English Studies Individual
Study
Essay question:
Compare and contrast the ways in which Khaled Hosseini in The Kite Runner and Markus Zusak in The
Book Thief develop the loss of innocence in their centre protagonists.
SACE number: 510318T
Final word count: 1963 words
Text and authors:
The Book Thief by Markus Zusak
The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini
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Compare and contrast the ways in which Khaled Hosseini in The Kite Runner and Markus
Zusak in The Book Thief develop the loss of innocence in their centre protagonists.
The Kite Runner, by Khaled Hosseini, and The Book Thief, by Markus Zusak, demonstrate the
development of a loss of innocence in the central protagonists. Zusak establishes Leslie’s
experiences to the reality of death throughout her damaged childhood during the period of
World War II in Germany. Hosseini, however chooses to develop Amir’s exposure to tragedy in
the earlier stages of The Kite Runner, in his home country, Afghanistan. The use of setting,
foreshadowing, poetic devices, imagery and characterisation help to establish the unique
journey for personal growth undertaken by the central characters in both novels.
The novel The Kite Runner, and the novel The Book Thief, conveys the message that personal
tragedy is an important component in discovering self identity through the author’s use of
setting and poetic devices. Both authors establish the effect of the past by presenting a dramatic
loss of innocence during childhood. This is emphasised by Zusak in The Book Thief through the
repetition of nightmares that continually haunt Leslie throughout her childhood and Hosseini in
The Kite Runner through the symbolism of the guilt Amir carries with him for being responsible
for his mother’s death. The first person perspective of death, who narrates the reader through
The Book Thief as he becomes “haunted by humans,” has an influential effect by establishing that
dying as a central theme throughout the novel. The powerful, contradictory statement allows
the reader to develop an understanding that even mere humans can leave a mark on Death’s life,
ironically contrasted with the representation of Leslie who develops a fear of dying. Hosseini
establishes how tragedy can result in those with even the highest social class and privileges by
the use of setting throughout The Kite Runner. Hosseini develops the initial characterisation of
Amir as being ‘well-off,’ by symbols of wealth including Baba’s black Mustang “which received
many envious looks from the locals” and the numerous servants working for them. Amir’s
personal tragedy is emphasised by the juxtaposition of Afghanistan from Amir’s childhood to
when he returns as an adult, by providing contrast through the natural imagery of how the war
has changed his home country. Amir’s poor adaptation to reality as a result of his luxurious
lifestyle and failure to embrace the true Afghanistan, causing him to feel like “a tourist in his
own country,” evokes a sympathetic response from the reader when he undertakes his journey
for redemption. Through the utilisation of similes and powerful imagery, Zusak engages the
reader throughout the text of The Book Thief. The artificial use of setting developed throughout
The Book Thief, including “air which is like plastic and a horizon setting like glue,” utilises
juxtaposition by the comparison of components of nature to synthetic items. This is effective to
the reader, as they develop an understanding of Death’s belief that the sky has lost its natural
feel and has become commercialised and artificial as a result of the war, reflective of Leslie’s
current lifestyle. Through Amir’s transformation into manhood and Leslie’s acceptance of death,
both characters are able to overcome personal tragedy through loss of innocence and on a
journey for redemption.
The novel The Kite Runner, and the novel The Book Thief, explore the way war causes a loss of
innocence through the distinction of social class and the impact on an individual’s justification
of morals. The significance of the first person perspective of Death by Zusak is illustrated by the
repetitive appearance of the narrator, explaining that every day Death is struggling to keep up
with the increased workload due to the millions of innocent soldiers killed as a result of the war.
Death constantly pleads for compassion, “Don’t you see that I’ve got enough on my plate?” when
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some Jewish people beg with him to take them, not realising that he is already busy enough. The
use of this rhetorical question condemns war by manipulating the pity evoked from the reader
for the Holocaust. In contrast, Hosseini in The Kite Runner offers vivid imagery to evoke an
emotional response from the reader with powerful descriptions of the ruins, the beggars on the
streets and “flat nosed donkeys” being massacred as a result of the raging war. Hosseini’s use of
metaphors describing Afghanistan as being “a beautiful mansion littered with garbage, with
someone taking out the garbage” emphasises the distinct social discrimination and the evident
unacceptance of the Hazara people by their comparison to worthless and insignificant garbage.
The symbolism of the pomegranate tree, where the message “Amir and Hassan. The Sultans of
Kabul,” still existed even after such a long time, enables the reader to develop an understanding
that although the war may change places and people over time, his lifelong friendship with
Hassan has always remained. This is juxtaposed with the memories from Amir’s childhood in
Afghanistan where, as a result of the social hierarchy and his wealth he treated Hassan with far
less respect then he deserved, despite Hassan’s undying loyalty and willingness to support Amir
”one thousand times over.” Similarly, Zusak in The Book Thief utilises social class to develop how
the friendship between Leslie and the Jew, Max Vanderburg becomes forbidden as a result of the
war. The insignificant value of the Jews is conveyed throughout The Book Thief, through
symbols. The damage of many of the infrastructures in the neighbourhood previously owned by
Jews and the assortment of graffiti displaying offensive messages to the Jewish people evokes
anger from the reader. However, Zusak’s strong-willed characterisation of Leslie, including her
little consideration for consequences is emphasised by the scene where she takes Max’s hand
and marches alongside him in what is portrayed to the German citizens as the “Jew walk of
shame,” symbolising her desire for integration. Through Amir’s realisation that social hierarchy
should not affect friendships and Leslie’s disregard for integration and abidance of socially
acceptable expectations, both characters are able to face the challenges of the war and recover
their stolen childhood.
Both The Kite Runner and The Book Thief establish that if given an opportunity, characters can
transform their flawed characteristics and undertake a journey of personal growth. Zusak
displays Leslie’s emotional and physical growth through her exposure to the realities of death,
with her personal experience with a Jew establishing compassion and empathy. This is
demonstrated by the foreshadowing of previous deaths of the minor characters throughout the
war to lead up to the powerful ending, where the central protagonists have their souls taken by
death. Vivid imagery in the deaths of these characters evokes sympathy for the narrator, who
describes his job as a “responsibility rather than a pleasure” and constantly “underestimates
and overestimates the human race.” The repetition of the description of the sky every time
Death takes a life becomes a powerful element throughout The Book Thief, and is utilised to
foreshadow the final deaths. The elaborate detail given by the narrator emphasises that these
deaths are much more significant and meaningful. This becomes a signature part of ‘Death’s’
actions, symbolising that the colour of the sky differs ensuring poignant uniqueness. Hosseini,
however chooses to display Amir’s personal growth throughout The Kite Runner through his
journey for redemption. This is emphasised by the onomatopoeia of the “cracking of ribs “and
the imagery of the “blood trickling from his face,” in the scene where Amir faces Assef to win
back his pride and live up to Baba’s expectations. The acceptance of his punishment and relief
from acquiring retribution is evidenced from the symbolism of Amir’s laughter throughout the
fight. This is contrasted by the juxtaposition of the numerous times from his childhood where he
begged Hassan to “fight back,” without the desired outcome. Personal tragedy resulting in a loss
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of innocence throughout The Kite Runner is evident in the scene where Hassan is being raped
and the description of the “snow being stained black with blood” provides contrast. The
juxtaposition between the pure whiteness of the snow and the harsh red colour of the blood
stain symbolises impurity and Hassan’s broken childhood. The use of powerful imagery
provided throughout Hosseini’s The Kite Runner is contrasted with the foreshadowing of the
minor deaths in Zusak’s The Book Thief, which develop Leslie’s physical and emotional growth
with the realisation that death is inevitable. Both authors establish their central protagonists as
undertaking personal journeys as they progress through childhood, evident by their exposure to
tragedy and death at an early age, resulting in a loss of innocence.
The Kite Runner, and The Book Thief, demonstrate that the evolution of childhood friendships
can develop a loss of innocence in the central protagonists. The effect of Hosseini's unnatural
progression of Amir and Hassan’s friendship, influenced by distinct societal precincts is
contrasted by Zusak’s natural development of Leslie’s and Rudy’s evolving relationship
throughout the Holocaust. Hosseini utilises cultural boundaries to establish that despite
differences in social class and Amir’s poor treatment, he will “always have a faithful friend in
[Hassan.]” Hosseini's characterisation of Amir's cowardliness and the subsiding of an unnatural
childhood friendship is foreshadowed by Hassan’s raping, symbolising a loss of innocence in the
central characters. Amir’s successful journey for the redemption from his betrayal to a
childhood friend is demonstrated through the saving of Hassan’s son. The repeated significance
of kites is depicted in the final stages of the novel where the re-enactment of a favourite
childhood activity symbolises Amir’s freedom and the liberation of a guilty conscience. The
foreshadowing of Amir’s childhood where despite wealth and power, he is constantly seeking
Baba’s approval is juxtaposed with the overhanging shadow of his Father he carries with him
into adulthood. Hosseini’s contrasting characterisation of the strong father and son relationship
formed between Hassan and Ali, demonstrates the inverted balance of power between Amir and
Hassan, and Amir’s need for the acceptance provided by Hassan. However, as Amir’s character
develops, he is able to form an understanding that like him, his “Father was a tortured soul,” and
also bore the guilt of betraying a loved one. Similarly, Zusak in The Book Thief characterises
Leslie as a girl with a damaged past and tough exterior who, due to exposure to death at an early
age, experienced a loss of innocence throughout her childhood. The realisation of the
importance of friendship is emphasised by Zusak through the setting, where the period of World
War II has affected every German citizen’s right to safety, enabling the hardships to cause the
evolution of strong friendships. The repetition of Leslie’s haunted nightmares, symbolising the
personal demons she carries with her, slowly diminishes as a result of the naturally evolving
friendship she forms with Rudy, demonstrating that with support Leslie is learning to face her
past. Zusak’s development of a loss of innocence throughout The Book Thief is highlighted by the
use of vivid imagery in the final scenes of the novel when Leslie plants a kiss of the lips of the
lifeless Rudy, with his “safe, blue eyes and lemon coloured hair.”The long, overdue kiss
symbolises Leslie’s transition from childhood into adulthood, and the mutual love she embraces
for Rudy, as without it “her skin would be empty for it, waiting.” Through foreshadowing by
Hosseini in The Kite Runner, and the use of symbolism by Zusak in The Book Thief, both authors
are able to establish that the evolution of friendships can result in a loss of friendship in the
central protagonists.
Both the novel The Kite Runner, by Hosseini, and the novel The Book Thief, by Zusak,
demonstrates a loss of innocence in their central protagonists on their journey for redemption
and personal growth. The use of foreshadowing and setting by Zusak emphasise Leslie’s
physical and emotional personal growth and her desire to face the demons of her past, while
Amir’s journey for redemption is contrasted by Hosseini’s use of symbolism and juxtaposition.