The story is about redemption and humanization. It happens between two little boys from different social classes and different races. Amir, who desires to achieve his father’s attention, joins in the kite-fighting tournament with his best friend—Hassan. On Hassan’s way to run for the kite that represents the final win, he is abused by a bad boy—Assef. With the strong desire to win the tournament, Amir gives up saving Hassan and refuses to hand the kite over to Assef. Amir hides behind the wall, sees everything happening but does not step forward to rescue Hassan because of his cowardice. After that, he feels guilty and ashamed so much that he can’t face Hassan any more. Therefore, he accuses Hassan of stealing his father’s money to kick him out of the house. In 1979, when the Soviet gains occupation of Afghanistan, Amir and his Father immigrate to America to escape from the war. After arriving on the new place, Amir wants to forget those bad memories and starts a brand-new life, but he still feels guilty and ashamed in his deep heart. The horrible dream in his childhood torments him every day and night. One day in 2011, Amir is informed by an old friend from hometown that Hassan is a bastard of his father, which shocks Amir and encourages him to rescue Hassan’s son who is still trapped in Afghanistan.

Literature Review

Since its publication, The Kite Runner has received numerous literature reviews throughout the world. So far, the researches on this novel at home and abroad are mainly conducted from the following four perspectives-- theme analysis, eco-criticism, bildungsroman and global ethics.

In the study from the perspective of theme-analysis, the research “The Diverse Interpretations of The Kite Runner” by Li Chongling reveals a family theme of the novel, which shows Amir’s eagerness for father’s attention and father’s preference for the Bastard—Hassan. The second theme is redemption, which shows Amir’s journey of self-salvation. The third one is social criticism about the turbulent society in Afghanistan during the war.

Researches from the perspective of eco-criticism focus on the changing environment of Afghanistan. In “The Ecological Criticism of The Kite Runner” (2010), He Xiaojuan compares the author’s wonderful childhood with the terrible living surrounding destroyed by the war to show the unbalance of ecology. Meanwhile, the armed aggression of the Soviet Union, the brutal rule of the Taliban and the persecution between races make Afghanistan a morbid social ecology.

Most researchers analyze the novel from the perspective of bildungsroman. “Amir’s Growth: A Jungian Interpretation of The Kite Runner” written by Lv Tuo(2003), analyzes the protagonist’s growth in the novel from the perspective of Jung’s archetypal theory, which reflects the development of the protagonist’s psychology and his pursue of self-salvation and self-realization. Yu Ting(2013) analyzes the four growing stages of the protagonist: happy childhood –kite fighting contest—exile into America—new life in America, which shows the initiation process of the protagonist. Jiang Xiaoqing (2010) analyses how the protagonist finds his mistakes and grows into maturity through the long run of redemption and self-salvation.

A few researchers put their focus on global ethics in this novel. Jefferess David(2009)concludes that it reveals a national fusion when the protagonist immigrates from Afghanistan to America to escape from the war.

Most researchers interpret the novel as bildungsroman. They analyze the protagonist’s growth and psychological changes through redemption. Then, some people focus on the theme of this novel, such as friendship, loyalty, betrayal and redemption. What’s more, as a book set in America written by an Afghan, some researchers read the book from the perspective of different cultures, religions and racial discrimination.

Significance of the Study

Symbolism is the use of symbols to present ideas by giving them symbolic meaning that are different from their literal sense. It can be used in various different forms. As we all know, the poem “The West Wind” written by Shelley uses lots of objects like an eagle, the sun and leaves to present symbolic meanings.