Symbolism

The Kite

“He had the blue kite in his hands; that was the first thing I saw. And I can’t lie now and say my eyes didn’t scan it for any rips.” – Khaled Hosseini

           In Khaled Hosseini’s novel, “The Kite Runner”, Hosseini uses the symbol of the kite to depict Amir’s guilt. Indeed, kite fighting is something that Amir is good at and truly enjoys with his Hazara servant, Hassan. It is his childhood, his time of happiness and wonders. However, it is also a source to obtain Baba’s affections. Despite Hassan’s true loyalty to Amir, Amir chooses his desires for Baba’s over Hassan and allows him to be raped in the ally. The incident did indeed gift Amir Baba’s affections but Amir understands that they are not genuine due to his own conscience and guilt of what happened to Hassan. Hence, the enjoyable object full of freedom and happiness shared between both boys is now tied down, suffocating with guilt. The kite was once cut loose and released freely into the air when the boys fight the other kites, exciting Amir and Hassan and granting them a time of precious memories. However, after Amir’s selfish choice to abandon Hassan, the kite is stained with his guilt and remains buried inside his heart, empty of its former contentment. Thankfully, Amir finally redeems himself after saving Sohrab and the kite once again, is able to fly freely in the sky joyously, free of heart wrenching guilt. 

The Pomegranate Tree

“I hunkered down on my knees and brushed my hands against the trunk. I found what I was looking for. The carving had dulled, almost faded together, but it was still there: Amir and Hassan. The sultans of Kabul.” – Khaled Hosseini

           With the use of a pomegranate tree located on a hill near Baba’s house, Hosseini portrays the deep relationship between Amir and Hassan. The pomegranate tree is where the boys share their greatest memories. Just like the pomegranate tree that bears sweet fruits and stands high on the hill, Amir and Hassan’s friendship also flourish and mature. They climb on the tree, playing and reading together, enjoying themselves even when tension arise between them, like when Amir made fun of the illiterate Hassan. Clearly, the pomegranate tree was their place; it was their tree. Moreover, the tree defines every stage of the boys’ relationship. After the incident in the ally, Amir and Hassan end up back at the tree after a time of distance between the two. Amir searches for his redemption through the fruit of the tree, throwing pomegranates at Hassan so that he himself can be punished. However, the loyal Hassan refuses to punish his friend and their relationship breaks under the branches of the tree. Unfortunately, years after, the tree withers and dies forever in the war stricken Kabul, suggesting the destructed relationship of Amir and Hassan that will never be mended. 

The Lamb

“Maybe Hassan was the price I had to pay, the lamb I had to slay to win Baba.” – Khaled Hosseini

           Amir’s recalling of Hassan and Sohrab resembling the lamb during Eid-Al-Adha is a significant symbol used in the novel. Khaled Hosseini incorporates the tradition, nazr, the slaughtering an innocent lamb during the Eid-Al-Adha, the Muslim celebration in honour of the Prophet Abraham’s willing sacrifice of his own son in God’s command. The innocent Hassan is sacrificed as well to the cruel Assef in order to bring back the blue kite for Amir to receive Baba’s love. Indeed, just like the lamb that is slaughtered for God, Hassan also faces innocent scarification for Amir, who allows the rape and is powerful like a lion due to his family’s high social status. Similarly, Sohrab is met with a similar situation to his father’s. However, Amir does not allow the sacrifice of Sohrab to continue like he did to Hassan; instead, he stopped it. Moreover, Amir refuses the suggestion from Khala Jamila to perform nazr if his book is accepted. Clearly, he realizes that scarifications do not need to be made for his own well-being. Perhaps, Amir feels that innocent lives deserve to live, even if it is a mere little lamb and not a powerful lion.