Suffering In The Kite Runner
A common theme throughout the novel The Kite Runner is suffering. Many characters deal with emotional pain in their lives especially Sohrab, who suffers the most out of all of them. Among the many characters who go through grief is Amir. The main issue he struggles with in life is the relationship he shares with his father. While Hassan is getting assaulted by Assef Amir comes to the decision not to help him in order for him to obtain the blue kite Hassan has. “Nothing was free in this world. Maybe Hassan was the price I had to pay. the lamb I had to slay, to win Baba.” (Hosseini 77). This relationship is a one way street, Amir loves and cares for his father Baba but these feelings are not reciprocated. Amir constantly feels unaccepted and
unwanted by Baba. These feelings are damaging to Amir and affected his whole life. Another person who also suffers from emotional pain is Hassan. His battle in life is continually being disrespected because of his ethnicity. One instance is when Hassan and Amir encounter Assef, and Assef verbally attacks him just for being Hazara. “Afghanistan is the land of Pashtuns. It always has been, always will be. We are the true Afghans, the pure Afghans, not this Flat-Nose here. His people pollute our homeland, our watan.” (Hosseini 40). All through Hassan’s life he has never felt the complete respect and equality that he deserves because he is Hazara. Him being looked down upon leads to his suffering and agony that he lives with. Even though these character go through a great deal of grief, Sohrab has it the worst. Sohrab, Hassan’s son, has been hurt in so many ways multiple times in this novel. One significant event was when his parents were unjustly killed. During the time of the Taliban’s rule in Afghanistan, Sohrab and his parents moved into Baba’s old house. When members of the Taliban found out they told them to move out immediately. Hassan refused and he and his wife were shot and killed. Losing both of his parents is a huge role in his suffering. Another horrible part in his life was when he was with Assef and the Taliban. He was treated so terribly that he was emotionally and mentally scared for life. What Assef did to him was truly one of the worst ways a person could be treated. What Sohrab tells Amir at the end of the book is proof of the awful things he has been through. After the hotel bathroom incident in the hospital Sohrob amits, “... I wish you had left me in the water.” (Hosseini 355). Along with this he tells Amir that he is tired. He is tired of all the bad in life and wants his old simple life back. It is evident that Sohrab suffers the most out of everyone and will have the most difficult time overcoming and recovering from his past.
unwanted by Baba. These feelings are damaging to Amir and affected his whole life. Another person who also suffers from emotional pain is Hassan. His battle in life is continually being disrespected because of his ethnicity. One instance is when Hassan and Amir encounter Assef, and Assef verbally attacks him just for being Hazara. “Afghanistan is the land of Pashtuns. It always has been, always will be. We are the true Afghans, the pure Afghans, not this Flat-Nose here. His people pollute our homeland, our watan.” (Hosseini 40). All through Hassan’s life he has never felt the complete respect and equality that he deserves because he is Hazara. Him being looked down upon leads to his suffering and agony that he lives with. Even though these character go through a great deal of grief, Sohrab has it the worst. Sohrab, Hassan’s son, has been hurt in so many ways multiple times in this novel. One significant event was when his parents were unjustly killed. During the time of the Taliban’s rule in Afghanistan, Sohrab and his parents moved into Baba’s old house. When members of the Taliban found out they told them to move out immediately. Hassan refused and he and his wife were shot and killed. Losing both of his parents is a huge role in his suffering. Another horrible part in his life was when he was with Assef and the Taliban. He was treated so terribly that he was emotionally and mentally scared for life. What Assef did to him was truly one of the worst ways a person could be treated. What Sohrab tells Amir at the end of the book is proof of the awful things he has been through. After the hotel bathroom incident in the hospital Sohrob amits, “... I wish you had left me in the water.” (Hosseini 355). Along with this he tells Amir that he is tired. He is tired of all the bad in life and wants his old simple life back. It is evident that Sohrab suffers the most out of everyone and will have the most difficult time overcoming and recovering from his past.