At the American Embassy, an official named Raymond Andrews told Amir that it would be near impossible to get Sohrab a visa. What is the significance of Alis first wife? Once, while looking through history books, Amir discovered information on the Hazara. This also represents a kind of unity between Pashtun and Hazara, a unity that is necessary if Afghanistan is ever to heal. You may cancel your subscription on your Subscription and Billing page or contact Customer Support at custserv@bn.com. | He also received a good deal of money. Amir has a vision of Baba fighting a bear in Baluchistan, a story that is supposedly true. (one code per order). [9][13] Hosseini took a year-long absence from practicing medicine to promote the book, signing copies, speaking at various events, and raising funds for Afghan causes. [28] Afghanistan's Ministry of Culture banned the film from distribution in cinemas or DVD stores, citing the possibility that the movie's ethnically charged rape scene could incite racial violence within Afghanistan. The good to which Rahim Khan refers initially seems to be Amir's rescuing Sohrab from the orphanage. Because Baba was so ill, Soraya and Amir decided to forgo the Shirini-kori, the traditional engagement party, as well as the engagement period. After he is raped himself, he becomes a symbol of the brutality that destroys Afghanistan. The next morning, Amir hid money under Wahid's mattress before they left. That night, Amir spoke to Soraya. Amir embarks on a successful career as a novelist. The images flash quickly from one to another, and the final image is the memory of Rahim Khan saying "A way to be good again.". Amir and Soraya moved into their own apartment and worked towards their college degrees. Sanaubar delivered Hassan and Farzana's son, Sohrab and played a large part in raising him. The Kite Runner Summary When they reached a checkpoint, a Russian soldier demanded to sleep with one of them, a married woman. Study Guide Questions The Kite Runner Amir's ability to stand up to Assef his own personal bear marks a change in Amir's perception of self. Baba was aloof and did not pay Amir much attention. Your subscription will continue automatically once the free trial period is over. Kamal's father put a gun in his mouth and shot himself. Copyright 1999 - 2023 GradeSaver LLC. Finally, Rahim Khan asks Amir not to try to find him. WebWhile traveling in a taxi with an Afghan native named Farid whom Rahim Khan put him in contact with, Amir struggles with his car sickness. Though nobody thought he would marry well because he wasnt from a prominent family, he married Amirs mother, Sofia Akrami, a beautiful, intelligent woman who came from a royal bloodline. He had broken his ribs and a bone in his face and he had a punctured lung, among other injuries. (including. Amir used Hassan's favorite "lift-and-dive" move to cut the kite. Assef represents all things wrong in Afghanistan. During the ride there, Amir dozes. Why did Baba lie about Hassan being his son? The last king of Afghanistan, who rules for 40 years. [19] Following Hassan's death at the hands of the Taliban, Amir begins to redeem himself through the rescue of Hassan's son, Sohrab. Joyous Free trial of Paramount+, rent, or buy Watch with Paramount+ Rahim tells Amir that he will pray for him. The Kite Runner As usual, Hassan stood up for Amir; he got Assef to leave by aiming his slingshot at Assef's eye. The theatre adaption premiered in Canada as a co-production between Theatre Calgary and the Citadel Theatre in January 2013. Amirs plot and manipulation of Baba show how devious he is. He even pays to have Hassan's cleft lip surgically corrected. Subscribe now. While he sleeps, he remembers various incidents and events from his life. Hassan cried all night and in the morning, he and Farzana moved in with Rahim Khan. WebThe first half of The Kite Runner focuses on Amir 's relationships with Baba and Hassan. Sorayas father and a friend of Baba. Renews May 8, 2023 Amir used to play, It is unclear whether Rahim Khan thought that the American couple was in Pakistan or not. A racist who wishes to rid Afghanistan of Hazaras, he is incapable of remorse and enjoys inflicting violence and sexual abuse on those who are powerless. Why does Hassan lie about stealing Amirs watch? Amir has now lost another father-figure in Rahim Khan. Why does Hassan lie about stealing Amirs watch? Amir was proud of his literacy and lorded it over the unsuspecting, illiterate Hassan. Not affiliated with Harvard College. The play was produced at Arizona Theatre Company in 2009, Actor's Theatre of Louisville and Cleveland Play House in 2010, and The New Repertory Theatre of Watertown, Massachusetts in 2012. Amir understands that Baba slept with Sanaubar, and that Hassan is actually his half-brother. For the film, see, "Before 'The Kite Runner,' Khaled Hosseini had never written a novel. In the wake of what happened, Amir found it strange to hear people on the news and on the street talking about the cities of his childhood. The key is to a safe-deposit box that contains a significant amount of money that should cover Amir's expenses. Sanaubar was nineteen years younger than Ali, beautiful, and reputedly immoral. WebChapters 1213. Khaled Hosseini (Goodreads Author), Najiba Lima (Translator) 4.20 avg rating 5 When Hassan did not come home, Amir went out looking for him. In addition, not only does Amir take Sohrab in, but he tells him the truth about who Hassan is. However, American authorities demand evidence of Sohrab's orphan status. When necessary, he is even willing to risk his life for what he believes in. Amir, Farid, and Sohrab get a hotel room (it's much nicer than the dump in Kabul no bloodstains, clean towels, etc.). After September 11, General Taheri was called back to Afghanistan. It's about redemption, and redemption is a powerful theme. Rahim Khan also emphasizes that betrayal does not need to mean only guilt and evil Babas good works. for a customized plan. The Kite Runner Babas words in Chapter 3 foreshadow the eventual takeover of Afghanistan by the radical Islamic fundamentalists called the Taliban. Because he cannot love Hassan openly, he is somewhat distant toward Amir and is often hard on him, though he undoubtedly loves him. Amir met an old beggar who was once a professor at the university alongside Amir's mother. Please wait while we process your payment. A lot of my childhood friends had a very hard time. The devastation in Kabul took Amir's breath away. The latter half of the book centers on Amir's attempts to atone for this transgression by rescuing Hassan's son two decades later. Amir later overhears Baba talking to his business associate, Rahim Khan, the man that later calls Amir from Pakistan. Edward Hower from The New York Times analyzed the portrayal of Afghanistan before and after the Taliban: Hosseini's depiction of pre-revolutionary Afghanistan is rich in warmth and humour but also tense with the friction between the nation's different ethnic groups. The scar on Amirs upper lipreminiscent of Hassans cleft lipand his joy in running the kite for Sohrab are evidence of Amirs redemption. He calls Mullah Fatiullah Khan and men like him idiots. It saddened him to know that his country was still beind devastated after so many decades of violence. When Amir is threatened, Hassan intervenes. What is the significance of Alis first wife? Unbeknownst to the boys or anyone else, it was the first of many political changes that would eventually ruin Afghanistan as they knew it. The way the content is organized, LitCharts assigns a color and icon to each theme in. The man with the Clark Gable moustache is Dr. Faruqi, who tells Amir that he is in a hospital in Peshawar. Using the characters of Baba and Amir on one side and Ali and Hassan on the other, Hosseinilays out all the divisionseconomic, ethnic, and religiouspresent in the country during the late 1970s. His defining traits are bravery, selflessness, and intelligence, though his smarts are more instinctual than bookish, largely because he is uneducated. on 50-99 accounts. Ultimately he does so through courage and self-sacrifice, and he tells his story as a form of penance. Renew your subscription to regain access to all of our exclusive, ad-free study tools. Amir, a well-to-do Pashtun boy, and Hassan, a Hazara boy who is the son of Ali, Amir's father's servant, spend their days kite fighting in the hitherto peaceful city of Kabul. What does Amir give to Farid for helping him on his journey to find Sohrab? When Sharif first appears, he is just a minor figure at Sorayas and Amirs wedding. creating and saving your own notes as you read. Hassan understands that if he denies taking the watch, Baba would know of Amirs devious plot to frame Hassan. Why does Amir love Baba? 9. His father was shot. Sohrab was shy, but he followed Amir as he launched the kite into the air. When he did not, Sohrab put out his eye. Amir's equating himself with Baba is an indication that Amir finally feels like a son his father can be proud of. Wed love to have you back! Amazingly, Amir won, and Hassan went to run the last kite for him. [11] Hosseini responded in an interview, "They never say I am speaking about things that are untrue. While Hassans rape is in many ways the center of the entire novel, the word rape appears only once. Though Sanaubar is infamously immoral in her youth and abandons Hassan just after he is born, she proves herself a caring grandmother to Sohrab when she reappears later in the novel. What are Ali and Hassan's distinct physical characteristics? Realizing Sohrab was in the bath, Amir went in to tell him the good news. Yet he feels Baba does not love him because he is not like Baba and because it was during his birth that his mother died. Continue to start your free trial. Soraya is steady, intelligent, and always there for Amir when he needs her. Baba tells him that the Mullahs are hypocrites and the only real sin is theft which takes many forms, the worst being having an affair. The letter talks of the need for forgiveness. Then one day, a miracle happened. Kite Runner One of the best-loved and most highly acclaimed novels of our time, THE KITE RUNNER is a powerful play of friendship that follows one mans journey to confront his past and find redemption. For the next 7 days, you'll have access to awesome PLUS stuff like AP English test prep, No Fear Shakespeare translations and audio, a note-taking tool, personalized dashboard, & much more! Later he found Hassan walking home, kite in hand, with blood dripping from his pants. He puts his safe, comfortable life in America on the line to return to Afghanistan and rescue Hassans son, Sohrab. Amir tells Sohrab of his plans to take him back to America and possibly adopt him. Farid tells Amir that Rahim Khan is gone, but Rahim Khan had left a letter and a key. The original text plus a side-by-side modern translation of. Contact us The cleft lip was a sign of Hassans lower social status, but also his purity of heart, as he was Babas other half and inherited his courage and goodness. We do not know anything about this event except that it still haunts him and that it involves something he did to Hassan, whom he calls "the harelipped kite runner." Amir accepts Soraya even after she tells him of her past because he, too, has done something seriously wrong and doesnt feel he can judge others. Instant downloads of all 1725 LitChart PDFs Amir's jaw will be wired shut for six weeks. You'll be able to access your notes and highlights, make requests, and get updates on new titles. Later, Amir learns the Caldwells never existed. Baba did not subscribe to popular belief, preferring to cast his own opinions about issues. He is Babas illegitimate child, though he is not aware of this fact, and he grows up with Ali acting as his father. By entering your email address you agree to receive emails from SparkNotes and verify that you are over the age of 13. He gives him all the money Rahim left, a little over $2,000. Murdering a man, for instance, is stealing his life. He said that Ali and Hassan were their family. Summary and Analysis When General Taheri finally forced her to come home, she had to cut off all her hair in shame. (one code per order). (one code per order). Amir was horrified to discover that the Talib was Assef. Khaled Hosseini acknowledged that the character is "an unlikable coward who failed to come to the aid of his best friend" for much of the duration of the story; consequently, Hosseini chose to create sympathy for Amir through circumstances rather than the personality he was given until the last third of the book. After his adoption, Sohrab refuses to interact with Amir or Soraya until Amir reminisces about Hassan and kites and shows off some of Hassan's tricks one day. [7], Like Amir, the protagonist of the novel, Hosseini was born in Afghanistan and left the country as a youth, not returning until 2003. Flying kites was a way to escape the horrific reality the two boys were living in. TO CANCEL YOUR SUBSCRIPTION AND AVOID BEING CHARGED, YOU MUST CANCEL BEFORE THE END OF THE FREE TRIAL PERIOD. They were allowed to pass. Hed also have to reveal that the encounter occurred soon after Amirs mother had died. [13] Marketing director Melissa Mytinger remarked, "It's simply an excellent story. Find more similar flip PDFs like The Kite Runner. Language links are at the top of the page across from the title. The man told them they could find the Talib at Ghazi Stadium. Assef is the main antagonist of the novel. ", "The Kite Runner: the Afghan tragedy goes unexplained", "Do I really have to read 'The Kite Runner'? [9] The news "struck a personal chord" for him, as he had grown up with the sport while living in Afghanistan. The Kite Runner Chapter 23 The Kite Runner Rahim Khan is dying and wishes to spend his last days alone, not raise Sohrab or explain his actions to Amir. They found it to be a miniature Afghan haven, filled with people they knew from Kabul. Baba's father was How does Baba see the world in Black and White Use examples from the book. The Kite Runner [20] Despite this, some critics questioned whether the protagonist had fully redeemed himself.[21]. The Kite Runner Chapter 23. Da Samandar Doaa (Sea Prayer) Pashto Edition: Sea Prayer (Pashto Edition) by Khaled Hosseini. 2. Among the refugees were Amir's schoolmate, Kamal, and his father. Answer: By severing the strings of all other kites. Why does Rahim Khan lie about the American couple? Discussion Questions 19-25 In the letter, Rahim Khan admits that he knows all that had happened during the running of the kites. They never saw Ali or Hassan again. Baba also has his own strong moral sense. "[29], The Kite Runner was also an inspiration for the creation of the Kite Runner project in Istanbul, an initiative of the association Diyalog in cooperation with International Media Support (IMS). Rahim Khan tells Amir that Alis first wife was never able to conceive a child with Ali, but became pregnant multiple times once she remarried. Eventually, Baba and Amir started selling used goods at a local flea market. By entering your email address you agree to receive emails from SparkNotes and verify that you are over the age of 13. Sohrab looked terrified. The protagonist and narrator of the novel, a wealthy boy who grows up in Kabul, Afghanistan along with his father, The antagonist of the novel, a blue-eyed, sadistic boy who idolizes Hitler, torments children with his brass knuckles, and later rapes, The director of the makeshift orphanage in Kabul, who occasionally sells a child to, An adoption official in the American embassy in Pakistan, who discourages.