A Semiotic Reading on KhaledHosseinisThe Kite Runner

THESIS

Submitted in Partial Fulfillment

of the Requirement for the Degree of

SarjanaPendidikan

Aria BenikeWulanKuway
112009133

ENGLISH DEPARTMENT
FACULTY OF LANGUAGE AND ARTS
SATYA WACANA CHRISTIAN UNIVERSITY
SALATIGA
2016

A Semiotic Reading on KhaledHosseinisThe Kite Runner

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THESIS

Submitted in Partial Fulfillment

of the Requirement for the Degree of

SarjanaPendidikan

Aria BenikeWulanKuway
112009133

ENGLISH DEPARTMENT
FACULTY OF LANGUAGE AND ARTS
SATYA WACANA CHRISTIAN UNIVERSITY
SALATIGA
2016

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Ab
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stract

A Semiotic Reading on KhaledHosseinisThe Kite Runner

Aria B. W. Kuway

In our lives we can find signs that represent or stand for something else. In literature, signs
have become interest of many researchers to be studied through semiotic. This study aims to
reveal the meaning of the four objects in the novel entitled The Kite Runner by KhaledHosseini:
kite, winter, slingshot, and pomegranate tree. Despite the fact that interpretation of signs can be
subjective and different from one person to another, this study attempts to interpret the four
objects using semiotic approach because semiotic can be used to analyze meaning. The meaning
interpretation of signs in the novel is expected to help readers gaining more and deeper
understanding about the novel itself.
Keywords: semiotic, sign, symbol, kite, winter, slingshot, pomegranate tree

Introduction
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In real life, we meet and face signs every day whether we realize it or not.

Humans are qualified with the capability to see things beyond the way they are. As an instance,

when a tree is swaying to each side we know there is something moving the tree. As we have

been equipped to see thing not the way it is, even though we couldnt see it, we know that the

wind is blowing because we can feel it. Connecting it to the swaying tree, commonly, we

conclude that the tree is swaying because of the wind. The moving tree tells us: the tree is being

swayed by the wind. We observe the situation or signs we see, feel, smell, touch and later we

draw conclusion based on our observation. In the case of moving tree, the moving tree signifies

that there is wind blowing around it (Johansen and Larsen 25). To learn more about how sign

communicates meaning, semiotic approach is needed because semiotic helps us examine the

meaning of a sign. The sign itself can be in form of words, pictures, symbols, etc. (Bignell 2).

Therefore, in a simple definition, semiotic is the study of signs. The signs which communicate

meaning are, then, analyzed. The indigenous people of American had performed the use of

semiotic since a long time ago. They would read signs from the ground, plants, and their

surroundings to track human or animal. In fact, human in each part of the world has performed

the reading of signs in their everyday life.

Sign is everything which represents something other than itself, for instance, objects or

things, colors, letters, etcetera (Danesi 7). Another example of sign is the color black. The sign

black consist of signsb-l-a-c-k. Not only consists of signs in form of letters, this sign also

represents color. In addition, black has another meaning beyond itself. In eastern part of

Indonesia, Papua, when there is black flag hung in front of a house it means that the particular

family is grieving. The black flag is hung by Christian family while Muslim family usually will

hang white flag. Therefore, the color black represent grief and death.
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Two prominent figures of semiotic are Ferdinand de Saussure, the linguist from

Swiss, and Charles Sanders Peirce, the philosopher from America. The term semiology is used by

Saussure in his book Course in General. Peirce,on the other side, uses the term semiotic. Both

semiology and semiotic comes from the Greek word semeion which means sign. Ferdinand

Saussure, a Swiss linguist coins the study of sign. He refers to the term semiology instead of

semiotic when deliberating the study of sign. Al-Sharafi quoted Saussure Since it does not

yet exist, one cannot say for certain that it will. But it has a right to exist, a place ready for it in

advance.(81). Here, Saussure states that signs exist in advance. What he means by in

advance is signs have always existed before experts started to concern about it. Signs have

always been there whether we realize it or not, consciously or unconsciously since very long

time ago.

Wales (Wales 1989:419) cited by Al-Sharafi, explains the definition of signs, from latin

word signum, as something which stands for, or refers to something else, in a meaningful way

In other words, anything that stands for something else other than itself can be considered as

sign. Some experts have also proposed the meaning of a signs as a meaningful unit which is

interpreted as standing for something other than itself. Signs are found in the physical form of

words, images, sounds, acts or objects (this physical form is sometimes known as the sign

vehicle). Signs have no intrinsic meaning and become signs only when sign users invest them

with meaning with reference to a recognized code.(86)

Based on two statements mentioned in the previous paragraph, there are two main things

that need to be highlighted: firstly, a sign should have physical form. Secondly, signs will be

noticed as sign if there are users or intepreter who intepret the sign. Related to the role of
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intepreter, according to Chandler, interpreter, indeed, performs a significant role in order to

achieve meaning. A sign will be considered as sign if there are objects and there are intepreters

who convey meaning based on the signs. Otherwise, the sign will be meaningless. In addition,

quoted from Morris, Wales propose same idea to Chandler. Here, Wales mentioned signs

become signs only when sign users invest them with meaning. It means, to consider something

as a sign, the role of intepreter is needed. Again, Wales stressed the important part of interpreter.

Intepreter is required to intepret that something which stand for something else. When intepreters

are able to convey meaning from that something, words, images, gestures, and object, odors,

thus, can be considered as signs.

Even though everything can be considered as sign, Turner as quoted by Chandler,

proposed that there are three things that mark a sign to be proper as a sign. First, a sign should be

something that has physical form and or has to bea sound (can be heard), an image (can be

seen), an object or a gesture (can be tested or smelt). Next, this sign should stand for something

else other than itself. The last thing Turner proposed is sign systems users. To make a sign

suitable as sign, the sign must be recognizabled by the users. Hence, I could conclude that when

the meaning of something cannot be conveyed, then, this something cannot be called as sign.

However, according to Eco as quoted by Chandler, everything can be taken as a sign (2). In my

opinion, it means that everything can also be intepreted depending on the intepreter, because sign

can be in everything.

In line with Peirce, Chandler mentions that we create and interpret meaning based on the

signs we see. The signs can be in the form of words, images, sounds, odors, flavors, acts, or

object. That is why as a meaning maker, I believe that some of things mentioned in the story

have other meanings than the words themselves. In fact, there are many things in the book that
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can be used and considered as signs as long as it has the characteristics of signs mentioned by

Peirce or Chandler. It has to have physical form, stands for something else beyond the thing

itself, and other users recognized it as doing this. For an instance, I consider a kite as a sign

because it can be seen and touched. Furthermore, a kite, in the story, may have meaning beyond

its function as a toy usually played by children, or sometimes, by adults.Therefore, in agreement

with Peirce and Chandler, as a meaning maker, questions arose when I looked at the cover and as

I read through the novel. Since we are as humans are homo significans or in other words meaning

makers who think only in signs, we tend to make meaning of everything (Chandler 14).

Before going further, I would like to introduce the author of the novel which I use as the

primary data of this research, cited from Mathew Spanglers book The Kite Runner: A Study

Guide, The Kite Runner was written by KhaledHosseini, an Afghan. Hosseini was born to a

diplomat father and a mother who was a Farsi and history teacher, on March 4th, 1965. Hes the

oldest son in the family. His family moved to Teheran and came back to Kabul in 1973 when

Afghanistan was a republic country. However, in 1976, the Hosseini family moved to Paris.

Lastly, the Hosseini family moved to San Jose, California because of the political asylum given

by the government of USA. Here, he continued his study and graduated from high school. After

graduating from high school, he went to Santa Clara University, biology major. After that, since

KhaledHosseini wanted to become a physician, he continued his study in University of

California, medical school of San Diego and got his M.D. Hosseini was working as a resident in

Cedar-Sinai hospital in Los Angeles which he finally became an internist.

During his time of being a resident, Hosseini started to write The Kite Runner, in 2001. In

2003, the novel was published. Here, his personal experience is also reflected through Amir,

especially his childhood experience. Through this novel, Hosseini wanted to invite all the people
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in the world to see Afghanistan from an insiders point of view. Not only writing novel about

Afghanistan, Hosseini also helping aid organization by put their link on his personal website so

that people throughout the world will be able to see the link and help the Afghans in Afghanistan.

He is now living in Northern Californian with his wife and children. Some of his childhood is

described in the novel however, the novel is fictional. Not only through his novel does Hosseini

try to tell the world about his homeland country, but he also actively joins the foundation

organization in order to help the Afghans refugees. His novel functions as the mediator between

people in Afghanistan and the world outside Afghanistan (Spangler).

In the novel The Kite Runner, Hosseini as a diaspora writer, tries to portray the life of

Afghanistan people in 1970s. It was the time where the sound of guns and bombs were

something unfamiliar to the generation of that era. The peaceful country then started to collapse.

Also, the form of government changed from the monarchy to republic. The country then invaded

by the Russian, before then ruled under the regime of Taliban. Afghans hatred toward Russian is

represented in the novel when Babas sick and need to be checked by a doctor. Baba roughly

refuses the doctor because the nationality of the doctor is Russian (Hosseini 155).

Due to the fact that everything can be considered as signs, questions arose on my mind as

I was reading through the novel The Kite Runner by KhaledHosseini. For example, why the

writer chose to entitle the book the Kite Runner? The reason is because we human tend to think

about sign, even when we did not realize it. Peirce stated that we think only in signs (Chandler

14). Therefore, by looking at the cover and the tittle of the book, questions arose. Further reading

of the book triggered many more perceptions, assumptions, and questions. Such as, why did the

author chose the pomegranate tree as the place for Hassan and Amir used to play at? Why is

Hassan good at shooting slingshot and not something else? This, in my opinion, proofs the idea
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of Peirce that as readers we tend to think sign, especially as readers who has the urge to dig

deeper meaning of the story in order to attain better understanding of the story.

I do realize that the field of semiotic is quite broad to discuss. Therefore, it is urgent to

limit the discussion of Semiotic to narrower one. Here, I use the theory of sign proposed by

Peirce. Peirce recommended his triadic kind of signs. They are icon, index, and symbol. Since an

object determines its sign, a sign is called icon when it shares the objects characters. The

example given is a photograph. Here, he mention, that a photograph is an icon because it shares

the characters of the object being photographed. Next, index is a sign caused by cause and effect

relationship. The example proposed by him is when there is smoke emerges from a house, it

indicates the possibility of fire in the house. Similar to the example I mentioned before: when a

tree is swaying from one side to other side, it signifies that there is wind around the tree. The

wind is the cause why the tree is moving. The third one proposed by Peirce is symbol which is

signified by convention. He stated Thirdly, by more or less approximate certainty that it will be

interpreted as denoting the object, in consequence of a habit (which term I use as including a

natural disposition), when I call the sign a Symbol. The example given by him is flag. Flags can

be a symbol. Therefore, to understand what a flag signifies, the meaning beyond the flag, the

society needs to learn about the flag firstand also agree that flag refers to something else beyond

itself (Berger 23). More explanation will be discussed in the literature review.

In order to avoid too broadened discussion, I will limit my discussion to four objects only

that mentioned in the book; kites, winter, slingshots, and pomegranate tree, which I consider to

be important. Further analysis on other elements on the book would be helpful for readers to

understand the richness of the book. These four objects, which I considered as sign, have

significant role to the story. Without these four objects, the story would probably be different or
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even meaningless. In addition, considering the richness of this novel, another research on the

book The Kite Runner is highly suggested. For example, psychoanalysis could be used to analyze

the character of Amir, how an act of betrayal in his childhood can affect his entire life when he

grows up.

As what has been explained before, everything in the novel can be taken as signs.

Nevertheless, I felt the urge to distinct which signs are important to make the story in the novel

meaningful and which signs are less important and dont really have significant impact to the

story. Despite all the signs appear on the novel, only four objects are chosen since they appear to

me as important signs for the developing of the story. Therefore, explanation proposes by Perrine

helps me decide what factors are needed to consider whether an object is essential sign or not.

According to Perrine as quoted by Arp and Johnson, a literature symbol refers to

something beyond the surface level, can be mean something else. It takes many forms such as a

person, a situation, an action, or some other elements with literal meaning in the story but

alsocharacterizes implication as well (Arp and Johnson 284). The example given by the author is

literary symbol of a name. A name, in a way, appears as a merely a name but doesnt give enough

information about the person. Nevertheless, some authors name their characters with certain

names in order to label the characters itself as well as the name as tools to represent something

beyond the name and the character of this person.

There are two essential keys related to symbols in a story. First, there is repetition. The

same thing keep appears throughout the story. For example, in the novel The Kite Runner, the

word winter keeps appear throughout the story. Moreover, the author relates winter to essential

part of Amirs life. Winter is the time when Amir is born. Winter is also his favorite time because
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it means a long holiday (which means he will be able to play with his servant Hassan) and kite

flying tournament. Ironically, winter is as well as the time Amir witnessing Hassan being raped

without does anything to help Hassan that leads to the ruined of their friendship. Another

example is the pomegranate tree. The tree is mentioned many times in the book especially to

describe the activity both character like to do. Author mentions the pomegranate tree is the tree

where Amir and Hassan go to spend time with together. When the situation in Kabul is in chaos,

this tree is the spot where Amir and Hassan go to, intentionally, to reduce their anxious by

playing or reading books under the tree. Years later, when Amir comes back to Afghanistan from

America to save Sohrab, he makes use of the time to visit the tree.

Second, coined by Arp and Johnson, there is accretion in the story which means there is

gradual process. Here, the sign is developed with realistic details. The pomegranate tree, not only

mentioned many times. The author also develops the condition of the tree with realistic detail: a

natural process usually passed by a tree. For instance, when Amir and Hassans friendship is still

pure and close, the tree is described as fruitful. As little boys, they like to spend time under the

tree: picking the ripe fruits to eat, sitting down under the tree to read books or play. However, as

the plot of the story develops, gradually, the tree is described hadnt borne fruit in years and

fruitless. This can also represent the relationship between both of them; broken. Their friendship

is never the same anymore.

Furthermore, Arp and Johnson explain that with the intention of diagnosing and

pinpointing symbols, one needs to have perception and tact. The reason of this is because once

the reader realizes the existence of symbols in the story, the reader will have the inclination to

run wild. They mention in their book as follow: To find symbols everywhere and to read into

details of a story all sorts of fanciful meanings not legitimately supported by it. But we need to
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remember that most stories operate almost wholly at the literal level and that even in highly

symbolic stories, the majority of the details are purely literal. A story is not an excuse for and

exercise in ingenuity. It is better, indeed, to miss the symbolic meanings of a story than to pervert

its meaning by discovering symbols that are nonexistent. (Arp and Johnson 289).

In addition, it is essential to possess the ability to interpret symbols in order to fully

comprehend literature. Therefore, readers might need to be attentive to some things that might

represent something else other than themselves. These following cautions are required to

scrutinize whether something is represent other than itself or not (Arp and Johnson 289-291)

1. The story itself must furnish a clue that a detail is to be taken symbolically(289).

2. The meaning of a literary symbol must be established and supported by the entire context

of the story (290).

3. To be called a symbol, an item must suggest a meaning different in kind from its literal

meaning; a symbol is something more than the representative of a class or type(290).

4. A symbol may have more than one meaning (291).

Based on the explanation, therefore, these four objects can be considered as important

symbols that has significant impact toward the story. Hence, these four objects will then be

analyzed deeper.

This research is attempted to answer the question what are the meaning of kites,

pomegranate tree, winter, and slingshot using the branch of semiotic. RayiKinanti in her thesis

The Analysis of the Symbol of Salmon in ManusiaSetengah Salmon by RadityaDika, as quoted

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from Bignell, mentioned that semiotics is one theory that can be used to discuss signs,

specifically symbol. Here, the four objects mentioned are considered as signs. Therefore, by

using semiotic, signs or symbols used by the author in the novel can be analyzed to convey

meaning, which make this as the aim of this research. When the meaning of these four objects

(kite, winter, slingshot, and pomegranate tree) are conveyed, the reader will be able to understand

and to interpret symbols in the novel. By conveying meaning behind these four symbols, readers

misinterpretation or misunderstanding of the story can be avoided.

Beyond that, these specific words stand for something other than themselves. That is why

this paper tries to examine what the author is trying to depict through kite, winter, slingshot, and

pomegranate tree using semiotic. Through this analysis, I hope to help readers to have more and

deeper understanding about what the author are trying to say in this novel. By examining the

meaning behind these four particular objects, it is expected for the readers to gain better and

profound understanding about the story.

Also, by trying to look at things from insiders point of view, in this case from Afghans

point of view, and analyzing the meaning of the four objects analyzed in this research, readers

are expected to gain more understanding of the story. Take for an example, as an Indonesian I

know that kite is known as a toy or game, use to play by kids and sometimes by adults. However,

in comparison to Afghanistan people, flying kites is never a national obsession of Indonesia.

Nevertheless, by trying to view kite from an Afghans point of view, readers of this book would

be able to understand why kite is important for Afghanistan people. Therefore, in order to

achieve more understanding, analyzing the four object mentioned earlier will be very useful for

the readers. Another thing is not only seeing Afghanistan from Hosseinis point of view, but also,
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readers will be able to reflect their own experience to what Amir and Hassan has experience such

as friendship, envious, being loyal and betrayed, and finally redemption.

Method used in this research is library research. The data used in this research is

qualitative data in which the data is taken based on words, phrases, sentences, or text in the

primary, secondary, or additional data. The primary data for this research is taken from the novel

The Kite Runner by KhaledHosseini, the 10th anniversary edition, based on the narration and the

dialogues of the characters. The secondary data used for this research is taken from articles,

criticisms, review, and books related to the research. Then, the data is analyzed and interpreted,

then, connected to the opinion of experts.

Signs are something that stands for something else. Hence, by learning semiotic

approach, our awareness raises that what we see, read, taste, touch, feel, smell, is not always

something we take for granted. It could be standing for something else beyond that sign itself.

We live in a world where we could find signs everywhere. As stated by Chandler, reality is a

system of sign. Semiotic is significant as it urges us to see things beyond reality as well as not

taken the reality for granted. This is because reality is very subjective and dependent on our role

as interpreter to actively put meaning into it. In order to understand those signs, also, to make the

signs meaningful, our role as interpreters plays significant part. We as interpreters must create

meaning actively based on signs we see (Chandler). And to interpret, one interpretation can be

different from another. In addition, we will be helped to understand and to raise our awareness

that we live in a world where we could find signs everywhere. Applying the same idea, through

semiotic approach, readers of the novel The Kite Runner will be able to understand and aware

that the novel itself is very rich of signs. Nevertheless, the signs contain in the book will stay

meaningless unless the readers attempts to see that the signs are actually standing for something
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else. Interpreting meaning is somehow can be subjective (Chandler). However, since we are as

human function as meaning maker, in my opinion, this will be very fascinating since many

subjective interpretations could lead to seeing a sign from many different points of views. In this

case, by trying to interpret kite, winter, pomegranate tree, and slingshot, I try to reveal the

meaning meant by the author. Hopefully, the more explicit code of signs revealed, the more this

story could be understood by the readers of this novel.

Summary of the Book

The book The Kite Runner consists of three parts. The first part, tells about the close

relationship between two boys who are fed from the same breasts, Amir and Hassan. Amir is the

son of Baba, one of the wealthiest business men in Kabul, Afghanistan, a Pashtun and Sunni

Muslim. Hassan is a hare lipped boy, the son of Amirs fathers servant, a Hazara, a minor

ethnicity in Afghanistan, and a Shia Muslim. Hassans father, Ali, has become a servant to

Amirs Baba since Ali was a young boy. They both, Amir and Hassan, are motherless. Amirs

mother was bleeding to death when giving birth to him, while Hassans mother left Ali and

Hassan and ran off with a group of singers and dancers in a one winter night. Amir is one year

older than Hassan.

Ali and Hassan lives in a small shack next to Amir and Babas big house. However, Ali

loves Hassan as if Hassan is his precious treasures. In contrast, Amir has everything a little boy is

wishing for financially, except one thing: Babas love. Amir and Baba cant get along very well.

That is why Amir has always tried his best to get his Babas attention. It is Rahim Khan, Babas

close friend, who is always helping Amir and especially encouraging Amir to write since he is a
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little boy. Sometime, Amir wishes that Rahim Khan is his father and not Baba. Only few persons

close to Amir. Beside Hassan, it is Rahim Khan that Amir closes to.

Although their social backgrounds are very different, Amir and Hassan share a beautiful

friendship. Both of them are fond of playing kite. Amir is very good at flying kite. Whereas

Hassan, he is a very good kite runner. They are very close that wherever Amir goes, Hassan

comes along with him. Hassan always brings his slingshot wherever he goes and he is deadly

with this slingshot. Another activity they like to do is every day after school or whenever the

boys want to, they will go to a pomegranate tree near the abandoned cemetery. Amir uses to read

to Hassan bellow the tree since Hassan is illiterate. They even carve their names on the tree:

Amir and Hassan, the Sultans of Kabul. Therefore, with the carving they make, there is a sense

that the pomegranate tree belongs to them.

Nevertheless, the first part of the novel ends when Hassan is raped by a boy named Assef.

It is told that on the other day before Hassans raped, Hassan has threatened Assef with his

slingshot. Hassan pointed the slingshot to Assefs face and threatened him that people would call

him One-Eyed Assef if he didnt let Hassan and Amir go. Assef holds grudge toward Hassan

because of this. As a result, one day when Hassan is going to find the blue kite Amir won from

the tournament, he meets Assef and his two friends. They ask for the blue kite, but Hassan who is

very loyal to Amir doesnt want to give in the kite to Assef. Assef, still holding grudge to Hassan,

hurts Hassan by bulling him. Amir who watches the raping from afar is unable to muster his

bravery to help Hassan, who always stands for Amir and defends him whenever Amir needs help.

Since the day Hassan is rapped, life is changed for the two of them. They play together, however,

things dont go well as the way it was. Worst thing happens when Amir accuses Hassan for

stealing his watch and money. Ali and Hassan finally decide to leave the house they have been
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living for years even though it is not Hassan who steals the watch and the money. That is the last

time Amir sees Hassan, through his bedroom window. Later, it is described in the book, the

betrayal act of Amir when he was a boy haunts his entire life.

The second part of the story tells about Amir and his fathers life in California. They are

fleeing to the United States of America since the invasion of the Soviet Union. The story is

continued with Amir continuing his study there. He graduates from senior high school and

continues to junior college, majoring in creative writing. Amirs relationship with Baba gets

better like he wants it to be. He meets an Afghan girl, Soraya, and marries her. They both take

care of Baba especially since his health gets worse, and passes away at the end because of

cancer. One big problem Amir cant get rid of is no matter how far he is from Afghanistan, the

quilt he bears burdens him, especially the look in Hassans eyes when Hassan was being rapped.

The guilty is still haunting him. Until one day, a phone call from Rahim Khan, his fathers old

loyal friend, bringing back all the past hes been trying to forget for decades. Rahim Khan tells

him that there is still a way to bring good again. Therefore, to fix all the mistakes Amir has done

in the past.

The last part of the story is when Amir flies back to Afghanistan to meet Rahim Khan.

Rahim Khan asks Amir to save Sohrab, Hassans son, who is caught by a Taliban officer and

bring the little boy to a better place. Why flying across the continent only to save a little boy?

Eventually, from Rahim Khan, Amir knows the secret his Baba never told him; Hassan is his half

step brother. The servant boy he used to play together with is his half-brother. The truth told by

Rahim Khan burdens Amirs heart more. Thus, this makes Sohrab is his nephew. This is the

time for Amir to redeem the chaos he caused from his cowardice acts in the past. To atone for

what he should have done when he was watching Hassan being raped, years ago, he risks his life
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to rescue Sohrab. Rescuing Sohrab brings him facing his old nemesis, Assef, who happens to be

one of Talibans top leaders in Afghanistan. Years ago, when Amir was still a little boy, he did

nothing when Hassan was being violated by Assef. Now, after years of regret, it is the time for

Amir to face Assef and rescue his half-stepbrothers son. Thus, to fix and wash away all the

quilts hes been carrying his whole life.

Literature Review

Berger maintains that both semiology and semiotic have almost the same meaning. Both

of them discuss about the meaning of sign. Semiotic, comes from Greek word smeion which

means sign. What makes them slightly different is semiotic refers to Peircean; while semiology

refers to Saussurean. Nevertheless, semiotic is more frequently used and many Saussureans

prefer to use semiotic as well. In addition, the Association for semiotic studies agreed to use the

term semiotic in January 1969. Since then, the word semiotic preferably to be used.

In literature, Umberto Eco mentions that words sometimes stand for something other than

those words themselves. This is known as symbolism. Since almost everything is symbol, we as

meaning makers tend to make meaning. In fact, there are some symbols people are familiar with

all over the world. For example, talking about cross, Christians will definitely refer to the

sacrifice of Jesus Christ. Another example is white usually represents goodness, pure, and

holiness. On the contrary, black is connoted with evil or darkness. Therefore, symbolism can be

another way of not to describing things exactly the way it is. (Murray157). Similarly, Perrine, as

quoted by GalihUtomo (10) an object, a person, a situation, an action, or other items which has

literal meaning in the story and represents another meaning than itself is a literary symbol. In
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other words, a word can have more than one meaning which is implicitly mentioned by the

author in the story. This means that instead of using the vivid and direct explanation, readers are

challenged to create meaning through a symbol by collecting all the evident explain in a text or

literary work.

There are some definitions of semiotic stated by experts, as quoted by Chandler. The first

definition is stated by Umberto Eco semiotic is concerned with everything that can be taken as a

sign (Chandler 2). Signs is one element includes in semiotic. Not only sign, semiotic also

embroils anything that refers to something else. In addition, words, images, sounds, gestures, and

objects are other forms signs. Saussure mentioned that semiology as a signs which studies the

role of signs as part of social life. While according to Charles Peirce, semeiotic or semiotic is

the formal doctrine of signs (Chandler 3).

There are two persons known as the cofounder of semiotic. They are the Swiss linguist

Ferdinand Saussure and the American philosopher Charles Sanders Peirce. Saussures defines

sign as:

A linguistic sign not a link between a thing and a name, but between a concept

(signified) and a sound pattern (signifier). The sound pattern is not actually a sound; for a sound

is something physical. A sound pattern is the hearers psychological impression of a sound, as

given to him by the evidence of his senses. This sound pattern may be called a material element

only in that it is the representation of our sensory impressions. The sound pattern may thus be

distinguished from the other element associated with it in a linguistic sign. This other element is

generally of a more abstract kind: the concept. (Saussure 1983, 66)

 K u w a y | 19

Saussure proposed that a sign consists of a signifier and a signified. The signifier (the

sound pattern) is the form of the sign. Or in other words can be called as sound-images. The

signified is the concept which the sign refers to. It is the concepts generated by the signifiers

(Berger22). Both of them are psychological or non-material. Nevertheless, nowadays the

Saussurean model of sign is not psychological but materialistic. Moreover, the signifier is form

of the sign which can be seen, heard, touched, smelled, or tasted. The combination of a signifier

and a signified is called the signification. This means that a sign should have a signifier and a

signified. These two elements cannot be separated in order to form a sign or symbol. However,

Saussures signified merely refers to concept in mind and not to a thing. Therefore, Susane

Langer helps to give more explanation. She is referring sign to symbol. She stated that symbols

are not substitution for the objects, not the things themselves, but symbols are the conception of

the objects (or the things). This is what symbols mean. Here, she gave example of the word

Napoleon. When one mentions the word Napoleon, we do not behave as if we were facing the

conqueror of Europe. Instead, we merely think of him. Referring to Langers explanation, it is

the concept of Napoleon as the Europe conqueror that comes across in our mind as we hear the

word Napoleon. (Chandler 17)

Sign

Signifier Signified

(sound-image) (concept)

Table 1.1

Table 1.1 is Saussures concept of what makes a sign. Furthermore, based on the concept,

Berger serves example related to this explanation. Star Trek is a famous science fiction movie
 K u w a y | 20

about a spaceship that travels in space. This movie, related to Saussures concept can be taken as

a sign. What are the signifiers and signified that make the movie a sign? According to Berger,

since the movie is about starship that traveling across the space, so the signified of Star Trek is

science fiction adventure (BergerArthur, Semiotic Analysis 9)The signifiers are the starship

that travels the universe, the outfits worn by the characters are futuristic style, they use ray light

guns, etc. Grounded on semioticians opinion, everything can be taken as a sign. Similarly,

another example, a signifier: yellow light of the traffic light. A signified concept: the vehicles are

able to proceed with carefulness. Hence, both signifier and signified are importantly needed to

form a sign.

Therefore, in my opinion, a mother can also be considered as a sign. The signified is she

is a source of life. What are the signifiers that make a mother a sign? A mother carries baby in

her belly for nine months, delivers the baby, feeds the baby, and takes care all the babys need

such as food, clothes, raise the baby with love until the baby grows up, becomes kid, teenage and

finally and adult who is ready to be an independent person.

Another cofounder of semiotic is Charles Sanders Peirce. Peirce offers three (triadic)

models; 1.therepresentamen(the form of the sign), 2. anintepretant (sense created by the sign),

3.an object (anything to which the sign refers to/a referent). In his own words, Peirce(Peirce

193158, 2.228), as quoted by Chandler, explains the three parts:

A sign (in the form of a representamen) is something which stands to somebody for

something in some respect or capacity. It addresses somebody, that is, creates in the mind of that

person an equivalent sign, or perhaps a more developed sign. That sign which it created I call

the interpretant of the first sign. The sign stands for something, its object. It stands for that
 K u w a y | 21

object, not in all respects, but in reference to a sort idea, which I have sometimes called the

ground of the representamen. (Chandler 29)

These three elements are very important to form a sign and they cannot be separated. A

sign consists of the object or what is represented, the representamen or how the sign is

represented, and the intepretant or how the sign is interpreted. The relation between these three

elements is called by Peirce as semeiosis (alternatively semiosis).

One more important thing that cannot be separated when we are denoting meaning is the

society. According to Berger, since the relation between the signifier and the signified is based on

convention, it means society is needed in order to interpret sign and symbols(BergerArthur,

Semiotic Analysis). Quoting Saussure, Chandler mentions that the association between signifier

and signified is conventional. The bond between these two is based on the convention or the

agreement of society and cultural. A word will have its particular meaning if the society

altogether reaches agreement collectively to it. In my opinion, this is because meaning of a word

can only be concluded if it is connected with the society where the sign exist. For example, to

know the meaning of kite in the book, the role of the society is needed, because the society

(Afghanistan people) constructs meaning in kite as a sign. In addition, take for an example, to

know what is the meaning of the pomegranate tree (sign), one must know what does a tree or a

pomegranate tree means for people, particularly the Afghans. Moreover, after decide that a

pomegranate tree is a sign, one must analyze what is the signified and the signifiers.

Discussion

1. The Kite
 K u w a y | 22

Sadat in his essay (Sadat 1) explained the role of fictional literature. Works of literature

play role as tools to show norms, values, structures, themes, laws, basically the ideas and

cornerstones that make up ones culture and society. In other words, a literary work can be a

means to reflect what is valued by a society.Through The Kite Runner KhaledHoseini reflects the

custom valued by Afghans since their ancestor time, to be specific, the custom of flying a kite.

Kite tournament is seen as something obsessed by the nation since very long time ago even

though this tradition was banned once by Taliban for being not Islamic.

Furthermore, in order to understand this work of literature, the work has to be placed in

context and the society. In the fictional literature The Kite Runner, the author tries to describe

how Afghans view kite, kite flying, and kite fighting. It gives the idea that kite flying in Afghan

culture is viewed as something important. Podelco in his article mentions the habit of flying kite

has been national obsession since a very long time ago (Podelco 1st paragraph). In addition, the

author tries to tell the readers the meaning of kite flying for Afghans. For an instance, the author

mentioned the word tradition (Hosseini51) and custom (52) when explaining about the way

Afghans celebrate kite tournament. Here, the author attempts to tell readers, especially those who

are not Afghans, about the people of Afghanistan and culture cherished by them.

Just like all the Afghans, Amir and Hassan are also fond of flying kite and also fighting it

with other opponent.

The kite-fighting was an old winter tradition in Afghanistan. It started early in the

morning on the day of the contest and didnt end until only the winning kite flew in the sky I

remember one year the tournament outlasted daylight. People gathered on sidewalks and roofs

to cheer for their kids. The streets filled with kite fighters, jerking and tugging on their lines,
 K u w a y | 23

squinting up to the sky, trying to gain position to cut the opponents line. Every kite fighter had

an assistant in my case, Hassan who held the spool and fed the line. (Hosseini 51)

Winter is the time for kite-fighting, an old tradition for people of Afghanistan. In the

context of Afghan culture, kite flying is not merely toys played by children and adults. Beyond

that, kite flying, or gudiparanbazi, is an old custom or pastime tradition cherished by young and

old people of Afghans, especially men and boys. Women and girls are not allowed to fly kites.

Kite flying or kite fighting is known as national obsession, especially the obsession to win

(Podelco 1st paragraph). Kite flying is one of special traditions of Afghans that they held a special

tournament of kite flying. On the day of the contest, the tournament is started in the morning and

considered end if there is one winning it. The children who are going to join the tournament

choose the best spots in order to fly the kite well and to cut the opponents string. In the

meantime,people will gather in places where they can watch the tournament and cheer for the

fighter (Hosseini 51).

It is described in the novel that Amir always thinks the distance between him and Baba is

far. As father and son, they are not close as a father-son should be. They might live in the same

roof however, they are not close. The reason why Baby keeps disappointed in him is because he

doesnt fulfill Babas expectation of an ideal son. Baba is respected by people around them. He is

an athletic and strong person. Even there is some kind of folklore that once Baba has fought a

bear. The poor bear was defeated by Baba with his bare hands. Unlike Amir, his one and only son

who is timid and not as athletic as Baba, Baba has always wanted a son who has athletic talents

and interest in sport like Baba does. Instead of fond of sport, Amir prefers to read poems and

books, and write stories. He once eavesdropped Baba saying, If I hadnt seen the doctor pull

him out of my wife with my own eyes, Id never believe hes my son (Hosseini 23). To top it all,
 K u w a y | 24

Amir has the thought on his mind: Baba hates him because his mother died when she gave birth

to Amir.

On the other hand, Hassan is surprisingly very athletic. It is Hassan who fends Amir

when other kids make fun of Amir. Amir witnesses that sometimes Baba would gaze at Hassan

with proud look instead of look at him. This is probably because Hassan meets Babass

expectation of an ideal son. Babas attention is divided: half for Hassan and half for Amir. If

Amir gets something from Baba, then Hassan will also be given the same thing. He wants all the

attention for him, not shared with Hassan. Amir is jealous because of this. And the jealousy

grows in his heart.

Therefore, Amir decides that no matter what, he must win the kite flying tournament

(Hosseini 56) For twelve years old Amir, winning the tournament is not only a matter of

cherished an old custom. Winning the kite fighting tournament means to mend his relationship

with Baba and to cut the distance between them.

Flying kite needs two persons. The first person is the leader or the kite fighter who is in

charge of controlling and flying the kite, while the other person will become a helper who is in

charge of holding the charkha or the spool.In the story, Amir is the kite fighter, while Hassans

duty is as Amirs assistant in order to help him fed the line. Not only Hassan plays role as the

assistant, but also he is the kite runner who will run after the loosing kite, especially the last

falling as the trophy.

Where there is kite flying, there will always be a kite fighting. And when there is kite

fighting, theres always the winner and the loser at the end of the fighting. According to Semple

The objective of the kite fight is to slice the other fliers string with your own, sending the
 K u w a y | 25

vanquished aircraft to the ground.(1). This air fighting between these paper dragonflies will end

if ones wire is cut by the opponents which of course signified the winning (by the person who

cuts his opponents wire) and the losing (the person whose wire is cut).

The way I see it, Amir only has two options when he decides to join the kite tournament,

whether to win or to lose. He decides to win the competition no matter what. Winning the

tournament means winning Babas heart. Winning Babas heart means he finally gets Babas

attention, not being ignored, to be listened and looked at. For other children who are joining the

kite-flying tournament, winning could probably be the chance to show off or brag between other

children. However, in Amirs case, winning means everything to him.

I didnt know what the other guy was playing, maybe just bragging rights. But this was

my one chance to become someone who was looked at, not seen, listened to, not heard.

(Hosseini 65)

Also, he is hoping that this will break the ice between Baba and him and make Baba

could finally be proud of him. No wonder he does his best to be the winner. On top of it all, by

winning the tournament, Amir hopes for a happily-ever-after ending; i.e. that Baba will finally

acknowledge how worthy he is and embrace his presence. Moreover, winning the kite-flying

tournament will lead to triumphant, vindication, salvation, and most important thing, redemption.

These all are the meaning of winning the kite flying tournament to Amir. And all of these are

represented by the trophy of honor or the winning kite which is won by fighting so many kites in

the air one by one, blood in the palms sliced by the wire for holding the spool.
 K u w a y | 26

Hosseini explains that the most fun thing, the real fun, about kite-flying is when a kite is

cut. This is the time when all the kite runners run the kite. However, the best kite they should run

is the last kite that falls during the tournament because this kite is like a trophy of honor,

something to be displayed on a mantle for guests to admire. (Hosseini 52) The blue kite Amir

cut from his last opponent is his reward since he has won the tournament. It is the ticket for him

to be acknowledged, admitted, not to be blamed anymore (vindication), to be saved and taken

from the difficult situation between him and Baba (salvation), so that everything between Baba

and him will be better and acceptable (redemption). And finally the last, thus, Baba and Amir

could live happily ever after as father and son. Therefore, the trophy of honor, the blue kite, is

very important to Amir.

Podelco mentions that the kite which is cut by the opponent is usually called azadi

rawest or in other words free and legal. Relating this to the story, the blue kite that Amir

considers as the trophy of honor and his ticket to win Babas heart is also the free and legal one.

This azadi rawest kite, in my opinion, symbolizes Amirs desire that he has longed for his

whole life as a little boy.

On the day Amir won the kite flying tournament, Hassan on his way back home bringing

the victory kite for Amir, is violated sexually by neighborhood boys. Instead of helping Hassan,

Amir pretends he doesnt see what happened and runs.

I ran because I was a coward. I was afraid of Assef and what he would do tome I

actually aspired to cowardice, because the alternative, the real reason I was running, was
 K u w a y | 27

running, was that Assef was right: Nothing was free in this world. Maybe Hassan was the price I

had to pay, the lamb I had to slay, to win Baba. (Hosseini 77)

Here, it turns out that the vindication, salvation, and redemption because bringing theblue

kite home is not enough. Something, or someone, has to be sacrificed. This, reminds me of the

story of Jesus Christ. As a Christian, I know that in the Holly Bible, Jesus Christ sacrificed

himself so all the human beings are saved. Redemption is accepted by all of humans through

Jesus Christs sacrifice in the cross. Thus, we, Christian, are saved.

The blue kite symbolizes Hassans sacrifice for Amir so that Amir can win Babas heart.

In other words, it is Amir who sacrifices Hassan. Thus, since realizing that this but since winning

Babas heart is everything to him, Amir denies the fact that he has been a coward. This, breaks

the bonding friendship between themespecially because Amir has tried to avoid Hassan as much

as he could. Based on this, I conclude that the kite Amir won represents his cowardice act which

actually haunts him for the rest of his life. On one side, the kite helps him restore his relationship

with his Baba as what he has desired. However, on the other side, it breaks the bond between

Hassan and Amir and brings shame for Amir due to his coward act. Hassans loyalty to Amir is

ironically rewarded with betrayal

When Amir has become an adult, he comes back to Afghanistan to save Sohrab, the son

of Hassan, from Assef and bring Sohrab to safer places. The sexual harassment toward this

teenage boy, in addition to his loss of his parents and grandmother, causes trauma to him. The

result is he withdraws himself from Amir and the people around him, as described by the author

he is tranquility (Hosseini 361). The worst thing is Sohrab tries to commit suicide. Until one
 K u w a y | 28

morning, in the last part of the book, Amir offers Sohrab to fly a kite (fly a kite for Sohrab since

he refuses to fly it) and he wins the kite fighting to a boy. During the kite fighting, Amir describe

to Sohrab everything about young Amir and young Hassan use to do when theyre flying and

having a kite fighting, especially about young Hassan and the old happy memories about Hassan.

This brings impact to Sohrab. Even though the boy doesnt say anything, his non-verbal gestures

show his reaction. In this moment, Sohrab shows respond to Amir. More than responding, Sohrab

is smiling. Amir who doesnt want to waste the chance, use the opportunity to win Sohrabs heart

by offering him to run the kite for Sohrab. As Hassan did for Amir decades ago.

Here, in my opinion, the kite Amir flies for Sohrab is also the key to Sohrabs heart, the

key to break the silence of a teenage boy whose beloved ones have died and have violated

sexually.Seeing the smile of the little boy, Amir knows that the real redemption, vindication,

salvation, and happily ever-after has just happened.

Sohrabs smiling is a sign that Amir has finally achieved redemption. A new hope is

described like a snow flake that is melting. The way I see it, winning a kite fighting tournament

in 1975 has given Amir hope that Baba would finally acknowledged him and this lead him to a

series of cowardice act that will haunt him for the rest of his life. However, in 2002, winning the

kite fighting gives Amir new hope. Just like flying a kite, it needs struggle and efforts to win it. I

try to synchronize this with Amirs life, to be finally having a happily ever after life, vindication,

redemption, and salvation, is not an easy effort. Nevertheless, just like Amir who has won the

fighting, he also won in his life. This winning brings new hope and new life to him: a life

without the burden from the past and fully relieved. Therefore, the kite is not only a toy used by

Hassan, Amir and or other children. Beyond that, it can be seen as an effort, a tool to achieve
 K u w a y | 29

Amirs goal of life; i.e. winning Babas heart, winningSohrabs heart, and the last one: washing

away all bad memories of his past.

Connecting to the study of sign, the kite is the sign which represents something else other

than itself. Therefore, based on all the explanation, firstly, I can conclude that kite for the little

boy Amir symbolizes Amirs struggle to pursue the admittance of his existence before his Baba.

Secondly, the kite could also symbolizes his cowardice act, the loosen bond between Amir and a

person who promise to always stand by Amirs side whenever Amir needs him, Hassan. In my

opinion, Hassans loyal act is rewarded with a betrayal and cowardice act by Amir. As a result,

Amir is haunted for the rest of his life even when he is in America far away from Afghanistan.

Thirdly, the kite is used again by Amir this time to win over Sohrabs heart in order to achieve

redemption. The last thing is by winning over Sohrabs heart, Amir will finally be relieved that

he has paid all his sins and bad memories in the past.

It is interesting that Hassan is the best kite runner Amir knows. The tittle of the novel

The Kite Runnier is referring to Hassan, not Amir as the narrator or protagonist of the story. It

is Hassan who runs the free kite for Amir, the symbols of freedom and redemption even though

this cost his life. However it is very important for Hassan to do this. For me, Hassan as the kite

runner has shown the nature of a hero: he is very loyal, reliable, and courageous.

2. The Winter

Seasons play significant part in plot of a novel. According to Thomas C. Foster, seasons

can also function as setting of the story, as well as plot device. He adds Weather is never just
 K u w a y | 30

weather. Its never just rain (Foster 76-77), and so in the novel, winter is never just winter. As a

sign, winter also represents something else beyond itself.

Winter as settings gives certain atmosphere to the story. If one story or poet uses spring as

the setting, then it will raise different atmosphere compares to winter, as well as autumn or

summer. Take for example, if a narration states like: one cold winter afternoon, the kid tries to

find his pocket money in the garden. The snow was pretty thick that it was hard for him to find it.

Now, what if instead of winter, the setting is changed to different setting of season: on one

summer afternoon, the kid tried to find his pocket money in the garden. The sun shines warmly

as the kid was trying to find it. By these two simple examples, the first example gives the gloomy

atmosphere and emerge readers pity toward the kid because he has to struggle with the coldness

in the garden. It seems hard for him to succeed in what he is doing because the snow is pretty

thick. Vice versa, the second example gives the warm and bright atmosphere. Instead of pity the

boy, reader would probably feel even though the kid might not find the pocket money, at least he

gets the chance to enjoy the warm light of the sun. Therefore, once again, seasons as well as

weather are significant tools that help the setting of the story, thus, impact the plot of a novel.

The opening of novel The Kite Runner, which is narrated from first persons point of

view, or Amirs point of view, readers are served with narration about the past he regrets. Page 1

of the novel, Amir as the protagonist states how the incident he regrets thathappened twenty-six

years ago has shaped the way he is in the present time as he is telling the story. The incident he

regrets for almost his whole life happened in on a frigid overcast day in the winter of 1975

(Hosseini 1). The incident is when Hassan was raped by bullying neighbor while Amir did

nothing but hiding cowardly and witnessing it from afar (Hosseini 75-77). Here, not only uses

the word winter, the author also adds frigid overcast to show to readers the most regretful day for
 K u w a y | 31

Amir happens in a very cold day. Since this particular day, the little Amirs life as well as his

relationship with Hassan is change as described in the first part of the novel.

If it is not a coincidence, then the author probably does it intentionally, when he uses

winter as the setting. Hassan is born on one cold winter day (Hosseini 7) and a week after his

mother leaves him and his father. He even mentions twice at the same page about Hassan who is

born on one winter day. It seems to me that Hassans life is fated since he is on that cold winter

day since the author emphasizes him being born on one winter day twice, in the same page.

Hassan has been very faithful friend to Amir, but when Hassan is raped on one winter day, Amir

does nothing to defend Hassan. However, Hassan is still faithful to Amir. Being born on winter

day can also mean Hassans life is fated as dreary and desolate. To be abandon ones birth mother

is not easy for a little boy. Not to mention since he is just a Hazara boy and a servant, he has to

bear the insult uttered by people around him such as some soldiers he and Amir meet (Hosseini

8) and neighborhood boys. The most tragic one is when Hassan is raped by Assef. Later in

Amirs birthday party, it is narrated that Hassan as a servant serves Assef, the person who raped

him, quietly and nicely. Due to Amirs jealousy because Baba often praises Hassan, Amir accuses

Hassan steals his watch resulted in Hassan and his father let the house. Years later, when Amir

comes back to Afghanistan in order to find Sohrab, Hassans son, Rahim Khan (Amirs fathers

friend) tell Amir and that Hassan is shot twice in the head by Taliban officer.

In order to get deeper meaning about winter it is better to see in first place about winter

used in literature. Winter reminds me of Greek myth related to the dejection, grief and bitterest

sorrow of Demeter, goddess of agriculture and fertility, for losing her daughter Persephone who

is abducted by Hades, god of underworld. Because of her desolation, Demeter neglects the earth.

Her neglect, due to her sorrow, influences the condition of the earth. The earth suffers from
 K u w a y | 32

famine. The time when Persephone spends in underworld, the earth will experience winter. Adds

Berens, the condition is all was barren, dreary desolation. The motherly goddess pledge she

wouldnt let grains and seed grow until her daughter is returned to her. As the result, mankind

feels the impact and the world suffer from famine (Berens 43). Thus, based Berens explanation

on this Greek myth, it can be concluded that winter could be seen as the representative of the

situation where sorrow and bitterness of someone that resulted in dejection, desolation, and also

a dreary situation.

Connecting it with the novel, what happen to Hassan, as has been stated before can be

seen as dreary and desolation. Hassan as a Hazara that being born on cold winter day suffers a

lot. While for Amir, winter day also makes him suffer. However, the suffering he feels is the

suffering causes by his regret. He regrets his cowardly act for twenty-six years. Life would have

been different if he dares to stand for Hassan on that winter day when Hassan is raped (Hosseini

73).

Furthermore, winter that connoted with dreary atmosphere is probably not only about

what happen in Amir and Hassans life. In my opinion, the dark and suffer condition can also be

the way the author refers to condition of Afghanistan at that moment where Russian and Taliban

rule over Afghanistan. People suffer everywhere, thousands of innocent people are hit by bomb,

fatherless children and husbandless women caused by war are everywhere, beggars are

everywhere in the street, parents leavetheir children behind at the orphanage because they cant

afford to buy food, even the director of an orphanage sells kids to Taliban for money needed by

other kids at the orphanage. Winter in Greek myth which is caused by Demeter causes sorrow

and cause famine to people, so are Afghans at that time who are suffer of famine and terror.
 K u w a y | 33

It is such a relief though to find out that winter is not merely talking about desolation of a

person, gloomy and dreary atmosphere, (dislocated, deform), destructive, etc. As stated by Cohen

when examining James Thomsons poem Traditionally, winter is the season of storm and

disorder, though for Thomson, it is not without its beauty and joy.(253) Winter is Amirs favorite

season because winter means no school. If theres no school, then, it means Amir can play and

sleep along the day, as long as he wants. However, the reason why he likes winter the most

because its the time to fly kites and run them.

Winter was every kids favorite season Kabul, at least those whose fathers could afford to

buy a good iron stove. . Winter to me was the end of long division and naming the capital of

Bulgaria, and the start of three months of playing cards by the stove with Hassan, and the

Russian movies on Tuesday mornings at Cinema Park, sweet turnip qurma over rice for lunch

after a morning of building snowmen.

And kites, of course. Flying kites. And running them.(Hosseini48)

Despite all unpleasant experience Amir and Hassan feel, we can still see some bright side

of the story. As beauty and joy appear in winter, and so is happiness in both boys life. Winter is

not only bad experience. Both boys also experience joy during winter whether through playing

together indoor or flying and running kite outdoor, whereas for Amir, he finds joy because when

winter comes, his relation with Baba is closer.

as the trees froze and ice sheathed the roads, the chill between Baba and me thawed a

little. And the reason for that was the kites. Baba and I lived in the same house, but in different
 K u w a y | 34

spheres of existence. Kites were the one paper thin slice of intersection between those paper-thin

slice of intersection between those spheres. (Hosseini 49)

Cohen adds that even though men are overloaded, they are blissful at the same time.

Furthermore, there are instances at this time in which some men become more than merely

melancholy, but although such instances could become frequent, they do not-as is obvious-

prevent moments of happiness. (254) This reminds me of two sides of a coin. Once again, even

although winter means disconsolate, dejection, we can still find blissful moment: there is joy and

beauty in winter. The moment Hassan who is born in one cold winter and left by her mother one

week later shows disconsolate and dejection. However, years later when Hassans wife is about

to give birth, it is Hassans mother who helps her delivering her baby. Saunabar (Hassans

mother) once has deranged Hassans heart. However, she then tries to redeem and Hassan forgive

his mother sincerely. Thereby, in this story, winter is not always related to cold, dreary, sorrow. In

winter, mankind can find joy as well. In case of Hassan and Saunabar, not only winter brings joy

for Hassan and his mother, but also redemption.

3. The Sling shot

The nature of children in the world is playing. During their childhood, Amir and Hassan

are little boys who like to play around the neighborhood: climbing tree, annoying neighbors

dog, watching new films in the movie, flying kite, and others. Sometimes, Amir would ask

Hassan to use his slingshot to shot neighbors dog or anything else. It is mentioned that Hassan is
 K u w a y | 35

very deadly with the slingshot. However, when Amir asks Hassan to shot his slingshot on

something, Hassan would do it even though he is reluctant to do it.

Sometimes, up in those trees, I talked Hassan into firing walnuts with his slingshot at

the neighbors one-eyed German shepherd. Hassan never wanted to, but if I asked, really asked,

he wouldnt deny me. Hassan never denied me anything.

(Hosseini 4).

Later, when they both get warned by Hassans father because of what they do is wrong,

Hassan would take all the blame on him as if shooting on the dog is his idea. Hassan prefers to

take all the blame on him because the way I see it, Amirs words are like command to Hassan.

There are two important parts in the story where the slingshot is mentioned. Both these

parts involve Assef. Therefore, when we are discussing about slingshot, then it is necessary to

mention Assef before explaining the part in which the slingshot being used and the relation with

Assef. Assef is one of the neighborhood boys Amir and Hassan know. Wherever he goes, he is

always accompanied by his two friends, Wali and Kamal. He is the tallest boy over the boys at

their neighborhood with blond hair and blue eyes since his mother is a German, while his father

is an Afghan. Through Amir, Assef is described as a sociopath. He is infamous around the

neighborhood boys for his stainless-steel brass knuckles which he would gladly use to hit other

boys. He is also notorious as Assef The Ear Eater. Once, he fights with a boy over a kite. The

fight ends up with the little boys right ear detached from the position it should be. All the boys

are afraid of him (Hosseini 38).

The very first time Hassan uses his slingshot for defense reason is when he and Amir are

being threatened by Assef. One day, when they are on their way their way to their tree, they meet
 K u w a y | 36

Assef accompanied by Walidan Kamal. Hassan is so frightened of Assef that he is hiding behind

Amirs back. Later on, Assef picks his stainless-steel brass knuckles with the intention to beat

Amir up because Amir always plays with a Hazara boy, Hassan. For Assef, who admires Hitler

very much, a Pashtun should not get along with Hazara, because Hazaras are dirty bloods. It is

narrated that Assef really meant to hurt Amir. However, all of a sudden, Hassan moves behind

Amir. He pulls his slingshot facing Assef, ready to shoot him if he dares to hurt Amir.

Assef gritted his teeth. Put it down, you motherless Hazara.

Please leave us be, Agha, Hassan said.

Assef smiled. Maybe you didnt notice, but there are three of us and two of you.

You are right, Agha. But perhaps you didnt notice that Im the one holding the

slingshot. If you make a move, theyll have to change your nickname from Assef the Ear Eater

to One-Eyed Assef. because I have this rock pointed at your left eye.He said this so flatly that

even I had to strain to hear the fear that I knew hid under that calm voice.

(Hosseini 42)

As he threatens Assef, Wali, and Kamal, the three of them become twitch. This is very

surprising since Assef is someone all the boys in the neighborhood are afraid of. However, the

skinny Hazara is dare enough even though he is very nervous and scared at the same time.

Hassan does this to protect himself and Amir, especially because Amir is in danger that Hassan

stands for him.

 K u w a y | 37

The scene between the skinny little Hazara and the tall yet terrifying Assef unavoidably

reminds me of the epic story between David and Goliath. Hassan resembles David while Assef

resembles to Goliath. In first book of Samuel chapter seventeen, the story about David against

the giant Goliath in the battlefield is mentioned. Goliath of Gath, in the book, is described as

Philistines champion, fully dressed in armor, six cubits and a span in height. For forty days he is

humiliating the Israelis. Nobody from Israelis troops dares to fight against the giant (Korfmann

35). This is a similar situation compares to the story: Assef is the tallest of all the boys in the

neighborhood, all the boys are terrified of him including Amir and Hassan. Even the adult Assef

who has become the leader of Taliban is a terrifying person feared by the society especially

because of his cold-bold style of leadership (Hosseini 271).

On the other hand, totally different impression is shown through David. David is the eight

son of Jesse which makes him the youngest one. Perhaps, due to his position as the youngest son,

David is assigned to do trivial works such as tend the flock, to bring food to his older brothers in

the battlefield, and to bring news about his brothers to Jesse. In other word, even his father

underestimates and forsakes him (mentioned in Psalm 27: 10). Since he is always tends the flock,

David is used to use the slingshot in order to keep the flock save from any danger

around(Constable). The same situation applies to Hassan. He is often humiliated because his race

Hazara. Countless insult uttered by other boys especially Assef. In other word, he is

underestimated and not considered as important. However, just like David, Hassan is very good

with slingshot and so is Sohrab (Hassans son).

Slingshot was used as weapon in the warfare in Europe and the Near East, especially

during the Bronxe Age until 17th century (Korfmann). It is mentioned by Korfmann that not

many literature source mention the using of slingshot. During the War of Troy, Homers Illiad, is
 K u w a y | 38

slightly mentioned. This is probably because this weapon was considered as not honorable. What

was considered as honorable fight was hand-to-hand fight, while slingshot was a long-range

weapon. Moreover, this tool is mainly as a nuisance weapon rather than a destructive one.

Therefore, the existence of slingshot is important but not as important as other weapons used in

war.

Despite the fact that slingshot not considered as significant as other weapons, different

point of view coined by Constable through the use of slingshot in the story of David and Goliath.

Here, he states that the way David uses slingshot to defeat Goliath as the way God used a

humble weapon to give His people great victory in response to one faith.(Constable).

Furthermore, adds Constable, Davids faith to God encourages him to challenge and defeat the

giant Goliath. And he uses slingshot as the tool to express his faith to God. David is faithful and

loyal to God he trust. He defeats the Philistines champion not with the weapons of warrior, but

with the tools of a shepherd.

Connecting this to the story, I consider slingshot used by David to defeat Goliath as tool

to express how David express his trust and loyalty to God. On the other side, slingshot used by

Hassan to threaten Assef, can also be considered as tool to express his loyalty to Amir. He might

be afraid of Assef, however, in time of danger, he dares to stand for Amir. Years later, Hassans

son shows the same quality as his father. In order to protect him and Amir from Assef who turns

out to be the Taliban leader, once again, slingshot is used. Only this time, instead of threaten

Assef, Sohrabrealy shoots the slingshot and it hits Assefs left eye.

In conclusion, slingshot might not be considered as honorable as other weapons back the

in a warfare, however, the tool which is considered as humble tool due to always being used by
 K u w a y | 39

the shepherds, can be as deadly as other weapon especially in the expert hands such as David,

Hassan or Sohrab. These three persons might be underestimated, insulted, or humiliated by

people around them. Nonetheless, they show their ability, faith, or loyalty true the humble

weapon. Hence, in my opinion, this makes the three of them as well as the slingshot as

honorable. The slingshot reflects humbleness, faithfulness, and loyalty, yet, deadly in time of

danger, as long as it is in the right hands. Moreover, in the story, the sling shot that has started the

hatred between Assef toward Hassan and Amir has become tool for redemption for Amir with the

help of Sohrab. Amir has faced lll the quilts, regrets, hatred in the form of Assef and he earned it.

Once again, it was redemption for him.

4. The Pomegranate tree

Trees we see and touch nowadays have existed since the olden times. Trees are very

useful and therefore significantly important part in human life. Trees provide food for human and

animal, a place for shelter, trees bark is used for clothing, wood can be used for housing or

creating many tools needed by human. (Crews 37) In some cultures, trees are considered as the

place where a divine being dwells. Even the existence of a tree itself is highly needed. Since a

tree produces oxygen that is needed by all the living things on earth.

Trees, like human being and animals, are living things; they are alive and breathing

(except instead of consuming oxygen, trees suck carbon dioxide). Even though trees cannot

move from one place to another, trees can sway from side to side like they are dancing. From the

ancient time, human believe that the trunks and the branches of a tree create the image of human.

Trunks and branches look like arms and fingers (Crews 37). However, unlike human, when a tree
 K u w a y | 40

is cut, a new sprout will grow out of the cut trunk. For that reason, trees are commonly

symbolized with life: eternal and immortality.

Trees in literature criticism have become one crucial part. Countless literature works have

included trees for its meaningful implication. For example, Baobab Tree in Antoine de Saint-

Exupery's The Little Prince, the Oak tree in Harper Lees The Mocking Bird, the talking tree Ents

in J.R.R Tolkiens The Lord Of The Ring, and many others.

In the novel The Kite Runner, there is one particular tree mentioned by the author over

and over again, which has significant meaning for the progress of the story. This particular tree

happens to be Pomegranate tree, Amir and Hassans favorite tree.

After school, Hassan and I met up, grabbed a book, and trotted up a bowl-shaped hill

just north of my fathers property in Wazir Akbar Khan. There was an old abandoned cemetery

atop the hill. There was a pomegranate tree near the entrance to the cemetery. One summer

day, I used one of Alis kitchen knives to carve our names on it: Amir and Hassan, the sultans of

Kabul. Those words made it formal: the tree was ours. After school, Hassan and I climbed its

branches and snatched its blood red pomegranates. After wed eaten the fruit and wiped our

hands on the grass, I would read to Hassan. (Hosseini26)

Below this tree, Amir and Hassan like to spend most of their time. Its like their daily

routine. Amir comes back from school, Amir and Hassan would meet up, grab a book, and head

toward the hill where the pomegranate tree is. They would sit under the tree for hours and Amir

would read stories for Hassan until the sun goes down. Sometimes, Amir toys Hassan while he is

reading for him since Hassan is illiterate. Hassan would insist Amir to read one more story
 K u w a y | 41

before they go home. Underneath this tree is where the first time Amir reads his own story for

Hassan and surprises by the way Hassan amazed with the story. One day, Amir even carves both

of their names on the tree to show the personal meaning of this tree for both of them. The tree is

their tree. This is what the tree means to both of them.

It is interesting to examine the using of pomegranate tree as the favorite tree instead of

other trees. Pomegranate tree in the Bible (Deuteronomy 8:8) as well as olive and fig tree is

associated as blessings from God. Equally, the Koran mentioned that Pomegranate is a gift from

God (Musselman 49). Connect it to the narration, the pomegranate tree, the place where Amir

and Hassan likes to spend their time every day, can be seen as symbolizing blessing and gift from

God. Under this tree, the two of them are children who share close relationship despite all the

differences they have. Therefore, each of them is gift and blessing for other. Especially, the way I

see it, it is Hassan as the gift and blessing of God for Amir since in the story it is described that

Hassan is very loyal to Amir. Hassan is willing to risk his life for Amir. For you a thousand

times over, says Hassan to Amir to show his loyalty.

The relationship friendship between the two boys is revealed and represented by the

pomegranate tree. Under the tree is the time when Amir is not ashamed of Hassan being a Hazara

and a servant. Amir even said to Hassan that for Amir, Hassan is a prince and he loves Hassan.

The carving on the bark written by Amir Amir and Hassan, the sultans of Kabul is also a

significant part to observe. In my opinion, this carving positions the two boys at the same level.

There are no things to discern the two boys: Pashtun nor Hazara, Sunni nor Shia, master or

servant. Conversely, there are two sultans of Kabul, two same statutes, hence, possess same level

of power over Kabul.

 K u w a y | 42

One day after Kabuls government changes from monarchy to republic, Hassan worries

whether republic means his father and him must leave Kabul or not. He keeps asking Amir about

this. Then, he asks Amir if he wants to go climb the tree. In the narration, it is described that

Amir smiles because Hassan always knows the right time to say the right things. Offering to go

to their tree (pomegranate tree) seems like the most proper thing to do for both of these two boys.

In my opinion, this is because the pomegranate tree at the hill is a perfect spot for them to do

activities which will distract their young minds from the chaos happens around them.

Pomegranate in Arabic is called rumman, while in Hebrew it is called rimmon. These two

has the same meaning: fruit of Paradise. Therefore, connecting it to the story, the pomegranate

tree can be also a paradise for them both. Something like a getaway for them. I consulted the

meaning of paradise in the dictionary. Paradise, according to Merriam-Webster Electronic

Dictionary, is 1. a very beautiful, pleasant, or peaceful place that seems to be perfect, 2. a place

that is perfect for a particular activity or a person who enjoys that activity, 3. a state of complete

happiness. Henceforth, this tree is like a paradise for them. The impact is the state of

peacefulness and happiness for both of them.

The description about pomegranate as fruit of paradise, however, is contrary with the

concept of pomegranate in Greek myth. When we are discussing about pomegranate in the Greek

myth context, it will relate to the story of Persephone and Hades. The story is about Persephone,

daughter of Demeter (goddess of fertility) who is seduced by Hades, the god of the underworld,

and brought to the underworld. During the time when she is the underworld, Hades deceives her

to eat pomegranate. As the result, she has to stay in the underworld for three months and she can

spend another nine months with her mother. Therefore, it is believed that the time when

Persephone is in the underworld causes winter time. In addition, consuming pomegranate makes
 K u w a y | 43

her has to stay in underworld, hence, she is connected with death(Luke Roman,Monica

Roman391-392).The story can be seen as an allegory representing the cycle of growth, decay,

and regeneration of vegetation, the time in the underworld representing the resting period of the

seed during the winter.

The friendship between Amir and Hassan is starting to loose after Hassan is rapped by the

neighbor bully, Assef. Amir is there when the rapping happens, but does nothing about it. He

prefers to become a coward and pretend he sees nothing. Even so, his heart cannot deny there a

guilty feeling inside him but too timid to admit his weakness. In order to redeem himself, he

request Hassan to accompany him to the hill where their tree is. Hassan, being as innocent as he

always is, accepts the request with please. It can be seen from the way he rushes his chore to be

able to play again with Amir, especially because Amir has been trying to avoid him lately. What

Hassan doesnt know is right after they reach their tree, instead of reading him stories, Amir hits

him with overripe pomegranates for some times. He actually wants Hassan to hit him back. This

is probably because he wants to lessen his guilt by accepting physical punishment from Hassan.

Hassans respond is unsuspected. He doesnt hit Amir. Instead, he puts the pomegranates and

crushes them toward his forehead. There, he croaked, red dripping down his face like blood.

Are you satisfied? Do you feel better? He turned around and started down the hill. Their

friendship is breaking.

To be able to get more understanding about the previous explanation, I would like to

quote from the prophet Muhammad, who once mentioned Eat the pomegranate, for it purges

the system of envy and hatred. Based on this, some cultures consider pomegranate as fruit of

love (The Pomegranate: A New Look at the Fruit of Paradise). This is because according the

prophet, pomegranate will clean the jealousy and hatred. Bring into line it with the story, it is
 K u w a y | 44

Amir who is always jealous and envy that result to hatred in his heart. It is him the one who has

the responsibility and the needs to consume the fruit. Still, he burdens and challenges Hassan to

do it for him. Hassan accepts the challenges by crushing the fruit toward him. Hassan purges the

system of envy and hatred for Hassan. Since then, playing at the hill under the pomegranate tree

is never the same. Their paradise is not as peaceful as it has to be (Hosseini 87).

The idea of pomegranate tree as symbol of fecundity, longevity, and fertility that is

supported in many different cultures in the worldseems like contrary to what happen between

Amir, Hassan, and the pomegranate tree. As time goes by, after Hassan and his father leave as

well as Amir and Baba flees to America, everything that happens becoming worse. Adult Hassan

is married to a woman. His wife has miscarriage and Hassan is killed when his wife gives birth

to their second son, Sohrab, who is later saved by Amir. On the other hand, adult Amir gets

married to Soraya but they are not able to have children. Instead of fertility and longevity, the

situation happens to them reminds me of pomegranate as symbols of dead viewed from Greek

myth.

However, there is one not-too-gloomy story related to Persephone. What seems to me a a

relief is that even though Persephone has to stay for three month in the underworld, there will be

months when she get back to her mother Demeter, goddess of agriculture. When it occurs, this

means spring time has come, where new shoots, buds, or sprouts emerge. The plants that seem to

die during winter time, seems like comes to live in spring. The way I see it, even though

pomegranate can be mean as representing death, however, I can see there is hope and life,

represented by spring time.

 K u w a y | 45

Synchronized with the novel, the pomegranate tree as has been explained before

represents Amir and Hassans close relationship. The tree is fruitful and healthy. However, years

later the tree dies, just like the pomegranate trees symbolization in the story of Greek myth

(Persephone and Hades) that represents death. Amir and Hassans relationship broke after

rapping done by the neighbors bully to Hassan. Even until they become adult, in separate

countries (Hassan in Afghanistan and Amir in USA), Amir is not able to get rid of his bad past.

Hassan is killed and his son is kidnapped. While in America, Amir and his wife couldnt be

pregnant. This poor situation is represented by the dead pomegranate tree.

Hassan said in his letter that the pomegranate tree hadnt borne fruit in years. Looking

at the wilted, leafless tree, I doubted it ever would again.(Hosseini 264).

Here, Amir sits at the foot of the tree and stares at the city and memorizes how the city

was during his childhood. This death and dry tree is seen as a link for Amir to see the beautiful

past which is very contrast to the current situation (represented by the death pomegranate tree).

As stated by Reat, a tree might as well functions as connection between worlds. In this case, the

world where Amir used to live and the world decades later that he is facing now (Reat 2).

The gift of God is dead: Amirs friendship with Hassan. Nevertheless, there is hope for

Amir to redeem himself. As well as there will be spring time after winter, there will be life after

death. In order to restore his mistake in the past, Amir saves Sohrab (Hassans son) from Assef. It

is Amirs way to restore everything that has broken as the impact of his cowardice act in the past.

Therefore, in the story, after visiting the pomegranate tree at the hill, Amir decides to meet Assef

in order to take back Sohrab from Assef.

 K u w a y | 46

Conclusion

Signs have become a part of our daily life since very long time ago. It can also represent

something beyond itself. Therefore, everything we see, feel, hear, smell cannot always be taken

for granted as the way it is. Semiotic, the study of sign is introduced by two prominent experts to

help us in order to understand more about signs we meet every day. The two experts are

Ferdinand de Saussure, the linguist from Swiss, and Charles Sanders Peirce, the philosopher

from America. However, Saussure tends to use the term semiology. Meanwhile, Peirce uses to

use the term semiotic.

 K u w a y | 47

The purpose of this study is to find out the meaning behind the kite, the winter, the

slingshot, and the pomegranate tree using semiotic in order to help readers to have better

understanding about the story.

Kite in Afghanistan is not merely toys played by boys or adults. It is a national obsession.

When there is a kite flying, then, there will always be a kite fighting. For little Amir, kite is the

key to his fathers heart that will make him closer to his father as he has been always dreaming

of. When Hassan ran the kite Amir won from the kite tournament, the kite functions to show his

loyalty toward Amir. Kite also represents Amirs struggle to achieve his father acceptance.

The appearance of the pomegranate tree at the hill plays important part especially in

representing the friendship relationship between Amir and Hassan. Pomegranate in many

literature works is also known as fruit of paradise. Hence, the pomegranate tree mentioned in the

story could be a safe and peaceful place for Amir and Hassan where they can play together as

children without considering all the differences they have. This is proven by the carving made by

Amir on the bark of the tree: Amir and Hassan, sultans of Kabul. Even though known as fruit of

paradise, pomegranate in Greek myth represents death. The tree after decades later become dried

and seems like it doesnt produce fruit for years. The condition of the tree is similar to the

relation between Amir and Hassan, especially after Hassan is rapped by Assef. Since a tree can

also function as tool to link between worlds, thus, the pomegranate tree is also function to link

between worlds. They are the beautiful world Amir and Hassan used to live in and the recent

world where there is war, death and suffer everywhere.

Hassan and his son Sohrab are mentioned to be very skillful in using the slingshot. When

we are discussing about slingshot, therefore, it is a must to mention Assef, too. This situation,
 K u w a y | 48

unavoidably, resembles to the story of David and Goliath conveyed in the First Book of Samuel

chapter seventeen. Assefhas, more or less, a similar quality to Goliath: strong, tall, feared by

other people. David is comparable to Hassan and Sohrab: underestimated and not deemed.

However, with slingshot which is considered as shepherds weapon, David expresses his trust

and loyalty to God by defeating Goliath. On the other side, Hassan, despite his fear and anxiety

toward Assef, uses slingshot to threaten Assef in order to protect himself and Amir. For that

reason, slingshot can be seen as the symbol of humbleness, faithfulness, loyalty, yet can be

deadly depends on the person who uses the slingshot.

Weather used as setting of a story is able to present various tones which impact

the plot of the story. In a literature work such as novel, sunny day will give different atmosphere

compares to rainy day. Winter takes important role to the plot of the story. Many important parts

related to the main characters lives happen during winter.Winter in this story represents ones

sorrow and bitterness that leads to dejection, desolation, and also a dreary situation. Nonetheless,

winter is not always gloomy and dreary. Beauty and joy can be found in winter.Even, not only it

does show beauty and joy, but, it also represents redemption as what has been explained.

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Acknowledgement

This thesis would not have been completed without the help and support from many

people. Therefore, I would like to express my gratitude. First of all I would like to thank my

God, Jesus Christ, my One and Only Savior, source of my Joy. Second, for the woman of my life,

my inspiration, who always believed in me, my mother.I thank my father and brothers; Bram,

Nego, and Cuplis, for the support and encouragement, through my ups and downs. Third, I want

to thank you my best friends Titin, Nancy, Vivi, Bina, Egi, Ina who color my life. I could not
 K u w a y | 53

imagine my life without them. I would also like to extend my gratitude for dear family and

friends who have supported and helped me. It means a lot to me that thank you is not enough to

show how grateful I am. Special thanks for my dear supervisor IbuSuzana Maria, M.Hum, for

guiding me and helping me through the process of finishing my thesis, and forIbuLannyKristono,

M.Hum, who examines my thesis thoroughly.May God bless and be with as all in everything we

do. Thank you.