Symbolism in the Kite Runner Novel

In Khaled Hosseinir's novel The Kite Runner, symbolism is used to show the characters relationships to each other since their are a lot of changes in relationships throughout the novel and their morals which greatly affect how the novel unfolded. Amir is a 12~30 year old boy raised in Afghanistan whose greatest desire was to please his Father which is the main reason he betrays his friend, which from then on he is driven by guilt as he searches for a way to redeem himself. When Amir was still young he would fly kites with his friend Hassan and at that point and time the Kite symbolizes their friendship, however after the Kite tournament the kite would symbolize his betrayal to Hassan; I could step into that alley, stand up for Hassan-the way hed stood up for me all those times in the past- and accept whatever would happen to me. Or I could run. In the end, I ran (Hosseini 75). In this scene Amir decides not to help Hassan when he was attacked by Assef and instead decides to flee and later act as if he didnt see what happened and takes the kite to show Baba he ran the final kite. Although at the time kites symbolize Amirr's betrayal to Hassan they are as well connected to Amirr's redemption, for after rescuing Sohrab from Assef and the incident in Pakistan a Kite is what presumably brings the Amir and Sohrab together. Hosseini is commenting that just because something has torn apart a relationship in the past doesnt mean it can't still be used to create new ones and make right of one's mistakes. The cleft lip in addition to Amirr's split lip is another symbol for Amir redeeming himself from his guilt of what he did in the past, Getting hurled against a wall. Lying on the floor, blood from my split upper lip staining the mauve carpet,...My body was broken-just how badly I wouldnt find out till later - but I felt healed. Healed at last. I laughed (Hosseini 290-295). While Amir was fighting with Assef in order to save Sohrab Amir splits his upper lip which becomes a permanent scar much like Hassanr's cleft lip, in a sense Amirr's becomes more like Hassan because he stood up for the people he cared about and by doing this he becomes closer to Sohrab. Hosseini uses the Cleft Lip and the Split lip to show that Amir has become more like Hassan in the sense that he has redeemed himself for his past mistakes by standing up to Assef and what is right.

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