Objects have power. The kite in The Kite Runner, is extremely powerful in the motion of the story as well as the reader's experience. The use of the kite in the story is very similar to the cycle of power. At the beginning of the story, the kite is part of what we see as the bond between Hassan and Amir. They are both extremely adept at the art of kite running and fighting, but we notice that for many different reasons, social position, personality, Amir is able to take advantage of Hassan (words, reading, writing). However when they take the glass spool they become equal. It's the one thing that Amir can't take advantage or make fun, so there becomes this bond between them. So after their win, the bond strengthens and the kite becomes a symbol of power for the both of them. The way Amir uses the kite is similar to how a corrupt leader might use his power. The stories (Beauty and the Beast) and reality (leaders with too much power) mesh to explain the cycle of power. The cycle of power is an unspoken phenomena, that really talks about a cycle where one starts with much power and they enjoy it, but then greed consumes them, and a problem forms (the use of the power is not used for its purpose), and then some sort of trial is put upon the character, and then (if the story has a happy ending) the power is restored. Although literally, Amir and Hassan carry no physical power such as being a ruler or a king, their ability with the kite becomes their power. The greed comes when Amir decides to use his abilities with the kite to win the affection of his father, which turns him blind to all else, including wrong doing right in front his eyes (Hassan's rape). The trial is put on Amir, in that he needs to reconcile with his past, his memories, and his actions now. We notice that during this trial the kite is mentioned in observations, far away, in details, and in the story the Taliban take away kites. He sees kites in memories and in his mind, but he can't have it. However, when he passes his trial and he realizes what he has done, the power is restored, and we see that when Amir is able to fly a kite once more and even though it's not with Hassan, it's with Sohrab who balances the power like Hassan did.
This is very similar to, in a literature context, The Beauty and the Beast. The prince had great power and wealth at the beginning of the story, but he is blinded by his greed and misuses his power by thinking that he can mistreat others because of this power. He becomes stripped of his power, he becomes the beast. He is reminded everyday of who he has become, but as much as he wants to have the power and becoming human once more, that is no longer in his grasp. His task is to win someone's heart and along the way learn about how he must pay back for abusing his power. When he achieves his task, his power is restored back to him.
I think this is an important connection because it helps us understand Amir's situation, the clever tactics of Hosseini, and it makes the story extremely real. When we read about the kite contest and then suddenly Hassan's rape, it seems surreal to us, as in "how does that even happen?" However, when we reference back to fairy tales and our leaders we see the same pattern (with slightly different endings), which makes this fictional memoir much more real. There's also an interesting format that Hosseini applies to the writing as well as the form. At the beginning he presents a lot of kite scenes, however after Hassan's rape, it almost disappears aside from subtle descriptions, but then it comes back when Amir comes to terms with what happened. That parallels, having power at the beginning and being stripped of it, and finally having the power restored. In my opinion, I think it's incredible how objects like a kite can act as such powerful things and influence actions. Objects have power.
Elizabeth, I loved the way you wrote this blog entry. It was written with a lot of thought. You made a great connection and a great point. The cycle of power does in fact play a great role in The Kite Runner. In a sense Amir and the Beast are very much alike. They both begin with a lot of power and strength but greed soon takes over and puts them on the weaker end. We soon see how the roles are reversed. The stronger character becomes the weaker one that now has to learn from the character that use to be weaker but now is stronger. What an odd phenomena indeed! I found your point on how objects can hold a lot of power very intriguing as well. The kite in the story is significant. Not only does it bring two characters together, but it pulls them apart as well. I agree with you; how does that happen? Well I think there are many explanations to that but one would definitely have to be that it all has to do with the cycle of power.
ReplyDeleteStephanie, I was going to comment on this blog, but you did first, so I'm going not going to. (Wow, this comment is rather ironic).
ReplyDelete"Elizabeth, your thoughts and ideas relating the kite to the vicious Cycle of Power was brilliant. I was very intrigued and interested to read more about your idea. I felt as if I was reading your exact thoughts as I read your blog post. I especially liked that you were able to show how one simple object unfolded the rest of the novel.
ReplyDeleteI too believe that the use of the kite was a symbolic measure of power; the one who captures the kite captures the power. Amir relished his power so his father would be proud to call him his son, but Amir also abused his power by betraying his best friend. Again, as you pointed out in your post, the kite symbolizes both Amir's breaking point and his moment of acceptance/ realization."
Elizabeth,
ReplyDeleteI read a lot of blogs last night, and this has to be among the most original. It presents an angle, a perception of the story buried deeply within Hosseini's craft and storyline. It makes the significance of the fictional part of the story more prominent, through uncovering the connection to the "cycle of power", a literary theme/concept that has been used in other works.
In your blog, before greed came into play, you described flying kites as an activity that bound Amir and Hassan, and symbolized both their individual and collective power. I also thought about how it symbolized the unification of Baba's two halves, the societally-accepted half, and the underprivileged half, who may not have had many personal traits in common, but shared Baba's blood. On page 359 it says, "I looked at Hassan, showing those two missing front teeth, sunlight slanting on his face. Baba's other half. The unentitled, underprivileged half. The half who had inherited what had been pure and noble in Baba", (359).
Towards the end of your blog, when opened up a new angle to the symbolism of the kite running at the end of the book, I was very surprised. I had simply seen that as a role reversal between the loyal and the dependent, as Amir's final gift to Hassan, and as Amir's happiness at finally having been able to come to terms with himself. However, seeing the kite running as being possible only because Amir restored his power through coming to terms with himself, and because Sohrab balanced out the power, is a very unique and deep understanding of the book. It represents a degree of closure barely visible among many intellectual individuals, and makes me feel more strongly about calling Hosseini a talented author, although there are a few missteps he took while writing the fictional memoir.