How Does Hosseini Use Forgiveness In The Kite Runner

Throughout Khaled Hosseini’s novel, The Kite Runner, the cycle of betrayal and forgiveness presents itself through the various literary devices that Hosseini uses. The main character, Amir, lets his childhood friend, Hassan, get raped so that he can win the affection of his father, Baba. Though Hassan forgives him, Amir still has yet to forgive himself until nearly the end of the novel. Similarly, Baba commits adultery with his childhood friend, Ali’s, wife, fathering Hassan, and keeps it a secret to both Amir and Hassan. Hosseini uses Hassan as a foil to Amir, and multiple instances of symbolism to illustrate these themes of betrayal and forgiveness. Even from the first chapter of The Kite Runner, the reader can begin to notice the differences between Amir and Hassan. Hassan is

Hassan is humble; Amir is jealous. Hassan is honest; Amir is deceitful. It is easy to see that the two are polar opposites. Hosseini creates a pure and innocent character in Hassan in order to highlight the negative aspects of Amir’s personality. For example, when Amir asks Hassan to “run the kite” for him, Hassan responds, “For you a thousand times over!” (Hosseini 67). Hosseini uses this quote to emphasize Hassan’s selflessness and devotion to Amir. However, when Amir finds Hassan being beaten and raped by Assef, he thinks to himself, “Maybe Hassan was the price I had to pay, the lamb I had to slay, to win Baba” (Hosseini 77). Again, Hosseini draws attention to the selfishness and cowardice of Amir. When contrasted with a character like Hassan, the reader views Amir’s betrayal as all the more devastating. However, when there is betrayal, there must also always be forgiveness, and Hosseini uses Hassan to tie in this theme. When Amir visits one of his father’s old friends Rahim