Themes of Betrayal and Violence in "The Kite Runner"

Amir's cowardice starkly contrasts Baba's bravery in confronting violence and protecting the vulnerable.

### Betrayal and Courage: Themes of Violence and Rape in "The Kite Runner"
* 🔪 The first scene depicts Hassan being raped by Asif while Wali and Kamal hold him down, showcasing **betrayal and violence** as Amir fails to **protect his friend**.
* 💔 Hassan, coerced by Asif, refuses to give up Amir's precious mirror's card, emphasizing the **bond between them** despite the horrific circumstances.
* ⚔ Amir's cowardice is evident as he watches the assault unfold, which becomes a **source of guilt that haunts him throughout the novel**.
* 🎥 The intense music and dynamic camera angles during this scene create a **visceral experience**, immersing viewers in the **emotional turmoil**.
* 🚨 In the second scene, Baba's bravery contrasts Amir's cowardice as he **defends an Afghan woman from a Russian soldier's attempt to rape her** amid the chaos of war.
* 💪 Baba's fearless act, despite the threat to his life, highlights the recurring theme of **masculinity and the moral obligation to protect others**.
* 🌌 The cinematography in both scenes enhances the **tension and suspense**, allowing the audience to **engage deeply with the characters' struggles**.
* ⚖ Ultimately, these scenes illustrate the stark differences between Amir and Baba, with Amir's **inaction leading to lifelong guilt** while Baba's **courage defines his legacy**.

The first scene is when Hassan was raped by Asif while Wali and Kamal pressed Hassan to the ground. Hassan went to the alley to get Amir's kite and Asif coerced him to give him a mirror's card. As a result, Hassan refused to give it to

him as it was precious to Amir. Asif asked him in a sarcastic way if Amir would do the same for him because he is just a Hazara. Hassan insisted that he and Amir are friends. He had to accept being molested

so that he can have the card in return. While Amir ran away, the first scene shows betrayal, violence, and rape themes as Amir betrayed Hassan by not protecting and standing up for him as he was getting raped. A motif is repeated throughout the whole novel, re-precursed throughout the novel.

The most significant instance was Hassan's rape, which is the source of Amir's guilt here. Ripper presents physical and mental domination of those who don't have power by those who do. The use of camera angles and light in each scene adds a sense of forward

momentum and adds energy in which viewers are allowed the experience to feel and engage in the action. During the first scene, Hassan getting raped by Asif, the intense music, dark light, and vigorous camera angles on a wedding clay makes the viewer feel like in the moment

and sees the energy being displaced by the scene. Because Amir is a coward, he watched his friend getting raped and did absolutely nothing. The second scene shows violence, rape, and politics and society themes since the Soviet Union invasion in Afghanistan led to violence

against Afghans, the Russian soldier wanted to take the woman to rape her in order for the car to move and threatened to shoot Baba when he stood up for her. The second scene was about Baba protecting an Afghan woman from being

raped by the Russian soldier. Baba stands up and tries to shame the Russian soldier, but he says there is no shame in war. Baba still won't stand aside and the soldier threatens to shoot him. Amir tries to get Baba to sit down, but

he pushes Amir away just before the soldier shoots him. Another Russian stops him when the truck starts moving again. The young woman's husband kisses Baba's hand. Baba's fearlessness shows that his masculinity will be the cause of his

death someday. Baba protected the woman from getting raped even though he didn't know her. This is a recurring theme throughout the novel. The most significant instance included Baba stopping the rape of the woman in the truck. The use of camera angles and light in each scene adds a sense of forward

momentum and adds energy in which viewers are allowed the experience to feel and engage in the action. During the second scene, Baba protecting the Afghan woman from getting raped, tension and suspense was immensely conveyed. The way the camera angles were moving toward

an outward of Baba's appearance was creating a sense of apprehension in which when he was protecting the woman, it made us viewers feel his brave presence as a male. This shows a contrast between Amir and Baba because Amir is the coward. He

watched his friend getting raped and did absolutely nothing. On the other hand, Bubba's fearlessness shows that his masculinity will be the cause of his death someday, as Baba protected the woman from getting raped even though he didn't know her.

The Kite Runner (contrast between Amir & Baba)

Mariam Magdy

Hassan is raped by Asif while Wali and Kamal hold him down.

The rape occurs after Asif demands a valuable kite-related item from Hassan.

Amir's inaction during the rape highlights themes of betrayal and violence.

The rape is presented as a power dynamic, with the powerful dominating the powerless.

Film techniques (camera angles, lighting, music) enhance the scene's impact.

The scene depicts violence and political themes due to the Soviet invasion.

Baba intervenes to prevent a Russian soldier from raping an Afghan woman.

Baba confronts the soldier, who threatens to shoot him; another soldier stops the attack.

Baba's bravery is contrasted with Amir's cowardice.

Film techniques again enhance the scene's emotional impact.

Camera angles create tension and suspense during Baba's intervention.

Baba's fearlessness is contrasted with Amir's inaction during Hassan's rape.

Baba's actions foreshadow his potential death due to his bravery.