The Remedy to Redemption

Within the span of a lifetime, people experience a situation when one overcomes with guilt after a decisive situation. The Kite Runner, by Khaled Hosseini, is centred around the theme of redemption. To atone a guilt one overcomes, redemption is a remedy. Hosseini expresses throughout this novel that it is sacrificial for one to forgive themselves and in result a pathway towards redemption. Khaled Hosseini effectively portrays redemption through a clear plot structure outlining the events in a chronological manner, the relationship between the two settings, and the motifs such as loyalty and friendship, violence and redemption.

The novel is told from the viewpoint of Amir and he depicts the sins he commits as a child, then later on atones for them as a grown man. The plot structure for this novel includes the exposition, rising action, climax and the denouement. Beginning with introducing Amir , Hassan, Baba, and Ali, the author gives the reader background information on Amir’s past struggle such as the death of his mother and from there he builds up to how Amir seeks redemption and this is through the upcoming kite competition. The action rises as Amir triumphs and wins the kite competition, however the situation gets flip-sided when Hassan gets raped. Faced with guilt, Amir plots for Hassan to leave resulting in both Ali and Hassan to leave. The climax of the story begins when Amir leaves Afghanistan for America and gets married just before the death of Baba. Rahim Khan, an old family friend, approaches Amir saying “There is a way to be good again” (Hosseini 222). Ultimately, Amir reaches out to Pakistan in hopes of making amends with Hassan, only to find out that both Hassan and his wife were murdered however, his son lives. Th...

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...f his face. Saw the resignation in it” (Hosseini 86). The third motif, redemption, has been a goal for Amir all along. It was initially to redeem himself for the death of his mother so he did everything he can to impress Baba. One incident is during the kite tournament as Baba watches him; “All I saw was the blue kite. All I smelled was victory. Salvation. Redemption” (Hosseini 65). The kite tournament was Amir’s path to redemption as a child, as a grown man his road to redemption is the trip to Afghanistan to rescue Sohrab. For all good things in life, it requires sacrifice. In this novel, Hosseini expresses that redemption requires sacrifice in order to fulfill the void of guilt one has built upon themselves. Therefore, it is with the conclusion that redemption is the cure for guilt.

Works Cited

Hosseini, Khaled. The Kite Runner. Canada: Anchor Canada, 2004.