Preview

Symbolism of the kites (Kite Runner)

Good Essays
Open Document
Open Document
565 Words
Grammar
Grammar
Plagiarism
Plagiarism
Writing
Writing
Score
Score
Symbolism of the kites (Kite Runner)
Symbolism of the kites

There are alot of hidden symbols in the kite runner. The kites are the most important ones. Traditionally, kites symbolize both fate and prophecy. However, kites symbolize so much more in this novel.

The kites represent the class difference between Amir and Hassan - which has a huge effect on their relationship. In kite fighting, there is one who controls the kite while the other assists by managing the kite spool. Just as Hassan cleans Amir's room and makes his breakfast, he also serves Amir in kite tournaments. Hassan may cooperate with the lifting and diving, but Amir is the one who wins. Hassan may catch a rival kite and carry it, but he must always bring it back to the kite flyer. Despite not having control over the kite, Hassan is just as excited as Amir is.

The blue kite in The Kite Runner is the symbol of Baba's attention. Kites are the only things that Amir and Baba have in common. They have different personalities, desires and dreams, but they are connected by the kites. Therefore Amir thinks that by winning the kite tournament, he will earn Baba's affection.

The kite fighting is violent - children battle against each other, trying to cut all kites down with such great eagerness. This symbolizes the conflicts in Afghanistan. The hundreds of kites with huge determination on cutting each other down, shows us how crowds in Afghanistan are overthrowing one another.

Kite fighting is violent, but flying a kite is innocent and also a symbol of freedom. Amir and Hassan does not know the difference, they are both being lied to, and their whole relationship would have been different only they had known they were brothers. Yet regardless of their kite fighting characters, flying the kite brings them toghether.

As the novel continues, after the kite tournament, the kite becomes a symbol of betrayal. Hassan sacrificed himself just to bring the kite to Amir. He got raped by Assef and Amir betrayed him by hiding instead of

You May Also Find These Documents Helpful

  • Good Essays

    In “Mother Any Distance” by Simon Armitage, Armitage uses imagery to portray the bond between him and his mother. “Kite” that suggests he is flying high and has got his own place in society but is still connected to his mother that their bond has not been broken just…

    • 1478 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    In the novel, “The kite Runner” by Khaled Hosseni, multiple themes are clearly demonstrated. However, the two themes, Loyalty and Betrayal, are mostly displayed throughout the book. Hassan proved his loyalty to each and every character in the book, especially to his master, Amir. Hassan never denied to do anything for his Amir agha. In the beginning of the book, Hassan always used to make Amir very happy by firing walnuts with his slingshot at the neighbor’s German shepherd. When Ali scowled at Hassan, he just mumbled but never incriminated Amir. Hence, this proves Hassan’s genuine love, and loyalty toward Amir. Similarly, When Amir hits Hassan with pomegranates and asks the same in return, the loyal servant declined to throw the pomegranate…

    • 341 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Amir’s favorite activity was to go Kite Fighting with Hassan. The object of the game was to be the last kite in the air while trying to cut the strings of the others. Hassan’s job was to pick up the fallen kites for Amir to keep as prizes. However, the book takes a turn for the worse when Hassan runs off to get the last kite fallen as the greatest prize for Amir. Not only does he find the kite, but also the bully, Assef and his henchmen. Assef sexually assaults Hassan while Amir is watching in the background, too wrapped up in his own ambitions to seek approval from his father. In Amir’s selfishness for approval, he loses not only himself, but also his best friend and half-brother. This loss changes him when he finally opens his eyes.…

    • 505 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Flying kites is a passion of both Amir and Hassan and as they win the national kite fighting championship Amirs finally wins a spot in the heart of his torn father. But after this competition the kite takes on a very different significance to the boys as Amir witnesses Hassans rape but does not step in, in the fear the perpetrators will steal his victory prize and his father will see him as a failure. Ironically Amir not standing up to the boys meant that he had become “ The boy [I] his father was afraid he would become.” Amirs actions that day and his failings to step in and save amir switched the symbolism of the Kite from victory and happiness to a sign of betrayal and guilt. Amirs guilt means that he can’t stand to be in the same house as Hassan so he frames Hassan of theft and force his father to fire him. This is the last time Amir would see Hassan. But despite all of these adversities Amir many many years later finds his redemption as the novel closes, Amir and Hassan orphan Shrobha are flying a kite, again the symvolism has done a complete turn around and the kite signifies happiness and the fact that even in the worst of circumstances redemption is attainable. Significantly the roles have also reversed as Sorbha cuts a kite Amir runs it looking back over his shoulder he…

    • 587 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    As I read pages 77-78, even though I didn’t like it, I found out why Amir didn’t do anything to help Hassan. All his life, he wanted to make his father proud, and he knew with the blue kite he would accomplish that. This part of the book is similar to a window. I was looking into Amir’s hardest decision in life and why he did what he did. Through Amir’s eyes, Baba’s praise was more important than Hassan’s safety. It gave me a view of hardships I never (and hope to never) experience. Hassan was put into a situation just because his job is to serve and protect Amir. It also showed me the ending of an amazing friendship. Therefore, because of Amir’s cowardliness and selfishness, his relationship with Hassan designagrated.…

    • 429 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    The Kite Runner Summary

    • 601 Words
    • 3 Pages

    Though Hassan did not actually get to compete in the event because of his religious identity, he still participated by helping Amir regain his kite after it flew the winning distance. Hassan went to fetch Amir’s kite for him but took a very long time to come back, so Amir went looking for him. When he found him, Hassan was being raped by 3 men, apparently Sunni. Rather than interfering or finding help to protect the innocent Hassan,, Amir ran away in fear and humiliation, pretending as though he had never seen…

    • 601 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    Im a writing an easy on the book The Kite Runner written by Khaled Hosseini. I am going to explain how Hosseini use symbolism to reflect important themes or ideas in his novel. Themes of guilt and redemption feature many times in this novel. In the book The Kite Runner Hosseini Uses many symbols and themes but what I am going to talk about first is the symbols he uses.…

    • 175 Words
    • 1 Page
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Good Essays

    Amir betrays Hassan the most in the book. First, he allows Hassan to be assaulted by Assef. He does nothing to stop it and only worries about the kite when it is over. “He had the blue kite in his…

    • 773 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    The day of the kite running Amir wins and Hassan goes off to run for the kite, this was the day Amir made his father so proud of him. But what he didn’t know is that while Hassan was running for the kite he was trapped by Assef and his two followers. Amir found Hassan but he was being beaten up and then he was raped. Amir decided that he would save himself and went away to pretend it didn’t happen. These responses that Amir…

    • 615 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Khaled Hosseini's "The Kite Runner" is a touching tale about one's struggles through hard times. Although the author does not specifically relate to the reasons of Hassan's loyalty, the text explores how the incident of the alleyway has brought out the best as well as the worst in human nature. The unconscionable horrors that follow might dehumanize the victim, erode their faith to mankind irrevocably, however, Hassan never sinks to such levels but rather transcends from this and shows the full degree of his devotion to Amir. Contrary speaking, Amir fails to overcome his shame and resorts to such acts as betraying Hassan's loyalty, as his guilt has resulted him to frame Hassan where these actions have caused Amir fleeting moments of remorse…

    • 753 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Amir's selfishness costs him his friendship with Hassan. From the beginning of "The Kite Runner" it is evident that Amir and Hassan's relationship was a very close one. However, Amir betrays Hassan and their friendship when Amir watches Hassan being raped by Assef. Amir makes no attempt to stop or prevent the rape. This can be contrasted to when Sohrab cuts himself with a razor when Amir makes the most effort that…

    • 962 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Kite Runner begins with Amir relating his childhood memories during his and Hassan's life in Afghanistan. As a Hazara Hassan endures verbal and physical abuse because of being a minority and therefore has only a few friends including Amir. One day Hassan and Amir decide to go climb a tree and agree to take a short cut.…

    • 740 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    In the novel The Kite Runner, betrayal is one of the key themes. Many characters in the novel portray betrayal but one that is most lucid to the reader is Amir. Amir portrays betrayal when he allows his loyal friend Hassan to get raped by Assef, the hometown bully. After…

    • 939 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    Develop Metaphors

    • 258 Words
    • 2 Pages

    How does figurative language (similes, metaphors, personification) help the author of The Kite Runner create images that stick with the…

    • 258 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    The Kite Symbolism

    • 92 Words
    • 1 Page

    Who knew that a square of paper, a wooden frame, and a strand of twine could have so much meaning hidden beneath the surface? In the book The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini, among many layers of plot twists and character development, symbolism is an integral part of the storyline. Particularly, the symbol of the kite was one that remained prominent throughout the entire plot. The kite could be interpreted as a representation of freedom, among other ideas. For the protagonist Amir, the kite was arguably what shaped him as a…

    • 92 Words
    • 1 Page
    Satisfactory Essays