Theme Of Sin And Atonement In The Kite Runner

Aarushi Bellani
Ms. Kanika Dang
Thesis Paper
8th November 2015

Portrayal of Sin & Atonement in Khaled Hosseini’s ‘The Kite Runner’

“Our English word “atonement” explains well the theology behind such restoration, for it suggests that God and humanity can relationally be “at one” again,” suggests Ed Stetzer in his blog on Christianity & the Old Testament. This concept of sin and atonement can be seen to occur frequently in the novel ‘The Kite Runner’ by Khaled Hosseini through the course of the protagonist, Amir’s life. Hosseini portrays Amir’s quest for redemption beautifully throughout his life as an innocent teenager in the enthralling and serene city of Kabul to his life as a family man in The United States of America. Through Amir’s life, Hosseini clearly portrays the fact that all sins can be atoned however grave or futile they may be and by their atonement one can attain self-satisfaction and can be at peace.

According to the Holy Bible, and the Old Testament, an act of committing a sin is that which “separates man from God himself” (Anonymous). Baba, Amir’s father believed that “there is only one sin, only one. And that is theft. Every other sin is a variation of theft.” He further explained, “When you kill a man, you steal a life, you steal his wife 's right to a husband, rob his children of a father.”(Hosseini 17) . Amir grew up with his servant’s son, Hassan a Hazara. He was the most loyal and righteous person who would do anything for his Amir Agha. In