Though it remains unclear why, he feels a tremendous sense of guilt about those events, and he believes they shaped him into who he is. Rahim Khan knew that if and when Amir returned with Sohrab, Amir would realize the lie and bring the boy to him. [23] Throughout the story, Amir craves his father's affection;[22] his father, in turn, loves Amir but favors Hassan,[20] going as far as to pay for plastic surgery to repair the latter's cleft lip. Baba sees Amir as physically weak, even feminine. I left a few things ambiguous because I wanted to drive the book clubs crazy. SparkNotes PLUS The Kite Runner Soraya is steady, intelligent, and always there for Amir when he needs her. Related is the difference in the health of the rich and the poor, who cannot afford proper medicine. Amir was furious; he told the general never to refer to Amir that way again. They're like having in-class notes for every discussion!, This is absolutely THE best teacher resource I have ever purchased. You can view our. Children and mothers begged on every street corner, and there were few men to be seen because so many had died fighting. Please wait while we process your payment. Farzana appears only briefly, but in that time she is portrayed as a loving mother. At age 18, he and his father flee to America following the Soviet Military invasion of Afghanistan, where he pursues his dream of being a writer. 20% By entering your email address you agree to receive emails from SparkNotes and verify that you are over the age of 13. Amir flew into a rage and ran out of Rahim Khan's apartment. Did you know you can highlight text to take a note? The Kite Runner Who are the Caldwells? Amir begins to believe that life would be easier if Hassan were not around, so he plants his watch and some birthday money under Hassan's mattress in the hope that Baba will make him leave; Hassan falsely confesses when confronted by Baba. [9][12] It was released on May 29, 2003, and the paperback edition was released a year later. He is no longing living in the shadow of Hassan or his father; rather, he is a man who is making his way in the world. Save over 50% with a SparkNotes PLUS Annual Plan! Amir is born in Afghanistan and remains living there until the age of 18 when he emigrates to the USA with his father. Amir met an old beggar who was once a professor at the university alongside Amir's mother. Amirs plot and manipulation of Baba show how devious he is. The word "again" indicates that Amir was indeed good at one time, and in order to be restored to that state of grace, the implication is that Amir must do something to atone for his sins. Then he told her he was bringing Sohrab home. He may have been trying to break the news to Amir slowly that the way to be good again is to adopt Sohrab himself. Amir tells Sohrab of his plans to take him back to America and possibly adopt him. Contact us A boy from Amirs and Hassans neighborhood. What is a kite runner? He and Farid spent the night in a run-down hotel. The Kite Runner The true intent of the statement is Amir's decision to parent Sohrab. Afghanistan is a divided country and two childhood friends are about to be Yet his shame at having a child with a Hazara woman leads him to hide the fact that Hassan is his son. Amir asks Baba if he has seen Amirs new watch as part of his plot to have Hassan sent away. Soon after, the Cold War ended, the Berlin Wall fell, and the riots occurred in Tiananmen Square. She had traveled a long way to finally make peace with Hassan, who accepted her with open arms. One day, Sanaubar collapsed at the gate of the house. He barely seemed to have a will to live. Because he cannot love Hassan openly, he is somewhat distant toward Amir and is often hard on him, though he undoubtedly loves him. Assef agrees to relinquish him if Amir can escape the room alive. Hassan runs for the last cut kite, a great trophy, saying to Amir, "For you, a thousand times over." At the end of Because its themes of friendship, betrayal, guilt, redemption and the uneasy love between fathers and sons are universal, and not specifically Afghan, the book has been able to reach across cultural, racial, religious and gender gaps to resonate with readers of varying backgrounds. Chapter 8-10 1. from your Reading List will also remove any Most people thought the marriage was arranged by Sanaubars father as a way to restore honor to his family. The novel is also available in a multi-CD audiobook read by the author. Amir used to play, It is unclear whether Rahim Khan thought that the American couple was in Pakistan or not. Amirs suspicions were true, and Rahim Khan did know of his betrayal, and asked him to save Sohrab in part to give Amir a way to redeem himself. Youve successfully purchased a group discount. KITE RUNNER By signing up you agree to our terms and privacy policy. The free trial period is the first 7 days of your subscription. Acting father to Hassan and a servant of Babas. The section also establishes a context for the information: Amir, our narrator, is an adult living in the United States and looking back on his childhood years in Afghanistan. The Kite Runner Summary During the ride there, Amir dozes. Get Annual Plans at a discount when you buy 2 or more! Why does Rahim Khan lie about the American couple? "[22] A similarly favourable review was printed in Publishers Weekly. [20], The American Library Association reported that The Kite Runner was one of its most-challenged books of 2008, with multiple attempts to remove it from libraries due to its "offensive language, sexually explicit [content], and unsuit[ability for] age group. After the Russians invade Afghanistan and executions become commonplace, Amir and Baba flee the turmoil and danger destroying their home country. Who are the Caldwells Poor and an ethnic Hazara, he suffers from partial paralysis of his face and walks with a limp caused by polio. Teacher Editions with classroom activities for all 1725 titles we cover. [9] Originally published in English, The Kite Runner was later translated into 42 languages for publication in 38 countries. He even claims Hitler as a role model. God help us all if Afghanistan ever falls into their hands, he says, after calling Mullah Fatiullah Khan and those like him self-righteous monkeys.. Amir runs away, and later both he and Hassan pretend nothing has happened. Rahim Khan asks our narrator, whose name is Amir, to come to Pakistan to see him. He even pays to have Hassan's cleft lip surgically corrected. He also admits to feeling responsible for his mothers death. Amir used Hassan's favorite "lift-and-dive" move to cut the kite. [8] His editor, Cindy Spiegel, "helped him rework the last third of his manuscript", something she describes as relatively common for a first novel. The soldier refers to Hassan as a Hazara, which we learn is a persecuted ethnic group in Afghanistan. When Amir refused, Rahim Khan told him a life-changing secret: he and Hassan were half-brothers. bookmarked pages associated with this title. [5] The book received the South African Boeke Prize in 2004. 2023 Course Hero, Inc. All rights reserved. "a husband and wife named Thomas and Betty Caldwell". A driver named Farid drove Amir from Peshawar. Baba is diagnosed with terminal cancer but is still capable of granting Amir one last favor: he asks Soraya's father's permission for Amir to marry her. Assef, an older boy with a sadistic taste for violence, regularly mocks Amir for socializing with a Hazara, whose members, according to him, belong only in Hazarajat. Contact us 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. Realizing Sohrab was in the bath, Amir went in to tell him the good news. May 1, 2023, SNPLUSROCKS20 Though Sofia died during childbirth, Amir knows she loved literature as he does. He also never lets anyones lack of belief in him stop him from accomplishing his goals. In San Francisco, Amir and Soraya bought a house and discovered they were infertile. 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. Amir and Sohrab play a card game called panjpar. As Amir is recovering, Farid encourages him to leave Peshawar as soon as possible; this triggers Amir's memory of the silent old man, who may be a spy for the Taliban. In 198, the Taliban massacred the Hazaras in Mazar-i-Sharif. Want 100 or more? 12. You may cancel your subscription on your Subscription and Billing page or contact Customer Support at custserv@bn.com. Amir's ability to stand up to Assef his own personal bear marks a change in Amir's perception of self. Although he distrusts religious fundamentalism, he follows his own moral code and acts with self-assurance and bravery. Among other injuries, Amir suffers from a ruptured spleen, seven broken ribs, a punctured lung, lacerations, and a fracture of the eye socket bone. Assef came to the party and gave Amir a book about Hitler. Where does Amir find Hassan and what is the conflict? WebGet an answer for 'In Chapter 24 of The Kite Runner, why do Sohrab and Amir travel to Islamabad? He explained that the Taliban had destroyed Afghanistan as they knew it and the people there were in grave danger. You'll be billed after your free trial ends. "[9] First Lady Laura Bush commended the story as "really great". Ace your assignments with our guide to The Kite Runner! He said that Ali and Hassan were their family. Thanks for creating a SparkNotes account! Every Sunday, Baba and Amir make extra money selling used goods at a flea market in San Jose. Hed also have to reveal that the encounter occurred soon after Amirs mother had died. [citation needed]. Kite Runner Chapter 17 Summary & Analysis The letter talks of the need for forgiveness. an American couple who leave Afghanistan just before Amir arrives the former royal family of Afghanistan an American couple that Rahim Khan makes up the owners of the convenience store in Fremont Asked by queen m #231489 on 3/17/2012 1:28 AM Last updated by Aslan on 3/17/2012 2:18 AM [20] Despite this, some critics questioned whether the protagonist had fully redeemed himself.[21]. Sohrab was shy, but he followed Amir as he launched the kite into the air. Amir has now lost another father-figure in Rahim Khan. His graduation gave Baba a reason to celebrate, but he said he wished Hassan were with them. When he finally came to, he found out that he had almost died of a ruptured spleen. TO CANCEL YOUR SUBSCRIPTION AND AVOID BEING CHARGED, YOU MUST CANCEL BEFORE THE END OF THE FREE TRIAL PERIOD. The chapter opens in Islamabad. He pretended not to know what happened and did not tell Ali the truth when he asked. Kite Runner Miller, W.C. ed. He is described as a "sociopath" by Amir. The narrator and the protagonist of the story. Once, while looking through history books, Amir discovered information on the Hazara. The Hazara people will take it as an insult. Rahim Khan asked Amir to go to Kabul and bring Sohrab back to Peshawar. Our, "Sooo much more helpful thanSparkNotes. The Kite Runner Chapter 24 Please wait while we process your payment. Amir then admits that he doesnt help Hassan because he wants to get the kite to bring back to his father, a gesture that he believes will cause his father to finally love and accept him: Maybe Hassan was the price I had to pay, the lamb I had to slay, to win Baba.. The period is December 2001, and our narrator, who tells his story in the first person, recalls an event that occurred in 1975, when he was twelve years old and growing up in Afghanistan. They are more like brothers who are on occasion reminded that one is Pashtun and one Hazara. The History of Afghanistan during the Time of The Kite Runner, Read the Study Guide for The Kite Runner, Amirs Quest for Salvation in The Kite Runner, A Journey for Redemption in The Kite Runner, Redemption in Kahled Hosseini's The Kite Runner, Emotional Intertextuality Between Death of a Salesman and The Kite Runner, View the lesson plan for The Kite Runner, View Wikipedia Entries for The Kite Runner. Thanks for creating a SparkNotes account! To Baba's sorrow, Hassan and Ali leave anyway, because Hassan has told Ali what happened to him. Amir grieves for his own unending guilt as much as he does for Hassan, but then Rahim Khan explains his plan, the way Amir can be good again. 10. She obeys her husband without question and wants nothing more than to see her daughter married. (including. They shot Farzana too when she ran out of the house in a rage. WebBaba and Amir are in Fremont, California, where they have lived for nearly two years. Sohrab revealed that he was afraid God would punish him for what he did to Assef. Assef idolized Hitler and hated Hazaras. Before he chased it, he shouted, "For you, a thousand times over." Wed love to have you back! Complete your free account to access notes and highlights. The Kite Runner But he worries his father does not see these as manly pursuits. No matter how much he begged, Hassan would not hit him back. Only their five-year-old son, Ali, survived. Amir mixes his memories of Baba in with this information. What is the significance of Alis first wife? When they reached a checkpoint, a Russian soldier demanded to sleep with one of them, a married woman. Free trial is available to new customers only. Hassans and Sohrabs rapist and the novels antagonist. on 2-49 accounts, Save 30% The last king of Afghanistan, who rules for 40 years. Amir sees Hassan as his servant and feels no need to treat him well. 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. But with word of mouth, book sales have taken off", "Siblings' Separation Haunts In 'Kite Runner' Author's Latest", "COVER STORY: the Afghan story teller Khaled Hosseini", "Khaled Hosseni author of Kite Runner talks about his mistress: Writing", "Is the Arab world ready for a literary revolution? Suddenly, Amir realized that he had formed his identity around being "Baba's son." It's about human beings. The next morning, Amir hid money under Wahid's mattress before they left. [26][27], Critically, the book was well-received, albeit controversial. Active Themes. Sometimes it can end up there. They never saw Ali or Hassan again. There, Amir meets fellow refugee Soraya Taheri and her family. Teacher Editions with classroom activities for all 1725 titles we cover. Murdering a man, for instance, is stealing his life. The first night, Amir woke up to find Sohrab gone. Why does Amir accept Soraya even after she tells him of her past? He had an innate sense of where a kite would land. SparkNotes Plus subscription is $4.99/month or $24.99/year as selected above. Khaled Hosseini (Goodreads Author), Najiba Lima (Translator) 4.20 avg rating 5 WebThe Kite Runner is the story of Amir, a Sunni Muslim, who struggles to find his place in the world because of the aftereffects and fallout from a series of traumatic childhood events. Having been "a fan of comic books since childhood", he was open to the idea, believing that The Kite Runner was a good candidate to be presented in a visual format. Wed love to have you back! He even told Amir that he had never been a real Afghan because he grew up with so many privileges. For Amir, he serves a father figure, often giving Amir the attention he craves and filling the holes left by Babas emotional distance. (including. A nurse's assistant helps Amir walk around. Find related themes, quotes, symbols, characters, and more. Members will be prompted to log in or create an account to redeem their group membership. Afterwards, Amir keeps distant from Hassan; his feelings of guilt prevent him from interacting with the boy. They were allowed to pass. Creating notes and highlights requires a free LitCharts account. Amir tried to resolve his guilt by teaching Hassan not to be so loyal to him. Baba worked long hours at a gas station and even though he loved "the idea of America," had trouble adjusting to its everyday realities. He barely recognized the landscape around him because it was so ravaged by war. They found it to be a miniature Afghan haven, filled with people they knew from Kabul. For Amir, America represented a fresh beginning, free of all his haunting memories of Hassan. $24.99 1200 South Forest Avenue. He notices kites flying, and thinks of his past, including his friend Hassan, a boy with a cleft lip whom he calls a kite runner. If you don't see it, please check your spam folder. Your group members can use the joining link below to redeem their group membership. Asnes, Tania. Thats because, for Amir, the past is not over. Instant PDF downloads. What are Ali and Hassan's distinct physical characteristics? Son of Hassan and Farzana. In 1988, Amir published his first novel. Baba forgave him immediately, but Hassan and Ali were too humiliated to stay. A former mujahedin fighter, Farid is at first gruff and unfriendly. CliffsNotes study guides are written by real teachers and professors, so no matter what you're studying, CliffsNotes can ease your homework headaches and help you score high on exams. Explain kite running. Amir is still in danger, as the Taliban are supported by many in Pakistan. He knew Baba never would have given him such a great party had he not won the tournament, which was inseparable in his mind from Hassan's rape. [15] That same year, on May 21, Khaled Hosseini published another book called And the Mountains Echoed. Get Annual Plans at a discount when you buy 2 or more! 29. and any corresponding bookmarks? Assef is the main antagonist of the novel. He hid his wristwatch and money under Hassan and Ali's mattress. You'll also receive an email with the link. SparkNotes Plus subscription is $4.99/month or $24.99/year as selected above. All three of these are important thematic topics in The Kite Runner, and their impact on Amir are made clear in the subsequent chapters. Detailed explanations, analysis, and citation info for every important quote on LitCharts. A lot of my childhood friends had a very hard time. The Kite Runner I did not intend this, but I am keenly interested, it appears, in the way parents and children love, disappoint, and in the end honor each other. Later he found Hassan walking home, kite in hand, with blood dripping from his pants. Language links are at the top of the page across from the title. WebAmir sees Hassan as his servant and feels no need to treat him well. PDF downloads of all 1725 LitCharts literature guides, and of every new one we publish. In many ways, Sohrab acts as a substitute for Hassan in the novel, and he is a central focus of the plot in the later sections of the book. Amir's motivation for the childhood betrayal is rooted in his insecurities regarding his relationship with his father. Why does Amir sometimes treat Hassan badly in childhood? Though people said he had no business sense, he became one of the most successful businessmen in the city. 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. This is the first time Amir has stood up for Hassan, by saving his son. Baba tells him that there is only one sin: theft. Soraya's call woke Amir. Sohrab is the young son of Hassan and Farzana. Khaled Hosseini identifies a number of themes that appear in The Kite Runner, but reviewers have focused on guilt and redemption. [16] Born into a Pashtun family in 1963, his mother died while giving birth to him. How can Amir really be good again? Use up and down arrows to review and enter to select. Thus, Sohrab travels with Amir to Islamabad. General Taheri stopped asking questions after that. Rahim Khan gave him the only present he could bear to use, which was a blank notebook for his stories. are Shia Muslim. He puts his safe, comfortable life in America on the line to return to Afghanistan and rescue Hassans son, Sohrab. Find related themes, quotes, symbols, characters, and more. In April 2013, the play premiered in Europe at the Nottingham Playhouse, with Ben Turner acting in the lead role. In the end, however, Babas guilt led him to do good. Kite Runner Ali is defined by his modesty more than anything, and he works diligently as Babas servant. Rahim Khan summons Amir to Afghanistan to atone for his betrayal of Hassan, and knows that Amir cannot be trusted to rescue Sohrab unless he believes someone else will take over the responsibility. Baba and Amir, for instance, are rich and live in a large mansion, while Ali and Hassan are poor and live in a small hut on Babas property. Hassan and Farzana insisted on staying in the servants' hut and doing housework. Rahim Khan asks that Amir bring Sohrab to Pakistan, promising that there is a loving couple, the Caldwells, who want to adopt him. Web25. [3][6][7] In 1999, Hosseini learned through a news report that the Taliban had banned kite flying in Afghanistan,[8] a restriction he found particularly cruel. Why does Amir sometimes treat Hassan badly in childhood? Sohrab Amir flew to Peshawar to see Rahim Khan, who told him that he was dying. resource to ask questions, find answers, and discuss thenovel. [28] He believed that the scene was necessary to "maintain the integrity" of the story, as a physical assault by itself would not have affected the audience as much. . He goes to the large mosque, Shah Faisal. (one code per order). Your subscription will continue automatically once the free trial period is over. Amir realizes this secret he must carry is his new curse, and spends the rest of the novel struggling with his moral failure. In 1933, the same year Baba was born, two intoxicated young drivers struck and killed a Hazara couple. Amir did feel like a foreigner because he had to wear a fake beard and was dressed in traditional Afghan clothing for the first time.