The Kite Runner: themes

Taxonomy of Themes

A tonement
B etrayal
C ourage
D iscrimination
E quality
F abrication; Faith
G uilt
H armony; Hope
I nnocence; Isolation
J ustice
K indness
L oyalty; Love
M isery
N ostalgia
O blivion
P erseverance
Q uest
R edemption; Reconciliation; Resilience
S orrow; Separation
T olerance; Trust; Tenacity
U nity
V anity
W ar
X enocracy
Y outh
Z eal


Redemption: Redemption is bittersweet.

"I will do this and I will think of Him every day from from this day on if He only grants me this one wish: My hands are stained with Hassan's blood; I pray God doesn't let them get stained with the blood of his boy too." (p. 346)

Hosseini illustrates this nature of redemption by using hyperbole.  The staining of Hassan's blood exaggerates the impact of Amir's brother's death on his guilt; it is truly permanent, indicated by the stain.  Amir realizes that he must redeem himself and save his brother's son Sohrab, to not let his brother die in vain, and to add sweet to the bitterness of his guilt.  He cannot change his mistakes, but he can try to recover.

Oblivion: While blissful in the temporary, oblivion is pernicious in the long term.

"I was afraid the appeal of my life in America would draw me back, that I would wade back into that great, big river and let myself forget, let the things I had learned these last few days sink to the bottom.  I was afraid that I'd let the waters carry me away from what I had to do.  From Hassan.  From the past that had come calling." (p. 231)

The metaphor of America as a great, big river appears throughout the book and is analogous with the idea of oblivion.  Amir realizes the appeal of this oblivion from addressing his past of regret, but also understands that he must escape it to better himself.  It is pernicious.