"Frankenstein"- Connection

In "Frankenstein," one of the main themes is the guilt that Frankenstein feels for the supposed acts of his "creation." After the untimely deaths of both William and Justine, he expresses that he is "torn by remorse, horror, and despair," all of which caused because of the "first hapless victims to [his] unhallowed arts" (page 85). He admits that it is because of his acts to achieve such greatness that Justin and William had to die and he also puts all of this blame on himself. This guilt appears to be what is going to drive most of the novel and the actions which Frankenstein performs.

Like in "Frankenstein," guilt was also what drove the action in "The Kite Runner." Like Frankenstein, Amir was driven by his guilt for what had happened between Hassan and him and this also drove the action of the novel. He sought redemption and Frankenstein is also seeking a form of redemption through revenge when he decides he will seek out his creation. As Amir's guilt affected him throughout his entire life, the reader also gets a sense that the same is true for Frankenstein. This glimpse is shown through Robert Walton's testimony during the letters of the way Frankenstein acted. These two books are connected through this common theme of guilt and how to make things right again.

"The Kite Runner"- Rahim Khan

"I remember he said to me, 'Rahim, a boy who won't stand up for himself becomes a man who can't stand up to anything.' I wonder, is that what you've become?'" (page 221). Throughout the novel, I was often confused as to who Rahim Khan was and what role he played in the storyline. It was during this section that I realized, Rahim Khan was in some ways Amir's living conscience who was always calling him back to his past life. Rahim Khan was not only Baba's business partner, but he also played the role of Amir's advisor throughout the majority of his life. He drew Amir's attention to things that he had not seen before and made him realize what he needed to do. It was during this passage that I realized the major role Rahim Khan plays in the novel. He is the one who leads Amir to Sohrab and redemption. He brings Amir and Hassan back together at last when he unites Amir with Sohrab. He also allows Amir to move on with his life with less blame and regret by passing on Hassan's letters to Amir. It is because of Rahim Khan that Amir is able to forgive himself and Sohrab is able to be saved and live a better life in America. Rahim Khan is in many ways Amir's spiritual guide and he leads him through the mazes of life.

"The Kite Runner"- Hassan and Amir

"Hassan had loved me once, loved me in a way that no one ever had or ever would again. He was gone now, but a little part of him lived on. It was in Kabul. Waiting" (page 227). In this passage, Amir finally realizes what he must do in order to make up for his "past of unatoned sins." He realizes that everyone in his life betrayed him in some way, but Hassan was the only person who had never done so. He also finally recognized the unwavering love that Hassan had for him. This passage shows that not only did Amir go to save Sohrab for redemption, but he also did it for Hassan. He went to save a boy he didn't even know simply because he loved his childhood friend that much. While at first, he was reluctant to go, he eventually came to his senses and realized what he must do. He broke out of his cowardice and came to terms with everything he had done. In a way, he was proving his unwavering love for Hassan by rescuing his son and bringing him back to safety. Because of what Amir finally did, he is one of my personal favorite characters. He realized the change he must make and he did what had to be done plus more.

"The Kite Runner"- dynamic character

"Then I did what I hadn't done in fifteen years of marriage: I told my wife everything. Everything. I had pictured this moment so many times, dreaded it, but, as I spoke, I felt something lifting off my chest" (page 325). At the beginning of the novel, Amir has trouble coming to terms with his past. He sees himself as a coward and he is constantly lying about his past. Because of his denials and lies, he faces many problems in his future life. Throughout the entire first half of the novel, Amir is battling with this internal conflict of the past he has lived and whether or not he should attempt to redeem himself or share his past with others. When he finally, goes to "make himself good again," he starts to make a dynamic change. He eventually goes to Afghanistan and the peak moment of his transformation from a coward to being brave and standing up for himself and others comes when he fights Assef and refuses to leave without Sohrab. Amir finally makes this cross-over for cowardice to bravery, and at the same time, achieves his redemption. When he calls Soraya and tells her about his past, he is once again making an important change and allowing others into his life to help him. Because of these changes Amir makes, he can be classified as a dynamic character.

"The Kite Runner"- theme

"What was so funny was that, for the first time since the winter of 1975, I felt at peace. I laughed because I saw that, in some hidden nook in a corner of my mind, I'd even been looking forward to this... I hadn't been happy and I hadn't felt better, not at all. But I did now. My body was broken- just how badly I wouldn't find out until later- but I felt healed. Healed at last. I laughed" (page289). The theme of redemption which shows up in this passage is a central focus and a theme throughout the novel. The action of the novel is driven by this need and want for redemption. It is because of his seeking of redemption that Amir goes to Afghanistan in order to save Sohrab. Throughout his entire life, he feels guilt because of his cowardice when Hassan was being raped. When Assef finally beats Amir close to death, he feels relief and redemption. He believes that he finally got what was coming to him. He achieves full redemption when at the end of the novel, he brings Sohrab back to America with him and helps him to start a new life. This particular passage describes the relief Amir felt when he finally began his redemption. He was so broken that when he was beat close to death, he felt healed. He finally believed he had gotten what he deserved all those years, to feel as hurt as Hassan had all those years before.

The Kite Runner- symbols

"I looked down at Sohrab. One corner of his mouth had curled up just so. A smile. Lopsided. Hardly there. But there... 'Do you want me to tun that kite for you?' His Adam's apple rose and fell as he swallowed. The wind lifted his hair. I thought I saw him nod. 'For you, a thousand times over,' I heard myself say" (page 371). Throughout the novel, kites are a recurring image: at the beginning, in the park in America, throughout Amir and Hassan's childhood, the day that Amir and Hassan's lives were changed forever, and in this final scene, when Amir achieves true redemption. Throughout the novel, kites represent hope in many different ways. In America, it shows up as a hope for redemption. Amir sees the kites after he has talked to Rahim Khan who offered him a chance at redemption. Even though the reader does not connect the kite with hope until later on, the symbol is still present. Because of Rahim Khan's offer, Amir has a hope for redemption. Later in the novel, kites show up in Amir's childhood. In this situation, they show up as Amir's hope/desire for his father's love. When he finally wins the kite fight, his hopes are granted and his father praises him and is finally proud of him. Because of Hassan's rape though, Amir no longer flies kites for a very long time. This is symbolic of a loss of all hope in Amir. He no longer has any hope for himself, therefore he sees himself as a coward and a failure in life. This leads to many of the problems of his young adult and adult life. The symbol of the kite shows up one last time at the very end of the novel. It is when they are flying kites that Amir finally sees Sohrab smile for the first time in over a year. By having this bonding moment while flying the kite, Amir finds hope that one day, Sohrab will be happy again. The kite symbolizes hope for Amir, Sohrab, and their whole family

"The Kite Runner"- personal

"'Tell him he's wrong. War doesn't negate decency. It demands it, even more than in times of peace" (page 115).

While reading, this excerpt jumped out at me. Not only does this episode characterize Baba, but it is also inspiring. This is the passage when Baba risks his own life for that of a woman he barely knows. He helps to save this woman from being raped by a soldier. It shows how Baba is really all about tradition and standing up for what he knows is right. He is courageous and sometimes reckless, but no matter what, he won't let such evils happen in his presence. The quote itself stuck out to me because Baba is pointing out that even in war, people deserve respect and he forces the Russian soldier to give it. He truly is a good man.

This section also causes more guilt to resonate within Amir. He sees Baba standing up to prevent a rape of a woman he barely knows, while Amir could not even stand up for Hassan who was his friend and like a brother. He questions his own worth once again and this highlights the differences between Baba and Amir once again. This whole section was inspiring to me and gave me a better outlook on Baba.

"The Kite Runner"- Symbolism

"I thought about Hassan's dream... I was that monster" (page 86).

This single symbol of Amir being the monster that drug Hassan down to the murky bottom of the lake is perfect to describe how he viewed himself after the rape. He knew that what he has done was wrong, but even so, he did not change his ways or tell anyone the truth about what had happened. Amir believed for all of his young adult and adult life that he was the thing that had ruined Hassan. He realized that if he had stepped in, Hassan could have been spared, but he was too much of a coward to do what was right. This symbol of Amir being the monster explains much of his young life. It explains the guilt and regret he feels for not helping Hassan. It also explains why he felt like he needed a clean slate and why America was the perfect place for him. This symbol shows that Amir honestly believed that the rape was completely his fault. While he could have stopped it or done something to redeem himself afterward, he was not solely responsible for the rape, as Assef and his friends were the perpetrators of the rape and therefore the most responsible.