Motif

"She was pointing to the sky. A half-dozen kites were flying high, speckles of bright yellow, red, and green against the gray sky" (pg 366). In The Kite Runner, the influence of kites plays a large role in the novel. In the begining of the book, Amir describes flying kites as an extra-cirricular activity that becomes a lifestyle for children in the winter. As he grows older, however, kite flying is no longer seen as an important aspect of his life. In my opinion, kite flying, or kites in general, are a motif of the novel that represent dedication. According to Amir, they practiced kite flying every day as children in order to perfect the sport, wanting to become the best to impress Baba. After Hassan was raped, though, due to the dedication he had to Amir, neither of the children flew kites any longer. In the conclusion of the novel, kites make their final appearance because Amir forgave himself and dedicated his own life to Sohrab. Now, he wanted to make Sohrab happy and was dedicated to raising him in a healthy environment; therefore, kite flying is not only a motif of the novel, but it is also represents the theme: dedication.