Theme

THEME the insight about human life that is revealed in a literary work.
pg. 359 " I wondered if that was how forgivness budded, not with the fanfare of epiphany, but with pain gathering its things, packing up, and slipping away unannounced in the middle of the night."
pg. 226 " Baba and I were more alike than I ever would have thought we had both betrayed the people who would have given thier lives for us."
There are two themes of the book that really stand out. First is that of betrayal. Amir betrays Hassan when he does not help him when he is being raped. This betrayal is an underlying motive for Amir's actions through out the rest of the book. Later in the story we learn that Baba had betrayed Ali and lied to Amir and Hassan his entire life. This lie was the reason why Ali and Hassan were treated differently around the house and why Baba was so attached to Hassan. This theme of Betrayal is accompanied by a theme of forgiveness and seeking redemption. Amir's guilt is always present. It is constantly driving him to make certain choices such as going back to afghanistan and adopting Sohrab. These themes connect the plot of the story together and teach a lesson to the reader.