Theme:
The Kite Runner, by Khaled Hosseini, is an astounding novel that takes the audience on a rollercoaster ride of emotions. The theme primarily revolves around family and betrayal, with an additional plot of terrorism and war, creating an enticing harmony that captivates the readers. Through the eyes of the protagonist, Amir, the readers explore Amir's childhood with Hassan in Afghanistan, his married life with Soraya and Baba in San Francisco, and finally back to Kabul, Afghanistan, on his quest for redemption through Shorab.
Characters:
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Amir – The main protagonist of the novel. He is a Sunni Muslim with pure Pashtun ancestry.
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Baba – Amir's father and the most powerful man in Kabul. A pure-blooded Pashtun, nicknamed Mr. Hurricane due to his brave and courageous nature.
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Hassan – A Hazara and a Shi’a Muslim, often bullied by Sunni Muslims of Afghanistan. He grew up with Amir as his playmate. He is Ali's son and servant as his father.
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Ali – A servant at Baba’s house and Hassan’s father. He has a crippled leg due to polio suffered as a child.
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Soraya – A Muslim girl who grew up in the USA like Amir. She has a dark past and marries Amir.
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Rahim Khan – Baba’s close friend and advisor. A father figure to Amir, who informs him about Baba’s past and Shorab.
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Shorab – Hassan and Farzana’s son. Possesses his father’s good qualities and slingshot skills. He was abused by the Taliban in Afghanistan after his parents’ death and is later adopted by Amir and Soraya.
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Farid – An Afghan taxi driver with poor living conditions who helps Amir rescue Shorab.
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Assef – Half German, half Afghan. Bullies Amir and Hassan in their childhood and later becomes a Taliban leader.
Plot Summary:
The story begins in 2001, with an adult Amir watching kites fly over the San Francisco sky. He recalls a call from Rahim Khan and flashes back to 1975, recalling an incident in an abandoned alley in Kabul that shaped his life. Amir grew up in Kabul with Baba and Hassan. Although Hassan and Ali lived in the servant quarters, Amir and Hassan grew up as brothers. Hassan, with a cleft upper lip, loved Amir unconditionally and often took the blame for their mischief.
Baba, Amir’s strict father, valued honesty and despised liars, raising Amir sternly after his mother’s death. Amir often felt inferior to Hassan, who seemed to earn more recognition from Baba. One day, Amir and Hassan encountered Assef, a racist bully, who threatened Amir but was fended off by Hassan’s slingshot skills.
The story escalates during a kite tournament in Kabul. Amir wins the tournament and sends Hassan to retrieve the last cut kite. Hassan is sexually assaulted by Assef and his minions, while Amir hides in cowardice. Overcome by guilt, Amir orchestrates Ali and Hassan’s departure by accusing Hassan of theft.
During the Soviet invasion in 1981, Baba and Amir escape to the United States. Amir grows up in California, works in a local market with Baba, and later meets and marries Soraya. Baba dies shortly after their wedding. Years later, Rahim Khan summons Amir to Pakistan and reveals that Hassan was his half-brother. He informs Amir of Hassan and Farzana’s deaths at the hands of the Taliban and asks him to save Shorab.
Amir returns to Kabul and, with Farid’s help, finds Shorab in the clutches of Assef, now a Taliban leader. After a brutal fight, Amir rescues Shorab and brings him to San Francisco, adopting him as his son. The novel concludes with Amir teaching Shorab to fly a kite, fulfilling his promise to give Shorab the life Hassan never had.