《追风筝的人》中成长和救赎的 主题研究

THE STUDY OF GROWTH AND REDEMPTION IN THE KITE RUNNERA THESISSUBMITTED TO THE SCHOOL OF FOREIGN LANGUAGES(ENGLISH MAJOR)YUNNAN MINZU UNIVERSITYIN PARTIAL FULFILLMENT OF THE REQUIREMENTSFOR THE DEGREE OFBACHELOR OF ARTSBYLIU FENG CLASS OF 2017STUDENT CODE: 201308401317SUPERVISED BYDING XUEAPRIL 28 , 2017云南民族大学毕业论文(设计)原创性声明本人郑重声明：所呈交的毕业论文(设计)，是本人在指导教师的指导下进行研究工作所取得的成果。除论文中已经注明引用的内容外，本论文没有抄袭、剽窃他人已经发表的研究成果。本声明的法律结果由本人承担。 毕业论文(设计)作者签名： 日 期： 年 月 日关于毕业论文(设计)使用授权的说明本人完全了解云南民族大学有关保留、使用毕业论文(设计)的规定，即：学校有权保留、送交论文的复印件，允许论文被查阅，学校可以公布论文(设计)的全部或部分内容，可以采用影印或其他复制手段保存论文(设计)。（保密论文在解密后应遵守）指导教师签名： 论文(设计)作者签名： 日期： 年 月 日iiAcknowledgmentsI would like to express my gratitude to all those who helped me during the writing of this thesis. The first person I want to thank is my supervisor, Ding Xue, who supports me and provides me with many important information through my thesis writing. More importantly, supervisor spent much time reading through read graft and gave me a lot of advice on my thesis. Without her guidance at every stage of writing, it is impossible to complete my thesis. Then I will express my gratitude to other teachers and classmates who helped me with the writing. They helped me to collect information and give me advice. Sometimes we work together to find new ideas. Finally, I will sincerely thank my father, mother and my sister. When I am confused they give me full support and encouragement.Abstract “The Kite Runner” is the first American novel written by Afghan-born writer Khaled Husseini in 2003. His novels have received high praise from the public. This thesis analyzes The Kite Runner from the aspects of growth and redemption. 12-year-old rich young master Amir and the servant Hassan take part in the kite tournament. In order to retrieve the kite which is won by Amir in the tournament, Hassan is attacked and raped by Assef. The cowardly Amir witnesses everything but chooses to keep silent. Furthermore, in order to cover up the inner guilt and uneasiness, Amir devised a tactic to drive away Hassan and his father. Later, for the political unrest in Afghanistan, Amir and his father flee to the United States. 26 years later, a call from Rahim Khan let Amir face the past and save himself. When Amir returns to Afghanistan, Hassan has been dead for a long time. Amir saved Hassans son Sohrab, and he brings Sohrab to America to live. Amir finishes his own redemption journey. This thesis is divided into five parts. The first chapter introduces the main content, the author, the literature review and the research significance of The Kite Runner. The second chapter introduces the guides and companions in the process of Amirs growth. The third chapter introduces the redemption journey of Amir. The fourth chapter introduces the writing skills used in The Kite Runner, and the last chapter is the summary of the full thesis.Key words: The Kite Runner; growth; redemptionv摘 要追风筝的人是美籍阿富汗作家卡勒德胡塞尼在2003年发表的第一部小说，该部小说自问世以来就获得了很高的赞誉，深受文学界好评。本论文将从成长和救赎的角度来分析追风筝的人的主题。十二岁的富家少爷阿米尔和仆人哈桑一起参加风筝比赛。哈桑为了捡回阿米尔在比赛中赢得的风筝，被阿塞夫毒打和强暴。懦弱的阿米尔设计赶走了哈桑和他的父亲。后来阿富汗的政治动荡不安，阿米尔随父亲逃到美国。20多年后，拉辛汗打来的电话让阿米尔重新面对过去，并救赎自己。阿米尔重返阿富汗，此时哈桑已死，他救下哈桑的遗孤索拉博，并将他带去美国生活，完成了自己的救赎之旅。本文分为五个部分，第一章介绍了追风筝的人的主要内容，作者，文献综述以及研究意义；第二章介绍了阿米尔在成长过程中遇到的指导者和同伴；第三章介绍了阿米尔的救赎旅程；第四章介绍了追风筝的人中运用的第一人称的写作技巧，最后一章是全文总结。关键词：成长；救赎；追风筝的人Contents云南民族大学毕业论文（设计）原创性声明AcknowledgmentsAbstract摘要1. Introduction1 1.1 Khaled Hosseini as the Author1 1.2 Literature Review on The Kite Runner1 1.3 The Brief Content of The Kite Runner2 1.4 The Significance of the study22. The Guides and Companions in Amirs Growth4 2.1 Positive Spiritual Guides4 2.1.1 Rahim Khan: a Father, Friend and Guide4 2.1.2 Baba: A Kind, Upright but Contradictory Man4 2.2 Negative Initiation Guides5 2.2.1 Assef: Aggressive and Cruel Racist5 2.2.2 Pushtun Nation: Deep-rooted Racial Discrimination6 2.3 Initiation Companions6 2.3.1 Hassan: A Companion in Amis Childhood7 2.3.2 Soraya: A Companion in Amirs Adulthood73. Redemption as a Spritual Journey9 3.1 The Darkness within Amirs Mind9 3.1.1 Selfishness9 3.1.2 Betrayal10 3. 2 The Redemption10 3.2.1 Redemption for His Father11 3.2.2 Redemption for Himself114. Writing Skills in The Kite Runner13 4.1 Open-ending13 4.2 First-person Narration13 4.3 Symbolism145. Conclusion15References171. Introduction1.1 Khaled Hosseini as the AuthorKhaled Hosseini was born on March 4, 1965 in Kabul, Afghanistan, followed by his father moved to the United States. He has many famous works such as The Kite Runner, A Thousand Splendid Suns, and the mountains Echoed. Works sold over 40 million worldwide. Husseini graduated from the University of California, San Diego Department of Medicine, now lives in California. Needy families make Hosseini decided to study medicine to support their families. He thinks becoming a doctor is an ideal job for him. After writing, his patient will talk about the story in book when he makes an appointment with him. So he decided to give up the medical profession, to concentrate on writing. Many people become loyal fans of The Kite Runner after it issued in 2003. Until now, the book was published in 48 countries and became an international bestseller. His second novel, A Thousand Splendid Suns, which was published on May 22, 2007, also gained a lot of praises from the literatus.1.2 Literature Review on The Kite RunnerSince the publication, The Kite Runner took two years to reach the top of the book sales list. After introduced China, The Kite Runner also continued in the list of the top bestseller. As a result of the short period of time after publishing few studies have been done on it.“To Be Good” (again): The Kite Runner as Allegory of Global Ethics” is the only research article written by Dr. David Jefferess (2009) in Journal of Postcolonial Writing. The author used Mamdanis analysis of the distinguished between the “good Muslin” and “bad Muslin” He argues that The Kite Runner reflects a shift from the supremacy of race and nation as primary markers of political community and identify to the “modern” as the framework for determining the “human”Domestic studies about the novel focus on the aspects such as love, growth, betrayal, redemption, symbolism. Zhang Guolong and Chen Huis study as an example, Betrayal, Redemption, and other Things in the Progress of Growth-Profound Depiction of Growth in The Kite Runner (2007). This study explores the temperature and thickness of human nature, and it illustrates the love and evil of human nature. Some scholars put the focus of the study on the symbolic meaning of the kite. To Jiang Xiaoqing “a Symbol for Initiation and Reconciliation” as the representative. In her study, she described in detail the symbolic meaning of the kite image in The Kite Runner.1.3 The Brief Content of The Kite RunnerThe story took place in Afghanistan, 12-year-old master Amir and his servant Hassan were good friends. However, after a kite tournament, they won the championship, in order to retrieve the kite which was won by Amir in the tournament, Hassan was attacked and raped by Assef. The cowardly Amir witnessed everything but chose to kept silent. After that, Amir and Hassan rarely played together. As Amir felt guilty to Hassan, he wanted to drive Hassan and Hassans father Ali away. So Amir bought a new watch into the house of Hassan. Later, when Hassan was asked whether he had stolen Amirs watch, Hassan admitted. Amir thought Baba would be so furious to that he would let Hassan and Ali go, but Baba forgave Hassan. Then Ali asked to leave. As Ali was adopted by Amirs grandfather, and Amirs grandfather also regarded Ali as his own. Baba and Ali were like brothers. So Baba did not agree them to leave, but in the end Ali and Hassan still left. Soon after, the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan. Amir and Baba fled to the United States. Babas friend Rahim Khan did not want to leave the homeland, so he decided to help Baba take care of the house. Adult Amir can never, ever forgive himself to Hassans betrayal. In order to make up for childhood mistakes, Amir returned to his hometown after 26 years. But he knew a shocking lie from the sick Rahim Khans mouth, Hassan was the son of Amirs father and the other woman, that is, childhood partner was actually Amirs brother, the child who was purchased from orphanage by Assef was Amirs nephew. Childhood nightmare repeated itself, he eventually gone through hardships, he rescued his nephew and took him back home to the USA.1.4 The Significance of the studyThe Kite Runner is a typical novel of growth and redemption. This thesis hopes by analyzing the protagonist Amirs growth process to encourage those people, who were shackled by the “kite”, to face fault bravely, take the responsibility after making mistakes, and try to make up for the mistakes. Whether it is self-redemption or redemption, he or she can realize the true spirit of redemption. By the deep analysis of growth and redemption in The Kite Runner, I hope to fully illustrate that the human nature can be changed by environment, and can be redeemed.142. The Guides and Companions in Amirs Growth2.1 Positive Spiritual GuidesIn the initiation story, the positive and active initiation guides. As the positive initiation guides will influence the protagonist. They form positive images in the novel, and they will educate or inspire the protagonist in the protagonists growth process. According to Rui Yuping (2004), the positive initiation guides generally have the following characteristics: first, the positive initiation guides can have a good communication with young person; second, the positive initiation guides are willing to help others and full of compassion; third, the positive initiation guides are special. Those young people always be unconsciously attracted and become good friends with them.2.1.1 Rahim Khan: a Father, Friend and GuideRahim Khan not only has business contacts with Baba, but also is a good friend of Baba. He plays a key role like a mother in The Kite Runner. Amir lacks maternal tenderness, patience and carefulness. And Racine Khan more or less makes up a little. Sometimes Baba is cold to Amir, Racine Khan will give Amir warm and encouragement. After Amir writes a story, the people whom thinks of him first to read is Baba and he excitedly shows to Baba, Baba only nod and give him a shallow smile, which imply little interest. He does not offer to read. Rahim Khan who save Amir at the uneasy moment. He patiently read Amir wrote the story, give him advice, send him to encourage him to write his notebook. “Then he pauses and adds a single word that do more to encourage me to pursue writing than any compliment any editor has ever paid me. That word was Bravo” (Khaled Hosseini, 2007: 35). This small piece of thesis in some time encouraged Amir, but also paved the way of writing to Amir. When Baba denied Amirs efforts, it was Racine Khans persistence to let Amir go on the way of writing. After fleeing to the United States, Amir became the writer of the bestseller through his own efforts! 26 years later, it is also Rahim Khan who encouraged Amir to come back and redeem himself.As a positive guide, the importance of it is to guide the protagonist to the right direction and help him solve the problems encountered in the growth process. 2.1.2 Baba: A Kind, Upright but Contradictory ManBaba is a compassionate person. He works the drawing of the orphanage and builds the orphanage by himself. Although he does not come into contact with architecture, but he builds the grand blueprint and successfully completed. Amir is extremely proud of Baba. Baba is righteous and admirable, his benevolent disposition often made him to help those who are in trouble, and those who are helped are very grateful to him. On the way Baba and Amir fleeing to the United States, Baba see a woman being insulted by a Russian soldier, who risk his life and save the woman. Babas bravery and integrity affect Amir deeply. This event inspires Amir to save Sohrab from Assef.Every man has his fault. Although Baba gives Amir great guidance in some aspects, he also has his own evil. Rahim Khan told Amir that Baba and Hassans mother have an ambiguous relationship. Hassan is not the son of the servant Ali, but Amirs half-brother. Baba betrayed intimate friend, and lost social morality. Dad lived in pain and guilt. He thinks he is like a thief. Baba not only steals the right to fairness, but also steals the right of Ali and Hassan to know the truth. He has been trying to make up for his own evil. For example, he treats Hassan as well as, and he treats Ali like his family. Babas good character has a positive impact on the growth of Amir, such as integrity, kindness and so on. At the same time, Baba does not give up the atonement, which also encourage Amir to face the past bravely, to make up for their own mistakes.2.2 Negative Initiation GuidesIn the protagonists growth process, the impact of the protagonists growth is not only positive guides, but also negative guides. 2.2.1 Assef: Aggressive and Cruel RacistIn The Kite Runner, Assef plays a negative role. When Assef is a child he often bullies others, even if those people are older than him. The children are forced to yield to him even with him to bully others. His stainless steel bronze knuckles as his weapon are terrible. His words are law. If the child disobeys him, Assef will beat them until they throw in and yield. His violence is like an adult. As a Taliban member, he executes the man and woman by stoning for adultery, which is cruel and bloody. Assef hates all the Hazara, and he thinks they are dirty. He is also hostile to the people who take the Hazaras in, including Baba and Amir. When he joins the Taliban and becomes their members, Assef, like Hitler, liked the massacre of Hazara. In the novel, Assef plays an important role in Amir to Hassans behavior. Assef raped Hassan, cowardly Amir did not dare to save Hassan. Later Amir and Hasan had a gap. Assef causes Amir to make the wrong choice, and Amir live in pain and guilt for many years later due to the choice. 26 years later, Amir chose to bravely face his sin. he bravely rescues Sohrab from the hands of Assef, which is also to save himself.2.2.2 Pushtun Nation: Deep-rooted Racial DiscriminationAfter reading the Kite Runner, we can find that every social class will exclude and discriminate against the Hazara people. This is a deep-rooted racial discrimination. Amir will inevitably be affected due to living in such a social environment. When Amir was a child, he tried to understand the Hazara people. But he looked for many textbooks and did not find any knowledge about Hazara.In this book, Alis right leg is distorted and shrunk, so his walking posture is weird and gimpy. The children often make fun of him, and they even imitate his walking posture. Ali is an orphan, adopted by Amirs grandfather. He has been with Baba growing up, just like Hassan accompanying Amir. Their relationship is like a family. When Baba and Amir flee to the United States, Baba can sacrifice his life to save a unknown lady, but he does not dare to admit Hassan is his own son. The public exclusion of the Hazara people is always reflected.As a result of racial discrimination, Amir subconsciously did not regard Hassan as his good friend. When they have a visitor, he never plays with Hassan. And sometimes Amir will bully Hassan, although Hassan does not care about this. “Because history isnt easy to overcome. Neither is religion. In the end, I was a Pashtun and he was a Hazara, I was Sunni and he was Shia, and nothing was ever going to change that Nothing” (Khaled Hosseini, 2007: 27). From here we can see that the racial dispute and discrimination are deep-rooted, which is a nations tragedy.At the end of the novel, Amir saves Hassans son-Sohrab, and takes him to America. He treats Sohrab like his loved ones. It shows that he has a new recognition about race and achieves a real growth from heart.2.3 Initiation CompanionsIn The Kite Runner, Hassan and Soraya, who accompanied Amir in different periods. They played vital roles in the growth of Amir.2.3.1 Hassan: A Companion in Amirs ChildhoodHassan is a brave boy, while courage is what young Amir lacks. When the neighborhood boys push down Amir, or rob his toys, Amir dare not resist. Hassan always bravely takes the toys back and fight with them for Amir. Hassan is never afraid of others bullying, he can go to fight for Amir Hassan is very loyal to his master-Amir and never betrays. The first word that Hassan speaks is Amir. Whatever Amir asks Hassan to do, Hassan never refuses. When he was framed when he stole watch, he knew that everything was planned by Amir, but he did not say it. In the kite competition, Hassan goes to chase the blue kite. He knows the importance of this kite to Amir. Despite Arthurs fight and rape, he also clenched the kite. After the outbreak of war, Hassan died in the hands of the Taliban in order to guard Amirs house. Hassan achieves his commitment to Amir in one life “for you, a thousand time over”.Hassan had a poor life experience, but he was very kind and generous. When he was born, his mother looked at him and refused to hold him. After five days, she followed a group of wandering singers to run. Before she leaving, she only casts one glance at Hassan. Because Hassans mother is dissolute and indecent, Hassan is often teased. But Hassan never fights with others for these words.Hassan helps Amir to find out his weakness in his character like a mirror. Courage, loyalty, forgiveness and kindness are the things Amir learns in his initiation process from Hassan.2.3.2 Soraya: A Companion in Amirs AdulthoodAfter Baba and Amir fled to the United States, Amir gradually adapted to the life of the United States, and he met his true-lover Soraya. Soraya fall profoundly in love with Amir after one quick glance, Unfortunately, Baba had cancer. Before Baba died, Amir married Soraya. Soraya was Amirs wife. She is a kind and loving woman. When she is in fourth grade, she teaches her maidservant to read and write so that she could write letters to her relatives by herself. When the servant can do it, she feels very proud. Because of these things she became more determined to be a teacher. This makes Amir felt a shame, because he uses his literacy to tease Hassan. He even has the opinion that there is no use for a servant to the written word.Soraya is a gentle and kind woman. She also has painful past experiences to tell Amir. She and an Afghan man eloped at her eighteen years old. Four months later, she was brought home by her father. The family also moved to another city to avoid the gossip. At this time she has lost chastity, which is very cherished in Afghanistan. So she is no longer precious like a virgin. But she never lied with Amir. Before marrying with Amir, she confessed to Amir. Amir was not so angry, but envied her courage. But Amir still cannot tell her story.Soraya supports Amir back to Afghanistan to save Sohrab in spirit and action. She is a good wife. After rescuing Sohrab, Amir told Soraya the truth. Soraya let Amir bring Sohrab back to the United States for life, because Sohrab is their family member. Soraya treats Sohrab like her own child, she is also a good mom.Sorayas virtues and support influenced Amir, promoted Amir to complete his salvation. 3. Redemption as a Spiritual Journey Nobody is per