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Kite Runner: Chapter 7
Element

Notes

Plot
summary

Hassan tells Amir of a scary dream that he had the night before
about a monster in a lake (which turns out to be an illusion)
...
It is a clear, bright, snowy
day
...
Hassan,
meanwhile, runs for the kite
...
He
finds Hassan in a narrow alley, cornered by Assef, Wali and
Kamal
...


Characters

Hassan, Assef, Wali, Kamal, Baba and Rahim Khan
...
However, the monster
in the lake may also symbolise Assef or Amir himself - he remarks
that he ​“feels like a monster” ​for ignoring Hassan’s rape
...
The freshly-fallen, fluffy snow is white
and pure, juxtaposing the violence that will be committed against
Hassan
...
” ​and Baba and
Rahim Khan are observing the boys from the rooftops
...
This makes Amir afraid of losing - he will
“take a swim in the lake” a
​ nd face his fears
...
There’s no monster, just a beautiful day”
...

Hassan’s bloodied hands also symbolise the fact that he will
sacrifice anything for Amir, as being a kite runner is a physically
demanding job (and Hassan’s lower status means he has to do
the dirty work)
...
In order to
repent of his sins, Amir will have to shed blood (through his fight
with Assef) for Hassan
...
We see anticipation build up with Amir’s use of the
simile: ​“hope grew in my heart like snow collecting on a wall”
...
This building tension is highlighted
through his increasing use of short sentences, perhaps mirroring
his rapid heart rate
...

The idea of normality and familiarity will soon be robbed from
Hassan - but it also juxtaposes the tournament, which is
supposed to be one of the greatest moments of Amir’s life
...
It is not about winning the
tournament at all, rather about winning each other’s affection
...
He remarks to Hassan that ​“we have won” ​- their
triumphant teamwork has bridged the cultural and religious
divides between Pashtuns and Hazaras
...
H
​ assan’s
unending love and devotion towards Amir is shown through his
last desire to run the kite for his friend - ​“for you a thousand times
over”
...
T
​ he possessive here makes Hassan seem less
than human, and like something which Amir’s family owns
...
Whilst Assef is obviously a bad person, these
normal folks using such discriminatory language highlights how
ingrained prejudice is in Afghan culture
...
Darkness
starts to fall and Amir follows a ​“secluded, muddy road” w
​ hich
contrasts the busy, colourful bazaar
...
This
privacy and isolation means that no one would be able to hear
Hassan’s perpetrators
...

While Assef seems to be ​“relaxed, confident”, W
​ ali and Kamals’
body language is entirely different - they ​“shifted nervously” ​and

Kamal blurts a reply to Assef with a ​“tremor in his voice”
...
The boys’ pack mentality is
clearly led by Assef, as the other two seem scared of his erratic
behaviour and unpredictable violence
...

The narration changes as Amir’s adult voice is used to say ​“I
opened my mouth, almost said anything
...
The rest of my
life might have turned out differently if I did”
...
This appears to be a
coping mechanism to remove himself from the trauma
...
The use of Hassan’s rape scene portrays Afghanistan as a
lawless society, which puts no value on human life
...

Amir’s fragmented flashback to the Muslim festival Eid shows the
Prophet Ibrahim prepared to sacrifice his son for God, reflecting
how Amir was prepared to sacrifice his relationship with Hassan and Hassan’s body - because he was a coward
...
This resignation is harrowing, whilst
Amir’s turning away from the alley symbolises the end of their
relationship as they know it
...

Hassan cannot talk, his clothes are ripped, he’s swaying and he
wipes snot and tears from his face
...
The drops of blood, including on
the seat of Hassan’s pants, show how Amir and Hassan are now
both impure and ruined
...

Symbolism of the 'monster' works on different levels
...

Use of fragmented/flashback style at critical moments to reflect

the shock/guilt/denial of the narrator
...
Link to Hassan
...

Afghan
vocabulary

Chapan​ = a warm coat/cape
...

Diniyat class​ = religious studies
...




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