Mistakes In The Kite Runner

Redeeming ourselves can often be a difficult journey filled with hard decisions and unforgettable flashbacks. In his powerful and emotionally charged novel The Kite Runner, Khaled Hosseini discusses this point through the story’s protagonist, Amir. Throughout the novel, the author uses different types of scenarios to show the wrongdoings out of jealousy and hatred, acted by Amir. He is placed in some situations that are physically demanding, others that are morally difficult, and still others that are intellectually challenging. As the novel progresses, he is seen developing from being a selfish child, to a selfless adult as he actively and profoundly reflects on his past mistakes while making wiser decisions. Throughout this development,

Amir's conscious choices to act better allow him to evolve as a person and redeem himself from his past mistakes. Since the beginning of the novel, Amir showed a shady attitude toward Hassan. Firstly, Amir’s deprivation from his father’s love affects him greatly and causes him a great deal of jealousy, betrayal, and cowardice. He exhibits these behaviors in various scenarios throughout the novel, mainly toward his friend Hassan. For instance, one specific thing that Amir did wrong was when he planted the brand-new watch Baba has offered him, and the money under a mattress, framing and blaming Hassan for stealing his things. This action shows Amir’s willingness to do anything to gain Baba’s approval, even if it’s stealing or lying, despite the fact that “theft was the one unforgivable sin” (Hosseini 106). Despite Amir’s immoral way of behaving toward Hassan, his friend takes the blame for his accusation and confesses to stealing, but ends up leaving the place with Ali. After betraying him, Amir quickly realizes what he has done and judges himself as unworthy of Hassan’s sacrifice or even having

The deep longing for acceptance in Amir leads him to abandon Hassan in a vulnerable moment, leaving him to get hurt and beaten while he runs away and avoids confrontation with him. Hassan’s rape is the primary source of Amir’s guilt, and the reminder of his cowardice and betrayal, as he failed to stand up for his friend when he was most needed. Amir admits that the real reason behind not intervening was not only his fearfulness, but also a deep desire to win his father’s approval. He states, “Maybe Hassan was the price I had to pay, the lamb I had to slay, to win Baba” (Hosseini 77). This signifies how Amir sacrificed his loyal friend, and allowed him to be harmed, in exchange for Baba’s affection and recognition. He also draws a comparison between the lamb and Hassan, showing how easily sacrificed he has left his friend to be. In contrast, Amir grows up having this guilt internalized but with a motivation to stand up for others and intervene when it is necessary. This motivation shows when he stands up for Hassan’s son, Sohrab, and takes Assef’s brutal beating proudly. The distinction in Amir’s action this time is the fact that he stayed and did not run, stating that he deserved this punishment for his past actions toward Hassan, but which he never received until that instant. “My body was broken…but I felt healed” (Hosseini 289). This