Abstract

The Kite Runner is the very first novel in English by Afghan-American author Khaled Hosseini. The novel had a phenomenal acclaim from the moment it was published, and had an extensive popularity among readers and critics. The novel tells the story of two Afghan boys about growth, betrayal and redemption. The novel is not only a sad indictment of the war but also a reflection of ethnic and religious conflicts in Afghanistan.
Critics home and abroad have studied this work from the perspective of spiritual redemption, Bildungsroman, narrative skills, cultural identity, and racial and religious conflicts. Although many critics focus on the subject of spiritual redemption, the widely used images in this novel is also a marked feature for analysis.
At present, there are not many studies specialized in the image used in this work and there is still room for research. By analyzing the text, this paper explores the symbolic meanings of the kite for the three main characters in different periods, revealing the implied meanings behind and dissecting the unique connotation of the work. For Amir, the kite serves as a symbol of his happiness as well as his guilt. It represents Amir’s betrayal and redemption. For Hassan, the kite is a symbol of his pain and disgrace. It represents Hassan’s bravery and loyalty. For Baba, the kite expresses the hope of his returning to his motherland and hope for a better future. The kite is more than a traditional game in Afghanistan, it serves as a carrier of multiple meanings running through the work. The image of the kite plays an important role in shaping the characters, promoting the development of the plot and deepening the themes.
With a new perspective of interpreting the novel, this thesis discusses the symbolic meanings of the kite for the three main characters in different periods; this paper also reflects the life in Afghanistan, their religious belief, folk culture, national spirit and values of the world.

Key Words: The Kite Runner; Khaled Hosseini; Kite; Image

摘  要

《追风筝的人》是美籍阿富汗裔作家卡勒徳•胡赛尼的首部著作，同时这也是第一部由阿富汗裔作家创作的英文小说，小说一经出版便备受读者和评论界的喜爱与认可。小说讲述的是两个阿富汗少年关于成长、背叛与救赎的故事，小说不仅深刻的反映了阿富汗的种族问题和宗教问题，也对战争的无情进行了揭露与控诉。
国内外有不少学者对《追风筝的人》进行了文学解读，包括成长小说、精神救赎、文化身份认同感、作品主题分析、作品叙事视角等角度。国内外不少学者从精神救赎这个角度对作品进行了分析，而小说中风筝这一突出的意象也是众多学者研究的一个重点。
目前对《追风筝的人》中风筝意象的专门研究还不算多，仍有许多可研究的空间。因此本文是在学术界既有相关研究资料的基础上，以不同的成长阶段为切入点，分析作品中“风筝”这一意象在主要人物身上所彰显的不同意义，更深入地解读作品的深层内涵。对阿米尔而言，风筝是他快乐与痛苦的来源，风筝象征着童年时期的阿米尔和哈桑之间纯洁真挚的友谊，同时也是他少年时期对哈桑的背叛与成年后自我救赎之路的象征。对哈桑来说，风筝的意象暗喻了他无力主宰的命运，他的人生就如同风筝一般，漂泊不定，无可把握，任人摆布。同时风筝也隐喻了哈桑身上勇敢、忠诚、自我牺牲等美好品质，寄托了作者对真善美的人性及和平美好生活的渴望。在阿米尔父辈心中，风筝是阿富汗人民尊严的象征，是阿富汗传统民族精神的象征，寄寓了他们回归祖国的希望。在《追风筝的人》这部作品中，“风筝”不只是阿富汗传统民族游戏的代名词，更是一个承载着多元意象的载体，它作为一个符号自然地贯穿于文本始末，营造了浓郁的诗性氛围，对人物角色的塑造、冲突的展开、主题思想的深化和表达都具有重要作用。
本文从新的角度分析小说中“风筝”这一多元意象，论述了作品中风筝这一意象在不同人物身上彰显的不同含义，从而侧面展示了阿富汗的宗教信仰、民俗文化以及民族精神。

关键词：《追风筝的人》；卡勒徳•胡赛尼；风筝；意象