Metacognition: Kite Runner Essay

When I started to write my essay on The Kite Runner, I believed that Khaled Hosseini wanted us to think that redemption required some degree of insanity. Although that may still hold, as I sat down to think about my thesis, my thoughts took another path.

I thought of how Amir achieved his redemption and it seemed all to clear that Hosseini was trying to say we needed to be irrational to gain peace. But upon peeling back the layers, I realized that while what Amir did was insane that wasn't the point Hosseini was trying to emphasize. Hosseini was trying to tell us that we must face our problems and take direct action to resolve them. The insanity of Amir's action were placed there for a dramatic effect, not for deeper meaning.

When I considered Baba, my thoughts furthered down this same path. When I thought of all that Baba had done to redeem himself, with all the charity that ultimately failed, I found that some could argue that Baba's actions were insane. He forced himself to live a saintly life so that he could try and find inner peace, that is a tad bit insane. I thought then, that there were holes in my original thesis. Why would insanity work for one character but not another? The answer I came up with was that Amir unlike Baba took direct actions to atone for his sins. I had a mini epiphany at that point and realized that I had my new thesis.

I was shocked at how I could change my mind so easily. For an opinionated person, such as myself, changes in thought are especially profound, not to mention rare. I was a little taken back. It also surprised me how effectively and efficiently I was able to answer one of my own questions, "Why would insanity work for one character but not another?". When I first began to question my own thesis I was worried that I would never be able to patch the holes in it, but I did.

I enjoyed how I was able to be my own critic, and play my own devil's advocate. It was a really interesting experience to be able to challenge my own thoughts; I wish I could do this more often. I would like that my thoughts were less linear sometimes. It would make the process of reaching deeper meaning much easier. My thoughts follow a pattern and flow from one related topic to the next, so if I get stuck at one point, my thoughts refuse to reach a deeper level. A little bit more randomness could help me get past those road blocks.

Best of Week: Kite Runner

The most important idea brought up this week, while discussing Kite Runner, was the idea of an author versus character struggle. Khaled Hosseini uses this tension to help us better understand Amir. On page 129 there is an amazing example of this. Amir writes, "For me, America was a place to bury my memories". Hosseini gave Amir plenty of chances to atone for his sins while in Kabul, but he rejected them and fled to America. In fleeing to America, Amir is running from his past, his memories, and his destiny. All the while, Hosseini is able to act as Amir's conscience by choosing which memories are evoked by what experiences. We expirience this tension every time Amir thinks of kites, Kabul, or Rahim Khan. With each of these memories, Hosseini allows them to "claw their way out" and rip Amir apart. Each memory cuts into him, like the glass string of kites he used to idolize. Amir continues to fight his past, its almost as though he doesn't believe in his own memories. Amir tries to resist even when he finally summons the courage to return to his homeland. On page 222 he states, "I began to see where he was going. But I didn't want to hear the rest of it. I had a good life in California, pretty Victorian home with a peaked roof, a good marriage, a promising writing career, in-laws who loved me. I didn't need any of this s**t". Amir is begging Hosseini to allow him to go on with his life; he is trying to tell Hosseini that he moved on and has so much peace that he is okay with the one loose end in his life. Hosseini rejects Amir's pleas and shoves his tainted past in his face; he gives Amir the ultimatum, either he can fix this once and for all, or be haunted by loyal, hare-lipped ghosts for the rest of his life. This tension between author and character is the key to powerful writing. Their battle of wills creates a sense of underlying tension throughout the book.

I can see myself trying to carry this idea over into my own writing. The author character tension is such a captivating idea. It draws the reader in until they too are apart of the tension and they begin to take sides with the author or character. The tension drives you into the inner most thoughts and flaws of the character, allowing you to get to know him or her as well, or in some cases better, than you know yourself. As you read, you can feel the electricity in the air. You know that one bold move from the author or character could erupt into the climax of the entire novel.