Question 7: Analyse how specific events reinforced your understanding of one or more ideas.
“Ideas” may refer to character, theme, or setting

The novel, The Kite Runner, by Khaled Hosseini, tells the story of an Afghan boy named Amir. Amir finds himself in many traumatic situations but is always rescued by his servant and only friend, Hassan. However, one day when trying to gain his father’s acceptance, Amir does not do the same for Hassan and this haunts him for the next 26 years. When Amir reflects on his past at the Golden Gate Park, pears into the alleyway of Hassan’s sexual assault and frames him for theft of his birthday presents, they all reinforce the idea of the guilt that still lies within him. Hosseini uses these events to portray how guilt can last forever, that it can take over your life and will drive you to do anything.

Guilt is shown 26 years later when the book starts with a flash-forward of Amir reflecting on his life after a call from Rahim Khan. He is in Golden Gate Park and has just been offered a once in a lifetime chance to make amends by helping Hassan’s son who is in an orphanage. Amir knows he should take this rare proposal when he thinks, “I knew it wasn’t Rahim Khan on the line. It was my past of unatoned sins.” To him, this was not Rahim Khan speaking, it was his sins that he has not yet dealt with on the phone haunting him with guilt. When reflecting Amir also said “The past claws its way out. Looking back now, I realize I have been peeking into that deserted alleyway for the past twenty-six years.” This further adds to the idea that the past is painfully always in the back of his mind but he is scared to face what happened so he is still peeking into the alleyway. Through this event, Hosseini is trying to convey the idea that no matter how long, or how many times you try and bury the past, the guilt will always be there with you. He proves that by facing the problem head-on such as taking offers like this is the only way to prevent guilt from overpowering your life.