Redemption In The Kite Runner

Redemption is a concept that can have many meanings and interpretations from person to person. Although there is no set definition of redemption, most interpretations include a certain person atoning for their actions to acquire redemption, thus being classified as redeemed. However, some readers may take on a different interpretation and believe that redemption is a concept that can never fully happen to someone. Although a person may attempt redemption to take accountability for their actions, the actions still have an effect on themselves or the other person. Redemption is a large concept included in The Kite Runner, by Khaled Hosseini, and this idea of redemption is shown throughout the book. Amir attempted to gain redemption by adopting

The author, Khaled Hosseini has shown a sense of hostility from Baba towards his biological son, Amir, since he was a small boy without indicating a solid reason as to why. The reader may infer that Baba treated Amir this way because he was disappointed in Amir’s incapability of accomplishing what he was able to do as a child. Toward the end of the book, the author shares Rahim Khan’s hand-written letter to Amir with the reader, which assists them to understand the context of the situation. The readers, along with Amir, find out that Baba is indeed Hassan’s biological dad, which is stated in the letter. Rahim Khan explains to Amir that, “He loved you both, but he could not love Hassan the way he longed to, openly, and as a father. So he took it out on you instead…” (301). Baba struggled much of his life as he bore the burden of possessing a secret of that size, so he lashed his anger at Amir creating a broken bond between the two of them. Rahim Khan explained that “When he saw you, he saw himself. And his guilt…. Your father, like you, was a tortured soul, Amir jan” (301). Amir went through many troubles as a child because Baba wanted to keep this secret from Amir and Hassan. Through Baba’s actions, Amir was misled into believing he wasn’t good enough and that Baba despised him for ‘murdering’ his mother. Amir then grew a sense of jealousy towards Hassan because Baba would commit fatherly acts towards Hassan, in the place of Amir. Baba faced a build up of guilt from acting this way so Rahim Khan says, “Sometimes, I think everything he did, feeding the poor on the streets, building the orphanage, giving money to friends in need, was all his way of redeeming himself” (302). Baba figured that if he committed good deeds for other people, he would be able to redeem himself, however doing these things for others is not going to fix the issues he’s caused between his biological