Archetypes In The Kite Runner - 1616 Words

In the novel, The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini, the author takes the reader into the fictional world of Amir and Hassan, two best friends who face the untold realities of their childhood as they struggle to cope with guilt and heartbreaking losses. The story is told from the perspective of Amir, a Pashtun who grows up in a privileged society and lives with his father, Baba and his best friend and Hazara servant, Hassan. One of the major turning points in the story occurs when Amir leaves Hassan to be raped by a bully, ruining their relationship for the rest of his life. While dealing with the guilt of betraying Hassan, who he later learns is his half-brother, Amir learns shocking truths about his father that alter his perspective of Baba†¦show more content†¦After he nearly convinces himself Hassan is â€Å"not [his] friend,† Amir is ashamed for neglecting his best friend in pursuit of his own safety. By portraying Amir’s guilt, the author displays Amirâ€⠄¢s conflicted feelings for Hassan—the person who he has always treated â€Å"like a brother†Ã¢â‚¬â€thus highlighting his inability to be decisive. Hosseini seems to believe that, although humans make mistakes, the following guilt can strengthen a person’s relationships in the long-term, provided they avoid making similar mistakes in the future. Later in the story, Amir and Hassan have a second encounter with Assef when Hassan is raped, but Amir simply watches the scene as a bystander, traumatized and scared to stand up for his friend. Amir continues to carry the burden of guilt for the rest of the novel and expresses his frustration by attempting to cut ties with Hassan. In chapter 9, Amir frames Hassan for stealing by placing his birthday money and his watch under Hassan’s mattress. When Baba finds out that Hassan had â€Å"stolen† from Amir—as Amir had planned— Hassan shockingly admits to stealing the watch and money, even though he was not responsible. However, Baba forgives Hassan, leaving Amir in aShow MoreRelatedThe Kite Runner1069 Words   |  5 PagesWhat role did assef play in The Kite Runner? antagonist Who is rahim khan in The Kite Runner? Rahim Khan is Babas business partner and best friend. What is the mood of The Kite Runner? The mood of one flying a kite i would say is optimistic. Flying a kite doesnt always go as planned. What disease did Ali have in The Kite Runner? Parkinsons. What did Baba decide to construct and pay for in The Kite Runner? An orphanage How was amir responsible for the flight of ali and hassan? Read MoreEssay On Hassan As An Archetype1014 Words   |  5 PagesThe use of Archetypes in literature is highly prevalent. A common archetype is the saviour archetype, also known as the messianic or Christ-like figure. Usually the protagonist, the Christ-like figure exhibits qualities that parallel that of the biblical Jesus, through characterization, and symbolic actions. There are a few common traits exhibited by this character, including, but not limited to, being self-sacrificing and loyal, manifestations of divine qualities, displaying kindness or forgivenessRead MoreThe Kite Runner By Khaled Hosseini1316 Words   |  6 Pagescorrupt political groups, like the Taliban, are seizing control of the government widespread suffering is weakening the people. When in power these groups are able to exercise control in whatever way they deem necessary. Cruelty is utilized in The Kite Runner, by Khaled Hosseini, as the main char acters inhabit Afghanistan during times of extreme turmoil. Throughout the story the characters suffer through and cause cruelty which affects each other and their own lives. The hardships suffered by the charactersRead More The Power of Words Essay2225 Words   |  9 Pagesroad after a catastrophic event. To â€Å"carry the fire† was the boys main concern and those words meant a world of difference (McCarthy np). It gave the man and his son the strength and encouragement to just keep going. Khaled Hossieni’s novel The Kite Runner used the repetition of the saying â€Å"for you a thousand times over† to induce an overwhelming response in the reader’s emotions through the use of irony (Hosseini np). The huge power of words in literature, speeches, songs, and sermons are seen over