Atonement In The Kite Runner

Walt Disney famously said, “The past can hurt. But the way I see it, you can either run from it, or learn from it.” In The Kite Runner, the protagonist, Amir, faces the challenges addressed by Disney, as he struggles with whether to run or learn from his haunting past. The Kite Runner follows Amir, a twelve year boy who grew up in Kabul Afghanistan, following the tragic accident one night during the winter of 1975, leaving him guilt ridden and haunted by his past. The novel explores the concept of one’s past and the role it plays in the acquisition of redemption and atonement. Amir grows to learn from his past rather than running from it no matter how much it hurts. Hosseini employs parallel scenes to develop Amir’s redemption through his developing

Throughout the novel Amir struggles with his guilt, feeling confined between inclinations of selfishness and the need for atonement and redemption for his sins. Amir’s difficult journey to redemption is developed through a series of parallel scenes, correlating Amir’s evolved temperament with principles of integrity and honor held by Hassan. The novel begins with Hassan and Amir’s relationship; exemplifying Hassan’s integrity and unwavering loyalty as he “held the slingshot pointed directly as Assef’s face”, willing and ready to stand up for Amir when he could not do so for himself (42). Although Amir struggles to defend himself, initially believing in his father’s words declaring, “a boy who won't stand up for himself becomes a man who can’t stand up for anything” he begins to encapsulate Hassan’s characteristics, and stand up for more than just himself (22). Hosseini employs the use of parallel scenes to encapsulate this; later in the novel when faced with Assef again threatening to complete their “unfinished business” Amir accepts that “it was [his] turn” and realizes Hassan's integrity and bravery (286). Through parallel scenes Hosseini, materializes Amir’s initial selfish tendencies and inclinations toward cowardice and his journey toward the redemption of his character in qualities of probity and

The path to redemption, that began with Amir’s acceptance of his sins and confrontation of his selfish past, is concluded by the final kite fighting scene in which Amir has fully grown to embody Hassan and shed his self-servant past. In the final scene of the book Amir is reminded of his selfish past where his only concern was “win[ning] Baba” even if “Hassan was the price [he] had to pay” (77). Despite this past, Amir’s journey of atonement for his sins is concluded through the final scene; after Sohrab accepts his offer to run the fallen kite, Amir replies, “‘For you a thousand times over,’” (371). Amir’s actions parallel those he longingly remembered and admired in Hassan. Amir remembers Hassan’s words declaring“‘For you a thousand times over,’” (67). This final scene reveals the power held in Amir's past actions and relationships; through his desire to pay tribute to Hassan through embodying his words, Amir furthers his path to atonement. In this final scene Hosseini reveals Amir’s loss of selfishness through his desire and willingness to put Sohrab and others before himself. Amir’s development is portrayed through his desire to overcome his sins and gain atonement for the faults of his past by shedding his selfish history for a future of