Kite Runner Forgiveness Quotes

From Guilt to Good Redemption, as defined in Merriam-Webster’s dictionary, “serves to offset or compensate for a defect.” In Khaled Hosseini’s novel The Kite Runner, the main character, Amir, attempts to win back his father’s favor because he does not deem himself worthy of his love. The damaging attempts Amir employs causes him to sever relationships with a close family friend, Ali, and half-brother, Hassan; furthermore, his cowardice and jealousy are uncovered in these circumstances when Amir commits a sin of betrayal to Hassan. These instances ultimately lead him to understand his need for forgiveness not only from others, but from himself as well, causing him to begin a quest for redemption. A similar situation arises in the movie Slumdog

Although the characters in both works betray loved ones, a further analysis of the works reveals a deeper truth of their concealed morality by performing the ultimate sacrifices to gain redemption. Throughout both the novel and the movie, there is a clear theme of betrayal towards a close loved one. Readers become aware of Amir’s hateful betrayal to Hassan due to his jealous tendencies that derive from his longing to be loved by his father, Baba. This betrayal begins when Amir witnesses Hassan being raped by the antagonist, Assef, yet Amir does not intercede on his friend’s behalf. Amir is presented with the opportunity to aid his lifelong companion when Assef asks Hassan, “But before you sacrifice yourself for him, think about this: Would he do the same for you?” (72). Cowardly running away, Amir proves his disloyalty to the friendship. One could argue this cowardice is rooted in the Pashtun perception of the Hazaras. The religious and ethnic divide in Afghanistan is extremely prevalent, and Amir had been raised learning about the oppression the Pashtuns forced the Hazaras to endure. Although he had not outwardly agreed with this manner of thinking,

Amir is presented with another opportunity to redeem himself and mend his relationship with Hassan, although he has passed away. Rahim Khan, a close friend of Baba’s, requested Amir to travel to Kabul to save Sohrab, Hassan’s son, from an orphanage. Amir is hesitant about traveling to the dangerous city until he discovers Hassan is his half-brother when Rahim Khan says, “Ali was sterile” (222). Before this discovery, Amir felt the need to repent of his sins, but he was too fainthearted prior to this encounter with Rahim Khan. Perhaps this recognition is Amir’s final push to becoming a courageous man, instead of continually living in his cowardly ways because “true redemption is when guilt leads to good” (302). One could dispute that Amir now understands that Hassan is no longer just a friend; Amir understands that he is family. Although these family ties do not erase the past, they bring Amir a sense of peace, for he successfully retrieves Sohrab from Assef and brings him to America to live with him and Soraya. This mindset concerning the need for redemption is comparable to Salim discovering his own need for salvation due to him abandoning his own brother. Salim suffers from his decisions, but the only person he must blame is himself. These rash decisions are the decoration of his façade, and beneath