The Kite Runner
The Theme of
Sacrifice
By Evie
Sacrifice-
To give up, surrender something, for a higher good or for
mere advantage.
Symbols That Represent Sacrifice
in the Story
The theme of Sacrifice is represented throughout
the story by:
•Blood
•Sacrificial lamb
Blood
“His hands already bloodied by the
string.”
“Blood trickled down my palm.”
Blood ties in strongly with the theme
of sacrifice as it relates back to
historical times when the blood of an
animal, or even a human, was spilled,
with the belief that it would act as an
offering to a god, in order to gain their
good faith.
Sacrificial Lamb
“It was a look I had seen before. It
was the look of the lamb.”
This links to the theme of
sacrifice as a lamb is one of the
animals that can be slaughtered
during the festival of Eid alAdha in honour of the prophet
Ibrahim who was willing to sacrifice
his own son at the request of his
god.
The Importance of
Sacrifice to the Story
•It forms the foundation of
Amir’s sins.
•This leads to the next section
of the plot line; his guilt as he
tries to move on with his life.
•It also leads to building the
pathway to Amir’s redemption
Chapter 7- Hassan’s
Sacrifice
“‘Amir agha won the tournament and I ran this kite
for him. I ran it fairly. This is his Kite.’”
•short sentences - shows the reader Hassan’s
unwavering loyalty and determination
to
please Amir. Contrasts with Amir’s cowardice.
Chapter 7- Amir’s
Sacrifice
“I had one last chance to make a decision. I could step into that
alley, stand up for Hassan….. and accept whatever would
happen to me. Or I could run. In the end I ran.”
•‘I could run’/‘I ran’
•short, blunt sentences
- forms a repetition of sorts,
emphasises Amir’s cowardice.
- highlight Amir’s panic and fast
train of thought as he debates what
to do.
Shows his selfishness as he is
willing to let
Hassan be hurt to gain Baba’s love.
Effects of Baba’s
Sacrifice
“He loved you both, but he could not love Hassan the way he
longed to, openly, and as a father. So he took it out on you
instead”
•Baba’s sacrifice of not being able to raise his own son
(Hassan), in order to protect his reputation, leads to a guilt
that causes his relationship with Amir to be strained for the
better part of Amir’s life, and ultimately is the main reason for
Amir’s betrayal of Hassan on the day of the kite tournament.
Chapter 22- Amir’s Sacrifice for
Sohrab
““Of course,” Assef said behind us, “I didn't say
you could take him for free.””
•Just like the kite tournament, Assef is playing
games, looking for payment for Sohrab, only this
time Amir is willing to sacrifice himself for Sohrab,
not only to make it up to Hassan but to protect
the boy as well.
Chapter 22
“My body was broken…..but I felt healed.”
•The contrast of ‘broken’ and ‘healed’ is effective as it
shows the reader that although, physically, Amir is
severely hurt, emotionally, he feels better than he has in
a long time. Feeling that on some level he deserves this,
almost craving it as a punishment, he is finally freed of
the guilt he has felt all of these years.
Chapter 25
““For you, a thousand times over,” I
heard myself say.”
•Amir has become the kite runner,
good like Hassan and no longer
selfish; he does things to help others,
and in return is given help himself. He
is willing to sacrifice anything for
Sohrab, and through his sacrifices
for other people he has earned
redemption.