The pomegranate tree in the novel The Kite Runner is a very important symbol in understanding the meaning of the story. Many important lessons and themes in the story are learned here in the novel. For example, the pomegranate tree is a symbol of friendship. Amir and Hassan would go there together and Hassan would read to Amir, because at the time Amir could not read or write (Hosseini 27-28). When they are together reading underneath the pomegranate tree, their minds are free to wander and imagine. They are best friends, and playing, climbing, and talking at the pomegranate tree only made their friendship stronger. The pomegranate tree is also a symbol of shelter in the novel. Nothing seems to ever bother them when they are together at the pomegranate tree. They are isolated from the world, and when they are there, nothing else in the world seems to matter at all. They feel such a close attachment to the tree that they carve their names into the tree, claiming that it is theirs forever (Hosseini 27-28)). They both have some place where they can both call home. This is symbolic because Amir lives in a dirt hut as a servant, and Hassan lives in a mansion. Hassan’s father is a servant to Amir’s father, but Hassan’s Father treats Amir’s Father like a best friend as well. Amir is of the Pashtun class and well off, Amir is of the Hazara class (James). The bullies in the novel do not consider them friends because of their social classes, but despite this they are best friends. They are best friends, even though they are from different social classes. The pomegranate tree shows that it does not matter, they are equal at the pomegranate tree. The tree is, strong, healthy, full of fresh pomegranates, and full of life. This symbolizes Hassan and Amir’s friendship. The tree seems to blossom as their friendship blossoms.
The pomegranate tree is a symbol of innocence in that the pomegranate tree shelters them from the harsh, cruel place in which they live. They go to the tree as a getaway; the tree is a place of peace in an otherwise unforgiving world. The pomegranate tree is innocent too. The pomegranate fruits are fresh and healthy. This is comparable to Hassan and Amir’s friendship. Whatever happens in the world does not seem to affect them when they are there. They know about the problems around them even if they are not involved in them themselves. The pomegranate tree keeps them away from real- world problems. As the story goes on, though, things start to change.
After Hassan gets raped, nothing is ever the same (Hosseini). Both of them lose their innocence, and their friendship takes a turn for the worse (Steyn). Everything that made the pomegranate tree great, was gone. Everything they did at the tree before, was not the same after. Their friendship broke apart after the rape and it would never be the same (Steyn). After Amir moves to America, he still feels a sense of guilt for running away when Hassan was getting raped (James). When he goes back to Afghanistan, he sees Hassan and there is a fight between them, with Hassan beating up Amir(James). I believe this happens because Amir left Hassan to go raped rather then sticking up for his best friend. The fight also shows that Hassan still has hostile feelings toward Amir that he will not let go. When Amir goes back to see the tree years later, the tree is bare and has seized to blossom, which is just like Hassan and Amir’s friendship. The carving of their names is still there, but it is worn (Hosseini 264-265). Amir sees that the tree is dead. He knows that fruit will never grow from it again, that there will never be any life in the tree again (Hosseini). He feels the same about his friendship with Hassan. He feels that their relationship is completely dead and that there is no way that they will get it back, because it is not the same. The tree is the perfect symbol of the boy’s friendship. It was natures way of showing how beautiful friendship can be. They tree lived as their friendship lived, but when their friendship died, the tree died, and when something dies, it can never be brought back. The fruits of the tree blossomed and were full of life when Hassan and Amir were there together. When they come back by themselves not friends anymore, everything has changed, everything is lost for good.
Of all the good things that happen at the pomegranate tree, there are times when bad things happen. Amir makes fun of Hassan when Amir is reading to him at the tree (Hosseini 28-29). Amir knows that Hassan can not read and he uses words that Hassan does not know. When Hassan asks what they mean, Amir acts like Hassan is stupid for not having known what the word meant. Amir does this to feel good about himself because he knows Hassan can’t read but he can, it makes him feel superior to Hassan, which causes problems later in the novel. Another bad incident at the pomegranate tree is when is when Amir throws pomegranates at Hassan ( Hosseini 92). This is symbolic because the pomegranates represent their growing friendship and when Amir throws them at Hassan, their friendship starts to dwindle. Amir did not only throw pomegranates at Hassan, he threw their friendship away. These two incidents in addition to Hassan getting raped are the reasons why their friendship broke apart. Amir blames the loss of their friendship on himself and his guilt stays with him for years. It is not his fault Hassan got raped, but he could have stuck up for him rather than running away, and that haunts him for years. He also treated Hassan poorly at times, and it takes a long time for Amir to forgive and make peace with himself again.
Works Cited
Hosseini, Khaled. The Kite Runner. New York City: Riverhead Books, 2003.
James, Croot. "An Afghan Treat". The Press 22 December 2007: 4-4.
Steyn, Stefaan. "Afghan Struggle". Herald Sun 16 September 2008: 65-65.
By: Brett Megee