Alana Pek
08.29.19
Period 5
Kite Runner/ How go Read Prompts:
Being able to recognize the patterns while reading complicated literature allows the reader to read in between the lines. The recognition of patterns and symbols allows the reader to examine the characters relationships, actions and general ideas through a deeper connection. Identifying patterns and/or symbols in literature creates an enhanced reading experience. Recognizing symbols and patterns allows the reader to have a better chance at understanding and comprehending the reading. Countless pieces of literatures have similar symbols and patterns which also helps predict what will occur further into the story. While reading the Kite Runner, a symbol that allowed me to grasp a better understanding of the story is Hassan’s dream of the “Monster in the Lake.” The symbol connects to the sexual harassment later in the story. Hassan dreamed of Amir and himself at a lake. The lake is suspiciously empty because people believe there is a monster in the lake. Amir jumps in, followed by Hassan. The monster in the lake dream represents how Amir is depicted as the monster in Hassan’s dream because while Assef tapes Hassan, Amir watched quietly. Being able to understand symbols such as the monster, readers are able to connect with the story and understand why the author chose to connect that with a symbol.
Nearly all pieces of literature that are written include an interpretation of a hero’s quest. In the book, “How to Read Literature Like a Professor” written by Thomas C. Foster; the author defines the five aspects of a QUEST. Fosters quest contains five aspects: “a quester, a place to go, a started reason to go there, challenges and trials en route, and a real reason to go there. (3)” He believe that “the real reason for a quest never involved the started reason, the real reason is self-knowledge. (3)” The Kite Runner contains multiple different adventures that portrays Fosters five aspects of a QUEST. In the novel, questers Amir and Baba plan a trip to America from Afghanistan. The questers are determined to reach “Fremont, California. 1980s” (125), turning that into the second aspect of a QUEST, the place to go. The started reason to leave Afghanistan and to head towards America was to flee from Showari-Occupied Kabul. Amir informs others that “for me, America was a place to bury my memories. For Baba, a place to mourn his. (129). During their quest, the two faced many challenges and trials en route. For example, the quest started out with its first challenge when they tried to flee Kabul and head into Jalalabad. Later on, after fleeing they had a unwelcoming interaction with a Russian soldier. The most difficult challenge was when the questers found out that Karim had lied to them about their transportation arrangements. Leaving the two stuck there. Although, Amir and Baba originally thought of leaving because they wanted to leave the terrible life they had their. The real reason the questers went off on their journey was to “start their new lives, rid themselves of sin, and to forget their guilt. (143)”
In chapter two of “How to Read Literature Like a Professor,” Foster explains to the readers how dining is a form of communion. Food, and sharing the food in works of art is a camaraderie and brotherhood. A successful meal indicates a strong relationship. A meal that went terrible can foreshadow future problems or consequences. Meals where everyone is gathered together are to celebrate someone’s life. An act of communion shown in the Kite Runner is before Amir won the Kite Running competition. Amir expresses to others that the meals shared with Baba are nothing but short and awkward. Readers are able to feel the tension and lack of relations between the two characters during the meal. In the book, a dinner party before Baba’s death was held. Connecting this scene to Foster’s act of communion of life before death. All Baba’s loved ones gather together to celebrate Baba’s life one last time before his passing. Foster’s acts of communions allow readers to better understand the relationships and moods between the characters.
Since the Bible was created and popularized, countless variations of stories have been interpreted. The story of Cain and Abel is told in Genesis 4:1-18. Cain, first born of Adam and Eve, is the keeper of land. Their second son, Abel was the keeper of sheep. One day, Cain and Abel went to sacrifice items to God. Cain, as the keeper of land brought grain. While Abel brought a sheep. God only accepted Abel’s sheep, rejecting Cain’s grain. Due to this, strong amounts of jealousy fired up within Cain. Causing Cain to murder his blood brother Abel. This story shows a strong connection towards brothers Amir and Hassan from the Kite Runner. Amir is an allusion of Cain, both filled with jealousy and anger towards their brothers. In this case, Amir is an allusion of Abel. The relation as brothers acts as a parallel to the story.
Violence is everywhere in literature. Violence is a personal act between human beings and can be viewed as cultural, and societal. Foster explains violence as “symbolic, thematic, biblical, Shakespearean, romantic, allegorical, and transcendent. There are two types of violence, physical and narrative. In the Kite Runner, a famous scene is when Hassan had been sexually assaulted. That caused physical and emotional harm to the character and changed his personality further into the story. Narrative violence in the Kite Runner is shown when the writer killed off Baba with death by cancer.
While reading the Kite Runner, a symbol that allowed me to grasp a better understanding of the story is Hassan’s dream of the “Monster in the Lake.” The symbol connects to the sexual harassment later in the story. Hassan dreamed of Amir and himself at a lake. The lake is suspiciously empty because people believe there is a monster in the lake. Amir jumps in, followed by Hassan. The monster in the lake dream represents how Amir is depicted as the monster in Hassan’s dream because while Assef tapes Hassan, Amir watched quietly. Being able to understand symbols such as the monster, readers are able to connect with the story and understand why the author chose to connect that with a symbol.
The Kite Runner contains political context referring to the system of government and major events occurred in Afghanistan hat affect how government leaders make decisions. Throughout the story, Amir describes the bombs and gunfire that he and Hassan heard, “something roared like thunder. The earth shook a little and we heard the rat-a-tat-tat of gunfire.” Prior to the overthrow of the monarchy, the children in Afghanistan were not used to fighting and killing in their own streets. Another example of political context is when Assef describes his arrest. Assef’s family is wealthy. ”… a group of Parchami soldiers marched into our house and ordered my father and me at gunpoint to follow them.” During the overthrow of the monarchy, those who were poor and suffering from poverty joined the Parchimi. The Parchimi’s primary goal was ”the fall of the bourgeoisie.” Throughout Afghanistan, the Parchimi arrested the wealthy to prove their power.
In society, Christianity is very well known and practiced amongst people. Foster explains the criteria for a Christ figure on page 119. Hassan fits many of the criteria of a Christ Figure. The forgiveness he gives to the mother who abandoned him supports this interpretation. Hassan sacrificed himself multiple times, expressing healing others. The suffering he and his father, Ali, go through. As was Christ, Hassan is slow to anger and quick to forgiveness. From the start of the novel, beginning with his constant serving of Amir and Baba, to the many fights he suffers, to Amir antagonizing him, to the rape, Hassan is constantly sacrificed for the greater good, similar to the way Christ was abused for the good of the rest of the world.
In the literature world, aspects from the Christianity religion are ruled out. A baptism is the religious rite of sprinkling water onto a person’s forehead or of immersion in water, symbolizing purification or regeneration and admission to the Christian Church. A interpretation of a baptism in the Kite Runner is when Sohbrab cuts his wrists in the bath, hoping to end his life. Although, his baptism isn’t holy, his intentions were to cleanse himself of good riddance and everything he has been through.
While writing literature, the author must decide which time and place best suits the story being told. Geography helps define and develop a character and it’s themes. The Kite Runner takes place in Kabul, Afghanistan between the 60’s and the 80’s. In Afghanistan, Kite running is a popular sport so the terrain is important to the story. If this took place in the United States, Kite running is known as an activity for children and sometimes looked at as a joke. The geographic differences between Afghanistan and the U.S help emphasize Amir’s abandonment of his former culture and assimilation into the American lifestyle. Americans to others is known as the country of freedom. If the story took place in America, abandonment wouldn’t be as tough due to the countless organizations helping limit this. Also, the conditions aren’t as rough and violent compared to Afghanistan.
When writing literature, authors can create a character anyway they like. A character with a physical imperfection represents a deeper moral. These imperfections can make a character stand out. In the Kite Runner, Hassan is made with a physical imperfection after his surgery. He faced ridicule and backlash from peers because he was different. This made him emotionally and mentally stronger. It taught him to become well-mannered and to not draw attention to himself.