Nov/29

The Kite Runner

1) Role of Women- The women are in the background. they are subservient to their husbands and they seem to be given less oppurtuiy then their husbands. Such as men can have two wives and women can't openly question their fathers like men can.

2) Betrayel- Amir is the betrayer. The book shows that betrayel is nothing but what a coward does. amir is guilty of this in two accounts, One was not helping Hassen and the other was when he accused him of stealing.

3) Brothers- the book says that their is a certain brotherhood between men who have drunk from the same breast. This is what Amir and hassen did. The book speaks very strongly on this subject.

4) Guilt- Amir had the hiden guilt and it caused him alot of pain but when he realozed that Ali and Hassen bothknew he was grateful at least.Soraya told Amir of her past and she was cofoted by telling him. The open guilt is far less painful.

5) Redemption- Amir receives redemption at the end and the book says that it is important it can be very good for the soul.

6) Exodus/Journey- The book shows that it is hatd for Amir and baba to leave their entire life.It shows their loss and also it shoes death. this is when Kamel dies of fumes from the truck and his father kills himself.

7) Fathers and sons- The fathers hope their sons will turn out just like them such as Baba hoping for Amir. the sons like Amir are just wanting their fathers attention. It shows that fathers and sons are different then mothers and daughters and they can openly discuss issues and they just want relationships between each other.

8) Class Distinction- The book shows a distinct difference between to very differnt type of people Hazaras and Pushtans. the Hazara are the mongul descendants and servents to the elite and wealthy Pushtans.

Parallelism- In the story parallelism is used when Amir is telling how he makes the kite.

Character foils- baba and Rahim kahn are character foils because while baba dosent listen to Amir Rahim Kahn dows. He is like a father to him when Baba is not. He encourages Amir in his syories while Baba makes fun at them. Rahim Kahn is evrything Baba is not.

Hassen and Amir are character foils because while Hassen is encredibly loyal Amir is not. Hassen is very fast and athletic but Amir is not. Hassen is the son Baba wants and Amir is the son Baba got.

Forshadowing- The author uses this alot is his book. He alwyas seems to speak using it. Such as when Amir says that this will be the last Kite Hassen would run for me. Also before you find out Baba has cancer the author says that Baba was coughimg and has the sniffles. It forshadows something bigger to come.

Flashback- The whole book up until 2001 is a flashback of Amirs life anditswritten as such. The forshadowing is closly encorporated in this because Amir has already experienced it. All Amirs experiences are in this noval the good and the bad.

The books biggest positive is that it shows kobul and afgabistan in a new way. It shows how it always wasnt the war orn country we all thought it was. It helped me look at it in a new light. The negative of this reading is that its a harsh reality gripper. It brings out issues of death and rape and loss that are very shocking. Although it offsets this by Amirs marraige to Soraya and his adoption of Sorab.

Setting
The Muslims have five daily prayers they say.
Their is a big distinction beween Hazaras and Pushtans.
Kobul has its big kite tournament thats like our Aerican Bseball.
The Afganschool year is different then Americas. They look forward to winter not Summer.
Afganistan at this point is still very primative. No T.V. and they have very few makes of cars.

Minor Caracters
Assef- The embodiment of evil in my opinion. He is half German and half Afgan. He loves Hitler and he rapes Hassen. He seems to have some control or fear inti his parents.

Kamal- he is one of assefs friends. He like Wali dosents agree with raping Hassen. he later dies after he succumbs to fumes in the fuel truck and his father kills himself.

General Sahib- He is Sorayas father. He loves his daughter very much and went to get her from her drugee boyfriend when she ran away from him. he approves of their marraige and is good friends with Baba.

Ali- Ali is Hassens father and babas friend. He serves them like a sevrent and is babas oldest friend. he is Baba's Hassen. His face is paralized and at the end we find out he wasnt really Hassens father.

Jamila she is Soraya mother and very close to her daughter, they talk often. She has a stroke that paralizees half her body when soraya runs away. she likes Amir and wants them to be married.

Symbols
Blue kite-Hassens loyalty for Amir.
The Journry- loss, death.
Assef-the future of Afganistan.
Pomagranate Tree- Amir and Hassen relationship.
Kite Running- A piece of Afganistan.