Examples Of Deception In The Kite Runner

Deception is important to The Kite Runner because of how it changes the course of characters lives. ||Deception is defined as the act of deceiving someone. In the novel The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini, deception is woven throughout the book like a web. In the past we have brought up as a class that the book is really about Hassan, just viewed through the lense of Amir. Since the book is told from Amir’s perspective, he is connected in some way to each of these lies. Whether he’s lying to himself, others, or is being lied too, Amir is the center of this web of deception. There are three lies that I would like to focus on that change the course of characters lives the most in my opinion. Amir lies to himself. It is a constant thread in his

Amir tells lies out of what he believes is necessary. He wants something, so clearly the only way for him to get it is to weave a web of lies. This is shown when Amir, struggling with guilt for what he did or didn’t do in the alley, decides that Hassan must go. Framing his best friend with theft, Amir readies himself to get what he truly wants, which is to get rid of a constant reminder of his guilt, “Then I knocked on Baba’s door and told what I hoped would be the last in a long line of shameful lies.” (Hosseini 104). Amir is very aware that what he is doing is morally wrong, but sees no other option. It seems that his plan works too, which proves that Amir planned this with care. By making it an act of stealing he makes Hassan unredeemable in Baba’s eyes. When Hassan lies for him out of loyalty, Amir still chooses not to confess. “‘Did you steal that money? Did you steal Amir’s watch, Hassan?’ Hassan’s reply was a single word, delivered in a thin, raspy voice: ‘Yes’”(Hosseini 105). A lie can also be considered omitting the truth, so by not saying anything, Amir is perpetrating his earlier lie. Amir also deceives Hassan in order to keep his friendship. He lets Hassan believe he is treating him equally. Hassan truly sees them as friends. This is proven when Hassan is being taunted by Assef and blatantly states that him and Amir are friends,“‘Amir agha and I are friends,’ Hassan said. He looked flushed. ‘Friends?’ Assef said, laughing. ‘You

When Baba decides not to tell Amir and Hassan about their shared kinship they both lose the opportunity to have a brother. When they had a friendship they could’ve had a brotherhood. This changes Amir’s life the most because they’re are so many what-ifs about what would’ve happened if he had known. Would Amir have left Hassan in that alley that fateful day? Or would he have ran to protect his own? Amir himself states how he feels cheated by this when he is finally told the truth by Rahim Khan, “‘Why? What can you possibly say to me? I’m thirty-eight years old and I’ve just found out my whole life is one big fucking lie! What can you possibly say to make things better? Nothing. Not a goddam thing!’” (Hosseini 223). This lie changes the course of every main characters lives.Hassan would’ve known his true father. Baba would truly be able to have two sons. Amir would be free of his guilt. Maybe Hassan would’ve been able to go to America with Amir and Baba. Later Amir comes to a understand why he may not have been told originally. This is clear when he is trying to explain to Sohrab about Hassan, “‘Let’s just say they didn’t tell us because your father and I... we weren’t supposed to be brothers.’” (Hosseini 322). Unfortunately understanding why he was lied to does nothing to fix what was broken in the past. By understanding these past lies we see as readers how Amir has changed and gained a new perspective. This lie adds