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How does Amir’s comment “I ran” (p 340) contrast to the last time he said these words.

Through the repetition of Amir’s words “I ran”, Hosseini explores his redemption and eventual growth through his confrontation of past sins. When confronted by Assef, Amir had the chance to choose between chasing the blue kite the “key to Baba’s heart” and sacrificing Hassan or come to his rescue. In the end he “ran”. “I had one last chance to make a decision” which exemplifies the cowardly behaviour exhibited by Amir in allowing his brother to get brutally raped by Assef in order to gain acceptance from his father. Hosseini examines Amir’s growth through repetition of the quote “I ran” further reinforcing the gutless and self-centred actions that were displayed in this tragic event. The reader is positioned to feel disappointed towards Amir due to his sacrifice of Hassan to gain Baba’s approval revealing the pusillanimous personality he had in the beginning of the text compared with the ending. When running the kite for Sohrab, Amir states, “I ran. A grown man running…But I didn’t care”, illustrating the eventual growth in Amir and further reinforcing the freedom he is now expressing through chasing the kite symbolising the acceptance he feels he has gained from his father after confronting his past through finding Sohrab instead of running away from his sins. This links to the author’s main message that Amir experiences a journey throughout the novel which leads him to confront his sins and grow with the final acceptance of his father.