Archetypes In The Kite Runner

The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini is a fiction novel about the complicated relationship between two half-brothers. One of the brothers, Hassan is portrayed as a very loyal, brave, and selfless person while enduring the unfairness of the societal hierarchy. Furthermore, Hassan never changes and represents the innocent archetype throughout the book. Reading through the archetypal criticism lens allows readers to identify patterns and predict what will happen throughout the book. In addition, by knowing how characters fit into an archetypal role, readers can gain a deeper understanding of the characters’ motivations, actions, and relationships with other characters. This novel has the quest archetype, but Hassan does not play a significant role

At first, Rahim Khan tells Hassan that he can no longer take care of Baba’s house. If Hassan goes with him to Kabul, he will pay Hassan and he will be comfortable. Hassan hesitates and declines Rahim Khan’s offer to go back to Kabul. After hearing Rahim Khan say that Baba passed away, he then agrees to go to Kabul with Rahim Khan. Rahim Khan says to Amir, “It was then that I asked Hassan to move to Kabul with me. …Hassan said the village was his home now; he and Farzana had made a life for themselves there…Then he asked me about your father…In the morning, Hassan told me he and Farzana had decided to move to Kabul with me… ‘We don't have that much to drop, Rahim Khan,’ Hassan said. His eyes were still red and puffy. ‘We'll go with you’”(206-207). Baba has already passed away and Hassan going back to Baba’s house will not help the fact that Baba is already gone. Instead, it will make him even sadder to see all the memories he had at the house with Baba and Amir previously. The time in his life when he was carefree and did not have to worry about anything. He just had to make sure h chores were done. The message of many sacrifices will be made if you are faithful and care about others more than yourself is being conveyed here because Hassan is being loyal to Baba. Hassan feels that he owes Baba for raising him up and being a second father to him so he is willing to sacrifice his peaceful life with his wife to go back to Baba’s house. He does not consider the peaceful life that he wants to spend the rest of his life with his wife in this house. He mainly wants to make sure Amir’s house is cleaned and his respects are paid to