THE KITE RUNNERLOYALTY, DEVOTION AND DUTYShane, Zack, Lauren

English 112

Thesis

In the novel The Kite Runner, Khaled Hosseini

explores life growing up in Kabul. Along the way

the fictional characters sometimes struggle with

being loyal to one another.

Definitions

Loyalty The quality of being loyal to someone or

something. Devotion

Affection and dedication to a person or principle.

Duty Respect or obedience due to a superior,

older person, etc.

Direct References

Passage 1Page 62“Inshallah… That was the thing with Hassan. Hewas so goddamn pure, you always felt like aphony around him.”

Hassan is always kind and loyal to everyone, but

especially Amir. Amir feels guilty about notreturning the favour.

Passage 2Page 71“For you a thousand times over!” he said. Thenhe smiled his Hassan smile and disappearedaround the corner.”

Hassan shows his devotion through thispassage, he feels a sense of honor and wants tobring the kite back to Amir.

Passage 3Page 77 “Amir agha won this tournament and I ran thiskite for him. I ran it fairly. This is his kite.”“A loyal Hazara. Loyal a dog,” Assef said.

Hassan is loyal and devoted to Amir, he intendsto take the kite that he ran fairly back to himawaiting any consequences.

Passage 4Page 111“I flinched, like I’d been slapped. My heart sank andI almost blurted out the truth. Then I understood:This was Hassan’s final sacrifice for me.”

Hassan continues to stay loyal to Amir even afterthe relationship between them vanishes. He admitsto a crime he didn’t do so that Amir isn’t exposed asa liar to his father.

Passage 5Page 340“I don’t want to go back to an orphanage”, he said.“I wont ever let that happen. I promise you that.” Icupped his hand in both of mine. “Come home withme.”

Amir promises Sohrab he will take care of him as ameans to fulfill his duty to Hassan, Amir’s way to begood again.

Assignment

In groups sketch a visual representation of who is loyal to whom throughout the novel.