Kite Runner - Kite Symbolism

How does Hosseini use the symbol of a kite in ‘The Kite Runner’? The prevalent symbol of a kite throughout the novel is first made obvious by Hosseini through its inclusion in the title itself, ‘The Kite Runner’. The kite has been established as a medium for a plethora of emotions and motifs which are central to the plot. Beyond the kite as a mere object, Hosseini builds sentiment and even trauma behind the kite which ultimately makes it an effective symbol for union, freedom and guilt during Afghanistan in the 1970s. Hosseini utilises the kite as a symbol of union especially during the beginning and ending of the novel, creating a cyclical structure which encompasses Amir’s sentiment towards a kite throughout different time periods. Towards the beginning of the novel, the kite was a symbol of union in rekindling Baba and Amir’s tainted relationship, “Kites were the one paper thin slice of intersection between those spheres”. Not only does the kite provide a visual depiction of union for the reader, it exemplifies the filling of Amir’s unfulfilled inner void; validation and love from Baba. Despite living under the same roof, they existed in “different spheres” which is represented through the kite. The descriptive adjective “paper thin” demonstrates the power of an object underwhelmingly simple “a toy made of tissue paper, glue and bamboo”, and that the thin veil presented through the kite and its event is enough for Baba and Amir to share common ground and bond over with. Moreover, Hosseini outlines how simple it is for Baba and Amir to “close the chasm” between them, however due to the nature of unreciprocating and social climate, this ceases to occur. The kite also serves as a symbol of union at the end of the novel, once again providing an outlet for redemption for Amir. This is done through Amir’s question “Do you want me to run that kite for you?” directed at Sohrab. The use of the second person pronoun “you” in the question “for you?” alludes to the faithful nature Hassan once portrayed; “A loyal Hazara. Loyal as a dog”. This reinforces sentiment between Amir and Sohrab, continuing a relationship that should have occurred during Hassan’s time. As a symbol of union, the audience can appreciate the kite’s ability to revitalise bonds between different people, its sentimental value remains timeless and precious, although it had a more disappointing purpose in the beginning of the novel. The notion of union contrasts political upheaval in Afghanistan, with Pashtuns and Hazaras, men and women, the rich and poor being blatantly separated. On a larger scale, the Soviet invasion in Afghanistan alongside the Taliban’s takeover led to Amir becoming disconnected and separated from his physical past, perhaps trying to separate from his past actions too. The kite can also serve as a symbol of freedom in ‘The Kite Runner’, especially as the kite physically demonstrates the ability to soar through the sky. The protagonist Amir says, “That was the thing about kite flying: You mind drifted with the kite”, displaying tranquillity and a peaceful state of mind that comes with flying kites. The verb “drifted” signifies how kites enabled Amir to gain the liberty of a peaceful mind, despite its brevity. Kites are Amir’s means of escape in the midst of turmoil (both inner and external), thus kites are a significant aspect of his childhood. The mere highlight of Amir’s chaotic childhood was the kite tournament, revealed to the reader as Baba asked Amir to “Think of something good”. One may agree that the “good” behind this question lies in the innocence and purity of childhood which had been corrupted during the winter of 1975; the kite becomes a timeless sentimental object which Amir can reminisce with along with healing his wounded inner child through flying kites with Sohrab at the end of the novel. The personification in chapter 1 “They danced high above the trees” further alludes to semantic field of freedom and joy, what people associate with their childhoods. At the end of the novel, Amir was no longer traumatised by the kite and is now a symbol of his childhood. This would make the reader feel the same bittersweetness and sentiment that the kite represented and experience the semantic shift what the kite represented. Hosseini uses the symbol of freedom to highlight the contrasting outcomes of the Taliban takeover in the 1980s. Amir had the privilege of freedom, as he and Baba fled Afghanistan to San Francisco as asylum refugees, whereas Hassan was stuck to face brutal consequences; the “monster” that held him back from living the life he was utterly entitled to. Another symbol of the kite in ‘The Kite Runner’ is undoubtedly guilt; the literal kite runner being Hassan during the kite tournament, however one can argue that allegorically, Amir is the ultimate ‘runner’. ‘The Kite Runner’ could be euphemism of Amir chasing for redemption by travelling back to Afghanistan to save Sohrab. The turning point of the novel simultaneously became the point of semantic shift for the kite as well, demonstrated through the quote “sitting on piles of scrap and rubble, was the blue kite. My key to Baba’s heart”. The use of concrete nouns “scrap and rubble” indicates the harsh environment Hassan is in along with the kite itself. Amir attributes the kite to the cowardly decision of being a mere standby witnessing Hassan’s rape. This further exacerbates Amir’s existing hatred towards himself, as he feels as if he is an inherent burden to Baba, longing to redeem himself for being the cause of his wife’s death. The kite can have a heavy, discomforting connotation as it was the tool for Amir to “show him once and for all that his son was worthy”. Readers could experience the effect of disappointment or perhaps empathy for Amir as his desperate need for validation practically came at the cost of Hassan’s wellbeing. His guilt, represented by the kite, suggests that he in turn grows selfish; he pays attention to “the key to Baba’s heart”, instead of embodying genuine concern for Hassan. Amir fails to recognise just how priceless a true friend such as Hassan is, therefore he is shameful of it and associates the kite with his everlasting guilt. Such failure to recognise Hassan’s friendship could lie in the ethnic separatism that was prominent in Afghanistan; As Pashtuns and Hazaras, the power imbalance between the two boys remains blatant. The privileged Amir is arguably the “monster” all along, anchoring Hassan back from living the happy life he deserves. All in all, the kite goes through a cyclical semantic shifts as the novel progresses. Though it remains a small object in Amir’s life, the events that revolve around it are pivotal to shape Amir into the person he eventually becomes. As a positive symbol of innocence and childhood in the beginning, the reader can appreciate how Hosseini reverses the role of Amir becoming Sohrab’s kite runner signifying how its negative symbol of trauma and guilt has been eliminated to a certain extent.