“For you, a thousand times over”

– The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini

This quote is used in Khaled Hosseini’s novel, The Kite Runner, to express the theme of unconditional love.  The phrase is really powerful because it was originally used by Hassan and then used by Amir.  The first time it appears, Hassan tells Amir, “For you, a thousand times over,” as he runs after the blue kite. This blue kite was important to Amir because it represented him winning the tournament and his father’s pride. Hassan knew the importance of this blue kite and would have stopped at nothing to retrieve it. However, It’s because of this blue kite that the course of this book is altered onto a guilt-ridden path. Hassan’s rape scene shows that while Hassan has unconditional love for Amir, Amir does not show enough love to stand up for Hassan.

However, the reader later finds out that Hassan writes a letter to Amir, stating that he has forgiven Amir and does not blame Amir. Once Amir knows that he is forgiven by Hassan, he finds a way to “be good again” by saving Sohrab, who is Hassan’s son and represents Hassan. Furthermore, Amir starts to develop a bond with Sohrab, much like the one he had with Hassan. Hosseini ends the novel with irony by switching the roles of Hassan and Amir when Amir is the one telling Sohrab, “For you, a thousand times over,”  as he chases after a kite. This symbolizes the complete redemption of Amir through unconditional love.