Motifs Write up

Motifs

The kite runner is full of motifs, which are important to everyone in the novel. Khaled Hosseini uses rape, guilt, and death to show us how people’s lives have been changed and affected by human nature.
Rape is a motif, which recurs throughout the novel. Rape motivates the plot of the novel. There are three main rapes in the novel. The first and main rape is Hassan’s rape. Hassan’s rape is a main source of Amir’s guilt. After watching the process of Hassan’s rape, Amir begins to feel guilty, and this causes his alienation to Hassan. In order to stay away from Hassan, Amir even makes a false charge against Hassan. Also, Hassan’s rape is the reason of Amir’s redemption. Amir strives to redeem himself to Hassan afterwards. The second rape occurs when Amir and Baba flee Kabul. Baba stops the rape of a woman. Baba saves her dignity at that moment. The third rape is Sohrab’s rape, which is implied by Assef. Also, Sohrab said to Amir that he was glad that his parents were dead so that they would never know how dirty he was. Saving and helping Sohrab becomes Amir’s way to redeem himself to Hassan’s rape. Rape is a clue of the plot, every rape happened at a specific turning point of Amir’s life. Rape represents the life of powerless people; powerful people control them, they humiliate those powerless people, and never treat them as person. The fact of rape reveals that powerless people have no dignity, no respects, and no position in the society. From my perspective, rape is one of the most destructive violence in the world. It not only hurts victims’ body, but also destroys their mind. 
Guilt is also a motif. Guilt exists everywhere in the novel. Guilt leads Amir to redeem himself to Hassan; guilt leads Baba to redeem himself to charity; guilt leads Rahim Khan to tell the truth to Amir at his deathbed; guilt leads Amir to go back Kabul and rescue Sohrab. Guilt, in this novel, is a force, which pushes everyone to find a way to redeem themselves to their sins. Guilt motivates their redemption. Hosseini uses guilt to encourage us to face our sins and redeem ourselves to our sins. 
Death is another motif in the novel. Baba’s death gives Amir a shock in his life. Baba is the only family in the world. Baba’s death represents that Amir is the only person who can take responsibilities of the whole family. Then, Hassan’s death represents Amir’s loss of his loyal brother. Then, Rahim Khan’s death represents Amir’s loss of his bosom friend. All of people Amir loved leave him one by one. Amir has to stand up and take all responsibilities. He has to become a real man, like Baba always expected. The death of Baba motivates Amir to meet Rahim Khan; the death of Rahim Khan and Hassan motivates Amir to rescue Sohrab. Hosseini uses their death to show us devotion of Hassan (a loyal friend) and the growth of Amir. Hosseini also shows us that death is ephemeral, but spirits are permanent.