Topics of Kite Runner

Role of women:

Betrayal: is viewed as being enduring and cyclical

Brothers: brotherhood is a strong bond that can not be broken even after death.

Guilt: will never be concord by ignoring the problem.

Redemption: can only be achieved when doing something truly with an intent to provide more happiness for another, even if it takes sacrificing on your part.

Exodus:

Fathers & Sons: It is very difficult to create a child-parent relationship especially if there is strain of not living up to expectations.

Class Distinctions: The majority (Sunni Muslims) and the Minority (Shi's Muslims) are very divided and discriminated against by each other on a basis of physical features and religious beliefs.

Settings in Kite Runner

The Kite Runner was written around the pre-Russian invasion and the pre-Taliban rule in Afghanistan. The book also goes into detail of life in Afghanistan while it was under the Taliban rule and after. The story of the kite runner is factious but with the given information of political, social, and cultural systems in the Middle East it contrasts with modern day media headlines of it being a home filled with terrorist cells. It also shows how strained adult child-parent relationships were. The book focuses on themes including betrayal, redemption, love, forgiveness, social class, ethnic tensions, and immigrant experiences to provide a better overall understanding of both the time period and the cultural aspects of life in Afghanistan.

5 Characters in Kite Runner

Zaman The director of the orphanage in Kabul.

Raymond Andrews The official at the U.S. Embassy in Pakistan who makes Amir realize the difficulties he will encounter if he attempts to adopt Sohrab.

Dr. Armand Faruqi The surgeon with the Clark Gable mustache who tends to Amir's injuries after being beaten by Assef

Kaka Sharif Soraya's uncle, who has connections in the INS and helps Amir get Sohrab a visa into the United States.


Wali A childhood follower of Assef.

5 Symbols in Kite Runner

Kites, everyone, and everything associated with them (kite flying & kite fighting) are the most important symbols in the novel. The Afghan kites and their glass strings symbolize the dichotomy between violence and beauty, which also represents Afghanistan and the half brothers.

The myths and stories of legendary hero's in the novel show the differences between the different Muslim cultures. Rostam who was dishonorable towards the king and slept with his daughter represents amir, while sohrab who did not know his father and has an untimely death represents Hassan.

The pomegranate tree merely symbolizes hassan and amirs relationship. They carved their names into the tree and it produced fruit. Once hassan died amir was weighed down with guilt and the tree still existed but no longer produced fruit.

Amir's scar that was received after being beaten by assef symbolizes his brotherhood with hassan, he too now has his own "harelip".

The slingshot represents both childhood and the need to stand up for what is right.