the kite runner resume

The Kite Runner

91 pages • 3 hours read

A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more. For select classroom titles, we also provide Teaching Guides with discussion and quiz questions to prompt student engagement.

Chapter Summaries & Analyses

Chapters 1-3

Chapters 4-6

Chapters 7-9

Chapters 10-13

Chapters 14-17

Chapters 18-19

Chapters 20-23

Chapters 24-25

Character Analysis

Symbols & Motifs

Important Quotes

Essay Topics

Discussion Questions

Summary and Study Guide

Khaled Hosseini’s debut novel, The Kite Runner , was published in 2003, two years after the events of the September 11 terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center in New York and the US invasion of Afghanistan. Hosseini, the son of a diplomat for the Afghan Foreign Ministry, was born in Kabul, Afghanistan, and relocated to France as a child. When Afghanistan was thrown into turmoil by the Soviet occupation at the height of the Cold War, Hosseini’s family was granted asylum in the United States and settled in San Jose, California. Decades later, upon reading that the Taliban had outlawed kite fighting in Afghanistan, Hosseini penned a short story he later expanded into the novel The Kite Runner . This study guide is based on the 2020 Kindle edition of the book.

In The Kite Runner , Hosseini uses his intimate knowledge of the culture, its customs, and its people to break down stereotypical depictions of Afghanistan in Western media. Framed as a story of fathers and sons, the novel explores the region’s turbulent history of ground wars following the fall of the monarchy through to the Taliban control, illustrating and defining the lives of Afghani people interrupted by war.

Get access to this full Study Guide and much more!

• 7,450+ In-Depth Study Guides
• 4,900+ Quick-Read Plot Summaries
• Downloadable PDFs

Plot Summary

The narrative follows two friends, Amir—who narrates in the first person—and Hassan . Although they do not know it when the narrative begins, Amir and Hassan are half-brothers by the same father, Baba , who lied to hide a secret affair he had with his servant’s wife. Hassan is an ethnic Hazara and a Shi’a Muslim, while Amir, the protagonist , is Pashtun. Although they exist in separate strata of society, the two are inseparable. When Amir runs afoul of Assef , a blond, blue-eyed Pashtun, Hassan appears from behind Amir with his slingshot and threatens to take Assef’s left eye if he does not leave them alone. This encounter begins a cycle of violence that cascades through the novel, spanning out into their adult lives.

The SuperSummary difference

• 8x more resources than SparkNotes and CliffsNotes combined
• Study Guides you won ' t find anywhere else
• 100+ new titles every month

In the wintertime in Kabul, neighborhood children compete in a kite fighting tournament wherein kite fighters position their glass string to cut rival kites out of the sky. Kite runners chase the last kite of a tournament, a coveted trophy. When Amir wins the kite fighting tournament in the winter of 1975, Amir and Hassan are briefly separated in the frenzy of celebration. Amir finds Hassan cornered in a blind alley by Assef, having run the last kite. Assef pins and rapes Hassan, but Amir never intervenes and never tells anyone, consumed by his want of the kite—in his eyes , a token through which he can gain Baba’s affection.

Unable to cope with his secret guilt, Amir distances himself from Hassan. However, Hassan and his father, Ali , are a constant presence as they tend the grounds of Baba’s home. As Amir’s guilt intensifies, he frames Hassan for theft—a sin Baba has told him is the worst of all sins. When Baba confronts Ali and Hassan about the stolen contraband, Amir is shocked to hear Hassan confess to the theft. Hassan’s false confession is his final act of loyalty to Amir. Despite Baba’s immediate forgiveness, Ali says that living in Baba’s home has become impossible. Although Baba begs them to stay, Baba and Amir never see Ali or Hassan alive again. 

Amir and Baba flee Afghanistan following a destructive Russian invasion in the 1980s, relocating in California. In 2001, Amir learns from Baba’s friend and business partner that Hassan returned to Baba’s house in the late 1980s but was executed by the Taliban, orphaning his young son, Sohrab . When Rahim Khan tells Amir that Hassan was his half-brother, Amir decides he has no other recourse but to journey back to Kabul to retrieve his nephew. 

Amir returns to Kabul and finds that the Afghanistan of his childhood has been battered into a dangerous war zone patrolled by vicious Taliban extremists. He learns Sohrab has been sold into sexual slavery, purchased by a brutal Taliban official who regularly preys on children at a dilapidated warehouse converted into an orphanage. Amir’s guide arranges a meeting with the Taliban official, bringing Amir face to face with an old nemesis, Assef, who believes he has been chosen by God to ethnically purify Afghanistan. Amir offers to pay for Sohrab, but Assef means to make good on his threat to meet Amir in combat, stating that he can leave with Sohrab only after they fight to the death. In the struggle, Amir is gravely wounded, but Sohrab saves him with a slingshot that he fires into Assef’s left eye. 

After Amir recovers in a hospital, he promises Sohrab he will not allow him to go back to an orphanage. However, the legal path to bringing Sohrab to the United States is murky. After a meeting with an immigration lawyer, Amir decides his best chance at leaving Afghanistan with Sohrab is to place him in an orphanage and file a petition. Sohrab is frantic at the news. Soon, however, Amir learns that he can petition Sohrab’s visa after the boy arrives in America. Overjoyed, Amir rushes to tell Sohrab the good news but finds Sohrab has cut his wrists.

In the hospital, Sohrab recovers, but he is stricken with the various traumas of his life and will no longer speak. In America, Amir and his wife, Soraya, adopt Sohrab, but Sohrab is despondent. Amir brings Sohrab on a family outing to join fellow Afghans for a communal cookout to play Afghan music and fly kites following the events of September 11, 2001. A small tournament of kite fighters has formed, and Amir buys a kite for Sohrab. Sohrab is cautious at first but obviously intrigued. When they cut a kite down together, Amir asks Sohrab if he would like him to run it for him, prompting Sohrab to fleetingly smile—a sign of hope in a novel about childhoods disrupted by violence and trauma.

Don't Miss Out!

Access Study Guide Now

Related Titles

By Khaled Hosseini

And the Mountains Echoed

Khaled Hosseini

A Thousand Splendid Suns

Featured Collections

Banned Books Week

View Collection

Historical Fiction

Loyalty & Betrayal

Middle Eastern Literature

September 11

SuperSummary New Releases

• Take Your Mobile Device Printing to the Next Level with Duplex Printing!
• Beyond the Stars – How Science Fiction Inspires Technological Advancements
• “The Glass Castle” By Jeannette Walls Summary
• “The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F*ck” – Mark Manson
• “Bad Blood: Secrets and Lies in a Silicon Valley Startup” – John Carreyrou

Plot summary and Key themes of the book “The Kite Runner” by Khaled Hosseini

“The Kite Runner ” by Khaled Hossei ni is a gripping and emotionally charged novel that takes readers on a journey through the tumultuous lives of its characters. Set against the backdrop of war-torn Afghanistan , this powerful tale explores themes of guilt, redemption , betrayal, and the enduring power of friendship .

Table of Contents

The story revolves around Amir, a wealthy young boy from Kabul, and his closest friend Hassan, the son of their family’s servant. Their innocent childhood is shattered when an act of violence forever alters their lives and severs their bond. As Amir grows older, he becomes haunted by his cowardice during that fateful incident and embarks on a quest for redemption.

Overview of “The Kite Runner” by Khaled Hosseini

“The Kite Runner ” by Khaled Hosseini is a thought-provoking novel set in Afghanistan during the tumultuous time of the Taliban regime. The story centers around Amir, a young boy from Kabul, and his complex relationship with Hassan, his loyal Hazara friend. As children , they share a passion for kite flying, but their friendship is tested when Hassan faces a brutal assault and Amir fails to intervene. This pivotal event haunts Amir throughout his life, leading him to make choices that shape his destiny.

The novel explores themes such as guilt, redemption, and the search for personal identity. Amir’s guilt over betraying Hassan drives him to seek redemption later in life. He embarks on a journey back to war-torn Afghanistan in an attempt to right past wrongs and find closure. Along the way, he grapples with questions of loyalty and honor while navigating an ever-changing landscape of politics and social hierarchy.

Hosseini uses vivid descriptions and evocative storytelling to paint a picture of Afghanistan’s history and culture while highlighting universal emotions such as love , sacrifice, and forgiveness . “ The Kite Runner ” delves into the complexities of human relationships against the backdrop of a divided nation struggling with its own demons. It offers readers an intimate glimpse into the lives of individuals caught up in larger forces beyond their control while emphasizing the power of compassion and understanding in healing deep wounds.

Plot Summary: Major events and character development

In “ The Kite Runner ” by Khaled Hosseini , the plot revolves around the complex relationship between two childhood friends, Amir and Hassan, against the backdrop of a war-torn Afghanistan. The story begins in Kabul during the 1970s when Amir and Hassan spend their days flying kites and participating in an annual kite-fighting tournament. However, their friendship takes a devastating turn when Amir witnesses a horrific incident involving Hassan but fails to intervene.

As the story progresses, major events unfold that shape both Amir and Hassan’s lives. After witnessing the incident with Hassan, guilt consumes Amir, leading him to distance himself from his friend. Soon after, Kabul falls under Soviet occupation, forcing Amir and his father to flee to America where they start a new life. Years later, an opportunity arises for redemption when a family friend informs Amir about Hassan’s tragic fate at the hands of the Taliban.

These events serve as catalysts for character development throughout the novel. As guilt continues to haunt him over years of living in America and leaving his loyal friend behind in Afghanistan, Amir embarks on a journey of self-discovery and redemption. Through facing his past mistakes head-on by returning to Afghanistan as an adult amidst its volatile political climate, he seeks forgiveness and attempts to set things right with those he has wronged along the way – including himself.

Theme 1: Redemption and guilt

In “ The Kite Runner ” by Khaled Hosseini , the protagonist Amir embarks on a journey of redemption and guilt as he seeks to make amends for his past mistakes. The story follows Amir’s childhood in Afghanistan, where his betrayal of his loyal friend Hassan haunts him throughout his adult life. After witnessing a horrific act of violence against Hassan, Amir struggles with overwhelming guilt and shame, ultimately leading him to abandon their friendship.

As the plot unfolds, Amir is confronted with the opportunity to redeem himself when he learns that Hassan’s son, Sohrab , is in danger under the Taliban regime. Fueled by guilt and a desire for redemption, Amir makes the difficult decision to return to war-torn Afghanistan and rescue Sohrab from an uncertain fate. Through this selfless act of bravery, Amir begins to find solace and forgiveness for his past actions.

“ The Kite Runner ” explores the complex interplay between redemption and guilt through its examination of personal responsibility and moral consequences. The novel highlights how remorse can motivate individuals towards acts of redemption while also acknowledging that true atonement may be elusive or come at great personal cost. Ultimately, Hosseini’s exploration of these themes invites readers to reflect on their own capacity for forgiveness and growth in the face of past transgressions.

Theme 2: The power of friendship

In the novel “ The Kite Runner ” by Khaled Hosseini , friendship plays a central role in shaping the lives of the characters and driving the plot forward. One example is the friendship between Amir and Hassan, two young boys from different social classes in Afghanistan. Despite their differences, they form a deep bond through their shared experiences and love for kite running. Their friendship serves as a refuge for both characters, providing them with comfort and support in a world marked by turmoil and violence.

Furthermore, the power of friendship is also demonstrated through Rahim Khan’s relationship with Amir. As an older family friend, Rahim Khan becomes a mentor figure to Amir and offers him guidance and wisdom throughout his life. It is through this nurturing friendship that Amir finds redemption for his past mistakes and learns to forgive himself.

Overall, “ The Kite Runner ” highlights how friendships can transcend societal barriers and provide solace during challenging times. It emphasizes that true friends are those who stand by us unconditionally, offering support, understanding, and forgiveness when needed most.

Theme 3: Betrayal and forgiveness

In Khaled Hosseini ‘s novel, “ The Kite Runner ,” the theme of betrayal and forgiveness plays a significant role in driving the narrative forward. The story revolves around Amir, a young boy from Afghanistan, who witnesses his best friend Hassan being brutally assaulted but chooses not to intervene. This act of betrayal haunts Amir throughout his life, and he struggles with guilt and shame as he tries to come to terms with his actions.

As the plot progresses, we see how betrayal affects not only Amir but also those around him. Hassan’s loyalty and forgiveness towards Amir are evident when he takes responsibility for stealing an item that was actually Amir’s doing. However, the ultimate betrayal occurs when Hassan is forced out of their lives due to social class differences and ethnic tensions. This event deeply impacts both characters’ lives, leading them down divergent paths filled with regret and longing for redemption.

Despite the pain caused by their actions, forgiveness becomes a crucial theme in “ The Kite Runner .” As time passes, Amir discovers opportunities for redemption as he seeks to right his wrongs. In an attempt to make amends, he returns to Afghanistan years later in search of Hassan’s son and finds himself faced with another opportunity for forgiveness. Through this journey towards reconciliation, Hosseini explores the power of forgiving oneself and others as a way to heal wounds caused by betrayal.

Theme 4: Social class and discrimination

In “ The Kite Runner ” by Khaled Hosseini , social class and discrimination play a significant role in shaping the lives of the characters and driving the narrative forward. The story is set in Afghanistan during a time of political instability, where social class determines one’s opportunities and interactions with others. Amir, the protagonist, comes from a privileged background as the son of a wealthy businessman, while his loyal friend Hassan belongs to a lower socioeconomic class as his father’s servant. This disparity in their social statuses creates an underlying tension between them, which ultimately leads to acts of discrimination and betrayal.

Throughout the novel, Hosseini explores how discrimination based on social class can lead to deep-seated guilt and shame. Despite their close bond as children, Amir constantly struggles with feelings of superiority towards Hassan due to his lower status. This societal divide becomes even more pronounced when Amir witnesses Hassan being sexually assaulted by Assef , a wealthy bully who represents the epitome of privilege and entitlement. When faced with an opportunity to intervene and protect Hassan, Amir chooses self-preservation over loyalty out of fear that associating himself with someone from a lower social class will tarnish his reputation.

“ The Kite Runner ” also highlights how discrimination based on social class can perpetuate cycles of violence and injustice within society. As Afghanistan undergoes political upheaval under Taliban rule, individuals from higher classes face persecution while those from lower classes are often marginalized further.

Conclusion: Impactful themes explored in the book.

“The Kite Runner , written by Khaled Hosseini , delves into the complex themes of guilt, redemption, and the power of friendship. The story revolves around Amir, a young Afghan boy living in Kabul during the tumultuous times of the 1970s. As the plot unravels, it becomes evident that guilt is one of the driving forces behind Amir’s actions. His betrayal towards his best friend Hassan haunts him throughout his life and sets off a chain of events that ultimately lead to his search for redemption.

Another significant theme explored in The Kite Runner is the impact of societal norms and expectations on personal relationships. Set against a backdrop of political unrest and cultural change in Afghanistan, the novel shows how these external factors shape individuals’ decisions and influence their interactions with others. From Amir’s strained relationship with his father to Hassan’s unwavering loyalty despite being from a lower social class, this theme underscores the complexities of human connections amidst larger societal pressures.

Overall, The Kite Runner offers readers a thought-provoking exploration of themes such as guilt, redemption, friendship dynamics influenced by cultural context. Through its richly drawn characters and vivid depiction of Afghanistan’s history and culture, Hosseini weaves together a powerful narrative that resonates long after turning the last page.

Related Posts:

• Alice Sebold with “The Lovely Bones” – Summary and Reviews
• A Short History of Nearly Everything by Bill Bryson – Plot summary

Book Summary

Welcome to "Book Recap,"! Where we share the essence of literature and knowledge through concise summaries. Discover captivating stories, key ideas, and important concepts from a diverse range of books. We provide insightful summaries that inspire and serve as a reliable source of knowledge. Join us on this wonderful journey!

You May Also Like

The Ultimate Guide to Choosing the Perfect Romantic Novel for Your Next Read

The Old Man and the Sea by Ernest Hemingway – Plot summary and Key themes of the book

Plot summary and Key themes of the book “Crime and Punishment” by Fyodor Dostoevsky

Leave a reply cancel reply.

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment.

KHALED HOSSEINI

The kite runner.

Overview The New York Times bestseller and international classic loved by millions of readers. The unforgettable, heartbreaking story of the unlikely friendship between a wealthy boy and the son of his father’s servant, The Kite Runner is a beautifully crafted novel set in a country that is in the process of being destroyed. It is about the power of reading, the price of betrayal, and the possibility of redemption; and an exploration of the power of fathers over sons—their love, their sacrifices, their lies. A sweeping story of family, love, and friendship told against the devastating backdrop of the history of Afghanistan over the last thirty years, The Kite Runner is an unusual and powerful novel that has become a beloved, one-of-a-kind classic. Excerpt Discussion Questions

“An astonishing, powerful book.” — Diane Sawyer

“This powerful first novel, by an Afghan physician now living in California, tells a story of fierce cruelty and fierce yet redeeming love…In  The Kite Runner , Khaled Hosseini gives us a vivid and engaging story that reminds us how long his people have been struggling to triumph over the forces of violence – forces that continue to threaten them even today.” —The New York Times Book Review

“Like  Gone with the Wind , this extraordinary first novel locates the personal struggles of everyday people in the terrible sweep of history.” —People  

“Poignant… The Kite Runner  offers a moving portrait of modern Afghanistan, from its pre-Russian-invasion glory days through the terrible reign of the Taliban.” —Entertainment Weekly  (Grade: A)

“A marvelous first novel… an incredible story of the culture. It’s an old-fashioned kind of novel that really sweeps you away.” —San Francisco Chronicle

“A powerful book…no frills, no nonsense, just hard, spare prose…an intimate account of family and friendship, betrayal and salvation that requires no atlas or translation to engage and enlighten us. Parts of The Kite Runner are raw and excruciating to read, yet the book in its entirety is lovingly written.” —The Washington Post Book World  

“ The Kite Runner , Hosseini’s first novel, is more than just good writing. It is also a wonderfully conjured story that offers a glimpse into an Afghanistan most Americans have never seen, and depicts a side of humanity rarely revealed.” —The Philadelphia Inquirer  

Originally screened in theaters on December 14, 2007 the film, directed by Marc Forster is an adaptation of Khaled Hosseini’s novel of the same title, The Kite Runner. The screen adaptation was performed by David Benioff. Set in Afghanistan, the film was mostly shot in Kashgar, China for safety reasons. The majority of the film is in Dari with subtitles or English. In 2007, the film was nominated for a Golden Globe Award for Best Foreign Language Film and the film’s score, by Alberto Iglesias, was nominated for Best Original Score at both the Golden Globes and Academy Awards. The DVD was released on March 25, 2008.

Learn more about The Kite Runner Movie

The Kite Runner

Introduction of the kite runner.

The Kite Runner is based on the childhood memories of Khaled Hosseini of his homeland, Afghanistan. It was published in 2003 by Riverhead Books, and immediately created ripples on the US shelves. The unusual appearance of the story seems to present the Afghan background, culture, and ethnic tensions in the city of Kabul and the country on a wider scale. Though it also encompasses the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan, Afghan cultural erosion, and Pakistan’s support of the refugees . The story revolves around the character of Amir and his friend Hassan in the same backdrop.

Summary of The Kite Runner

The storyline starts with Amir recalling 26-year old Afghanistan and picturing himself as a boy, living at a luxurious home with  Baba,  his father. Two servants, the father and the son, Ali, and Hassan from the Hazara community of northern Afghanistan are serving both of them. Even though Hassan was a servant boy, Baba would always let Hassan sit on his lap leaving no room for affection for Amir. Amir always wanted to win Baba’s validation since he was always condemned by him for being feminine because he was more interested in writing. Then he recalls, Rahim Khan, a friend of his Baba, who often visits them who Amir considered as a father figure as he felt more appreciated by him. Meanwhile, Assef the kid from the neighborhood who was half Pashtun himself who has a German mother always picked on Hassan because of his Hazara community.

The story, then, moves to the kiteflying tournament in which the boys participate using different tactics on the kite strings to cut off the kites of the opponents. The boys running after the cut-off kites are the kite runners. When Amir cuts off a kite, Hassan runs to catch it but finds himself trapped in a blind alley when Assef sodomizes him, and Amir pretends as nothing has happened as he feared his father’s anger for showing the act of cowardice. Later, he tries to get Hassan and Ali expelled by Baba by orchestrating the money stealing issue as he puts some money under the pillow of Hassan as he couldn’t live with the guilt. This incident makes them move away from each other.

It happens in 1981, then, when Baba and Amir are leaving Kabul after the USSR invasion. They reach Pakistan from where they leave for Fremont where Baba starts working and educating Amir who attends a college. With the passage of time, they meet other such immigrants among which General Taheri is important whose daughter Soraya also visits them. Both of them start meeting but their elders tell them that they would decide the issue of their marriage which is settled amicably. Although they start wedding preparations, Baba’s health suddenly deteriorates due to terminal cancer. Shortly, after the wedding, Baba dies. Amir and Soraya, then, face another misfortune of not able to bear children.

Time passes by quickly. It happens that Rahim Khan, after getting sick, calls Amir to visit him when he is in Pakistan. He tells him about the situation in Kabul. The departure of the Soviets and arrival of the Taliban has further played havoc with the city and life in general, he tells him adding when they left Kabul, he coaxes Hassan to come with his wife, Farzana live in Baba and Amir’s house and be a caretaker but the Taliban shot him and his wife dead in front of the whole street when he tried to stop them from confiscating the house. They left a baby Sohrab behind. Now Rahim wants Amir to bring Sohrab to Pakistan and who will be taken care of by a couple. He also reveals that Hassan was his half-brother, as he was Baba’s son from a Hazara lady, though Baba handed him over to Ali to bring him up, living close to him, to keep the issue under the carpet. Amir soon leaves for Afghanistan but finds nothing as he runs from pillar to post to find Sohrab after watching a gruesome scene of stoning a woman to death. The next day, he meets an official who takes him to meet Sohrab who appears feminine after having suffered several sexual attacks. Suddenly Amir senses that the official is Assef who starts beating Amir, while Sohrab shoots him with his slingshot in his eye. Meanwhile, they flee from the scene and reach Pakistan where he finds out that after all there was no one to take care of Sohrab.

Finally, Sohrab becomes their adopted son as Soraya and Amir take him in their fold. However, before taking him to the United States, they would have had to prepare papers for him. . When Amir tells Sohrab he’s going to put him briefly in an orphanage, Sohrab tries to commit suicide. When they take him to California after finally becoming successful in getting a visa for him, they visit a park where Sohrab who is his old mate Hassan’s son is now his son. flies a kite and starts a kite-cutting contest where he runs the kite for him saying, ‘For you, thousand times over.

Major Themes in The Kite Runner

• Homeland: Love for one’s homeland is the major theme of the novel as Amir shows that though they live in luxury in Fermont in California, he longs to return to his land, Kabul, where he spent his childhood despite living and enjoying the freedom and open-minded society for having a choice. However, pangs of nostalgia force him to respond to the calls of Rahim from Pakistan and return to get Sohrab back to the United States. Amir later adopts him as a son. He does it wholeheartedly to compensate for the cruelty he demonstrated toward Hassan during his childhood – his own flesh and blood. Both Soraya, his wife, and he become quite happy and satisfied after making Sohrab a part of their family and teach him to fly a kite in California. At that moment, he finds that he feels at home after visiting his homeland.
• Betrayal: The Kite Runner shows the thematic strand of betrayal through the characters of Baba, Amir, and Hassan. Baba betrays his wife from the Hazra community, and then leaves his son Hassan with Ali to fend off themselves. Amir betrays Hassan by leaving him in the cul de sac to fend off himself, though, Hassan has always stood by him through thick and thin. Unfortunately, Hassan dies leaving his son Sohrab to take care of himself. Although it is not a betrayal in that sense, yet Sohrab is left alone in the world.
• Guilt and Redemption: The theme of guilt and its redemption occurs through the character of Baba who has a wife and a child in the city, living with him yet he does not dare own them publicly. However, later, he tries to redeem it by demonstrating his love for Hassan, yet that, too, does not prove fruitful, or of any use to him. It rather causes jealousy to Amir which he later redeems by taking Hassan’s son, Sohrab, out of Kabul to California.
• Familial Relationships: The novel allows the readers to discover twisted familial relations through Baba, Hassan, Amir, and Sohrab. Baba has two sons, but he could only claim Amir and not Hassan who is from the mother , having considered lowly ethnic background. Therefore, Hassan becomes an outcast in the Kabul society despiting the son of an aristocrat, while Amir leaves for California with Baba. Later, when Amir and Soraya do not have their own children, Amir comes to take Sohrab back after the latter loses his father in the war-torn Kabul. These familial relations and their interaction become another theme of the novel.
• Memory and Nostalgia: When Amir remembers Kabul while living in California, America , Baba narrates to him about Kabul and Afghan stories. Baba recollects those memories that keep haunting the old man and his son in the United States. The nostalgia forces Amir later to seek immediate flight to Pakistan, meet Rahim in Peshawar and pick up Sohrab in a daredevil feat. Even the taking of Sohrab to California is an action of effort to forget the nostalgia of leaving Kabul.
• Kite Flying: The game of kite flying shows human effort, growth, aspirations, and love for each other. When Amir loves flying kites, Hassan stands by him in the flying contest and runs after kites for him. However, when it comes to Amir, he abandons Hassan with fear and hurry. Later, he redeems by rescuing Sohrab, Hassan’s son, when he takes him to California adopting him as his son.
• Politics: The novel shows global politics at work due to its references to Communism, jihad , departure of Baba, and Amir to the United States and the free society of California. It tries to portray the United States as a paradise that extends refuge to people like Baba and Amir, from the war-torn Afghanistan, where even generals are roaming around. It also shows the ethnic fissures between the Pashtun, Hazara, and sectarian issues of Shia and Sunni that have led to the devastation of Afghanistan.
• Racial Discrimination: Racial and ethnic discriminations continue to destroy the social fabric of Kabul and Afghanistan. Although Baba is quite liberal and possesses good fortune, he cannot dare to own Hassan as his son from a Hazara lady due to the reprisals from the Pashtuns. He can only extend his love. However, Amir does not fear taking Sohrab who is from Hazara ethnicity and brings him to live in the United States.
• Marginalization of Femininity: The novel shows the marginality of the ethnicity and minority through the character of Hassan and Sanaubar. Hassan represents the ethnicity of Hazara and its significance in the Afghan social structure, while Sanaubar’s role and her story show the marginality of femininity.

 Major Characters in The Kite Runner

• Amir: The main character and protagonist of The Kite Runner , Amir is Baba’s representative of the elite structure of Kabul having all the luxuries and privileges. Despite this, he feels detached from the existing realities and does not show bravery which Baba desires him to show when it comes to human contests. For example, he does not extend protection to Hassan or protects Hassan when others violate his honor, while Baba does not express pleasure over this betrayal. His attempt of insulting Hassan, though, emerges from his jealousy of Baba’s love for Hassan. Later, Amir repents and realizes his flaw, when he comes to meet Rahim in Peshawar to redeem himself from this guilt. Hence, he redeems himself when he takes Sohrab with him to California and plays kite flying with him in a park.
• Hassan: Despite being subservient to Amir, Hassan’s character does not seem subdued by the circumstances. Belonging to a marginal ethnicity rather makes him a favorite character in the novel as he grows up under the shadow of Amir yet makes him seek Hassan’s support where he does not think himself fit to fight others. Even the end of the novel makes him repent over his prejudicial attitude toward Hassan, who is not present, yet his son Sohrab wins love from Amir as his adopted son.
• Baba: Baba is a highly esoteric character in those several aspects of his personality emerge on the scene after his death. Amir comes to learn that Hassan was his son too, and he cannot reconcile with this idea. He wonders why he had never expressed the truth or treated him on equal footing with Amir as a son. However, he senses that his love for Hassan must have a cause behind it that he sees himself. Amir later learns that the old aristocrat from Kabul, perhaps, failed to adapt himself to the urban setup of Kabul where prejudice and malice still existed at that time. However, Baba might have seen that California would dispel these negative emotions from Amir and it proves right when Amir comes back to take Hassan’s son.
• Rahim Khan: Rahim Khan’s character is also an important one. He asks Amir to visit Peshawar as he has some important news for him. He utilizes his old business terms with Baba and when Amir comes to meet him, he tells him the whole story behind Hassan and Baba’s relation and tries to make him understand the significance of Sohrab and his safety.
• Sohrab: Hassan’s son Sohrab becomes significant in the novel in that Amir considers him his own son instead of just the son of his stepbrother, Hassan. Therefore, he does not leave any stone unturned to save him from the clutches of Assef when he visits Afghanistan for this very purpose at the request of Rahim Khan. Later, he provides Soraya and Amir a chance to win happiness.
• Assef: Despite belonging to double ethnicities, Assef becomes a bully as well as a villain of The Kite Runner. His brass knuckles and his bullying makes him the bad character who demonstrates his anti-Hazara sentiments whenever an opportunity arises. He sexually molests Hassan, however, proves dear to him when it comes to Sohrab who is timely saved by Amir. In fact, he shows the unpleasant and dangerous side of life among the good characters of Amir, Soraya, and others.
• Soraya: The significance of Soraya lies in that despite being a daughter of an ex-general, she happily marries Amir and agrees to adopt Sohrab when she knows that she can never bear a child. This kind act of the lady wins the heart of the readers by the end.
• Ali: Despite being a secondary character, Ali has two drawbacks that force Baba to show his humane character. Not only is he limped, but also is a Hazara, and to top all this, he is a Shia. Almost all of these drawbacks make him a target during the melee following the chaos after the USSR invasion. However, he wins the love of Baba which reveals its cause later when Amir comes to take Sohrab to California.
• Sanaubar and Farid: Sanaubar, though, appears for a brief period, is significant. She is Hassan’s mother and belongs to the Hazara community after marrying secretly to Baba, while the significance of Farid lies in his assistance extended to Amir when he comes to take Sohrab.

Writing Style of The Kite Runner

Khaled Hosseini adopted the personal and direct style in his novel, The Kite Runner. The main character, Amir, brings recollections out of his sunken memory presented as long flashbacks , bordering hyperbolic use of personal memories. As Khaled is an ESL speaker , his diction is mostly formal, though, occasionally he has resorted to shaping English to demonstrate the true Afghani cultural nuances in the globalized American value structure. However, the self-translation of one cultural construct might have hampered his abilities. Therefore, the novel mostly seems written in formal language though somewhat broken and choppy dialogs of Assef and other characters living in the vicinity of Kabul shows Khaled Hosseini’s real intention in writing personal memories in the global language. Therefore, this style of writing in formal English suits his requirements.

Analysis of Literary Devices in The Kite Runner  

• Action: The main action of the novel comprises Amir’s migration to California with Baba and then return to Kabul through Peshawar to take Sohrab, Hassan’s son with him. The rising action occurs when Amir sees that Hassan becoming the victim of bullying, yet he does not come to help him. The falling action occurs when Baba and Amir leave Kabul for the United States.
• Anaphora : The Kite Runner shows the use of anaphora . For example, i. I looked up at those twin kites. I thought about Hassan. Thought about Baba. Ali. Kabul. I thought of the life I had lived until the winter of 1975 came along and changed everything. (One) The sentence shows the repetitious use of “I thought.”
• Antagonist : The Kite Runner shows the character of Assef, Russian soldiers, and the Kabul elite as the main antagonists on account of their bad behavior toward Baba, Hassan, and the ethnic Hazra community.
• Allusion : There are a good number of examples of allusions in the novel. i. After I hung up, I went for a walk along Spreckels Lake on the northern edge of Golden Gate Park. (One) ii. … can still see Hassan up on that tree, sunlight flickering through the leaves on his almost perfectly round face, a face like a Chinese doll chiseled from hardwood: his flat, broad nose and slanting, narrow eyes like bamboo leaves, eyes that looked, depending on the light, gold, green, even sapphire. (Two) iii. Gold-stitched tapestries, which Baba had bought in Calcutta, lined the walls; a crystal chandelier hung from the vaulted ceiling. (Two) iv. I remember the day before the orphanage opened, Baba took me to Ghargha Lake, a few miles north of Kabul. (Three) v. He told us one day that Islam considered drinking a terrible sin; those who drank would answer for their sin on the day of Qiyamat, Judgment Day. (Three) vi. We saw Rio Bravo three times, but we saw our favorite Western, The  Magnificent Seven, thirteen times. With each viewing, we cried at the end when the Mexican kids buried Charles Bronson—who, as it turned out, wasn’t Iranian either. (Three) The first two allusions are related to geographical points, while the third and fourth are related to Indian and Afghan landmarks and the last one is related to the theological concept of Islam. However, the last one shows cross -cultural allusions; American, Mexican, and Iranians.
• Conflict : The are two types of conflicts in the novel . The first one is the external conflict that is going on between the local Afghan elite society and the foreign conspirators. Another conflict is in the mind of Amir about his position as a boy, his gentlemanly learning, and his behavior toward Hassan, his half-brother.
• Characters: The Kite Runner presents both static as well as dynamic characters. The young man, Amir, is a dynamic character as he faces a huge transformation during his growth and migration from Afghanistan to the United States. However, the rest of the characters do not see any change in their behavior, as they are static characters like Sanauber, Ali, Rahim Khan, Baba, and even Hassan.
• Climax : The climax takes place when Amir returns to Kabul to take Sohrab, son of Hassan, his half-brother, to the United States.
• Foreshadowing : The novel shows the following examples of foreshadowing . i. I became what I am today at the age of twelve, on a frigid overcast day in the winter of 1975. (One) ii. When we were children, Hassan and I used to climb the poplar trees in the driveway of my father’s house and annoy our neighbors by reflecting sunlight into their homes with a shard of mirror. (Two) iii. It was Rahim Khan who first referred to him as what eventually became Baba’s famous nickname, Toophan agha, or “Mr. Hurricane.”. (Three) These quotes from The Kite Runner foreshadow the coming events.
• Hyperbole : Hyperbole or exaggeration occurs in the novel at various places. For example, i. At parties, when all six- foot -five of him thundered into the room, attention shifted to him like sunflowers turning to the sun. (Three) ii. The generation of Afghan children whose ears would know nothing but the sounds of bombs and gunfire was not yet born. (Five) These sentences are hyperboles. The first one shows how Baba’s figure has been exaggerated by comparing him with the sun, while the second shows exaggeration about the Afghan nation.
• Imagery : Imagery is used to make readers perceive things involving their five senses. For example, i. Sitting cross-legged, sunlight and shadows of pomegranate leaves dancing on his face, Hassan absently plucked blades of grass from the ground as I read him stories he couldn’t read for himself. (Three). ii. Something roared like thunder. The earth shook a little and we heard the rat-a-tat-tat of gunfire. “Father!” Hassan cried. We sprung to our feet and raced out of the living room. We found Ali hobbling frantically across the foyer. (Four) iii. The streets glistened with fresh snow and the sky was a blameless blue. Snow blanketed every rooftop and weighed on the branches of the stunted mulberry trees that lined our street. Overnight, snow had nudged its way into every crack and gutter.(Seven) The imagery shows the use of images of sound, color, and nature.
• Metaphor : The Kite Runner shows good use of various metaphors such as, i. My father was a force of nature, a towering Pashtun specimen with a thick beard, a wayward crop of curly brown hair as unruly as the man himself. (Three) ii. Just before sunrise, Baba’s car peeled into the driveway. (Five) iii. Outside the walls of that house, there was a war raging. (Sixteen) The first example shows the father compared to a model, the second sun to a knife, and the third war to a furious person or bull.
• Mood : The novel shows various moods in the beginning; nostalgic, neutral, and indifferent, but it turns out tragic and at times darkly humorous when the tragic tale of Farzana, Hassan, and Sanauber are told, and when Rahim calls Amir to save Sohrab from abuse.
• Motif : Most important motifs of the novel are pomegranate, kite, kite contestants, migration, and seasons.
• Narrator : The novel is narrated from the first-person point of view , Amir.
• Protagonist : Amir is the protagonist of the novel. The novel starts with his entry, reminiscing about Kabul and his life in that city and ends with his memories of the same thing after looking at Sohrab flying his kite.
• Parallelism : The novel shows parallelism in the following examples, In the end, I was a Pashtun and he was a Hazara, I was Sunni and he was Shi’a, and nothing was ever going to change that. Nothing. (Four).
• Rhetorical Questions : The novel shows good use of rhetorical questions at several places such as, i. She had a large purple bruise on her leg for days but what could I do except stand and watch my wife get beaten? If I fought, that dog would have surely put a bullet in me, and gladly! Then what would happen to my Sohrab? (Seventeen) ii. How could I have been so blind? The signs had been there for me to see all along; they came flying back at me now:  (Eighteen) iii. In his rearview mirror, I saw something flash in his eyes. “You want to know?” he sneered. “Let me imagine, Agha sahib. You probably lived in a big two- or three-story house with a nice backyard that your gardener filled with flowers and fruit trees.  (Nineteen) This example shows the use of rhetorical questions posed but different characters not to elicit answers but to stress upon the underlined idea.
• Setting : The setting of the novel spread over three countries; Afghanistan, Pakistan, and the United States.
• Simile : The novel shows good use of various similes. For example, i. So I read him unchallenging things, like the misadventures of the bumbling Mullah Nasruddin and his donkey. (Four) ii. Something roared like thunder. (Five) iii. Flanked by his obeying friends, he walked the neighborhood like a Khan strolling through his land with his eager-to-please entourage. (Six). These are similes as the use of the word “like” shows the comparison between different things.

Related posts:

• The Kite Runner Themes
• The Kite Runner Characters
• The Kite Runner Quotes
• As High As a Kite
• Woman with Kite
• Khaled Hosseini

Post navigation

The Kite Runner

Book Résumé

Khaled Hosseini: An event that is to shatter their lives. After the Russians invade and the family is forced to flee to America, Amir realises that one day he must return to Afghanistan under Taliban rule to find the one thing that his new world cannot grant him: redemption. (Fiction, Young Adult)

Report Censorship

• The Kite Runner

Khaled Hosseini

• Literature Notes
• The Kite Runner at a Glance
• Book Summary
• Character List
• Summary and Analysis
• Character Analysis
• Character Map
• About The Kite Runner
• Khaled Hosseini Biography
• Critical Essays
• Themes in The Kite Runner
• Symbols in The Kite Runner
• Full Glossary for The Kite Runner
• Cite this Literature Note

Summary and Analysis Chapter 12

Amir is smitten with Soraya but unable to approach her. Baba counsels Amir, reminding him that the General has nang and namoos — honor and pride, respectively. One day, Amir is too bold, and after inquiring about the General and sending his regards, he asks Soraya a question. Inquiring about the book she is reading leads to a conversation. Conversing with her is shocking, outrageous, and the source of gossip.

Jamila, Soraya's mother, returns while Amir and Soraya are still talking; however, she smiles instead of acting scandalized. Amir impresses Jamila by declining her invitation of sitting down and having a peach, and as she packs some fruit for him and his father, she invites him to visit again.

Amir begins to watch the stalls, and when the General leaves for a walk, Amir walks by his stand. When Khanum Taheri, the General's wife, is present, she invites Amir to sit, chat, and share some tea.

One day, Soraya tells Amir that she wants to be a teacher and shares with him a story about the time she helped a servant learn to read, reminding Amir how he ridiculed Hassan. Amir shares with Soraya a story that he had written, but just as she is receiving it, the General returns, takes the story, and throws it in the trash.

Amir has no time to mourn his loss, however, for Baba becomes sick, which leads to weeks of impatience, waiting, and frustration. Baba refuses to be seen by a doctor with Russian ancestry, and also refuses chemotherapy. Amir starts to protest, but Baba reprimands him and later forbids him from mentioning his cancer to anyone. After months of gradual weight loss and declining activity, Baba has convulsions and is hospitalized. Baba then refuses radiation treatment. After Baba is released from the hospital, Amir asks his father to visit the General and ask for his daughter's hand in marriage, and Baba agrees to do this. After the General accepts, Soraya shares with Amir that when she was younger and living in Virginia, she ran away with an Afghan man who was into drugs, and she lived with him for about a month.

Amir is tempted to admit his past but is unable to do so. He recognizes that he is in no position to "chastise someone for their past" and realizes that he is jealous of Soraya because her secret is no longer secret but out in the open.

Although not immediately apparent, Amir's relationship with Soraya parallels his relationship with Hassan and illustrates the differences between American and Afghanistan cultures. Amir is not able to be friends with the Hazara because of the differences in social class; likewise, he should not be addressing Soraya because of their different genders.

The choice of novel that Soraya is reading is significant for a number of reasons: Wuthering Heights is the story of Heathcliff and Catherine on the moors — two characters from different social classes living in an isolated existence. Both novels develop the thematic topics of alienation, childhood, class issues, enduring loss, forgiveness, friendship, jealousy, love, manipulation, nature, the role of religion, and revenge. Similar motifs developed throughout both texts include death, desires, doubling, dreams, education, resentment, revenge, and violence. And both novels provide important historical information that is revealing about a particular time and place. Soraya also says, "sad stories make good books," which is a statement that applies not only to Wuthering Heights but also to The Kite Runner.

The timing of Amir's indiscretion and his father's sickness provides an opportunity for Amir to demonstrate concern for someone other than himself, to put another's needs before his own. In addition, Soraya serves somewhat as a foil for Amir, so both Amir himself and readers can learn from past mistakes. Baba's sickness also reintroduces the idea of God. Although Amir admits that he is not even sure that God exists, he turns to Him in his moment of need.

Soraya's situation again mirrors Amir's own. But unlike Amir, she chooses to admit what she did in the past. Although Amir is maturing, he is not yet able to face his past. It is significant that he ends the chapter discussing the courage that Soraya has because he will eventually need courage to do the right thing.

Previous Chapter 11

Next Chapter 13

Photos: First Look at the North American Tour of THE KITE RUNNER

The tour opened on April 9 at ASU Gammage in Tempe, AZ and will move on to nearly 20 cities.

All new photos have been released from the North American tour of THE KITE RUNNER, a play with music based on Khaled Hosseini’s internationally best-selling novel.

The tour opened on April 9 at ASU Gammage in Tempe, AZ and will move on to nearly 20 cities, including Chicago, IL and Washington, DC. Prior to the launch, the show returned home to San Jose, co-presented by EnActe Arts and the Hammer Theater, for 7 performances from April 3-7.

Starring in the tour is Ramzi Khalaf as Amir. The cast also features Raji Ahsan, Danish Farooqui, Shahzeb Zahid Hussain, Hassan Nazari-Robati, Haythem Noor, James Rana, Jonathan Shaboo, Fawad Siddiqui, Kevin Stevens, Wiley Naman Strasser, Awesta Zarif, Jade Ziane, and Sophie Zmorrod. They join Salar Nader, the renowned musician who dazzled audiences in the Broadway production, who was previously announced to be reprising his role as tabla artist for the tour. 

The powerful stage production of THE KITE RUNNER tells a haunting tale of friendship spanning cultures and continents, following one man’s journey to confront his past and find redemption. Afghanistan is a divided country, and two childhood friends are about to be torn apart. It’s a beautiful afternoon in Kabul and the skies are full of the excitement and joy of a kite flying tournament. But neither of the boys can foresee the incident which will change their lives forever. Told across two decades and two continents, THE KITE RUNNER is an unforgettable journey of forgiveness, and shows us all that we can be good again. 

Originally published in 2003, Hosseini’s The Kite Runner became a bestseller across the globe and has since been published in 70 countries, selling 31.5 million copies in 60 languages. Now this powerful story has been adapted into a stunning stage production.

THE KITE RUNNER originally premiered at the San Jose Repertory Theater in 2009. In 2013, Nottingham Playhouse and Liverpool Everyman and Playhouse staged a new production in the UK. In 2017, THE KITE RUNNER returned to the stage in London’s West End for two critically-lauded, limited engagements at Wyndham’s Theatre and the Playhouse Theatre. The much-anticipated Broadway production played a strictly limited run at the Hayes Theater in the summer of 2022. 

THE KITE RUNNER is directed by Giles Croft and adapted by Matthew Spangler. The creative team includes Jonathan Girling (Composer and Musical Supervisor), Barney George (Scenic and Costume Design), Charles Balfour (Lighting Design), Drew Baumohl (Sound Design), William Simpson (Projection Design), Wojcik Casting Team (Casting Director), Kitty Winter (Movement Director), Damian Sandys (Associate Director), John Fortunato (Production Stage Manager) and James Latus (Production Supervisor). Humaira Ghilzai serves as Cultural Consultant and Dialect Coach.

THE KITE RUNNER is produced by Victoria Lang, Ryan Bogner and Tracey Stroock McFarland of Broadway & Beyond Theatricals, Jayne Baron Sherman, Hunter Arnold, and Kayla Greenspan in association with Martin Dodd for UK Productions Ltd., and Stuart Galbraith for Flying Entertainment Ltd/Kilimanjaro Group Ltd. Daryl Roth is the Executive Producer.  

Photo Credit: Bekah Lynn Photography

TICKET CENTRAL

Recommended For You

The Kite Runner

Khaled hosseini, ask litcharts ai: the answer to your questions.