A Concept Of Betrayal in the Novel The Kite Runner

The cycle of sinning and gaining redemption is recounted hundreds of times, especially in the Hero’s Journey. The Hero’s Journey involves a character going through multiple stages of growth, including the Abyss, The Revelation, and The Return. Betrayal of people is a deadly sin that can become the Abyss a hero must climb out of laboriously However, betrayal of oneself is necessary to correct old sins and transform into a better version of oneself. Betrayal of one’s own principles is often the key to eradicating weaknesses in one’s personality, such as narcissism or cowardice.

Khaled Hosseini‘s novel The Kite Runner centers around Amir, a man who struggles with the memory of his servant’s rape and the quest to save his servant’s soni Amir’s journey portrays how a person’s guilt can overwhelm them, causing them to betray their own habitsand principles in order to achieve redemption Amir is tormented by guilt after he witnesses.

Hassan, his servant and friend, being sexually assaulted Amir watches passively as three boys brutally rape Hassan after he refuses to relinquish a kite that he plans to give Amiri Amir reflects on that particular moment, “I remember the precise moment, crouching behind a crumbling mud wall, peeking into the alley near the frozen creekm. Looking back now, I realize I have been peeking into that deserted alley for the last twenty-six years” (Hosseini 1). Amir remembers the day of Hassan’s rape with unnerving accuracy. He recalls every detail vividly, down to the exact location and time he can recreate this traumatic event over and over in his memory, something he does regularly to remind himself of his guilt Amir is “peeking“ at the rape, an event he should not have been watching indifferently.

Get quality help now

RhizMan

Verified

Proficient in: Moral

4.9 (247)

“ Rhizman is absolutely amazing at what he does . I highly recommend him if you need an assignment done ”

+84 relevant experts are online

Hire writer

He observes the assault rather than calling for help or stepping in to rescue Hassan. Amir‘s inaction stems from his insecurity about Baba’s love for him Amir craves Baba’s approval and obtaining Hassan’s kite, a memento of the successful kite-fighting contest, will finally make Baba proud. This fear of disappointing Baba prevents Amir from helping Hassan, at the same time, Amir feels inner turmoil over the fact that Hassan’s rape because Hassan refuses to give up a kite for Amir, Amir’s regret and guilt over not taking action does not diminish with the passing of time. Guilt plagues Amir throughout his life, constantly making him relive his mistake. The guilt of being a bystander during Hassan’s rape stays with Amir for many years Amir decides to fly to Taliban-controlled Afghanistan to retrieve Hassan‘s son Sohrab, an act of bravery he never would have done in the winter of 1975. Amir betrays his own assumptions by deciding to battle Assef, Hassan’s attacker, in exchange for Sohrab.

“This isn’t you, Amir, part of me said. You’re gutless nothing wrong with cowardice as long as it comes with prudence. But when a coward stops remembering who he is Amir is “gutless,” a person who cannot stand up to anyone because he has no backbone. Amir slithers out of uncomfortable situations, letting his father’s golden reputation shield him Amir believes in his cowardice from an early age. As a result, all of his actions are excused by the idea of being a coward. To Amir, cowardice is acceptable when it is accompanied by sensibility, the ability to avoid a risky predicament that could require courage and self-sacrifice. Amir asserts that this principle has allowed him to live a relatively fulfilling life with a pleasant home life and a flourishing writing career. The last thing he wants to do is to throw away his life in America to fly to Afghanistan, a painful reminder of his sins. Flying to Afghanistan will mean putting his life on the line for someone else, something a coward would never do.

The phrase “God help him” refers to the topic of betrayal because Amir has decided to forsake his beliefs anyway and find Sohrabr Amir prays for all the guidance God can give him, for becoming a person who can fight for justice. Before this point, Amir hardly even believes in God’s existence. He has betrayed yet another of his principles Amir has shed his cowardly exterior for courage to be revealed. He transforms from stubbornly adhering to cowardly beliefs to someone willing to fix mistakes and take the punishment years after Hassan’s rape, Amir attains redemption by risking his life to bring Sohrab to America. Assef brutally beats Amir, but Amir shows no sign of pain because he knows that Assef’s beating is what he deserved 26 years ago “Another rib snapped, this time left lower. What was so funny was that, for the first time since the winter of 1975, I felt at peace”.

Arnir is in immense physical pain he has many other broken bones and is in critical condition. However, mentally, he is entirely rejuvenated and better than ever. He undergoes a major mental change while neglecting his physical state Amir thinks he would have been beaten similarly if he stopped Hassan’s rape that day in 1975; this is his rightful beating, 26 years lateri. He is an example of atonement because he earns redemption and feels “at peace” after he has labored through an arduous journey to find Sohrab. Although he still has to make amends with Sohrab, Amir has climbed out of the abyss that has dominated his life. He can finally start afresh without regrets Amir wins the fight for Sohrab and brings him to America, a turning point that embodies his indemnification and path to a happier life.

Amir’s guilt for not stopping Hassan’s rape finds an outlet when he abandons his cowardly beliefs and begins the journey towards redemption. Amir is haunted by guilt after he watches Hassan’s rape as a bystander. This guilt pervades his life until he decides to redeem himself, betraying his own ideas along the way. He proclaims himself a coward, but disproves this judgment by rescuing Sohrab from an orphanage in Afghanistan. Amir meets Hassan’s attacker and battles him for Sohrab, an action he wishes he had done for Hassan. This brings Amir full circle and atones for his sins 26 years ago, Guilt rejects preconceived notions and can motivate people to betray their own beliefs, a step that can lead to a journey of redemption.