The Kite Runner quotes + analysis (copy) TWO

'I became what I am today at the age of twelve, on a frigid overcast day' (1)

Formative moment in Amir's life, pathetic fallacy used to reflect oppressive emotions and situation.

Sets up narrative frame - narrative of series of extended, retrospective flashbacks, foreshadowing of events creates dramatic tension, first person narrative unreliable as events coloured by emotions

'The past claws its way out' (1)

Personification of the past presents it as an aggressive force, invokes image of something dead rising from the grave - imagery conveys that the truth cannot be suppressed forever and even powerful oppressors cannot escape from their crimes

'A pair of kites... soaring in the sky' (1)

Kites symbolise unity of Hassan and Amir as children, symbol of hope, independence and freedom of innocence of childhood - victory against oppression - but also symbolise betrayal of Hassan and guilt that plagues Amir - recurring motif throughout novel

'For you, a thousand times over' (2)

Reflects Hassan's devotion and loyalty to Amir but also his servility and unquestioning acceptance of lower social status and the fact Amir had power in relationship - Hassan brave and strong but Amir shows cowardice and betrayal - hyperbole emphasises extent of devotion, plain honesty contrast to Amir's secrets and lies

'a face like a Chinese doll chiselled from hardwood... and the cleft lip... where the Chinese doll maker's instrument may have slipped, or perhaps he had simply grown tired and careless' (3

Symbolises how Hazaras were seen as inferiors, outward defining physical disfigurement symbolises treatment and economic and social disparity and social class difference between Amir and Hassan - Amir's description dehumanises Hassan and presents him as an outsider

'Hassan never denied me anything' (4)

Friendship based on Hassan's enforced servility and unquestioning loyalty - Amir's unquestioning group mentality

'Gold stitched tapestries' 'crystal chandelier' VS 'modest little mud hut' 'spare, clean' (4/5/6)

Amir and Baba's house used to show their wealth and privilege as ruling group Pashtuns - wealthy, luxurious, elaborate materials, ostentatious show of power - symbols of social status and prestige

Ali and Hassan's simple and plain living used to show their modesty and moral goodness - only additional possession the religious tapestry - used to show their religious nature and purity

'Lost her to a fate most Afghans considered far worse than death' 'Dishonourable reputation' 'tempted countless men into sin' (6/7)

position of women - Sanuabar judged by Afghan society for her promiscuity and refusal to follow social norms of conforming to role as wife and mother (refuses to hold Hassan and insults Ali), free spirit in pursuit of freedom and pleasure - at the bottom of social hierarchy as Hazara and woman - sexual double standard and unequal treatment of women in patriarchal society as portrayed as predatory evil temptress

Contrast to Amir's mother - impure/immoral vs powerful, pure, privileged social elite

'stunned to find an entire chapter dedicated to Hazara history' (8)

Shows how Pashtun elite remove Hazara history and remove their agency in order to prevent them from rebelling and maintain their power- indoctrination - those who control the past control the future - voicelessness and suppression of Hazaras

'A brotherhood between people who fed from the same breast' (10)

Foreshadows future revelation that they are brothers - similarity between boys as both loose mother - contrasting circumstances of births symbolic of social division and differing economic statuses - Pashtun birth noble, gives up life for Amir's, illusion of power as considered superior but mother still dies VS Hassan's birth as easy, natural and simple ('out he came smiling') presenting Hassan as pure and angelic

'Mine was Baba. His was Amir... I think the foundation of what happened... was already laid in those first words' (11)

First words are people who they are devoted to and desire respect from - implies conflict will arise from Amir's love of Baba and Hassan's loyalty to Amir

Hassan's servility from birth - sense of enslavement as robbed of autonomy and agency

"my father once wrestled a black bear... with his bare hands" "Mr Hurricane" "towering Pashtun specimen" (12)

Presents Baba as strong and impressive authority figure, oppressive force of nature, reinforces image as strong and powerful - represents power of Pashtun majority, power and ethnicity

"in those dreams I can never tell Baba from the bear" (12)

Baba is an internalised figure of authority to Amir, inescapable control - creates sense of paternalistic figure

"Baba decided to build an orphanage... had drawn the blueprints himself" "everyone shook their heads in awe"

"When Baba ended his speech, people stood up and cheered"(14)

Building of orphanage shows Baba's power and strength, the fact he refused advice on building plans shows his arrogance and stubbornness - Selfless vs egotism - generously gave money for cause (philanthropist) but public event meant chance to better reputation

"Piss on the beards of all those self-righteous monkeys" "God help us all if Afghanistan ever falls into their hands" (16)

Baba disconnected from Afghanistan culture: liberal and westernised views vs conservative Muslims - challenge to authority in taboo rejection of religious authority and power of organised religion, power to be disrespectful

"That was how I escaped my father's aloofness, in my dead mother's books" (19)

Performing gender roles - literature reminder of wife so views it as passive and feminine - Amir aligns himself with his mother over his father due to Baba's dismissive and disrespectful attitude

"A boy who won't stand up for himself becomes a man who can't stand up to anything" (22)

Baba projects expectations of masculinity onto Amir

Sums up Amir's major character flaw (his cowardice) and shows how much Baba places in standing up for what is right - Dramatic irony - foreshadows Amir's watching of Hassan's rape - Amir secretly listens to his father criticise the betrayal he will later commit - Baba is authority figure to Amir so his views are important to Amir

"I never thought of Amir and me as friends either" (24)

Amir unable to recognise friendship - feels distanced from Hassan due to different ethnicities and statuses - strong ethnic divisions - friendship based on Hassan's enforced servility and unquestioning loyalty - Unreliable narrator as clear that Hassan was Amir's friend but he denies truth - Unquestioning group mentality - Amir believes he is superior to Hassan due to their difference in ethnicity and believes they cannot be true friends - social divisions within relationship

"playing cops and robbers, cowboys and Indians, insect torture" (24)

Hierarchal power structure games parallel Amir and Hassan's unequal power dynamics - oppressor and the oppressed

"warm Coca-Cola and rosewater ice cream topped with crushed pistachios" (25)

Western and Middle Eastern identities intermingled - Rich descriptions evoke smells, colours and noises of city - Creates vivid setting for events of Amir's childhood and provides a basis for comparison when we see the much changed Kabul when Amir returns

'a pomegranate tree near the entrance to the cemetery'

"Amir and Hassan, the sultans of Kabul" (26)

Grim brutal surroundings of cemetery place of death may suggest inevitability of ending of friendship, contrast to life of tree and fruitfulness of relationship

Carving in tree = permanent symbol of friendship and presents them as equals - challenge to authority and social divisions

"My favourite part of reading to Hassan was when we came across a big word that he didn't know. I'd tease him, expose his ignorance" (27)

Amir envious of Hassan's natural intelligence and scared of being overtaken so uses power and position to subjugate Hassan, deliberately misleads and manipulates Hassan and abuses his power - Power of the written word as literacy and knowledge associated with privilege - Hassan illiterate so stuck in state of servility and reliant on Amir for storytelling

Suppression - Pashtuns want to maintain power so prevent Hazaras becoming educated for fear of them making their own choices and gaining power

"Will you permit you to ask a question about the story?" (32)

Hassan feels able to 'speak truth to power' - courageous honesty in attempt to improve Amir's writing - Speech respectful and subservient - Challenge to authority

"I wondered briefly what it must be like to live with such an ingrained sense of one's place in a hierarchy" (39)

Amir recognises Hassan's suppression and the ingrained social divisions - Hassan protects Amir, risks own safety in an act of self-sacrifice. Unclear division between loyal devotion and servile humiliation

"something sober had melted into his eyes" (42)

Baba's fixing of Hassan's harelip reminder of social division and lack of power of Hazaras as Ali and Hassan forced to rely on good will of wealthy - superficial fixing of appearance, ultimately futile - charitable, generous act may have dubious intentions as to benefit Baba's image and assuage his guilt

"Afghans are an independent people. Afghans cherish custom but abhor rules" (48)

Courageous and independent race

"I'd sooner eat dirt" "Really? You'd do that?" "There was something fascinating - albeit in a sick way - about teasing Hassan" (50)

Amir takes pleasure in his subjugation of Hassan - sadistic - likens it to torturing insects, identifying himself as holding the insect of torture and Hassan as the vulnerable prey - manipulation

"I was looking at two faces, the one I knew, the one that was my first memory, and another, a second face, this one lurking just beneath the surface" (51)

Hassan - has secret autonomy hidden form Amir - image of two faces symbolises realisation by Amir that there's more to Hassan than meets the eye - challenge to authority

"I'll put it on my table, where I keep my drawings" (54)

Hassan has realistic expectations for his life, doesn't expect to escape servility - Hassan presented as grounded and aware of the futility of wealth and prefers his humble existence - Unquestioning group mentality - accepts position in society and his inferiority to Amir, doesn't recognise injustice, victim of false class consciousness

"there's no monster" (56)

Hassan's positive state of mind reinforces his allegiance with and love of Amir - Monster could represent Amir's fear of letting Baba down / image of monster = suggestion that Hassan is conscious of the cruelty which lies beneath Amir's surface - Power of the spoken word - Amir and Hassan are acclaimed as heroes and courageous, inspiring individuals - positive omen for kite flying tournament, overcome fear

'maybe Hassan was the price I had to pay, the lamb I had to slaughter, to win Baba... He was just a Hazara, wasn't he?' (73)

Reinforces Amir's indoctrination into believing Hassan's position as a Hazara is inferior - Hassan's rape and Assef's brutal actions on a domestic scale reflect the later, historically grounded massacre of Hazaras in Mazar-i-Sharif - Hassan as symbol of lamb and therefore symbol of innocence, Hassan's resignation to his fate and his acceptance of his position in society and lack of power

Amir uses social divisions in order to run away from a bad situation instead of facing his fears and helping Hassan - Unquestioning group mentality - more concerned with impressing Baba than Hassan's fate, unable to see Hassan as an equal or even a human deserving of sympathy so therefore doesn't challenge authority

"I became an insomniac" (81)

overwhelming guilt at lack of consequences for actions

Isolated and alone in knowledge of actions - with no outward expression, guilt becomes something physical - Amir views guilt and illness as a punishment for his lack of ability to help Hassan

"Get up! Hit me!" (86) "He opened it and crushed it against his own forehead. 'There,' he croaked, red dripping down his face like blood. 'are you satisfied?'" (87)

Amir wants punishment for his actions, attempt for equality with aggressive act, craves punishment to assuage guilt. Hassan refuses to fight back - Hassan shows passive resistance - moral power vs social power - refuses to let Amir assuage his guilt by fighting back

Attack with pomegranates finalise breaking of bond of friendship - Resistance - Hassan able to resist against powerful figure despite lower social standing with his strong morals

"He led them towards us, like he had brought them here. Like he was the parent, and they his children" (89)

'their son frightened them'

"the façade faltered, revealed a glimpse of the madness hiding behind them" (90)

Assef's position as authority figure - manipulates those around him

"In the end, the world always wins" (92)

Defeatist attitude, lack of resistance - unfairness of the world

"In one of those brief bursts of light, I saw something I'll never forget: Hassan serving drinks to Assef" (93)

symbolic of Afghanistan's future - foreshadowing violence - Significant moment where Hassan serves Assef illuminated in brief burst of light, then dark described as merciful. Amir's brief understanding of Hassan's position is painful, therefore light and vision = understanding/truth/knowledge and darkness=ignorance and therefore bliss, Fireworks = brief moments of illumination - transient, lack substance

Ingrained social hierarchy

"If this was one of the Hindi movies Hassan and I used to watch, this was the part where I'd run outside..."

'I stepped back and all I saw was rain through windowpanes that looked like melting silver' (101)

Amir offers different version of events as it would have happened in a film - escape into fantasy world - Comparison to film shows Amir's naivety as he doesn't recognise the seriousness of the situation - Power and powerlessness - Amir has control over continuation of events and power to change events whereas Hassan is powerless and his fate is controlled by Amir. Rain on window gives distorted view of the world - Amir cannot see the whole truth due to his limited knowledge, therefore unreliable narration - lack of courage

"I'll take a thousand of his bullets before I let this indecency take place" (107)

Baba's strong moral code and confidence contrast to Amir's actions after Hassan's rape - Power - although Baba has lost his instrumental and political power after leaving Kabul and his role as a well-respected Pashtun, he maintained his personal and influential power. He shows individual courage by standing up for his values despite the circumstances

"In Kabul, we snapped a tree branch and used it as a credit card... No questions. No ID." (119)

Contrast of cultural ideas - Encourages sympathy with Afghanistan - simpler way of living - contrasting idealised worlds / unfairness of the law

"Kabul had become a city of ghosts for me. A city of harelipped ghosts... America was a river, roaring along, unmindful of the past" (126)

America offers form of freedom to Amir as he can escape from the reminder of his sins and guilt of his past

"The man is a Pashtun to the root. He has nang and namoos." (134)

Honour and pride = key principles of Pashtun men - aspects of paternalism - respectable qualities but possessive / controlling / restrictive / inhibitive - lack humility/fallibility and recognition of flaws due to pride

"I was fully aware of the afghan double standard that favoured my gender" "I cringed a little at the position of power I had been granted, and all because I had won the genetic lottery that had determined my sex" (135)

Patriarchal society - poor treatment of women and unequal gender standards - Amir recognises position of women

"I knew there was nothing else I'd ever want to be but a teacher... I felt I'd done something really worthwhile" (140)

Questioning group mentality - Soraya victim of paternalistic oppression but uses privileged position to help others who are oppressed - victim of oppression becomes agent for change - challenge to authority contrast to Amir's exploitation of Hassan's illiteracy and his cowardice

"[Padar] made me come home"

"I really believe he saved me" (151)

Shows that women in Afghan culture expected to obey their fathers and expectations of society - The fact that he 'made' her come home shows her powerlessness and that she had no say in the matter, illustrating a gender bias whereby women had no power - Position of women - women oppressed and lack a voice in patriarchal society - paternalistic society - Soraya indoctrinated by patriarchal society, unreliable narration and false consciousness, removes own autonomy even in own story - voicelessness

"My whole life, I had been 'Baba's son'."

Defined by father's status as authority figure so no chance to develop own identity

"Their sons go out to nightclubs looking for meat and get their girlfriends pregnant, they have kids out of wedlock and no one says a g*ddamn thing. Oh, they're just men having fun! I make one mistake and suddenly everyone is talking nang and namoos, and I have to have my face rubbed in it for the rest of my life."(164)

Highlights Afghan double standards towards the genders - stereotypical gender role - Position of women - unequal gender standards , men free to live without restrictions and social expectations whereas women must conform to role of acceptable female and any deviation is unforgivable

"So he can boast about his attorney daughter to his friends. Another medal for the general" (167)

Highlights position of women as they are objectified and commodified - challenging stereotypes is a form of resistance

"there is a way to be good again" (177)

Recurring theme of redemption and guilt

"They destroyed your father's orphanage... There were body parts of children..." (185)

Ellipsis emphasises horror of events - destruction of orphanage = symbolic second death of Baba as orphanage was symbol of father's strength and compassion - synecdoche represents vulnerability and powerlessness of children = repeating motif - represents breakdown of culture and family in Afghanistan and corruption of society under Taliban rule

"America has infused you with the optimism that has made her so great... We're a melancholy people, we Afghans" (186)

Contrasting idealised worlds - optimistic western values vs 'east' where suffering and loss seen as a way of life - more realistic outlook on life

"he lived in the only house in the village that had a walled garden" (190)

Hassan has gained a higher status in his village than in Kabul - Russian invasion meant liberation from Pashtuns by the Soviets - Hassan's natural power and personal strength can finally be exerted and expressed - Hassan has gained agency and autonomy, in freedom from oppression and servility he is able to gain power for himself

"...her face. Someone had taken a knife to and... the slashes cut this way and that... It was grotesque" (194)

face has been disfigured and attacked (contrast to presentation of beautiful appearance at beginning of novel) - vivid and brutal - Suggests that her transgression of social boundaries and rebellion against typical role of women punished through her disfigurement - her conformation to social expectations through returning to her son and looking after his child in a return to a maternal role suggests that those who rebel must eventually conform to society's vision of the role of women

"Hassan protested again. So they took him to the street... and order him to kneel... and shot him in the back of the head." (202)

Unfairness of the law - suppression of freedom and autonomy

Hassan's death means no opportunity for Amir to atone his guilt - feels responsible for Hassan's death as he returned to the house out of loyalty and culpable for the events which have occurred

"I feel like a tourist in my own country" "You've always been a tourist here, you just didn't know it" (214)

Amir forced to confront truth that he lived a wealthy and privileged life and didn't experience reality and suffering of life in Afghanistan - insulated and cushioned from reality by privilege so alienated from country and people

"I'm going to be sick" (215)

Sickness = symbol of/physical manifestation of guilt and realisation / reaction to having been overprotected - continued sign of his weakness and inability to cope with pressures of life - measure of how unlike his father he is

'Giant sandcastle... walls pierced with rockets shells, entire blocks had been obliterated' -

'rubble and beggars'

'half buried coca cola sign' (224)

physical dereliction, destruction, dilapidation -contrast to cultural, bustling city of Amir's childhood; the city that provided the backdrop to his childhood memories is unrecognisable - metaphor for decay of traditions, culture and values - widespread poverty and hardship, nightmarish post-apocalyptic landscape, barren and desolate - Hints/reminders and depictions of violence which Amir has been cushioned from

Western culture abandoned, America's influence disappearing

No kites - kite industry represented childhood, safety, innocence, freedom and joy - loss of autonomy = disenfranchisement

"twirled a whip in his hand" "don't ever stare at them!" (228)

will use slightest provocation as an excuse for violence - overriding force of power and totalitarian regime - pleasure in killing, subjugation and oppression = sadistic ruling group

Whip - symbol of power and ability to strike fear into others - authority figures

"If I deny him one child, he takes ten" (237)

moral dilemma/paradox - forced to choose the lesser of two evils as there is no way to feed the children - corruption of society as must make impossible choice (pragmatism)

Orphanage - reference to Baba's building of orphanage - Zaman as foil to Baba as Baba's strict dogmatic values would have prevented taking of children (but impossible and impractical)

"young, whip-toting Talibs roamed the aisles, striking anyone who cheered too loudly"

violent and aggressive - ruling group respected due to totalitarian regime and oppressive cruelty

"WHAT DOES GOD SAY?" (248)

Power of religion - used as force to oppress and excuse to exert power and violence

"One day I had an epiphany" "Ive been on a mission since" (259)

Taliban give him free reign to indulge his sadistic tendencies, feels guiltless and justified as Taliban uses religion to excuse their autocracies - corruption - indoctrinated and indoctrinates others, uses excuse of religion for self interest

'Afghanistan is like a beautiful mansion littered with garbage, and someone has to take out the garbage' (261)

ethnic cleansing of Hazaras - Assef emulates Hitler who he viewed as a hero as a child - violence and abusive, uses force to exercise the will of the authority at the expense of the minority

"I was laughing and laughing... I felt healed." (265)

Amir finally assuages guilt through fight with Assef - courage

"clean down the middle. Like a hairlip" (273)

Connection between Amir and Hassan - equality - symbol of atonement of guilt - Narrative moves in full circle

"there are a lot of children in Afghanistan, but little childhood" (291)

Corruption of society and innocence of children - cruelty and suffering experienced under Taliban rule and harsh conditions

'neatly mowed' 'razor-sharp edges' 'flat and white' (299)

Symbol of prestige, wealth and power, imposing - perfectly ordered and disciplined = contrast to destruction of Kabul - Emotionless and impersonal

Intense security - America known as place of freedom/liberty but contrast to that the embassy is restrictive, defensive and oppressive

Represents power of the state

"nails perfectly trimmed" (300)

Superficial veneer of civility, appears pleasant but faceless, impersonal bureaucratic system - authority figure with power to change Sohrab's future

"screaming until I thought my throat would rip and my chest explode" (314)

Amir's powerlessness to help Sohrab

"his eyes, still half open but lightless" (318)

Sohrab felt isolated, thought he was resigned to his fate in the orphanage, resistance towards figures of authority - in liminal/transition state, isolated and trapped between two places (old life Afghanistan and seemingly unattainable new life in America)

"your father was a man torn between two halves... I had been the entitled half.... [Hassan had been] the unentitled, unprivileged half" (329)

Unfairness of situation

"You will never again refer to him as 'Hazara boy' in my presence. He has a name and it's Sohrab" (331)

Challenge to authority as Amir stands up to General Taheri and questions group mentality - courage contrast to previous cowardice - Amir able to stand up for his own beliefs in equality and facing the truth - rebellion against social divisions and discrimination against disenfranchised

"the Taliban scurried like rats into the caves" (332)

Instability of power - Taliban lose their previous power and agency

"Do you want me to run that kite for you?... For you, a thousand times over" (340)

Freedom - Amir finally free from guilt - redemption and atonement from sins - able to be more like Hassan (pure and optimistic) - narrative moves in full circle