1. The Power of Redemption in
The Kite Runner
By: Marilyn Gonzalez

2. Introduction
• In the novel, The Kite Runner, Hosseini uses the
themes redemption, loyalty and betrayal, and
coming of age to portray the idea that “the decisions
made in the past, reflect who you will become in the
future”.

3. Summary
• The main character, Amir, lives in a house in Kabul,
Afghanistan with his father, Baba, his servant, Ali,
and his servants son, Hassan. Amir and Hassan
develop a close friendship despite their religion and
social class differences and spend most of their time
together kite fighting. During a kite tournament,
Hassan gets raped by a bully, Assef, and Amir is too
afraid to stop it so he runs away.

4. Quotes
• "I became what I am today at the age of twelve…"
(Page 1). – Amir
• "Standing in the kitchen with the receiver to my ear, I
knew it wasn't just Rahim Khan on the line. It was
my past of unatoned sins" (Page 1). – Amir

5. Redemption
• "I opened my mouth, almost said something. Almost.
The rest of my life might have turned out differently if
I had but I didn't. I just watched. Paralyzed.” - Amir
• "I want to tear myself from this place, from this
reality, rise up like a cloud and float away, melt into
this humid summer night and dissolve somewhere
far, over the hills. But I am here, my legs blocks of
concrete, my lungs empty of air, my throat burning.
There will be no floating away."(Page 301). - Amir

6. Loyalty & Betrayal
• "Hassan was the price I had to pay, the lamb I had to slay
to win Baba” – Amir
• Amir feels some sort of power over Hassan and
describes the feeling of power to when they would play
insect torture. Hassan represents the ant, which is small
and hopeless, and Amir is the one holding the magnifying
glass because he feels superior to him.

7. Coming of Age
• Rahim Khan calls Amir to tell him Hassan was killed
by the Taliban and Hassan’s son, Sohrab, was taken
to an orphanage in Kabul. Amir takes advantage of
this opportunity to redeem himself and make it up to
Hassan for his disloyalty.
• Amir goes to Kabul searching for a child and finds
the man within himself.

8. Quotes
• "I wondered if that was how forgiveness budded; not
with the fanfare of epiphany, but with pain gathering
its things, packing up and slipping away
unannounced in the middle of the night.” - Amir
• "Seeking to forget makes exile all the longer; the
secret of redemption lies in remembrance.” -
Richard Von Weizsaecker

9. Conclusion
• The Kite Runner explores many themes that readers can
relate to and that’s what makes the characters seem so
real. Amir’s guilt and unhappiness is felt within his words.
• Erin Collazo Miller wrote a review on The Kite Runner
and said, "I was drawn by Amir's voice. I sympathized
with him, I cheered for him, and felt angry with him at
different points…The characters became real to me…".

10. Sources
• Hosseini, Khaled: The Kite Runner.
New York: Riverhead Books, 2003. Pri
http://thebestnotes.com/booknotes/Kite_Runner/Kite_Runner01.html
• http://jaletwin.hubpages.com/hub/Thematic-Ideas-in-The-Kite-Runner
• http://bestsellers.about.com/u/r/od/fictionreviews/gr/kite_runner_r.htm