Themes of The Kite Runner

Themes of The Kite Runner

Themes

Two Themes Emerge Together

Freedom of Will and Action

In this scene Amir has freedom of will but he isn't being strong enough to take advantage of it. He clearly doesn't want Hassan to leave but his lack of courage and honesty overpowers his will. He envisions himself being a "better person", chasing the car and redeeming himself, but only steps back and watches everything fall apart.

"I stepped back and all I saw was rain through windowpanes that looked like melting silver."

Freedom of Action VS. Freedom of Will

In "Freedom of Will and Freedom of Action", Rogers Albritton claims that there is a distinct difference between action and will. He says that your physical ability has no association with your freedom of will; "Free will, an obscure idea which is the one I am after, and physical ability to walk, a relatively clear idea which has nothing to do with free will."

This idea suggests that perhaps Amir in fact only has freedom of action but not will. He is capable of running outside after Hassan, but within his unconscious will, which he has no control over, he chooses not to.

Sam Harris also further supports the idea that there is no such thing as free will. He says that you cannot control the events in your life because they all result form previous events. "You could have behaved differently, but you didn't because of a series of previous events.''

Sam Harris would disagree saying that Amir had no choice but to sit in his room and watch as Baba pulled away from the house, because of his society, upbringing, and other events that were out of his control.

Comparre and Contrast

This scene can be related to the movie Finding Nemo. Both of the main characters in the film and the novel experience guilt for their harsh actions toward others. They are similar in that after Nemo is taken from his father, he realizes how much he needs him and after Hassan is taken from Amir, he realizes how important Hassan was.

However, they contrast in terms of freedom of action and freedom of will. Nemo had the will to return to his father, but was physically trapped in a fish tank and was unable to fulfill his desires, limiting his freedom of action. On the other hand, Amir had full freedom of action and will, but other factors were keeping him from reaching out to Hassan.

Both characters, Amir and Nemo, are young and still developing their moral codes through their personal experiences. Their fathers are both the people they emulate most, and in turn, begin to develop many of the same morals. For example, Amir knows what he is doing is wrong because of everything Baba has taught him, however he continues to fail to abide these morals. Nemo too knows his father, Marlin, would have wanted him to stay safe, but fails to abide these morals.

Suppression of Emotions and Thoughts:

This theme expresses how Amir conceals his emotions, and actions throughout the novel.

Regret and Guilt:

Because of Amirs suppression of his thoughts and faults he suffers from guilt throughout the novel.

The two themes emerge together and and climax on page 109, where Hassan an Ali drive away leaving Amir and Baba behind. Amir watches Hassan from his bedroom window wishing he could run out side and fix everything, but something holds him back.

"I was sorry,but I didn't cry and I didn't chase the car. I watched Baba's car pull away from the curb, taking with it the person whose first spoken word had been my name."

This quote demonstrates Amir's guilt and how much he really cares about Hassan. However, his fear and selfishness hold him back and he is unable to stand up for himself.

"If this was one of the Hindi movies Hassan and I used to watch, this was the part where I'd run outside, my bare feet splashing rainwater. I'd chase the car, screaming for it to stop. I'd pull Hassan out of the backseat and tell him I was sorry, so sorry, my tears mixing with rainwater. We'd hug in the downpour. But this was no Hindi movie."