Motifs written anaylsis

Husseini created numerous motifs throughout his novel, the most prominent of which are rape, self-redemption and the father-son relationship. These motifs reappear at critical intervals of the story and are inextricably linked to each other. Cases of sexual assault arise at 3 pivotal points in Amir’s life- first when Hassan is raped, second when Amir and Baba flee for America, and third when Amir rescues Sohrab from Assef. Husseini chose rape specifically because its impact extends past physical violence- it attacks the victim's emotion, dignity, and most importantly, sense of honor. Honor is a key component in the Afghan culture, and loss of it often results in social shaming or out-casting. By using rape as a main motif, Husseini is making a bold statement about the Afghan culture and how people are subject to judgment, and subsequently treatment, based on reputation, social status, honor and adherence to social conventions; those who are violated become 'dirty' by societal standards. The consequences of rape also serve as Amir's source of guilt, the foundation of this life story. Both Amir and Baba’s lives are defined by their efforts at self-redemption. For Baba, not being able to give Hassan the life he deserves is his biggest regret, and he continuously tries to make up for his predicament by building the orphanage, contributing to charity causes and acting as a model of justice to those around him. For Amir, the problem is two-fold: he feels guilty for being the cause of his mother’s death. He believes that is the reason Baba dislikes him and tries to prove his worth to Baba by winning the kite race and bringing home the fallen kite. However, in acquiring the kite he allows Hassan to be raped, and Baba’s short-lived pride for Amir quickly becomes Amir’s greatest source of shame. As Husseini sets Amir out on a journey of risk, self discovery and sacrifice to fix his mistakes, he also draws many parallels between the importance of honor in Afghan culture and the religious rituals performed to redeem one’s honor. By examining the unconventional method Amir takes to find redemption, which includes bringing Sohrab to America and risking his family’s reputation by publicizing he has a half Hazara niece, Husseini conveys another key about morality and the Afghan culture- what is right isn’t always socially accepted. Finally, Husseini weaves father-son relationships into many aspects of the story, starting at the beginning of the story with Amir and Baba, then backtracking to Baba and Hassan’s history, and eventually arriving at Amir’s relationship with Sohrab. This is partly to emphasize the prevalence of males in Afghan culture (a large portion of important characters in Amir’s life are male), but also links to the idea that blood is thicker than water, and one is inextricably bound to one’s parents/siblings.