THE INTERRELATION OF BETRAYAL AND FRIENDSHIP IN THE ARTISTIC STRUCTURE OF “THE KITE RUNNER”

Within the narrative framework of Khaled Hosseini’s The Kite Runner, friendship and betrayal function as closely interconnected moral and psychological forces. Rather than being presented as separate ethical concepts, they shape the protagonist’s inner development and guide the structural progression of the novel. Central to this exploration is the relationship between Amir and Hassan, through which the themes of loyalty, social inequality, jealousy, guilt, sacrifice, and redemption are explored. Hassan’s unconditional devotion stands in sharp contrast to Amir’s failure to defend him at a decisive moment, thereby transforming their friendship into a lasting source of guilt for Amir. This thesis investigates the interrelationship between friendship and betrayal within the artistic structure of The Kite Runner, with particular emphasis on characterization, narrative development, social context, symbolism, memory, and the motif of redemption.