Foreshadowing In The Kite Runner

Knowing the future can allow people to view their outcomes in life, whether they be good or bad, yet it is not applicable in the real world. However, knowing the future is possible in the literary world. The novel The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini allows readers to witness the outcome of the lives of the protagonist, Amir, and his best friend Hassan. Hosseini uses this novel as an outlook on his childhood experiences and uses these experiences to allow readers an insight into everyday life in Afghanistan. From a historical standpoint, the novel clearly shows the political outlook of Afghanistan and Hosseini implements foreshadowing to allow readers to anticipate events that are to come. In The Kite Runner, there are two main ethnic groups; Hazaras and Pashtuns. Amir and Hassan both come from

In a flashback shown in chapter six,Hosseini describes a memory in which Amir and Hassan took part in the annual kite-chasing competition. Despite Amir receiving the final nod, Hassan ultimately wins the challenge due to his superior skill set. Hassan's demeanour changes when Amir doubts his loyalty, and Amir is aware of the change. Hosseini writes “Maybe not changed, not really, but suddenly I [Amir] had the feeling I was looking at two faces, the one I knew, the one that was my first memory, and another, a second face, this one lurking just beneath the surface.” (Hosseini 57-58). This change in Hassan’s face was not something that was new to Amir. Hassan, according to Amir, has two faces, the second of which is rather unfamiliar to him. Given that Amir and Hassan are subsequently revealed to be half brothers, Hosseini uses this as a subtle foreshadowing device. Although Hosseini does not directly foreshadow this, it allows the reader to hint at the future relationship that is found between Amir and Hassan which ultimately changes Amir’s