THESIS
Submitted in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirement for the Degree of
SarjanaPendidikan
Aria BenikeWulanKuway
112009133
ENGLISH DEPARTMENT
FACULTY OF LANGUAGE AND ARTS
SATYA WACANA CHRISTIAN UNIVERSITY
THESIS
Submitted in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirement for the Degree of
SarjanaPendidikan
Aria BenikeWulanKuway
112009133
ENGLISH DEPARTMENT
FACULTY OF LANGUAGE AND ARTS
SATYA WACANA CHRISTIAN UNIVERSITY
Abstract
A Semiotic Reading on KhaledHosseini’sThe Kite Runner Aria B. W. Kuway
In our lives we can find signs that represent or stand for something else. In literature, signs have become interest of many researchers to be studied through semiotic. This study aims to reveal the meaning of the four objects in the novel entitled The Kite Runner by KhaledHosseini: kite, winter, slingshot, and pomegranate tree. Despite the fact that interpretation of signs can be subjective and different from one person to another, this study attempts to interpret the four objects using semiotic approach because semiotic can be used to analyze meaning. The meaning interpretation of signs in the novel is expected to help readers gaining more and deeper understanding about the novel itself.
Introduction
In real life, we meet and face signs every day whether we realize it or not. Humans are qualified with the capability to see things beyond the way they are. As an instance, when a tree is swaying to each side we know there is something moving the tree. As we have been equipped to see thing not the way it is, even though we couldn‟t see it, we know that the
wind is blowing because we can feel it. Connecting it to the swaying tree, commonly, we conclude that the tree is swaying because of the wind. The moving tree tells us: the tree is being swayed by the wind. We observe the situation or signs we see, feel, smell, touch and later we draw conclusion based on our observation. In the case of moving tree, the moving tree signifies that there is wind blowing around it (Johansen and Larsen 25). To learn more about how sign communicates meaning, semiotic approach is needed because semiotic helps us examine the meaning of a sign. The sign itself can be in form of words, pictures, symbols, etc. (Bignell 2). Therefore, in a simple definition, semiotic is the study of signs. The signs which communicate meaning are, then, analyzed. The indigenous people of American had performed the use of semiotic since a long time ago. They would read signs from the ground, plants, and their surroundings to track human or animal. In fact, human in each part of the world has performed the reading of signs in their everyday life.
Sign is everything which represents something other than itself, for instance, objects or things, colors, letters, etcetera (Danesi 7). Another example of sign is the color black. The sign
family is grieving. The black flag is hung by Christian family while Muslim family usually will hang white flag. Therefore, the color black represent grief and death.
Two prominent figures of semiotic are Ferdinand de Saussure, the linguist from Swiss, and Charles Sanders Peirce, the philosopher from America. The term semiology is used by Saussure in his book Course in General. Peirce,on the other side, uses the term semiotic. Both semiology and semiotic comes from the Greek word semeion which means sign. Ferdinand Saussure, a Swiss linguist coins the study of sign. He refers to the term semiology instead of semiotic when deliberating the study of sign. Al-Sharafi quoted Saussure “…Since it does not yet
exist, one cannot say for certain that it will
.
But it has a right to exist, a place ready for it inadvance….”(81). Here, Saussure states that signs exist “in advance”. What he means by in advance is signs have always existed before experts started to concern about it. Signs have always been there whether we realize it or not, consciously or unconsciously since very long time ago.
Wales (Wales 1989:419) cited by Al-Sharafi, explains the definition of signs, from latin word signum,as “something which stands for, or refers to something else, in a meaningful way”
In other words, anything that stands for something else other than itself can be considered as sign. Some experts have also proposed the meaning of a signs as “… a meaningful unit which is
interpreted as „standing for‟ something other than itself. Signs are found in the physical form of
words, images, sounds, acts or objects (this physical form is sometimes known as the sign
vehicle). Signs have no intrinsic meaning and become signs only when sign users invest them
Based on two statements mentioned in the previous paragraph, there are two main things that need to be highlighted: firstly, a sign should have physical form. Secondly, signs will be noticed as sign if there are users or intepreter who intepret the sign. Related to the role of intepreter, according to Chandler, interpreter, indeed, performs a significant role in order to achieve meaning. A sign will be considered as sign if there are objects and there are intepreters who convey meaning based on the signs. Otherwise, the sign will be meaningless. In addition, quoted from Morris, Wales propose same idea to Chandler. Here, Wales mentioned signs “become signs only when sign users invest them with meaning.” It means, to consider something
as a sign, the role of intepreter is needed. Again, Wales stressed the important part of interpreter. Intepreter is required to intepret that something which stand for something else. When intepreters are able to convey meaning from that „something‟, words, images, gestures, and object, odors,
thus, can be considered as signs.
Even though everything can be considered as sign, Turner as quoted by Chandler, proposed that there are three things that mark a sign to be proper as a sign. First, a sign should be something that has physical form and or has to be“…a sound (can be heard), an image (can be
seen), an object or a gesture (can be tested or smelt).” Next, this sign should stand for something else other than itself. The last thing Turner proposed is sign system‟s users. To make a sign
In line with Peirce, Chandler mentions that we create and interpret meaning based on the signs we see. The signs can be in the form of words, images, sounds, odors, flavors, acts, or object. That is why as a meaning maker, I believe that some of things mentioned in the story have other meanings than the words themselves. In fact, there are many things in the book that can be used and considered as signs as long as it has the characteristics of signs mentioned by Peirce or Chandler. It has to have physical form, stands for something else beyond the thing itself, and other users recognized it as doing this. For an instance, I consider a kite as a sign because it can be seen and touched. Furthermore, a kite, in the story, may have meaning beyond its function as a toy usually played by children, or sometimes, by adults.Therefore, in agreement with Peirce and Chandler, as a meaning maker, questions arose when I looked at the cover and as I read through the novel. Since we are as humans are homo significans or in other words meaning makers who think only in signs, we tend to make meaning of everything (Chandler 14).
California, medical school of San Diego and got his M.D. Hosseini was working as a resident in Cedar-Sinai hospital in Los Angeles which he finally became an internist.
During his time of being a resident, Hosseini started to write The Kite Runner, in 2001. In 2003, the novel was published. Here, his personal experience is also reflected through Amir, especially his childhood experience. Through this novel, Hosseini wanted to invite all the people in the world to see Afghanistan from an insider‟s point of view. Not only writing novel about Afghanistan, Hosseini also helping aid organization by put their link on his personal website so that people throughout the world will be able to see the link and help the Afghans in Afghanistan. He is now living in Northern Californian with his wife and children. Some of his childhood is described in the novel however, the novel is fictional. Not only through his novel does Hosseini try to tell the world about his homeland country, but he also actively joins the foundation organization in order to help the Afghans refugees. His novel functions as the mediator between people in Afghanistan and the world outside Afghanistan (Spangler).
In the novel The Kite Runner, Hosseini as a diaspora writer, tries to portray the life of Afghanistan people in 1970s. It was the time where the sound of guns and bombs were something unfamiliar to the generation of that era. The peaceful country then started to collapse. Also, the form of government changed from the monarchy to republic. The country then invaded by the Russian, before then ruled under the regime of Taliban. Afghans‟ hatred toward Russian is
represented in the novel when Baba‟s sick and need to be checked by a doctor. Baba roughly
refuses the doctor because the nationality of the doctor is Russian (Hosseini 155).
writer chose to entitle the book the Kite Runner? The reason is because we human tend to think about sign, even when we did not realize it. Peirce stated that „we think only in signs‟ (Chandler
14). Therefore, by looking at the cover and the tittle of the book, questions arose. Further reading of the book triggered many more perceptions, assumptions, and questions. Such as, why did the author chose the pomegranate tree as the place for Hassan and Amir used to play at? Why is Hassan good at shooting slingshot and not something else? This, in my opinion, proofs the idea of Peirce that as readers we tend to think sign, especially as readers who has the urge to dig deeper meaning of the story in order to attain better understanding of the story.
I do realize that the field of semiotic is quite broad to discuss. Therefore, it is urgent to limit the discussion of Semiotic to narrower one. Here, I use the theory of sign proposed by Peirce. Peirce recommended his triadic kind of signs. They are icon, index, and symbol. Since an object determines its sign, a sign is called icon when it shares the object‟s characters. The example given is a photograph. Here, he mention, that a photograph is an icon because it shares the characters of the object being photographed. Next, index is a sign caused by cause and effect
relationship. The example proposed by him is when there is smoke emerges from a house, it indicates the possibility of fire in the house. Similar to the example I mentioned before: when a tree is swaying from one side to other side, it signifies that there is wind around the tree. The wind is the cause why the tree is moving. The third one proposed by Peirce is symbol which is signified by convention. He stated “Thirdly, by more or less approximate certainty that it will be
interpreted as denoting the object, in consequence of a habit (which term I use as including a
natural disposition), when I call the sign a Symbol.” The example given by him is flag. Flags can
society needs to learn about the flag firstand also agree that flag refers to something else beyond itself (Berger 23). More explanation will be discussed in the literature review.
In order to avoid too broadened discussion, I will limit my discussion to four objects only that mentioned in the book; kites, winter, slingshots, and pomegranate tree, which I consider to be important. Further analysis on other elements on the book would be helpful for readers to understand the richness of the book. These four objects, which I considered as sign, have significant role to the story. Without these four objects, the story would probably be different or even meaningless. In addition, considering the richness of this novel, another research on the book The Kite Runner is highly suggested. For example, psychoanalysis could be used to analyze the character of Amir, how an act of betrayal in his childhood can affect his entire life when he grows up.
As what has been explained before, everything in the novel can be taken as signs. Nevertheless, I felt the urge to distinct which signs are important to make the story in the novel meaningful and which signs are less important and don‟t really have significant impact to the
story. Despite all the signs appear on the novel, only four objects are chosen since they appear to me as important signs for the developing of the story. Therefore, explanation proposes by Perrine helps me decide what factors are needed to consider whether an object is essential sign or not.
enough information about the person. Nevertheless, some authors name their characters with certain names in order to label the characters itself as well as the name as tools to represent something beyond the name and the character of this person.
There are two essential keys related to symbols in a story. First, there is repetition. The same thing keep appears throughout the story. For example, in the novel The Kite Runner, the word winter keeps appear throughout the story. Moreover, the author relates winter to essential part of Amir‟s life. Winter is the time when Amir is born. Winter is also his favorite time
because it means a long holiday (which means he will be able to play with his servant Hassan) and kite flying tournament. Ironically, winter is as well as the time Amir witnessing Hassan being raped without does anything to help Hassan that leads to the ruined of their friendship. Another example is the pomegranate tree. The tree is mentioned many times in the book especially to describe the activity both character like to do. Author mentions the pomegranate tree is the tree where Amir and Hassan go to spend time with together. When the situation in Kabul is in chaos, this tree is the spot where Amir and Hassan go to, intentionally, to reduce their anxious by playing or reading books under the tree. Years later, when Amir comes back to Afghanistan from America to save Sohrab, he makes use of the time to visit the tree.
fruitless. This can also represent the relationship between both of them; broken. Their friendship is never the same anymore.
Furthermore, Arp and Johnson explain that with the intention of diagnosing and pinpointing symbols, one needs to have perception and tact. The reason of this is because once the reader realizes the existence of symbols in the story, the reader will have the inclination to run wild. They mention in their book as follow: “To find symbols everywhere and to read into
details of a story all sorts of fanciful meanings not legitimately supported by it. But we need to
remember that most stories operate almost wholly at the literal level and that even in highly
symbolic stories, the majority of the details are purely literal. A story is not an excuse for and
exercise in ingenuity. It is better, indeed, to miss the symbolic meanings of a story than to pervert
its meaning by discovering symbols that are nonexistent.” (Arp and Johnson 289).
In addition, it is essential to possess the ability to interpret symbols in order to fully comprehend literature. Therefore, readers might need to be attentive to some things that might represent something else other than themselves. These following cautions are required to scrutinize whether something is represent other than itself or not (Arp and Johnson 289-291)
1. The story itself must furnish a clue that a detail is to be taken symbolically(289).
2. The meaning of a literary symbol must be established and supported by the entire context
of the story (290).
3. To be called a symbol, an item must suggest a meaning different in kind from its literal meaning; a symbol is something more than the representative of a class or type(290).
Based on the explanation, therefore, these four objects can be considered as important symbols that has significant impact toward the story. Hence, these four objects will then be analyzed deeper.
This research is attempted to answer the question what are the meaning of kites, pomegranate tree, winter, and slingshot using the branch of semiotic. RayiKinanti in her thesis The Analysis of the Symbol of Salmon in “ManusiaSetengah Salmon” by RadityaDika, as quoted
from Bignell, mentioned that semiotics is one theory that can be used to discuss signs, specifically symbol. Here, the four objects mentioned are considered as signs. Therefore, by using semiotic, signs or symbols used by the author in the novel can be analyzed to convey meaning, which make this as the aim of this research. When the meaning of these four objects (kite, winter, slingshot, and pomegranate tree) are conveyed, the reader will be able to understand and to interpret symbols in the novel. By conveying meaning behind these four symbols, readers‟ misinterpretation or misunderstanding of the story can be avoided.
Beyond that, these specific words stand for something other than themselves. That is why this paper tries to examine what the author is trying to depict through kite, winter, slingshot, and pomegranate tree using semiotic. Through this analysis, I hope to help readers to have more and deeper understanding about what the author are trying to say in this novel. By examining the meaning behind these four particular objects, it is expected for the readers to gain better and profound understanding about the story.
are expected to gain more understanding of the story. Take for an example, as an Indonesian I know that kite is known as a toy or game, use to play by kids and sometimes by adults. However, in comparison to Afghanistan people, flying kites is never a national obsession of Indonesia. Nevertheless, by trying to view kite from an Afghan‟s point of view, readers of this book would
be able to understand why kite is important for Afghanistan people. Therefore, in order to achieve more understanding, analyzing the four object mentioned earlier will be very useful for the readers. Another thing is not only seeing Afghanistan from Hosseini‟s point of view, but also,
readers will be able to reflect their own experience to what Amir and Hassan has experience such as friendship, envious, being loyal and betrayed, and finally redemption.
Method used in this research is library research. The data used in this research is qualitative data in which the data is taken based on words, phrases, sentences, or text in the primary, secondary, or additional data. The primary data for this research is taken from the novel
The Kite Runner by KhaledHosseini, the 10th anniversary edition, based on the narration and the dialogues of the characters. The secondary data used for this research is taken from articles, criticisms, review, and books related to the research. Then, the data is analyzed and interpreted, then, connected to the opinion of experts.
signs meaningful, our role as interpreters plays significant part. We as interpreters must create meaning actively based on signs we see (Chandler). And to interpret, one interpretation can be different from another. In addition, we will be helped to understand and to raise our awareness that we live in a world where we could find signs everywhere. Applying the same idea, through semiotic approach, readers of the novel The Kite Runner will be able to understand and aware that the novel itself is very rich of signs. Nevertheless, the signs contain in the book will stay meaningless unless the readers attempts to see that the signs are actually standing for something else. Interpreting meaning is somehow can be subjective (Chandler). However, since we are as human function as meaning maker, in my opinion, this will be very fascinating since many subjective interpretations could lead to seeing a sign from many different points of views. In this case, by trying to interpret kite, winter, pomegranate tree, and slingshot, I try to reveal the meaning meant by the author. Hopefully, the more explicit code of signs revealed, the more this story could be understood by the readers of this novel.
Summary of the Book
The book The Kite Runner consists of three parts. The first part, tells about the close relationship between two boys who are fed from the same breasts, Amir and Hassan. Amir is the son of Baba, one of the wealthiest business men in Kabul, Afghanistan, a Pashtun and Sunni Muslim. Hassan is a hare lipped boy, the son of Amir‟s father‟s servant, a Hazara, a minor
ethnicity in Afghanistan, and a Shi‟a Muslim. Hassan‟s father, Ali, has become a servant to
Amir‟s Baba since Ali was a young boy. They both, Amir and Hassan, are motherless. Amir‟s
Hassan and ran off with a group of singers and dancers in a one winter night. Amir is one year older than Hassan.
Ali and Hassan lives in a small shack next to Amir and Baba‟s big house. However, Ali
loves Hassan as if Hassan is his precious treasures. In contrast, Amir has everything a little boy is wishing for financially, except one thing: Baba‟s love. Amir and Baba can‟t get along very well. That is why Amir has always tried his best to get his Baba‟s attention. It is Rahim Khan,
Baba‟s close friend, who is always helping Amir and especially encouraging Amir to write since
he is a little boy. Sometime, Amir wishes that Rahim Khan is his father and not Baba. Only few persons close to Amir. Beside Hassan, it is Rahim Khan that Amir closes to.
Although their social backgrounds are very different, Amir and Hassan share a beautiful friendship. Both of them are fond of playing kite. Amir is very good at flying kite. Whereas Hassan, he is a very good kite runner. They are very close that wherever Amir goes, Hassan comes along with him. Hassan always brings his slingshot wherever he goes and he is deadly with this slingshot. Another activity they like to do is every day after school or whenever the boys want to, they will go to a pomegranate tree near the abandoned cemetery. Amir uses to read to Hassan bellow the tree since Hassan is illiterate. They even carve their names on the tree: Amir and Hassan, the Sultans of Kabul. Therefore, with the carving they make, there is a sense that the pomegranate tree belongs to them.
Nevertheless, the first part of the novel ends when Hassan is raped by a boy named Assef. It is told that on the other day before Hassan‟s raped, Hassan has threatened Assef with his
slingshot. Hassan pointed the slingshot to Assef‟s face and threatened him that people would call
because of this. As a result, one day when Hassan is going to find the blue kite Amir won from the tournament, he meets Assef and his two friends. They ask for the blue kite, but Hassan who is very loyal to Amir doesn‟t want to give in the kite to Assef. Assef, still holding grudge to Hassan, hurts Hassan by bulling him. Amir who watches the raping from afar is unable to muster his bravery to help Hassan, who always stands for Amir and defends him whenever Amir needs help. Since the day Hassan is rapped, life is changed for the two of them. They play together, however, things don‟t go well as the way it was. Worst thing happens when Amir accuses
Hassan for stealing his watch and money. Ali and Hassan finally decide to leave the house they have been living for years even though it is not Hassan who steals the watch and the money. That is the last time Amir sees Hassan, through his bedroom window. Later, it is described in the book, the betrayal act of Amir when he was a boy haunts his entire life.
The second part of the story tells about Amir and his father‟s life in California. They are
fleeing to the United States of America since the invasion of the Soviet Union. The story is continued with Amir continuing his study there. He graduates from senior high school and continues to junior college, majoring in creative writing. Amir‟s relationship with Baba gets
better like he wants it to be. He meets an Afghan girl, Soraya, and marries her. They both take care of Baba especially since his health gets worse, and passes away at the end because of cancer. One big problem Amir can‟t get rid of is no matter how far he is from Afghanistan, the
quilt he bears burdens him, especially the look in Hassan‟s eyes when Hassan was being rapped. The guilty is still haunting him. Until one day, a phone call from Rahim Khan, his father‟s old
loyal friend, bringing back all the past he‟s been trying to forget for decades. Rahim Khan tells
The last part of the story is when Amir flies back to Afghanistan to meet Rahim Khan. Rahim Khan asks Amir to save Sohrab, Hassan‟s son, who is caught by a Taliban officer and
bring the little boy to a better place. Why flying across the continent only to save a little boy? Eventually, from Rahim Khan, Amir knows the secret his Baba never told him; Hassan is his half step brother. The servant boy he used to play together with is his half-brother. The truth told by Rahim Khan burdens Amir‟s heart more. Thus, this makes Sohrab is his nephew. This is the time for Amir to redeem the chaos he caused from his cowardice acts in the past. To atone for what he should have done when he was watching Hassan being raped, years ago, he risks his life to rescue Sohrab. Rescuing Sohrab brings him facing his old nemesis, Assef, who happens to be one of Taliban‟s top leaders in Afghanistan. Years ago, when Amir was still a little boy, he did
nothing when Hassan was being violated by Assef. Now, after years of regret, it is the time for Amir to face Assef and rescue his half-stepbrother‟s son. Thus, to fix and wash away all the quilts he‟s been carrying his whole life.
Literature Review
Berger maintains that both semiology and semiotic have almost the same meaning. Both of them discuss about the meaning of sign. Semiotic, comes from Greek word sēmeion which means „sign‟. What makes them slightly different is semiotic refers to Peircean; while semiology
In literature, Umberto Eco mentions that words sometimes stand for something other than those words themselves. This is known as symbolism. Since almost everything is symbol, we as meaning makers tend to make meaning. In fact, there are some symbols people are familiar with all over the world. For example, talking about cross, Christians will definitely refer to the sacrifice of Jesus Christ. Another example is white usually represents goodness, pure, and holiness. On the contrary, black is connoted with evil or darkness. Therefore, symbolism can be another way of not to describing things exactly the way it is. (Murray157). Similarly, Perrine, as quoted by GalihUtomo (10) an object, a person, a situation, an action, or other items which has literal meaning in the story and represents another meaning than itself is a literary symbol. In other words, a word can have more than one meaning which is implicitly mentioned by the author in the story. This means that instead of using the vivid and direct explanation, readers are challenged to create meaning through a symbol by collecting all the evident explain in a text or literary work.
There are some definitions of semiotic stated by experts, as quoted by Chandler. The first definition is stated by Umberto Eco „semiotic is concerned with everything that can be taken as a sign‟ (Chandler 2). „Signs‟ is one element includes in semiotic. Not only sign, semiotic also
embroils anything that refers to something else. In addition, words, images, sounds, gestures, and objects are other forms signs. Saussure mentioned that semiology as „a signs which studies the
role of signs as part of social life‟. While according to Charles Peirce, semeiotic or semiotic is „the formal doctrine of signs‟ (Chandler 3).
There are two persons known as the cofounder of semiotic. They are the Swiss linguist Ferdinand Saussure and the American philosopher Charles Sanders Peirce. Saussure‟s defines
“A linguistic sign not a link between a thing and a name, but between a concept
(signified) and a sound pattern (signifier). The sound pattern is not actually a sound; for a sound
is something physical. A sound pattern is the hearer‟s psychological impression of a sound, as
given to him by the evidence of his senses. This sound pattern may be called „a material‟ element
only in that it is the representation of our sensory impressions. The sound pattern may thus be
distinguished from the other element associated with it in a linguistic sign. This other element is
generally of a more abstract kind: the concept.” (Saussure 1983, 66)
Saussure proposed that a sign consists of a signifier and a signified. The signifier (the sound pattern) is the form of the sign. Or in other words can be called as sound-images. The signified is the concept which the sign refers to. It is the „concepts generated by the signifiers‟
(Berger22). Both of them are psychological or non-material. Nevertheless, nowadays the Saussurean model of sign is not psychological but materialistic. Moreover, the signifier is form of the sign which can be seen, heard, touched, smelled, or tasted. The combination of a signifier
and a signified is called the signification. This means that a sign should have a signifier and a signified. These two elements cannot be separated in order to form a sign or symbol. However, Saussure‟s signified merely refers to concept in mind and not to a thing. Therefore, Susane
Langer helps to give more explanation. She is referring sign to symbol. She stated that symbols are not substitution for the objects, not the things themselves, but symbols are the conception of the objects (or the things). This is what symbols mean. Here, she gave example of the word „Napoleon.‟ When one mentions the word „Napoleon,‟ we do not behave as if we were facing the
Sign
Signifier
(sound-image)
Signified
(concept)
Table 1.1
Table 1.1 is Saussure‟s concept of what makes a sign. Furthermore, based on the concept,
Berger serves example related to this explanation. Star Trek is a famous science fiction movie about a spaceship that travels in space. This movie, related to Saussure‟s concept can be taken as a sign. What are the signifiers and signified that make the movie a sign? According to Berger, since the movie is about starship that traveling across the space, so the signified of Star Trek is “science fiction adventure” (BergerArthur, Semiotic Analysis 9)The signifiers are the starship
that travels the universe, the outfits worn by the characters are futuristic style, they use ray light guns, etc. Grounded on semioticians opinion, everything can be taken as a sign. Similarly, another example, a signifier: yellow light of the traffic light. A signified concept: the vehicles are able to proceed with carefulness. Hence, both signifier and signified are importantly needed to form a sign.
Therefore, in my opinion, a mother can also be considered as a sign. The signified is „she is a source of life.‟ What are the signifiers that make a mother a sign? A mother carries baby in
Another cofounder of semiotic is Charles Sanders Peirce. Peirce offers three (triadic) models; 1.therepresentamen(the form of the sign), 2. anintepretant (sense created by the sign), 3.an object (anything to which the sign refers to/a referent). In his own words, Peirce(Peirce 1931–58, 2.228), as quoted by Chandler, explains the three parts:
A sign … (in the form of a representamen) is something which stands to somebody for
something in some respect or capacity. It addresses somebody, that is, creates in the mind of that
person an equivalent sign, or perhaps a more developed sign. That sign which it created I call
the interpretant of the first sign. The sign stands for something, its object. It stands for that object, not in all respects, but in reference to a sort idea, which I have sometimes called the
ground of the representamen. (Chandler 29)
These three elements are very important to form a sign and they cannot be separated. A sign consists of the object or what is represented, the representamen or how the sign is represented, and the intepretant or how the sign is interpreted. The relation between these three elements is called by Peirce as semeiosis (alternatively semiosis).
One more important thing that cannot be separated when we are denoting meaning is the society. According to Berger, since the relation between the signifier and the signified is based on convention, it means society is needed in order to interpret sign and symbols(BergerArthur, Semiotic Analysis). Quoting Saussure, Chandler mentions that the association between signifier
know the meaning of kite in the book, the role of the society is needed, because the society (Afghanistan people) constructs meaning in kite as a sign. In addition, take for an example, to know what is the meaning of the pomegranate tree (sign), one must know what does a tree or a pomegranate tree means for people, particularly the Afghans. Moreover, after decide that a pomegranate tree is a sign, one must analyze what is the signified and the signifiers.
Discussion
1. The Kite
Sadat in his essay (Sadat 1) explained the role of fictional literature. Works of literature play role as tools to show “norms, values, structures, themes, laws, basically the ideas and
cornerstones that make up one‟s culture and society.” In other words, a literary work can be a
means to reflect what is valued by a society.Through The Kite Runner KhaledHoseini reflects the custom valued by Afghans since their ancestor time, to be specific, the custom of flying a kite. Kite tournament is seen as something obsessed by the nation since very long time ago even though this tradition was banned once by Taliban for being not Islamic.
Furthermore, in order to understand this work of literature, the work has to be placed in context and the society. In the fictional literature The Kite Runner, the author tries to describe how Afghans view kite, kite flying, and kite fighting. It gives the idea that kite flying in Afghan culture is viewed as something important. Podelco in his article mentions the habit of flying kite has been „national obsession‟ since a very long time ago (Podelco 1st paragraph). In addition, the
Afghans celebrate kite tournament. Here, the author attempts to tell readers, especially those who are not Afghans, about the people of Afghanistan and culture cherished by them.
Just like all the Afghans, Amir and Hassan are also fond of flying kite and also fighting it with other opponent.
“The kite-fighting was an old winter tradition in Afghanistan. It started early in the
morning on the day of the contest and didn‟t end until only the winning kite flew in the sky – I
remember one year the tournament outlasted daylight. People gathered on sidewalks and roofs
to cheer for their kids. The streets filled with kite fighters, jerking and tugging on their lines,
squinting up to the sky, trying to gain position to cut the opponent‟s line. Every kite fighter had
an assistant – in my case, Hassan –who held the spool and fed the line.” (Hosseini 51)
Winter is the time for kite-fighting, an old tradition for people of Afghanistan. In the context of Afghan culture, kite flying is not merely toys played by children and adults. Beyond that, kite flying, or gudiparanbazi, is an old custom or pastime tradition cherished by young and old people of Afghans, especially men and boys. Women and girls are not allowed to fly kites. Kite flying or kite fighting is known as „national obsession‟, especially the obsession to win
(Podelco 1st paragraph). Kite flying is one of special traditions of Afghans that they held a special tournament of kite flying. On the day of the contest, the tournament is started in the morning and considered end if there is one winning it. The children who are going to join the tournament choose the best spots in order to fly the kite well and to cut the opponents‟ string. In
It is described in the novel that Amir always thinks the distance between him and Baba is far. As father and son, they are not close as a father-son should be. They might live in the same roof however, they are not close. The reason why Baby keeps disappointed in him is because he doesn‟t fulfill Baba‟s expectation of an ideal son. Baba is respected by people around them. He is
an athletic and strong person. Even there is some kind of folklore that once Baba has fought a bear. The poor bear was defeated by Baba with his bare hands. Unlike Amir, his one and only son who is timid and not as athletic as Baba, Baba has always wanted a son who has athletic talents and interest in sport like Baba does. Instead of fond of sport, Amir prefers to read poems and books, and write stories. He once eavesdropped Baba saying, “If I hadn‟t seen the doctor pull him out of my wife with my own eyes, I‟d never believe he‟s my son (Hosseini 23).” To top it
all, Amir has the thought on his mind: Baba hates him because his mother died when she gave birth to Amir.
On the other hand, Hassan is surprisingly very athletic. It is Hassan who fends Amir when other kids make fun of Amir. Amir witnesses that sometimes Baba would gaze at Hassan with proud look instead of look at him. This is probably because Hassan meets Babas‟s expectation of an ideal son. Baba‟s attention is divided: half for Hassan and half for Amir. If
Amir gets something from Baba, then Hassan will also be given the same thing. He wants all the attention for him, not shared with Hassan. Amir is jealous because of this. And the jealousy grows in his heart.
Flying kite needs two persons. The first person is the leader or the kite fighter who is in charge of controlling and flying the kite, while the other person will become a helper who is in charge of holding the charkha or the spool.In the story, Amir is the kite fighter, while Hassan‟s
duty is as Amir‟s assistant in order to help him fed the line. Not only Hassan plays role as the
assistant, but also he is the kite runner who will run after the loosing kite, especially the last falling as the trophy.
Where there is kite flying, there will always be a kite fighting. And when there is kite fighting, there‟s always the winner and the loser at the end of the fighting. According to Semple „The objective of the kite fight is to slice the other flier‟s string with your own, sending the
vanquished aircraft to the ground.”(1). This air fighting between these paper dragonflies will end if one‟s wire is cut by the opponent‟s which of course signified the winning (by the person
who cuts his opponent‟s wire) and the losing (the person whose wire is cut).
The way I see it, Amir only has two options when he decides to join the kite tournament, whether to win or to lose. He decides to win the competition no matter what. Winning the tournament means winning Baba‟s heart. Winning Baba‟s heart means he finally gets Baba‟s
attention, not being ignored, to be listened and looked at. For other children who are joining the kite-flying tournament, winning could probably be the chance to show off or brag between other children. However, in Amir‟s case, winning means everything to him.
“I didn‟t know what the other guy was playing, maybe just bragging rights. But this was
my one chance to become someone who was looked at, not seen, listened to, not heard.”
Also, he is hoping that this will break the ice between Baba and him and make Baba could finally be proud of him. No wonder he does his best to be the winner. On top of it all, by winning the tournament, Amir hopes for a happily-ever-after ending; i.e. that Baba will finally acknowledge how worthy he is and embrace his presence. Moreover, winning the kite-flying tournament will lead to triumphant, vindication, salvation, and most important thing, redemption. These all are the meaning of winning the kite flying tournament to Amir. And all of these are represented by the trophy of honor or the winning kite which is won by fighting so many kites in the air one by one, blood in the palms sliced by the wire for holding the spool.
Hosseini explains that the most fun thing, the real fun, about kite-flying is when a kite is cut. This is the time when all the kite runners run the kite. However, the best kite they should run is the last kite that falls during the tournament because this kite is like a “trophy of honor, something to be displayed on a mantle for guests to admire.” (Hosseini 52) The blue kite Amir
cut from his last opponent is his reward since he has won the tournament. It is the ticket for him to be acknowledged, admitted, not to be blamed anymore (vindication), to be saved and taken from the difficult situation between him and Baba (salvation), so that everything between Baba and him will be better and acceptable (redemption). And finally the last, thus, Baba and Amir could live happily ever after as father and son. Therefore, the trophy of honor, the blue kite, is very important to Amir.
Podelco mentions that the kite which is cut by the opponent is usually called „azadi rawest‟ or in other words „free and legal.‟ Relating this to the story, the blue kite that Amir considers as the trophy of honor and his ticket to win Baba‟s heart is also the „free and legal
one.‟ This „azadi rawest‟ kite, in my opinion, symbolizes Amir‟s desire that he has longed for his
On the day Amir won the kite flying tournament, Hassan on his way back home bringing the victory kite for Amir, is violated sexually by neighborhood boys. Instead of helping Hassan, Amir pretends he doesn‟t see what happened and runs.
I ran because I was a coward. I was afraid of Assef and what he would do tome… I
actually aspired to cowardice, because the alternative, the real reason I was running, was
running, was that Assef was right: Nothing was free in this world. Maybe Hassan was the price I
had to pay, the lamb I had to slay, to win Baba.” (Hosseini 77)
Here, it turns out that the vindication, salvation, and redemption because bringing theblue kite home is not enough. Something, or someone, has to be sacrificed. This, reminds me of the story of Jesus Christ. As a Christian, I know that in the Holly Bible, Jesus Christ sacrificed himself so all the human beings are saved. Redemption is accepted by all of humans through Jesus Christ‟s sacrifice in the cross. Thus, we, Christian, are saved.
The blue kite symbolizes Hassan‟s sacrifice for Amir so that Amir can win Baba‟s heart. In other words, it is Amir who sacrifices Hassan. Thus, since realizing that this but since winning Baba‟s heart is everything to him, Amir denies the fact that he has been a coward. This, breaks
Hassan and Amir and brings shame for Amir due to his coward act. Hassan‟s loyalty to Amir is
ironically rewarded with betrayal
When Amir has become an adult, he comes back to Afghanistan to save Sohrab, the son of Hassan, from Assef and bring Sohrab to safer places. The sexual harassment toward this teenage boy, in addition to his loss of his parents and grandmother, causes trauma to him. The result is he withdraws himself from Amir and the people around him, as described by the author he is tranquility (Hosseini 361). The worst thing is Sohrab tries to commit suicide. Until one morning, in the last part of the book, Amir offers Sohrab to fly a kite (fly a kite for Sohrab since he refuses to fly it) and he wins the kite fighting to a boy. During the kite fighting, Amir describe to Sohrab everything about young Amir and young Hassan use to do when they‟re flying and having a kite fighting, especially about young Hassan and the old happy memories about Hassan. This brings impact to Sohrab. Even though the boy doesn‟t say anything, his non-verbal gestures
show his reaction. In this moment, Sohrab shows respond to Amir. More than responding, Sohrab is smiling. Amir who doesn‟t want to waste the chance, use the opportunity to win
Sohrab‟s heart by offering him to run the kite for Sohrab. As Hassan did for Amir decades ago.
Here, in my opinion, the kite Amir flies for Sohrab is also the key to Sohrab‟s heart, the key to break the silence of a teenage boy whose beloved ones have died and have violated sexually.Seeing the smile of the little boy, Amir knows that the real redemption, vindication, salvation, and happily ever-after has just happened.
Sohrab‟s smiling is a sign that Amir has finally achieved redemption. A new hope is
series of cowardice act that will haunt him for the rest of his life. However, in 2002, winning the kite fighting gives Amir new hope. Just like flying a kite, it needs struggle and efforts to win it. I try to synchronize this with Amir‟s life, to be finally having a happily ever after life, vindication,
redemption, and salvation, is not an easy effort. Nevertheless, just like Amir who has won the fighting, he also won in his life. This winning brings new hope and new life to him: a life without the burden from the past and fully relieved. Therefore, the kite is not only a toy used by Hassan, Amir and or other children. Beyond that, it can be seen as an effort, a tool to achieve Amir‟s goal of life; i.e. winning Baba‟s heart, winningSohrab‟s heart, and the last one: washing away all bad memories of his past.
Connecting to the study of sign, the kite is the sign which represents something else other than itself. Therefore, based on all the explanation, firstly, I can conclude that kite for the little boy Amir symbolizes Amir‟s struggle to pursue the admittance of his existence before his Baba.
Secondly, the kite could also symbolizes his cowardice act, the loosen bond between Amir and a person who promise to always stand by Amir‟s side whenever Amir needs him, Hassan. In my opinion, Hassan‟s loyal act is rewarded with a betrayal and cowardice act by Amir. As a result, Amir is haunted for the rest of his life even when he is in America far away from Afghanistan. Thirdly, the kite is used again by Amir this time to win over Sohrab‟s heart in order to achieve
redemption. The last thing is by winning over Sohrab‟s heart, Amir will finally be relieved that
he has paid all his sins and bad memories in the past.
It is interesting that Hassan is the best kite runner Amir knows. The tittle of the novel „The Kite Runnier‟ is referring to Hassan, not Amir as the narrator or protagonist of the story. It
this cost his life. However it is very important for Hassan to do this. For me, Hassan as the kite runner has shown the nature of a hero: he is very loyal, reliable, and courageous.
2. The Winter
Seasons play significant part in plot of a novel. According to Thomas C. Foster, seasons can also function as setting of the story, as well as plot device. He adds “Weather is never just
weather. It‟s never just rain” (Foster 76-77), and so in the novel, winter is never just winter. As a
sign, winter also represents something else beyond itself.
Winter as settings gives certain atmosphere to the story. If one story or poet uses spring as the setting, then it will raise different atmosphere compares to winter, as well as autumn or summer. Take for example, if a narration states like: one cold winter afternoon, the kid tries to find his pocket money in the garden. The snow was pretty thick that it was hard for him to find it.
Now, what if instead of winter, the setting is changed to different setting of season: on one summer afternoon, the kid tried to find his pocket money in the garden. The sun shines warmly as
The opening of novel The Kite Runner, which is narrated from first person‟s point of
view, or Amir‟s point of view, readers are served with narration about the past he regrets. Page 1
of the novel, Amir as the protagonist states how the incident he regrets thathappened twenty-six years ago has shaped the way he is in the present time as he is telling the story. The incident he regrets for almost his whole life happened in on a frigid overcast day in the winter of 1975
(Hosseini 1). The incident is when Hassan was raped by bullying neighbor while Amir did nothing but hiding cowardly and witnessing it from afar (Hosseini 75-77). Here, not only uses the word winter, the author also adds frigid overcast to show to readers the most regretful day for Amir happens in a very cold day. Since this particular day, the little Amir‟s life as well as his relationship with Hassan is change as described in the first part of the novel.
If it is not a coincidence, then the author probably does it intentionally, when he uses winter as the setting. Hassan is born on one cold winter day (Hosseini 7) and a week after his mother leaves him and his father. He even mentions twice at the same page about Hassan who is born on one winter day. It seems to me that Hassan‟s life is fated since he is on that cold winter day since the author emphasizes him being born on one winter day twice, in the same page. Hassan has been very faithful friend to Amir, but when Hassan is raped on one winter day, Amir does nothing to defend Hassan. However, Hassan is still faithful to Amir. Being born on winter day can also mean Hassan‟s life is fated as dreary and desolate. To be abandon one‟s birth
Amir accuses Hassan steals his watch resulted in Hassan and his father let the house. Years later, when Amir comes back to Afghanistan in order to find Sohrab, Hassan‟s son, Rahim Khan (Amir‟s father‟s friend) tell Amir and that Hassan is shot twice in the head by Taliban officer.
In order to get deeper meaning about winter it is better to see in first place about winter used in literature. Winter reminds me of Greek myth related to the dejection, grief and bitterest sorrow of Demeter, goddess of agriculture and fertility, for losing her daughter Persephone who is abducted by Hades, god of underworld. Because of her desolation, Demeter neglects the earth. Her neglect, due to her sorrow, influences the condition of the earth. The earth suffers from famine. The time when Persephone spends in underworld, the earth will experience winter. Adds Berens, the condition is “all was barren, dreary desolation.” The motherly goddess pledge she wouldn‟t let grains and seed grow until her daughter is returned to her. As the result, mankind feels the impact and the world suffer from famine (Berens 43). Thus, based Beren‟s explanation
on this Greek myth, it can be concluded that winter could be seen as the representative of the situation where sorrow and bitterness of someone that resulted in dejection, desolation, and also a dreary situation.
Furthermore, winter that connoted with dreary atmosphere is probably not only about what happen in Amir and Hassan‟s life. In my opinion, the dark and suffer condition can also be
the way the author refers to condition of Afghanistan at that moment where Russian and Taliban rule over Afghanistan. People suffer everywhere, thousands of innocent people are hit by bomb, fatherless children and husbandless women caused by war are everywhere, beggars are everywhere in the street, parents leavetheir children behind at the orphanage because they can‟t
afford to buy food, even the director of an orphanage sells kids to Taliban for money needed by other kids at the orphanage. Winter in Greek myth which is caused by Demeter causes sorrow and cause famine to people, so are Afghans at that time who are suffer of famine and terror.
It is such a relief though to find out that winter is not merely talking about desolation of a person, gloomy and dreary atmosphere, (dislocated, deform), destructive, etc. As stated by Cohen when examining James Thomson‟s poem „Traditionally, winter is the season of storm and
disorder, though for Thomson, it is not without its beauty and joy.‟(253) Winter is Amir‟s
favorite season because winter means no school. If there‟s no school, then, it means Amir can play and sleep along the day, as long as he wants. However, the reason why he likes winter the most because it‟s the time to fly kites and run them.
Winter was every kid‟s favorite season Kabul, at least those whose fathers could afford to
buy a good iron stove. … . Winter to me was the end of long division and naming the capital of
Bulgaria, and the start of three months of playing cards by the stove with Hassan, and the
Russian movies on Tuesday mornings at Cinema Park, sweet turnip qurma over rice for lunch
after a morning of building snowmen.
Despite all unpleasant experience Amir and Hassan feel, we can still see some bright side of the story. As beauty and joy appear in winter, and so is happiness in both boy‟s life. Winter is
not only bad experience. Both boys also experience joy during winter whether through playing together indoor or flying and running kite outdoor, whereas for Amir, he finds joy because when winter comes, his relation with Baba is closer.
“…as the trees froze and ice sheathed the roads, the chill between Baba and me thawed a
little. And the reason for that was the kites. Baba and I lived in the same house, but in different
spheres of existence. Kites were the one paper thin slice of intersection between those paper-thin
slice of intersection between those spheres.” (Hosseini 49)
Cohen adds that even though men are overloaded, they are blissful at the same time. Furthermore, „there are instances at this time in which some men become more than merely
melancholy, but although such instances could become frequent, they do not-as is
obvious-prevent moments of happiness.‟ (254) This reminds me of two sides of a coin. Once again, even although winter means disconsolate, dejection, we can still find blissful moment: there is joy and beauty in winter. The moment Hassan who is born in one cold winter and left by her mother one week later shows disconsolate and dejection. However, years later when Hassan‟s wife is about to give birth, it is Hassan‟s mother who helps her delivering her baby. Saunabar (Hassan‟s
mother) once has deranged Hassan‟s heart. However, she then tries to redeem and Hassan
sorrow. In winter, mankind can find joy as well. In case of Hassan and Saunabar, not only winter brings joy for Hassan and his mother, but also redemption.
3. The Sling shot
The nature of children in the world is playing. During their childhood, Amir and Hassan are little boys who like to play around the neighborhood: climbing tree, annoying neighbor‟s
dog, watching new films in the movie, flying kite, and others. Sometimes, Amir would ask Hassan to use his slingshot to shot neighbor‟s dog or anything else. It is mentioned that Hassan is
very deadly with the slingshot. However, when Amir asks Hassan to shot his slingshot on something, Hassan would do it even though he is reluctant to do it.
“Sometimes, up in those trees, I talked Hassan into firing walnuts with his slingshot at
the neighbor‟s one-eyed German shepherd. Hassan never wanted to, but if I asked, really asked,
he wouldn‟t deny me. Hassan never denied me anything.”
(Hosseini 4).
Later, when they both get warned by Hassan‟s father because of what they do is wrong,
Hassan would take all the blame on him as if shooting on the dog is his idea. Hassan prefers to take all the blame on him because the way I see it, Amir‟s words are like command to Hassan.
always accompanied by his two friends, Wali and Kamal. He is the tallest boy over the boys at their neighborhood with blond hair and blue eyes since his mother is a German, while his father is an Afghan. Through Amir, Assef is described as a “sociopath.” He is infamous around the
neighborhood boys for his stainless-steel brass knuckles which he would gladly use to hit other boys. He is also notorious as Assef “The Ear Eater. Once, he fights with a boy over a kite. The
fight ends up with the little boy‟s right ear detached from the position it should be. All the boys
are afraid of him (Hosseini 38).
The very first time Hassan uses his slingshot for defense reason is when he and Amir are being threatened by Assef. One day, when they are on their way their way to their tree, they meet Assef accompanied by Walidan Kamal. Hassan is so frightened of Assef that he is hiding behind Amir‟s back. Later on, Assef picks his stainless-steel brass knuckles with the intention to beat Amir up because Amir always plays with a Hazara boy, Hassan. For Assef, who admires Hitler very much, a Pashtun should not get along with Hazara, because Hazaras are dirty bloods. It is narrated that Assef really meant to hurt Amir. However, all of a sudden, Hassan moves behind Amir. He pulls his slingshot facing Assef, ready to shoot him if he dares to hurt Amir.
Assef gritted his teeth. “Put it down, you motherless Hazara.”
“Please leave us be, Agha,” Hassan said.
Assef smiled. “Maybe you didn‟t notice, but there are three of us and two of you.”
…
“You are right, Agha. But perhaps you didn‟t notice that I‟m the one holding the
to „One-Eyed Assef.‟ because I have this rock pointed at your left eye.”He said this so flatly that
even I had to strain to hear the fear that I knew hid under that calm voice.
(Hosseini 42)
As he threatens Assef, Wali, and Kamal, the three of them become twitch. This is very surprising since Assef is someone all the boys in the neighborhood are afraid of. However, the skinny Hazara is dare enough even though he is very nervous and scared at the same time. Hassan does this to protect himself and Amir, especially because Amir is in danger that Hassan stands for him.
The scene between the skinny little Hazara and the tall yet terrifying Assef unavoidably reminds me of the epic story between David and Goliath. Hassan resembles David while Assef resembles to Goliath. In first book of Samuel chapter seventeen, the story about David against the giant Goliath in the battlefield is mentioned. Goliath of Gath, in the book, is described as Philistine‟s champion, fully dressed in armor, six cubits and a span in height. For forty days he is
humiliating the Israelis. Nobody from Israeli‟s troops dares to fight against the giant (Korfmann
35). This is a similar situation compares to the story: Assef is the tallest of all the boys in the neighborhood, all the boys are terrified of him including Amir and Hassan. Even the adult Assef who has become the leader of Taliban is a terrifying person feared by the society especially because of his cold-bold style of leadership (Hosseini 271).
the battlefield, and to bring news about his brothers to Jesse. In other word, even his father underestimates and forsakes him (mentioned in Psalm 27: 10). Since he is always tends the flock, David is used to use the slingshot in order to keep the flock save from any danger around(Constable). The same situation applies to Hassan. He is often humiliated because his race Hazara. Countless insult uttered by other boys especially Assef. In other word, he is underestimated and not considered as important. However, just like David, Hassan is very good with slingshot and so is Sohrab (Hassan‟s son).
Slingshot was used as weapon in the warfare in Europe and the Near East, especially during the Bronxe Age until 17th century (Korfmann). It is mentioned by Korfmann that not many literature source mention the using of slingshot. During the War of Troy, Homer‟s Illiad, is
slightly mentioned. This is probably because this weapon was considered as not honorable. What was considered as honorable fight was hand-to-hand fight, while slingshot was a long-range weapon. Moreover, this tool is mainly as a nuisance weapon rather than a destructive one. Therefore, the existence of slingshot is important but not as important as other weapons used in war.
Despite the fact that slingshot not considered as significant as other weapons, different point of view coined by Constable through the use of slingshot in the story of David and Goliath. Here, he states that the way David uses slingshot to defeat Goliath as the way „God used a
humble weapon to give His people great victory in response to one faith.”(Constable). Furthermore, adds Constable, David‟s faith to God encourages him to challenge and defeat the
giant Goliath. And he uses slingshot as the tool to express his faith to God. David is faithful and loyal to God he trust. He defeats the Philistines champion „not with the weapons of warrior, but
Connecting this to the story, I consider slingshot used by David to defeat Goliath as tool to express how David express his trust and loyalty to God. On the other side, slingshot used by Hassan to threaten Assef, can also be considered as tool to express his loyalty to Amir. He might be afraid of Assef, however, in time of danger, he dares to stand for Amir. Years later, Hassan‟s son shows the same quality as his father. In order to protect him and Amir from Assef who turns out to be the Taliban leader, once again, slingshot is used. Only this time, instead of threaten Assef, Sohrabrealy shoots the slingshot and it hits Assef‟s left eye.
In conclusion, slingshot might not be considered as honorable as other weapons back the in a warfare, however, the tool which is considered as humble tool due to always being used by the shepherds, can be as deadly as other weapon especially in the expert hands such as David, Hassan or Sohrab. These three persons might be underestimated, insulted, or humiliated by people around them. Nonetheless, they show their ability, faith, or loyalty true the humble weapon. Hence, in my opinion, this makes the three of them as well as the slingshot as honorable. The slingshot reflects humbleness, faithfulness, and loyalty, yet, deadly in time of danger, as long as it is in the right hands. Moreover, in the story, the sling shot that has started the hatred between Assef toward Hassan and Amir has become tool for redemption for Amir with the help of Sohrab. Amir has faced lll the quilts, regrets, hatred in the form of Assef and he earned it. Once again, it was redemption for him.
4. The Pomegranate tree
animal, a place for shelter, tree‟s bark is used for clothing, wood can be used for housing or creating many tools needed by human. (Crews 37) In some cultures, trees are considered as the place where a divine being dwells. Even the existence of a tree itself is highly needed. Since a tree produces oxygen that is needed by all the living things on earth.
Trees, like human being and animals, are living things; they are alive and breathing (except instead of consuming oxygen, trees suck carbon dioxide). Even though trees cannot move from one place to another, trees can sway from side to side like they are dancing. From the ancient time, human believe that the trunks and the branches of a tree create the image of human. Trunks and branches look like arms and fingers (Crews 37). However, unlike human, when a tree is cut, a new sprout will grow out of the cut trunk. For that reason, trees are commonly symbolized with life: eternal and immortality.
Trees in literature criticism have become one crucial part. Countless literature works have included trees for its meaningful implication. For example, Baobab Tree in Antoine de Saint-Exupery's The Little Prince, the Oak tree in Harper Lee‟s The Mocking Bird, the talking tree Ents in J.R.R Tolkien‟s‟ The Lord Of The Ring, and many others.
In the novel The Kite Runner, there is one particular tree mentioned by the author over and over again, which has significant meaning for the progress of the story. This particular tree happens to be Pomegranate tree, Amir and Hassan‟s favorite tree.
“„After school, Hassan and I met up, grabbed a book, and trotted up a bowl-shaped hill
just north of my father‟s property in Wazir Akbar Khan. There was an old abandoned cemetery
atop the hill…. There was a pomegranate tree near the entrance to the cemetery. One summer
of Kabul.” Those words made it formal: the tree was ours. After school, Hassan and I climbed its
branches and snatched its blood red pomegranates. After we‟d eaten the fruit and wiped our
hands on the grass, I would read to Hassan.” (Hosseini26)
Below this tree, Amir and Hassan like to spend most of their time. It‟s like their daily
routine. Amir comes back from school, Amir and Hassan would meet up, grab a book, and head toward the hill where the pomegranate tree is. They would sit under the tree for hours and Amir would read stories for Hassan until the sun goes down. Sometimes, Amir toys Hassan while he is reading for him since Hassan is illiterate. Hassan would insist Amir to read one more story before they go home. Underneath this tree is where the first time Amir reads his own story for Hassan and surprises by the way Hassan amazed with the story. One day, Amir even carves both of their names on the tree to show the personal meaning of this tree for both of them. The tree is their tree. This is what the tree means to both of them.
that Hassan is very loyal to Amir. Hassan is willing to risk his life for Amir. “For you a thousand
times over,” says Hassan to Amir to show his loyalty.
The relationship friendship between the two boys is revealed and represented by the pomegranate tree. Under the tree is the time when Amir is not ashamed of Hassan being a Hazara and a servant. Amir even said to Hassan that for Amir, Hassan is a prince and he loves Hassan. The carving on the bark written by Amir “Amir and Hassan, the sultans of Kabul” is also a
significant part to observe. In my opinion, this carving positions the two boys at the same level. There are no things to discern the two boys: Pashtun nor Hazara, Sunni nor Shia, master or servant. Conversely, there are two sultans of Kabul, two same statutes, hence, possess same level of power over Kabul.
One day after Kabul‟s government changes from monarchy to republic, Hassan worries
whether republic means his father and him must leave Kabul or not. He keeps asking Amir about this. Then, he asks Amir if he wants to go climb the tree. In the narration, it is described that Amir smiles because Hassan always knows the right time to say the right things. Offering to go to their tree (pomegranate tree) seems like the most proper thing to do for both of these two boys. In my opinion, this is because the pomegranate tree at the hill is a perfect spot for them to do activities which will distract their young minds from the chaos happens around them.
