Irony

“I became what I am today at the age of twelve, on a frigid overcast day in the winter of 1975. I remember the precise moment, crouching behind a crumbling mud wall, peeking into the alley near the frozen creek. That was a long time ago, but it’s wrong what they say about the past, I’ve learned, about how you can bury it. Because the past claws its way out. Looking back now, I realize I have been peeking into that deserted alley for the last twenty-six years.” 

An irony exists in the kite tournament which Amir has participated in. Amir has always wanted to gain Baba's impression. In order to do so, he decides to try and win the kite tournament. With skills, Amir is able to cut off the last opponent's kite and win the contest. Indeed, Baba feels proud of Amir. Baba later even throws a birthday party for his son. Nevertheless, as Hassan, who is trying to retrieve the trophy kite for Amir, is being abused by Pashtuns, Amir is defeated by his own cowardice and betrays his best friend. Amir does gain Baba's impression through winning the tournament, but truthfully Amir does the exact opposite of what Baba would have wanted him to do: standing up for Hassan. Due to cowardice and fear, Amir is unable to help and prevent Hassan being raped. This action is a type of betrayal which can also be considered as "stealing", an unforgivable sin, according to Baba. Winning the kite tournament does not make Amir become a better person. What it actually makes Amir become is a sinful and unreliable person. The irony lays in the fact which Amir tries so try to gain Baba's impression actually somehow leads him to become worse and sinful. This picture displays blood on someone's hand which is holding a string that is attached to a kite. The blood can be symbolized as guilt of Amir's. Blood is well related to Hassan since there is blood after he is being raped. The message which this picture is trying to convey is: Amir is guilty for allowing Hassan to be raped.