery, and social skills that his father is known for.  Because in his eyes his father is a flawless hero, Amir thinks of himself as an inadequate coward.  Amir also genuinely believes that his father hates him because his mother died in childbirth.  Because this idea is impressed upon him at such a young age he goes on throughout childhood believing that all fathers have hatred for their sons.  Amir's only strong connection to his mother is through him reading her collection of books.  Along with his father, Amir lives with two servants, Ali, and his son Hassan.  Hassan and Amir grow up together, almost as if they are brothers.  Baba appreciates Hassan's bravery and candor which causes Amir to have great jealousy despite the fact that Hassan lives a much less privileged life than Amir.  Even though Hassan is loyal and kind to Amir, Amir does not consider him as his friend because of him being lower in the society’s class system.  Amir tests Hassan's unwavering loyalty by mistreating him to see if he will stand up against him. He has great guilt when Hassan does nothing in retaliation.   He begs Hassan to speak out against him, to do something to punish him.  Years after Hassan and Ali leave, Amir still feels this guilt.

Baba~  Amir’s father is a wealthy respected man.  He is known for his charm and benevolence.    Even though Baba does love Amir, he has trouble believing that his son could be so weak and cowardly.  I believe that Baba may even have doubts of his wife's fidelity.  Baba does not understand Amir's love for literature, thinking that it is a hobby for women.  The two have little in common which is one of the main reasons why their relationship is so tense.  The compassion and understanding that Baba lacks towards his son is made up by his friend Rahim Khan.  If Amir were being honest with himself he would realize that throughout his life, Rahim Khan has been a better father figure towards him than Baba.  

Hassan~ Hassan is Amir’s servant and childhood playmate.  His first word was Amir’s name, showing the unrelenting love he has for him.  In contrast Amir's first word was "Baba", which foreshadowed Amir choosing his father's approval over Hassan's dignity. As young children, Amir and Hassan spend much of their time together and have a brotherly bond.  Even at this young age Hassan always protects Amir, always taking the blame when the two get in trouble.  This carries on throughout adolescence.  Because of the social system it is so deeply engrained in Hassan to obey Amir that even when Amir deliberately harms him, Hassan never retaliates.  Amir and Hassan are character foils as they are both similar in that they are young boys living in living in Afghanistan, but despite this similarity they are very different people.  Hassan lives the humble laborious life of a Hazara while Amir, a wealthy Pashtun, lives a privileged life in which he is close-minded and egocentric.

Ali~  Ali and Baba are raised together, much like Hassan and Amir, but unlike Amir, Baba seems to openly express his love for Ali.  Because Ali is Hazara and has a limp his is taunted by the neighborhood children.  Even though he is mistreated, he never acts out in violence, much like Hassan.  Ali’s one happiness is his son, Hassan, whom he immediately loves despite his cleft lip.  The only time Ali goes against his submissive and reserved nature is when he decides it would be better for his son to be taken away from Kabul and Amir.