Goodness In The Kite Runner

The novel, The Kite Runner, written by Khaled Hosseini, questions the meaning of being good and lays out a process to achieving goodness. The book opens with the life of a young boy living in Afghanistan, Amir. Amir is a privileged boy who struggles with the social and racial hierarchy in his country, considering his friendship with his servant, Hassan, who is a Hazara; a group looked down upon in their society as impure Muslims. Additionally, Amir is dealing with the lack of his father’s love. When Amir finally discovers a way to win his father’s affection, by winning a kite cutting competition, he makes a decision that leaves him feeling guilty for the rest of his life. He abandons Hassan after doing nothing to prevent Hassan from being raped by a bully, Assef. The guilt that consumes Amir from this event eventually leads to Hassan and his father’s departure from Amir’s home. Throughout Amir’s remaining childhood and into his adults years, including immigrating

Regardless of the determination one may have to be kind-hearted or considerate without an ulterior motive, a small hint of guilt will always lurk in the light of goodness. Whether it is helping out the less fortunate because one is ashamed of their privileges or doing a small deed for another to boost one’s own idea of themself, we all have a desire inside of us to better ourselves in any way possible. It is when we take action to better ourselves by helping others and bettering their lives that true goodness blossoms. It is impossible to have goodness out of the purity of one’s heart, but if goodness can come from guilt, is that terrible? The reason Amir returned to Afghanistan was to rid himself of the guilt, but nevertheless, he saved Sohrab. Thus, it is not one’s intentions that matter, so much as the goodness that comes out of it. We should not judge people for doing kind acts out of selfishness, but focus more on the good that comes out of their