The book, The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini, is a “classic” in the making. It tells a story of fierce cruelty and fierce yet, redeeming love. The qualities within The Kite Runner such as, teachings of morals/lessons, relatable characters and its in depth description of culture/tradition will contribute to the making of it to the exalted “classic” status. With these in mind and various other qualities that make this text worth experiencing, The Kite Runner will continue to be read repeatedly and or over time.
The Kite Runner depicts countless situations that the reader an learn from and that may aid the reader in creating a solid moral foundation. The main character, Amir, struggles with his own morals and the right thing to do throughout the entirety of the book. He creates and finds himself in situations that test his standards of behavior and belief. “I could stand up for Hassan… Or I could run. In the end, I ran”(77). Amir’s moral integrity is tested and he fails to do what is right, because he is afraid of the repercussions. Amir’s morals are weak.
He is irresponsible, and he can’t stand up for himself, others, or for what is right. Amir is in situations very similar to each other, over the course of the book. His moral integrity is always in jeopardy and a prime conflict. Amir tries to frame Hassan for stealing his money and watch, when in reality Amir purposely hid everything under Hassan’s bed. When asked if he indeed did steal the items, Hassan said yes. “… This was Hassan’s final sacrifice for me. If he’d said no… then l’d be the accused”(105). Amir is totally fine with Hassan taking the fall, as long as Amir himself feels better and free of guilt.
Amir cannot bear the burden of his sins and as result, tries to heave in on to someone else. Whilst reading this and feeling as if experiencing it with the characters, the reader is put in a position of “what would you do” and is set up to think about one’s own moral integrity. Though many of the moral lessons come from harsh situations, they don’t have to. Sometimes a message from a friend can serve as a starting point for something better. Amir, years later, recalls a conversation between himself and Rahim Khan. Amir focuses on the last thing Rahim said before they hung up the phone. There is a way to be good again”(193). Amir realises that Rahim Khan knew. Knew about everything that had happened between him and Hassan during their childhood. Amir ponders those words and hopes such a thing is possible. Amir realises that his morals haven’t always be in the right place but somehow he hopes to overcome his past. Such situations as these, can allow the reader to learn along with the central characters and really relate and connect with them. The Kite Runner is engulfed with characters that are undoubtedly relatable.
Amir relates to the readers on a different level and does things/deals with ituations in ways we all want to say we wouldn’t. Everyone wants to be the good and bigger person, however we can all see ourselves in Amir. Amir was only a boy when he witnessed Hassan being raped. He didn’t know what to do and neither would any other person in his situation. Though everyone wants to say that they would step up and help, a reaction to this type of situation is unpredictable. “I had one last chance to make a decision… to decide who I was going to be.. stand up for Hassan.
Or I could run”(77). Amir is relatable through his actions. He is real and his behavior is the most understandable of the characters. Though Amir is relatable, there are a few characters who the reader can relate to in a more obvious way; Including, Rahiem Khan and Hassan. Rahiem Khan is relatable in a friend/leader type of way. He is like the moral center or voice of reason in The Kite Runner. Again we are brought to Rahiem’s words of wisdom, “There is a way to be good again”(193). He is always there to say something encouraging or inspire someone to be better.
The reader can relate to this character in a way that makes them feel important. Hassan is a character that the reader wants to relate to the most. The one who always does the right thing and is always there for their friends. Hassan is a more unrealistic character because of his actions and behavior. He is almost the complete opposite of Amir and handles situations in a completely different way. Amir and Hassan went up to their old hang out, the pomegranate tree. After Amir began pelting Hassan with pomegranates, he demanded Hassan to fight back. When he wouldn’t, Amir called him a coward.
Hassan then picked up a pomegranate, smashed onto his own head and said, “There.. Are you satisfied? Do you feel better? “(93). Hassan has too much respect for himself and Amir that he wouldn’t harm him. Hassan is such a relatable yet unrelatable character, thus making him someone the reader hates to love. Whether they relate to the reader’s dark side or their good side, the characters within The Kite Runner are unforgettable and engaging. The Kite Runner is filled with various accounts of culture/tradition. The reader can experience the story in a more realistic and enjoyable way.
When provided with historical significance, a book becomes more interesting nd easier to read. A lot of the sadness of the story is seen in the culture; The suffering due to disruptions of war and politics. The happiness within the story rests on seeing the preservation of Afghan culture in the new world of the United States. The Kite Runner depicts examples of different traditions in Afghan culture; such as, the kite-fighting tournaments. “The kite-fighting tournament was an old winter tradition in Afghanistan” (51). With information such as this, the reader can better understand the concepts that the author is trying to connect.
The reader can also learn more about Afghan culture through the marital traditions. The story gives examples of how Afghanistan people are to marry and the costumes that lead up to and during the wedding. “The general held me.. as if saying, ‘Now, this is the right way – the Afghan way – to do it, hachem. ‘ We kissed three times on the cheek” (167). As Amir prepared to marry his wife, we are faced with the culture of an Afghanistan wedding ceremony. The story is given a sense of realism that helps aid the reader in visualizing the scene.
A lot of other Afghan culture s seen throughout the book in Baba’s house and the food they eat. The culture and tradition that fills the pages of The Kite Runner gives an insight to the vas, rich and fascinating entirety of Afghan culture. The Kite Runner will continue to be read and make it to the exalted “classic” status. The book entails qualities of teachings of morals/lessons, relatable characters and in depth description of culture/tradition. With these qualities in mind and several others, this text is worth experiencing, The Kite Runner is definitely a “classic” in the making.
