The Kite Runner - Chapter 8

Key Events

• Trip to Jalalabad
• Amir and Baba’s facade of an idyllic relationship ends
• Scene under the pomegranate tree
• Amir's birthday party

How does Hosseini tell the story?

Hosseini uses irony to portray the characters feelings and the consequences of their actions. Amir allows the rape to occur and does not act as he thinks that bringing the kite back will ultimately win Baba’s love and affection, and in some part it does; Baba takes him to Jalalabad and boasts about his sons achievements and throws him a party. However, Amir is so consumed with his guilt at his inaction that he is unable to enjoy and appreciate his father’s love and that guilt eventually alienates him from his father.

A sense of isolation, or self-isolation, is presented in Amir. Hosseini achieves this by contrasting Amir against chaos. For example, when Amir goes to Jalalabad, Hosseini describes the vast number of family members that go with them that ‘filled three vans’ all ‘talking loudly and at the same time’. This contrasts Amir admitting that he saw Hassan get raped but saying it ‘no one’.

The allegory of the monster in the lake is referenced. At first it could be considered that Hassan made up the dream in order to make Amir feel better. However, after chapter 7 the dream takes on a new literal meaning. While it could be interpreted that Assef is the monster in the lake, it could also be seen as Amir being the monster in the lake as he refuses to confront the events of that day. Amir even acknowledges that ‘There was a monster in the lake... I was that monster’

Hosseini also uses symbolism to convey relationships. The pomegranate tree with the words ‘Amir and Hassan, the sultans of Kabul’ inscribed on it represents the closeness and strength of their friendship. However, when Amir pelts Hassan with pomegranates this effectively ends or ‘crushes’ their relationship and when Amir returns to Kabul in 2001 he finds the tree is nearly dead and unable to bear fruit. This indicates the death of Hassan and Amir’s relationship but as the tree is still alive, there is still potential to make amends in the form of Sohrab.

Important Quotations

• "I watched Hassan get raped," I said to no one'
• 'There was a monster in the lake... I was that monster'
• "Hassan's not going anywhere... This is his home and we're his family."
• 'Hassan was smeared in red like he'd been shot by a firing squad' - foreshadowing of Hassan's death