Quotes

• Themes – Conflict, Fathers and sons

  • Characterisation - Baba's statement shows Amir's major character flaw of cowardice, with Baba highlighting Amir's inability to stand up for himself, and Amir's constant want for approval. This lack in courage becomes pivotal when Amir's desire for approval, combined with his cowardice, results in his failure to intervene and prevent Hassan's rape by Assef.


  “A boy who won’t stand up for himself becomes a man who can’t stand up to anything.”
• Setting and Character Essay Quotes

  • Word choice - Amir chooses to "bury" his memories, while Baba "mourns" his. Both words are closely linked to death, suggesting leaving Afghanistan is a death of some sort to both. While this death allows Amir to free himself from his past, Baba struggles and grieves 


  “For me, America was a place to bury my memories. For Baba, a place to mourn his.”
• Character Essay Quotes

  • Characterisation - Anger that Amir feels at being accused of being friends with Hassan shows that Amir sees him as below him, and not a full person. Word choice of "servant" emphasises this point, of Amir seeing Hassan as not equal


  “He’s not my friend! He’s my servant."
• Character Essay Quotes

  • Characterisation - Very shameful moment for Amir, which he regrets looking back at it. Highlights how overwhelming the guilt he feels after seeing what happened to Hassan. Seeing him has become unbearable, being pushed to get rid of him at any cost


  "I lifted Hassan's mattress and planted my new watch and a handful of Afghani bills"
• Character Essay Quotes

  • Characterisation - Amir has just cut the blue kite, and won the kite tournament. Hassan's words shouted to Amir as Hassan "runs" Amir's blue kite, revealing Hassan's unending loyalty and love for Amir 


  "For you, a thousand times over!"
• Character Essay Quotes

  • Symbolism - Kite symbolises happiness of Amir and Hassan's childhood at his point. Flying kites is one of their strongest bonds, and has been completely positive up to now 


  "For you, a thousand times over!"
• Setting and Character Essay Quotes

  • Word choice - "heap" shows lack of care given to Hassen in this moment, both by Assef, and by Amir


  "But there was two things amid the garbage that I couldn't stop staring at: One was the blue kite... the other was Hassan's brown corduroy pants thrown in a heap of eroded bricks"
• Character Essay Quote

  • Symbolism - The kite, once a symbol of happiness, now a symbol of the guilt that Amir feels 


  "But there was two things amid the garbage that I couldn't stop staring at: One was the blue kite... the other was Hassan's brown corduroy pants thrown in a heap of eroded bricks"
• Setting & Character Essay Quotes

  • Juxtaposition - Harsh comparison of the vibrant blue of the kite, and dull brown corduroy highlights the difference between the joyous moment of the kite tournament, and the awful life changing event to follow, each marking the other, and closely connecting them


  "But there was two things amid the garbage that I couldn't stop staring at: One was the blue kite... the other was Hassan's brown corduroy pants thrown in a heap of eroded bricks"
• Character Essay Quotes

  • Characterisation - Amir's repetition of this phrase to Sohrab shows a final act of redemption, and his commitment to supporting Sohrab in ways he couldn't to Hassan. Amir is now able to provide the unwavering kindness, and love that Hassan gave him


  "'For you, a thousand times over,' I heard myself say"
• Character Essay Quotes

  • Characterisation - Amir feels relief as he is beaten, and thinks he should've accepted the beating from Assef years ago, when he was given the choice of saving Hassan - and likely getting physically hurt - or letting Assef rape Hassan. Since that time, Amir has struggled with his guilt, made worse by he was never punished for his actions 


  "My body was broken - just how badly I wouldn't find out until later - but I felt healed. Healed at last. I laughed"