Kite_Runner

The Kite Runner written by Khaled Hosseini, is a bildungsroman which explores complex relationships; of family and friendships, Afghanistan in the late 1900’s, redemption and loyalty vs. betrayal. After spending years in California, Amir realises that one day he must return to his homeland –an Afghanistan now under Taliban rule. It was the place which Amir could help his betrayed servant-friend Hassan and his son, in order to find the one thing that his new world cannot grant him: redemption. Also evident in Burton’s Big Fish, both texts evidently explore concepts of changing self, in particular psychological and physical. In Hosseini’s The Kite Runner, the protagonist Amir, comes across several self revelations and psychological changes. Firstly portrayed as a youthful, cowardly boy born to a wealthy father, Amir lives much of his younger years with an aspiration to be his father’s “courageous son”. However, after the incident at the kite tournament, Amir, not only becomes a man but grows with a rising sense of guilt for allowing his servant friend Hassan to be raped. He later comes to realise the huge mistake and cost he has taken to seek his father’s approval and takes the responsibility to salvage the various misfortunes he had caused. This search for redemption is evident from the beginning of the text, “…But it’s wrong what they say about the past, I’ve learned, about how you can bury it. Because the past claws its way out.” The opening continues, “I realise I have been peeking into that deserted alley for the last twenty-six years.” Hosseini cleverly uses imagery of the alley –place where Hassan had been raped, to depict the constant guilt clinging onto Amir. The symbolism of the kite is also important as it portrays the two sides of Amir; success/fulfilment and pain. The kite tournament- a huge cultural event in Kabul at the time celebrated the last flying kite as a huge achievement. An extended metaphor, the kite becomes symbolic of Amir’s glorious achievement in winning the tournament, hence winning his father’s pride. However, this is juxtaposed with the deep gashes that are caused when flying kites, a representation of the unfortunate result of Amir’s triumph. Thus, guilt – a prominent motif, drives the climactic events of the story, including Amir’s journey to Kabul to save Sohrab, son to his dead father, Hassan. As an adult, he can only redeem himself by proving he has the courage to stand up for what is right. “For you a thousand times over.” Found at the beginning and the end of the novel, these words are spoken by Hassan, then later Amir, whom after much self revelations, becomes selfless. Likewise, the concept of psychological change is also explored in Burton’s Big Fish through the use of film production tools. Will, the main character finds himself beside his dying father at the hospital. First disillusioned about his father Ed Bloom’s endless storytelling, Will comes to appreciate this as he experiences self revelations. Slow non-diagetic music plays in the background, from mysterious and spiritual, it soon gets faster as Will finds himself in a reversed role to his father, finishing the story. Hence, the music follows the anticipation as Will and Ed race to the river. Forced to give up his anger, his attitude turns a 180 degree turn. This change is portrayed through the juxtaposition of the lighting. From a dim lighting evoking a sense of dread and sadness as Ed Bloom is dying in his bed, the scene switches to bright, glowing light when Ed awakes and tells his son to tell the ending of his story, conveying an immediate contrast. The cutting and editing of the scenes as they get shorter and shorter is a representation of the urgency of which Will experiences to salvage the relationship between him and his father. Another predominant change explored in The Kite Runner is physical change. Readers witness Amir’s growth from childhood to a matured, adult man. The behaviours of Amir’s aging are conveyed in the text, although not directly. The structure of the novel moves back and forth in time, where the story begins with Amir at the age of 39. Looking back in time, the different ages are portrayed through memories. “When we were children…we took turns with the mirror as we ate mulberries, pelted each other with them, giggling, laughing.” This innocent, immature behaviour is juxtaposed with Amir’s fleeing to America. Due to the dangerous rule of the Talibans, Amir and Baba escape to California for refuge. “Soraya and I settled into the routines- and minor wonders- of married life.” A grown man, Amir marries and lives a much different life to one in Afghanistan. This physical change also correlates with the social changes of which Amir faces. A completely different tongue, Amir and Baba are forced to learn the new language English, and find jobs to survive in this new world - America. Symbolism is used when Amir returns to Afghanistan, “I feel like a tourist in my own country.” Having lost his sense of belonging, ‘tourist’ defines the dramatic social change which Amir faces. In Big Fish, physical change is also dealt with the main characters Will and Ed Bloom. Ed Bloom grows from an adventurous, young, man to a frail, dying, old man. This change is particularly evident through the use of cyclical plot. On the verge of death Ed reverses his role with Will – now an adult. Although hesitant at first, Will finds himself in the position of his father. This reversible role meant that Will becomes the storyteller, instead of the listener. Hence, this reality transforms into a fantasy along with the transformation of Ed Bloom. The use of Colour Palette is significant as Will speaks – the grey, dull colours of the hospital turn to a radiant, more colourful palette as they race to the river- to Ed’s death. The juxtaposition of the colours reflect the shift in the physical transformation of Ed’s body – once held captive in his body, to his former alive and adventurous self where all his friends gather at the river. This renewal is also depicted through the metaphor of Ed’s car “It’s your old car, but somehow it’s new again”. Thus it can be seen, that the concepts of changing self are explored in both texts; Hosseini’s The Kite Runner and Burton’s Big Fish. Psychological, physical and social changes are conveyed with various techniques through the protagonists of each text.