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KITE RUNNER

-BY KHALED HOSSIENIN

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DR. RAM MANOHAR LOHIYA NATIONAL LAW

UNIVERSITY

ENGLISH PROJECT
BOOK REVIEW

KITE RUNNER
-BY KHALEID HOSSEINI

SUBMITTED TO- SUBMITTED BY-

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ACKNOWLEDGEMENT-

I have taken a lot of effort for this project “BOOK REVIEW- KITE RUNNER” However
this would have not been possible without the kind support and help of many individuals. I
would like to express my special thanks to all of them. I express my deep gratitude and to my
teacher Dr. Alka Singh for giving her exemplary gratitude, monitoring, and constant
encouragement throughout the project.

I would like to express my gratitude towards my parents and members of RMLNLU for their
kind support and encouragement which helped me in the competition of this project. My
thanks and appreciation also go to my Friends in making the project and people who
willingly helped me out with their abilities.

DECLARATION-

I hereby declare that the project “BOOK REVIEW: KITE RUNNER” submitted by me to Dr.
Ram Manohar Lohiya National Law University, Lucknow in partial fulfilment requirement
for the award of the degree of [Link]. (Hons.) is a record of bonafied project work carried
out by me under the guidance of Dr. Alka Singh. I further declare that the work reported in
this project has not been submitted, and will not be submitted either in the part or in full, for
the award of any other degree or diploma in this institute or any other university.

PRIYANKA PRIYADARSHNI

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CONTENTS-

ACKNOWLEDGMENT, DECLERATION……………………………….3

INTRODUCTION………………………………………………………….5

PLOT……………………………………………………………………….7

CHARACTERS…………………………………………………………….9

AIM AND OBJECTIVE……………………………………………………10

THEME…………………………………………………………………….11

SYMBOLISM………………………………………………………………12

CONCLUSION…………………………………………………………….13

BIBLIOGRAPHY………………………………………………………….14

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INTRODUCTION-

The Kite Runner was published in 2003 by Khaled Hosseini, it was his 1st novel. It was the
bestseller by 2005 in US. The Kite Runner is the story of relationship between father and a
son, between two friends and political and social transformations of Afghanistan from the
1970s to 2001. Initially it was published by Riverhead Books, an imprint of Penguin, THE
KITE RUNNER is first novel written in English by a Afghan writer. It became a bestseller
after being printed in paperback and was popularized in book clubs. The book was translated
in 42 languages for publication in 38 countries. In 2003 Author also published another book
and The Mountains Echoed.

The novel received San Francisco Chronicle Best Book of the Year Award and the Borders
Original Voice Award. The novel illustrates the way that common issues of power and
assimilation is carried in Afghanistan. The Kite Runner also have the controversy by 2008, it
was most challenged book on American library Association’s list. The film adaptation didn't
do much to quiet the controversy. Afghan community was outraged by Kite Runner and even
some of the child actors received death threats.

It was Khaled Hosseini’s first book which he wrote while he was practicing medicine in
California. When it was finished quickly it was accepted for publication. In the starting the
sale was low but the book won South African Boeke Prize in 2004. After 2 years of
publication the novel increased to #3 on bestsellers of New York Times. In this novel he
discusses many things Redemption, Father-son relationship, Guilt, religious and ethnic
difference and the social and political transformation of Afghanistan from 1970s to 2001.

The title of the book Kite Runners derived from the old Afghan hobby Gudiparan bazi or
Kite flying.

The novel sets the personal drama against the backdrop of the modern history of Afghanistan,
sketching the religious and ethnic difference in Afghanistan; from the end of monarchy
fundamentalist Taliban government of the 1990s. The action closes soon after the fall of the
Taliban and alludes to the rise of Hamid Karzai as leader of a new Afghan government in the
wake of the events of September 11, 2001.

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The Kite Runner opens in Kabul where two boys live. Amir and Hassan, they were best
friend but separated by class. Hassan was a servant in Amir’s house their bond was
inseparable until a tragedy changed their relationship because of jealousy in Amir he didn’t
help at the time when he needed him. Filled with guilt Amir decided to frame Hassan for theft
so that he leaves his house. After some years he came to know that Hassan was the second
son of his father so Amir decide to find Hassan’s son as now Hassan was killed by Taliban,
Amir by great difficulties find Sohrab and take him back with them and promised him that he
will be there for him always.

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PLOT

An emotional and excited story of redemption and betrayal. The story has narrated in 2002.
The Kite Runner tells the story of two boys named Hassan and Amir they were close friends
and were expert in kite flying. The two boys live in Kabul, Afghanistan. Amir’s father Baba,
was one of the wealthiest, most charitable and humble Pashtun men in Kabul. Hassan was his
servant and a Hazara(minority) and was very close to Baba. Amir wants the attention of his
father so he realises that the kite competition was the way to gain attention and he also wins
the competition by cutting final string. Hasan went to get that kite and when he was late Amir
went to look him where he finds him getting raped by Assef, however Amir does nothing to
save him and pretends like it didn’t happen. Then Amir was so guilty about not helping
Hasan so he thought that life would be easier if Hassan were not around him so he plans
something and blamed Hasan for stealing some of his birthday present. When confronted by
Baba, Hasan admits to the crime even though he didn’t do anything. Baba forgives Hasan but
Ali decides to leave the house and he left the house. at that time in 1981 Kabul was invaded
by soviets and became a war zone. Amir and Baba packed their bags and left Afghanistan
without telling anyone except Rahim Khan. Their journey to Pakistan was horrible, there was
no food to eat, no water to drink and a lot of troubles on military checkpoint. After living 2
years in Pakistan Baba and Amir move to California. On Sundays they both go to Flea market
to earn some money there they found Baba’s old friend General Taheri. He had a daughter
named Soraya and Amir fallen in love with Soraya. Few days later they find out that Baba
was suffering from lungs cancer and he doesn’t have much time left so Amir ask Baba to get
the consent of Taheri so that Amir and Soraya can marry, Taheri accepts the proposal. Due to
Baba’s health, they had married sooner than usual and after a month Baba died. When Amir
works on writing they planned to have a baby but find out they can’t. Pretty soon Amir
receives a call from Rahim Khan who was very ill and wants to meet Amir as soon as
possible in Pakistan. Amir leaves for Pakistan, Rahim Khan talks about the condition of
Kabul that how the things get worse as now Taliban rule by violence. He says that he was
unable to take care of their house as Baba and Amir was also not their and feels lonely so he
decided to find Hassan. He convinced Hassan and his wife Farzana to come back and live in
the house. Farzana and Hassan eventually had a little boy, Sohrab. After some time, Rahim
went to Pakistan for his treatment. One day Rahim khan received a call from neighbour in
Kabul saying they found a Hazara family and they killed Hassan and his wife and sent Sohrab
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to orphanage. Rahim khan wants Amir to find Sohrab and bring back to Pakistan. He also
told him that Hassan was Baba’s son and his brother. In Afghanistan Amir finds the
orphanage but Sohrab was not there and Taliban took him a month ago he told him that he
will find Sohrab in soccer game. Amir finds Sohrab in Assef’s house as a dancing house.
Assef agrees to give Sohrab back if Amir can beat him in a fight. He was capable in doing so
and then he adopted Sohrab and promised him to be always with him.

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CHARACTERS

AMIR- Protagonist and narrator of the novel, wealthy boy.

BABA- Father of Amir and a wealthy business man

HASSAN- Amir’s closest friend, Hazara boy

ALI- A Hazara believed to be the father of Hassan, Baba’s servant.

SOHRAB- Son of Hassan.

RAHIM KHAN- Baba’s loyal friend.

SORAYA- General Tehri’s Daughter, Amir’s wife

SANAUBAR- Ali’s wife and mother of Hassan.

ASEEF- Antagonist, son of a Pashtun

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AIM AND OBJECTIVE-

The author’s purpose in writing Kite runner seemed to have multiple purposes.

One of the purposes was to show how simple actions can change the relationships. It shows
the consequences of one’s life decisions and the bond of friends and family. The decision
taken by Amir greatly affected the rest of his and others lives too. Amir and Hassan were the
closest friend, Hassan was a loyal friend and yet Amir choose to betray him as he wants to
save himself. This decision changed their lives forever.

Author also wishes to show that it possible for the people who have made the bad choices and
done bad work to earn forgiveness, and become good as guilt can leads to good. Baba was
guilty of his adultery so decided to spent his life helping people and giving money to poor.
After that Amir also went back to Afghanistan to find Hassan’s son and take with him as a
means to compensate for the crime of not choosing not to stop Assef from raping Hassan an
act of good born from his guilt over what happened

Author explains the critical aspects of the society such as strife between Hazaras and
Pashtuns, how heinous crimes were committed every day in Afghanistan. The most obvious
display of evil was the rape of Hassan, the injustice that is done in the name of religion, caste.
Author wants readers to understand a different world. Telling the story in the novel author
showcase the Afghan society in a deeply personal manner that cannot be achieved by simply
writing the facts.

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THEME-

BETRAYAL- Betrayal, which can be considered a form of sin, is enduring and ends up being
cyclical in The Kite Runner. There are many instances of betrayal in the story, with the main
one being betraying Hassan by not helping him when he was raped by Assef and being a
passive observer the violence that was aimed on Hassan. The second thing involve is when
Amir put the allegations on Hassan for stealing his gift. Amir is also betrayed by Baba by not
telling the true relationship.

FATHER-SON RELATIION- Amir has very complex relationship with his father. The first
part of the novel shows that Baba loves Hassan more and Amir rarely feels Baba fully loves
him back. However, later we came to know that Baba behaves this way because of the guilt
for not being able to acknowledge Hassan as his son. This realisation the mind of Amir for
Baba. Even though Hassan was not real son of Ali but their relationship was much better than
Ali. By the end of the novel, Amir becomes a father himself and imitate Ali’s behaviour in
his loving treatment of Sohrab who was the son of Hassan.

CLASS, RELIGION, ETHNIC TENSIONS- This was one of the main themes of Kite
Runner. The socioeconomic conditions in Afghanistan demonstrates the difference between
the Sunni Muslim(majority) and Shia Muslim(minorities) how people discriminate against
each other based on physical features and religious beliefs. Baba and Amir belong to
privileged Pashtun group who are Sunni Muslims. Ali and Hassan belong to Hazaras the
minority group.

GUILT AND REDEMPTION- Baba has the guilt that he has fathered a child from the wife
of his servant Ali and cannot even tell anyone about it. He tries to redeem his guilt by helping
and loving Hassan. On the other hand, because of jealousy Amir also commits the same
mistake. He quietly watched when Hassan was raped, he does no saved him and was
behaving like he didn’t know anything. This guilt of allowing others to rape Hassan haunts
him to seek redemption from his guilt he comes back and find Hassan’s son Sohrab and take
him with them.

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SYMBOLISM

THE PROMEGRANATE TREE- The tree was their happy spot; it symbolises Amir and
Hassan’s friendship. For motherless boys that was a happy and safe place. After the bitter
experience of Hassan’s rape, the tree reminds their broken friendship. After Amir returns to
Afghanistan and sees the tree after Hassan dies it no longer bear fruits just like there is no
longer the older way of life.

BEAR- Amir believes that his father is strong and courageous as once Baba wrestled a bear
and won. Amir imagines the incident countless times.

HARELIP- Harelip of Hassan stands for inferiority in the society. It also shows lack of
money Hassan have. Baba who was Hassan’s real father insists on paying for surgery. Later
when the incident took place Assef beats him and splits Hassan’s lip. That was a permanent
scar shows the betrayal and wrong Amir had done with him.

KITE- The Kite represents act of betrayal and childhood memories. It is an important part in
the novel. Kite bonded Amir and Hassan. It conjures of both painful and happy memories in
the novel. Novel closes with Hassan’s son Sohrab flying kite which persuades a smile on
him, in this way Kite becomes the symbol of peace.

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CONCLUSION

Kite Runner says that it is better to confront our mistake than attempt to leave behind and
live-in guilt. The novel is a realistic fiction novel. In the Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini the
main character Amir deals with internal conflict. Amir runs away from his problem instead of
facing them. Because of jealousy he didn’t help his closest and childhood friend when Hassan
was being raped by Assef he watched it quietly and afterwards also he pretends like he
doesn’t know anything and because of the guilt he cannot see Hassan in his house so he put
the allegations on Hassan that he had stolen his birthday gift. Hassan was a true friend and a
loyal servant he accepted it and left the house. To be a real friend you have to respect and
honour them by always being there for them.

Amir was finally successfully able to relieve his guilt through returning to Kabul, defeating
and rescuing Sohrab from Taliban and finally committing to Sohrab that he would stay loyal
to him which he displayed by going Kite running for him and saying a thousand times over.

The novel also conclude that it is better to hurt by truth than comforted with a lie. Sometimes
secrets are destructive to family relationship, despite the initial comfort a lie can bring, the
harsh truth is often less soul destroying. In Kite Runner there are many instances that shows
where the characters of the novel lied to each other.

By keeping a shameful secret from society and Hassan, Baba loved Hassan more because of
his guilt this causes jealousy in Amir and he deceive his best friend. Author uses Amir and
his journey to show why redemption is important and why doing the right thing is important.

In the ending we see that how memories can become a source of joy for Amir as opposed to
one of guilt and self-hatred.

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BIBLOGRAPHY-

THE KITE RUNNER. UNITED STATES, KHALED HOSSEINI, 2003,

Hosseini, Khaled. “The Kite Runner.” Khaled Hosseini, Riverhead Books, 9 Aug. 2003,
[Link]

“SparkNotes: The Kite Runner.” [Link], 2019, [Link]/lit/the-kite-

Hermione Hoby. “Khaled Hosseini: ‘If I Could Go Back Now, I’d Take the Kite Runner
Apart.’” The Guardian, The Guardian, 22 Feb. 2018,
[Link]/books/2013/jun/01/khaled-hosseini-kite-runner-interview.

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