The Kite Runner Reflective Essay
Samantha Bush
English Honors 6
Family. More then ever family. To care for each other. I think, and most do now, that our country has become torn more then ever. The life style Amir has is based on family and loyalty. America. Well, has gone down hill. Who goes to visit people any more? Let alone actually call a person instead of texting them? Amir longed for the love from his father. A child in America today would probably go out and party instead of trying to gain the attention. Drowning in friends and looking for nothing but victimization.
I think it is very common for kids today to feel what Amir does. I personally have had a divorced family since three months of age. Although Amir's family was not divorced, but death had claimed his mother, he still gets the emotions. This book has made me think on my life as well as his. I thought it was so odd of me to plead for my fathers attention, acceptance. Yet here I see it, riddled in every thought, move, and breath of Amir.
With divorced parents children of today either could care less on how things turn out or spend every waking moment being the perfect child. Hopes of them getting back together...maybe.
The feeling Amir had when he witnessed what was happening to Hassan. To think him just a Hazara after all those years. I think it was more of the thought of his father that blinded him. To prove himself.
After all of this, finding the death of Hassan after the last looks in his eyes when accepting the charge of theft for Amir. I think in some way Amir was saddened that he was not able to patch things up between him and Hassan, yet he also was probably relieved he wouldn't have to bring up old wounds. When Amir discovered he was really Hassan's brother...I think it allowed Amir to really think that he wasn't competing with a stranger's son but his own brother as a child. This is what I think brought him to cope. Find some sort of forgiveness within himself.
Another thing that amazed me was what Hassan had been put through. Assef, the charged of theft, and all the other little incidents through the book. “But he never told on me. Never told that the mirror, like shooting walnuts at the neighbor's dog, was always my idea.”-Amir (page 3) It's just amazing how giving his character was. It makes me think what would it have been like if they were able to live openly about their brotherhood? Would Hassan still be so loyal to Amir, knowing Amir is is brother? Or would he stand up to Amir? It's amazing how little obscure details can make all the difference.
Again with the lies. Theft. The one thing Baba couldn't stand. I wonder how he felt. Why he didn't tell Amir after they moved to America. Baba was a very strong character and very giving. Like father like son Baba ,too, had secrets he felt he needed to make up for. Knowing this I think gave some closure to all the deaths surrounding Amir. Another thing that made him see that he was not evil. He was simply scarred and sought his father. Which in turn makes me ask, did Baba feel that Amir's writing would leave him without a backbone and he make mistakes Baba had? How many secrets did he keep?
I think that this book has something for everybody to relate to. Forgiveness, self and to others. Honesty and loyalty. The thoughts of secrets and the closure of truth. Many things can be found in this tale of kite runners. In this world of Amir and Hassan.
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