The Kite Runner Beginning

Who is Your Real Son?

     The Kite Runner, a novel written by Khaled Hosseini, illustrates self-hate and being neglected by having the main character as the narrator and explaining his life story to us. 

As the book begins, we are in the present day life of the main character.  He begins to mention the kites and hints that they are important.

      He goes on to explain the life he had as a child and how he regrets what he did to make himself the man that he is today.The main character is on the phone with Rahim Khan, his dad's close friend, when he thought to himself, "Standing in the kitchen with the receiver to my ear, I knew it wasn't just Rahim Khan on the line. It was my past of unatoned sins." (Hoesseini, pg 1). This gives us insight on what the main character thinks about himself . Another way that we are told about what the main character thinks about himself and his childhood is when he is still on the phone with his dad's close friend and is told by him, "There is a way to be good again." (Hosseini, pg 2). When he says this, the main character gets the memories of his childhood and regrets all the mistakes that he has made. This also shows that not everyone thinks that he is such a bad person and shouldn't be blaming himself for everything. 

    Another popular topic in this book is how the main character, Amir, felt neglected by his father and felt that his father would rather have Hassan, Amir's best friend, as his son than Amir. His father would never spend time with him and make up the excuse that it's "grown up's time" (Hosseini, pg 5). He would always spend time with his friends in his study room and tell Amir that he should go read a book or something when Amir would ask to join them.  "One time at Ghargha Lake, Hassan and I were skimming stones and Hassan made his stone skip eight times. The most I managed was five. Baba was there, watching, and he patted Hassan on the back. Even put his arm around his shoulders." (Hosseini, pg 13-14)