Symbols

Symbols

Kite:

‘Hassan was standing at the blind end of the alley in a defiant stance: fists curled, legs slightly apart. Behind him, sitting on piles of scrap and rubble, was the blue kite. My key to Baba’s heart’(chapter 7)

Slingshot:

“His hands was cocked above his shoulder, holding the cup of the slingshot at the end of the elastic band which was pulled all the way back…it was one of the brass balls.”(P.304, chapter 22)

Pomegranate tree

"Hassan had said in his letter that the pomegranate tree hadn't borne fruit in years. Looking at the wilted, leafless tree, I doubted it ever would again."(P.276, chapter 21)

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These three symbols all symbolize different important elements in the story. Including, the kite, slingshot and the pomegranate tree.

The kite is a symbol for the good times Amir and Hassan used to spend together flying kites as children. It is Amir's "key to Baba's heart" because with it he hoped to gain Baba's attention and make him proud. It is also a symbol for achievement at winning the kite fights and running the last fallen kite with other children. However, it is also a symbol and reminder of Amir's weakness. Amir failed to come to Hassan's aide when he needed him most. Hassan was always loyal to Amir no matter what the cost; he proved his loyalty in the alley by refusing to give up the kite and accepting whatever Assef would do to him. Amir watched his childhood friend be beaten and raped in an alley and did absolutely nothing about it. He let Assef and his gang get away with it; he did not attempt to get help or even to console Hassan after it. He took the much desired kite without a simple word to Hassan. The kite serves as a symbol and constant reminder that Amir failed to help his friend, his brother. Instead, he watched in fear.

The slingshot represents loyalty and protection.  At the beginning of the story, Hassan fires walnuts using the slingshot to prove his loyalty towards Amir. The slingshot is also used as a defensive tool and portray Hassan’s protective nature towards his master. This is then repeated when Sohrab, Hassan’s son, fires a ball using a slingshot to save Amir from Assef. This which shows either Hassan and his son has a sense of justice to Amir. I think is called "A chip off the old block; he acts exactly like his dad."

 The pomegranate tree symbolizes the relationship between Amir and Hassan. At the peak of their friendship the pair claimed the tree as their own by carving their names into the tree. They would spend countless hours under the tree where Amir would read to the illiterate Hassan and they would both share their love of literature. It becomes symbolic that the tree represents their relationship as we read about how Amir, fuelled with guilt and anger, takes the fruit from the tree and hits Amir with the fruit in a way to provoke him into giving Amir a physical punishment to lessen his guilt. All Amir does is break the fruit over his own head. Years later after Hassan is dead and Amir has returned again to the tree as an adult , we read how the tree is fruitless and dead. This symbolizes the deterioration in their relationship and how the friendship died due to the anger, guilt and betrayal all those years ago.