Flying In The Kite Runner

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In this essay I will be discussing the significance of kite flying in the novel and play of ‘The Kite Runner’ and ‘“Master Harold” … and the Boys’. I will be firstly be talking about the significance of kite flying in the books individually and then I will compare them. In ‘“Master Harold”... and the Boys’ kite flying was used as a symbol for friendship, when either Hally pr Sam offer to fly a kite, it’s like offering a new friendship or an escape from society. Sam originally builds the kite for Hally because he can see that Hally is very ashamed of his father and, as Sam says, ‘You hadn’t done anything wrong but you went around as if you owed the world an apology for being alive.’ - page 64. Sam said that he built the kite because he wanted…show more content…
The kite is a symbol for Amir’s happiness because he said that the blue kite was his ‘key to Baba’s heart’ - page 67. The blue kite is also a symbol for Amir’s guilt because it acts as a constant reminder of the way he betrayed Hassan. Kite flying is what Amir seems to enjoy doing most throughout his childhood, particularly because it is the only way he can seem to connect with his father. Amir doesn’t fly kites again until the end of the novel when he tries to connect with Sohrab, in the same way as he did with his father almost. Kites and kite flying no longer act as a constant reminder of his guilt or his ‘unatoned sins’ because he has already redeemed himself by saving Sohrab from Assef. Instead, the kite flying is a kind reminder of his childhood and the happy memories of Hassan and himself flying the kites. Although Amir has already redeemed himself and atoned his sins, Amir only really seems to forgive himself when he runs the kite for Sohrab and says ‘For you, a thousand times over’ just as Hassan had said to…show more content…
In the beginning of both books, kite flying starts off as a symbol for one end of the spectrum and by the end of the book, kite flying becomes a symbol of the other end, ie. in ‘The Kite Runner’ kite flying starts off as a symbol of childhood cheerfulness but quickly changes to guilt, and by the end of the book, it is a symbol for rebuilding the relationship between Hassan, through Sohrab, and Amir. Although the books are quite similar, they also differ in a variety of ways. The significance of kite flying in ‘The Kite Runner’ seems to change more than in ‘“Master Harold” … and the boys’, and has different meanings, such as in the beginning it is a symbol for their innocence and happy childhood. Next, it changes (when Amir betrays Hassan) to a symbol of guilt and acts as a painful reminder of his disloyalty to Hassan when Hassan is ‘A loyal Hazara. Loyal as a dog.’ - Assef, page 68. In the end, kite flying becomes a symbol for the reparation of the friendship between the families, that Amir no longer has to feel guilty for his sins. In ‘“Master Harold” … and the boys’ kite flying just starts off as a symbol for uplifting one’s spirits, as something for Hally to be proud of and to be excited

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