In this first task we will have to find themes that work with Kite Runner.
But, before starting, I have a question for you:
1. Instead of having different posts of the same, I believe it would look so much better having a main post where we answer the questions as comments. You know, as it happens in forums!
What do you think?
And the question about the book:
2. After reading Kite Runner, what were your thoughts on themes that may work with the book?
Oh, and I almost forgot... due date - 9th April
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"Rows of words, created from intricate feelings of friendship."
5 comments:
From my point of view, these are some of the most important themes of The Kite Runner:
Discrimination – The novel deals with the problem of ethnic discrimination in Afghanistan. In fact, the Hazaras, Shi’a Muslims, are persecuted and oppressed by the Pashtuns, Sunni Muslims.
Sin and Redemption – The novel tells the story of Amir’s sins and his long journey to find redemption.
Violence – Violence pervades the whole novel. Hassan’s rape, Amir’s fight with Assef and the executions at Ghazi stadium are some of the most violent scenes.
Oppression – The Taliban regime enacted fundamentalist laws, banning kite fights and severely restricting women's rights. In The Kite Runner, we see that people are oppressed by the Talibans, who use fear and violence to control the Afghanis.
The relationship between father and son – This is an important theme as the main character of the novel spends his life trying to win the approval of his father.
Friendship – The foundation of the story is the friendship between Amir and Hassan.
National identity – As the novel shows, Afghanistan is a nation where culture and tradition are of enormous importance, especially to the older generation. For this reason, all Afghanis value their national identity and even those who live in the USA preserve their traditions. For example, Amir who, unlike his father, is fully integrated in America maintains Afghan traditions and writes a novel about Afghanistan.
Loss – Everybody seems to lose something or someone: Amir and Hassan lose their mothers; Amir and Baba lose their possessions and social status in Afghanistan; Afghanis lose their rights and freedom during the Taliban regime; Amir loses his Baba; Hassan loses Ali; Sohrab loses his parents…
A few more ideas on the subject:
Loyalty - Hassan's loyalty to Amir: he kept the promise of winning the last kite to Amir/episode of the stollen watch;
Solidarity - The orphanage built by Baba and his spirit to share with the less fortunate;
Traditions in Afghanistan
Revelation of human nature - kindness/greed, fear/courage/despair,deceiving/ truth, pride.
Rather than sin, I would say guilt. I mean, most of the times they come together but in the case of Amir, guilt is much stronger. After all, his beliefs were, as he learnt from Baba, that the only sin in the world is theft and its derivations. But the "ghost" that haunts him the most and leads him to do what he does is something that he is not even part of.
Then, I would also say the interaction between past and present: Something in the present reminds Amir of a past long forgotten. He tells us his story. Back to the present, some of the things from his past seem to happen again. Mainly when it comes to Sohrab.
Life and death: the death of characters that are important to the main characters, although they are not so important on the action, and their impact on those who live.
Lies: a derivation of sin from Baba's point of view, that seem to be one of the guiding lines of the whole novel.
Family and Friendship: Who first was just the best friend turns out to be a brother; the stories we are told about Baba and Ali's childhood; Rahim Khan's relation with Baba first and then Amir ...
I would like to add:
For Amir's father there is only one sin - Theft - all other sin's are variations of it.
What Amir does is not only commit variations of thieving the biggest sin of all, he also imposes that sin into his best friend Hassam.
The rescuing of Hassam's son is a chance of redemption and forgiveness to correct what has been wrong for a long time.
The story is also a very strong critic of the hypocrisies of the Taliban regime of the violence that is present in the novel and its growing intensity.
Good to see things moving in your group. Congratulations.
All commentsts are growing well.
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