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.