Motifs

Rape

"Just like I pretended I hadn't seen the dark stain in the seat of his pants. Or those tiny drops that fell from between his legs and stained the snow black."

   Rape is sometimes said to not be about the act itself, but rather as a way to feel power and control

over another person. This seems to be the case when looking at the Kite Runner.The most prominent incident involves Assef, a boy from a well off family, rapes the young hazara Hassan for disobeying him. There are other examples in the novel were people in power abuse those below them because they can. The Russian soldier attempts to rape the young mother on the truck because she is in no position to refuse him. Even young Sohrab is raped by Assef, who is motivated to do so by his hate for the Hazaras. The image of the bloody snow is from the quote we felt was the most powerful piece of writing in the novel regarding this subject.

Slingshot

“Hassan held the slingshot pointed directly at Assef's face.

His hand trembled with the strain of the pulled elastic band and beads of sweat

had erupted on his brow.

"Please leave us alone, Agha," Hassan said in a flat tone.”

“Sohrab had the slingshot pointed to Assef's face.

"No more, Agha. Please," he said, his voice husky

and trembling. "Stop hurting him."”

       In contrast to the rape, the slingshot is the great equalizer. It represents the weak fighting the powerful. It represents a sense of security, but most of all, it represents courage. Courage to stand up for those we care about, to stand up against what we deem evil, and to stand up when others cannot defend themselves. As such, the slingshot also acts as the end of Amir’s guilty, since Sohrab lifts the slingshot in the same manner as his father did to defend Amir. The image depicts Robin Hood, who fought for the poor against the oppressive power of the rich, in the same way Hassan and Sohrab stand up for Amir against Assef.

"For you a thousand times"

"He was already turning the street corner, his rubber boots

kicking up snow. He stopped, turned. He cupped his hands around his mouth.

 "For you a thousand times over!" he said."

""Do you want me to run that kite for you?"

His Adam's apple rose and fell as he swallowed. The wind lifted

his hair. I thought I saw him nod.

"For you, a thousand times over," I heard myself say."

      This line has much to do with the relationship between Amir and Hassan. It at first represents the loyalty between a master and servent. When Sohrab is introduced, the meaning is altered, and shows it has more to do with looking out for our loved ones then say a forced sense of loyalty between an employer and employee. In that moment, Amir wins the affection of Sohrab in the same way Hassan lovingly calls Amir. The image we choose depicts two happy children, who share a bond of kinship, which is a stronger bond than any amount of money can buy.