Symbolism And Biblical Allusions In The Kite Runner

Khaled Hosseini uses various symbols and biblical allusions in his novel, ‘The Kite Runner’ to show how each of the characters were connected to each other in more ways than one. Throughout the story the author introduces various symbols that embody biblical teachings, vampirism and the path to redemption. From the start of the novel, Hassan was made out to be the near perfect person who was â€Å"...incapable of hurting anyone† (10, Hosseini). Hassan’s only fault being his Hazara lineage. This mixed with the attention he got from Baba made Amir jealous for the same sort of affection from his father. This brotherly rivalry could be compared to Cain and Abel for in the same way that Cain killed Abel - Amir watched as Hassan’s captors took†¦show more content†¦Despite this novel being set in a traditional Muslim environment it contains references to the bible for â€Å"the Bible is nonsectarian† (44, Foster). Thomas C. Foster explains this in chapter fourteen of his novel â€Å"How to Read Literature like a Professor† by saying that sometimes â€Å"...religion shows up in the form of allusions and analogues† (124). Hosseini repeatedly employs the use of coincidence and repetition over generations to instill key themes in the novel. From allowing father and son to be very much alike to having the reappearance of symbols that invoke emotion in the characters. It is here that we find the repetition of a key aspect of the novel - vampirism. Hassan’s rape was not solely a biblical allusion of Christ or the sacrificial lamb, in fact it held even more importance. It is this situation that introduces the readers to the vampire characteristics of â€Å"The Kite Runner’s† sole villain, Assef. By taking advantage of Hassan he shows â€Å"selfishness†¦[and] a refusal to respect the autonomy of other people† (16, Foster). Foster explains this situation in chapter three by saying that vampires try to ----explain themselves------ by saying â€Å"In order to remain undead, I must steal the life force of someone whose fate matters less to me than my own† (22). In the sam e way Assef grew in infamy by projecting himself as a fearless leader at the expense of others. This heartlessness helped show another key detail of vampirism - exploitation specificallyShow MoreRelatedCoen And Hosseinis O Brother, Where Art Thou And The Kite Runner1500 Words   |  6 Pages in his film O Brother, Where Art Thou? and Hosseini, in The Kite Runner, immerse their audience in the protagonists’ journey, encountering ideas of religion, politics and race through a range of literary and film techniques. Coen and Hosseini condemn the tangible racial and ethnic intolerance through characterisation, parody and mise-en-scà ¨ne. Allusion, imagery and humour explore both the comfort and danger of religion while symbolism, humour and historical references expose the deceit and failure