The Kite Runner ~ motif

"Blood is a powerful thing" (page 188).

Throughout the first half of the book, blood seems to be a recurring idea. Amir and Hassan have different blood which creates the separation between society and Hassan. The are from two different heritages and this causes tension with how the townspeople view people like Hassan. Kite fighting, an enjoyable hobby shared by both Amir and Hassan, causes their hands to bleed from the string. This idea is repeated a few times. Hassan is bleeding after he is attacked in the alley. On the hill, Amir starts throwing pomegranates at Hassan. These pomegranates are then compared to blood dripping down Hassan's face. Later, when Amir and Soraya are engaged, they stress the importance of bloodlines and having good family history. Finally, bloodlines are again mentioned when they are discussing the possibility of adoption. They decide it is best not to adopt because then they would have unknown blood in the family. This motif adds to the somber tone of the story. The story takes on a dark and saddened air, and the constant repetition of blood emphasizes this tone.

The Kite Runner ~ regret

"I finally had what I'd wanted all those years. Except now that I had it, I felt as empty as this unkempt pool I was dangling my legs into" (page 85).

Amir often feels responsible for what happened to Hassan. He regrets not standing up for his best friend, and he regrets taking advantage of Hassan's loyalty to him. Amir stood by and did nothing the whole time Hassan was being attacked in the alley by Assef and his gang. He could have done something to stop them or tried to help, but he was too scared and ran. The rest of this story seems to be motivated by this event early-on in the book. Although Amir has finally earned the attention of his father, he does not deserve it and cannot enjoy it. Later in the book, Amir marries a woman named Soraya. She has a regretful past and admits it to Amir before their wedding. However, Amir still agrees to marry her. "But I think a big part of the reason I didn't care about Soraya's past was that I had one of my own. I knew all about regret" (page 180). Amir bears the burden of regret for the rest of his life. He regrets his actions, or lack thereof, and is forever trying to forget and redeem his inner peace. Throughout the rest of the story, he is always reminded of his decision to do nothing and that regret keeps him going.

The Kite Runner ~ motivation

"Then a smile played on my father's lips. He opened his arms. I put the kite down and walked into his thick hairy arms. I buried my face in the warmth of his chest and wept. Baba held me close to him, rocking me back and forth. In his arms, I forgot what I'd done. And that was good" (page 79).

Amir's motivation for ever entering the kite fight was to make his father proud of him. He had always been jealous of Hassan and Baba's love for him. Baba was his father, and Amir did not like sharing him with Hassan. He thought Hassan was the perfect son and felt like he could never live up to his father's expectations. Amir always tried to please his father, but he was never fully satisfied with him. In Amir's opinion, this kite competition was a way of earning his father's love. Amir was willing to do anything in order to make his father proud and all he could think about was bringing him the last fallen kite - the blue kite that had been the reason for Hassan's terrible fate. Amir watched the horror being done to his childhood friend and did nothing; he even thought about the kite instead of his best friend. He checked to see if the kite was torn before even checking to see if Hassan was okay. Amir's motivations were very self-centered. He acted out of jealousy and fear; he wanted to be his father's favorite and was too scared to stand up for Hassan in the alley. This event stays forever ingrained in Amir's mind.

The Kite Runner ~ symbol

"Hassan was standing at the blind end of the alley in a defiant stance: fists curled, legs slightly apart. Behind him, sitting on piles of scrap and rubble, was the blue kite. My key to Baba's heart" (page 71).

Throughout the story, the kite is a symbol. It is not just a symbol of one thing though; it represents many different things. The kite is a symbol for the good times Amir and Hassan used to spend together flying kites as children. It is Amir's "key to Baba's heart" because with it he hoped to gain Baba's attention and make him proud. It is a symbol for achievement at winning the kite fights and running the last fallen kite. However, it is also a symbol and reminder of Amir's weakness. Amir failed to come to Hassan's aide when he needed him most. Hassan was always loyal to Amir no matter what the cost; he proved his loyalty in the alley by refusing to give up the kite and accepting whatever Assef would do to him. Amir watched his childhood friend be beaten and raped in an alley and did absolutely nothing about it. He let Assef and his gang get away with it; he did not attempt to get help or even to console Hassan after it. He took the much desired kite without a simple word to Hassan. The kite serves as a symbol and constant reminder that Amir failed to help his friend, his brother. Instead, he watched in fear.

The Kite Runner ~ simile

"I can still see Hassan up on that tree, sunlight flickering through the leaves on his almost perfectly round face, a face like a Chinese doll chiseled from hardwood: his flat, broad nose and slanting, narrow eyes like bamboo leaves, eyes that looked, depending on the light, gold, green, even sapphire...and the cleft lip, just left of midline, where the Chinese doll maker's instrument may have slipped, or perhaps he had simply grown tired and careless" (page 3).

Shortly after the book begins, the character Hassan is introduced. Amir, the narrator, speaks admiringly about him and compares his features to a Chinese doll. This description creates the sense that Hassan was carefully created perfectly in every aspect; his only flaw seems to be a cleft lip. Throughout further chapters in the book, Amir continues to speak favorably of Hassan. He seems perfect in every way, even to the point where Amir is jealous of him. Although Amir has always been given whatever he desired, he still envies Hassan. This is even a little ironic because Hassan is the son of Baba's servant, and he is generally looked down upon by society. The purpose and significance of this repeated simile is to show Amir's admiration and jealousy for Hassan. Hassan is strong, intelligent (despite his lack of education), and above all - loyal. Comparing him to a chiseled Chinese doll emphasizes and creates a mental image of his perfect character. He is willing to do anything, even risk his life or put himself in danger's way, for Amir...and he does...

"Death of a Salesman"

Throughout the play, Willy is a confusing and complicated character. At first, he appears simply insane. He is always talking to himself and quickly changing moods and opinions in the blink of an eye. On one page, he is talking about how much he loves their car. "Chevrolet, Linda, is the greatest car ever built" (p. 1561). However, on the next page Willy completely changes his mind saying, "I'm not going to pay that man! That goddam Chevrolet, they ought to prohibit the manufacture of that car!" (page 1562). Then, as the play continued, I began to think maybe Willy was schizophrenic. He commonly talks to characters who do not exist; he frequently talks to his brother Ben who we know to be dead. He sees and talks to people who are not there; they are only figments of his imagination. However, we later find out that these are actually memories belonging to Willy. They are flashbacks rather than hallucinations. Willy seems to have confused his life to a point where he does not even know what is real or right. He is so focused on achieving the american dream that he forgets and cannot accept what is actually reality. This eventually leads to his tragic death. Because he cannot maintain a sense of calmness or reality, he ends up killing himself.

"Death of a Salesman" p. 119 #4

Dramatic suspense is created through Willy's flashbacks. The audience often does not have information that some of the characters do. Throughout the beginning of the play, Biff and Willy seem to have some hidden conflict between them that no one knows about. They both love each other, but there seems to be unexplained tension between them all the time. At some points, they even seem like they are hiding something from everyone else. Linda mentions a woman and Biff immediately responds, "(sharply but contained) What woman?...Nothing. Go ahead." (p. 1577). Linda also seems to be withholding information from the others about Willy. Biff was surprised to show up and the house and see Willy in the state that he was. In addition, Linda did not tell anyone that Willy had been attempting to kill himself until later in the play. The flashbacks seem to seep through Willy's memory into the play to a point where it is difficult to differentiate between what is real and what is past or simply just an idea. Characters like Ben, who is revealed to be dead, reappear throughout the play as Willy continues to talk to them. These flashbacks along with characters not revealing everything they know creates suspense. The audience learns the details of the story piece by piece which creates an unknown sense of suspicion to find the truth in the play.

"Death of a Salesman" p. 1119 #2

This play is a tragedy; it is important that the reader knows this in order to understand the story. Therefore, the play starts off by letting the audience know it is a tragedy from the minute the reader first looks at the title. The title "The Death of a Salesman" automatically tells the reader that this play is going to involve or center around a death, which would most likely make the story a tragedy. As the story continues, it is important to understand that the play is about the downfall of a man trying to live the american dream. Willy is caught up in a world that views everything as perfect and, in his opinion, the ideal life. He is unable to accept his family's situation and that life is not going according to plan. He repeatedly fails to listen or to accept that things are not as he wishes they were. For example, Biff, Willy's idea of a perfect son who lives a perfect life, tries to tell Willy that he has been unsuccessful in life. He is unable to keep a job and cannot get an interview with his old boss. However, Willy assumes that Biff got the job and refuses to acknowledge that Biff is telling him otherwise. Even after Biff repeatedly reminds him, they argue, and Biff says he is leaving, Willy still asks, "You're not going to see Oliver tomorrow?...He put his arms around you, and you've got no appointment?" (p. 1623). Willy refuses to accept the truth that exists outside his perspective of living the american dream.