Kite Runner: Final Discussion

Word-Association

Twilight:
Dark
Vampire
Love
Moon
Forest

The Passion Project:
Homeless
Service Project
Work
Research
Church

Sept. 11th, 2001:
Terrorism
World Trade Center
New York
Target
Airplanes

Afghanistan:
Taliban
Muslim
Mountains
Oil
Death

Taliban:
Jihad
Guns
Turban
Dark
Afraid

Certainty of Turmoil:
Cynical
Conflict
Sun
Moon
Sorrow

Turmoil of Uncertainty:
Dubiety
Fights
Factions
Bloodshed
Nothing

Hazara:
Doll
Harelip
Hut
Work
Dirt

Hassan:
Slingshot
Pomegranate
Loyal
Tree
Sohrab

"There is a way to be good again."
~ "And that, I believe, is what true redemption is, Amir jan, when guilt leads to good.  I know that in the end, God will forgive.  He will forgive your father, me, and you too." (p. 302)
        Good comes from guilt.  The pain, the burden of guilt goes away only once we attempt to correct our wrongdoings, to better society.  Therefore, most often, we eventually embark on the path to reach goodness once again after horrible sins.  The idea of God forgiving embodies the true idea of the goodness of people to forgive and forge a path for atonement for the sinning individual, to help themselves and those they wronged.  Optimism is great and contagious.

~ "How dark, almost black, Hassan's blood had looked on the snow, dropping from the seat of his pants.  Blood is a powerful thing, bachem." (p. 310)
        Amir and Hassan share blood, in this thought he connects that he and Sohrab also share blood, making it his duty to adopt him into his family.  Again, this is the will of the individual to reach good from the guilt present in their minds.

"There are a lot of children in Afghanistan, but little childhood."
~ "'I miss Father, and Mother too,' he croaked.  'And I miss Sasa and Rahim Khan sahib...'  'I'm so dirty and full of sin.'" (p. 319)
        Sohrab is forced to do terrible, sinful things and is kidnapped by Taliban leaders.  He does not experience a normal childhood, of love, nurture, and parenting.  He, and the myriad other children in Afghanistan, are shaped by the violence and threat that is an aspect of their daily lives.  They move from innocence to experience at very young ages.  Many of them must live on their own, without parents at all.  It is sobering to hear this story.