"There is a way to be good again." - Rahim Khan
Redemption, unlike atonement, is not only the giving of compensation to make up for a mistake that was made, but also the complete freedom from sin; to redeem oneself. By saving Sohrab from Assef and finally standing up to him, Amir honoured Hassan's wish and broke free of the cycle of fear he had been trapped in since he was a child. Amir had saved two people that day. He saved Sohrab who, like his father, had been violated by Assef, and he also saved himself from the cowardice that had been driving him repeatedly to sin. His desire to redeem himself to his father was the very reason why he didn't save Hassan when he was peeking into that alley, as well as his fear of being hurt physically. Him saving Sohrab at the cost of having to take Assef's blows-in a way-makes up for the mistake he made and the lies he told to hide it.
The Potency of Guilt:
"That was a long time ago, but it's wrong what they say about the past, I've learned, about how you can bury it. Because the past claws its way out. Looking back now, I realize that I have been peeking into that deserted alley for the last twenty-six years." - Amir
Guilt is a very strong emotion, and it is the most noticeable in the actions and thoughts of Amir, following him ever since that incident with Hassan and Assef in the alleyway. It is the guilt of having seen Hassan being raped and not doing anything to stop it that drives Amir to send Hassan away. Amir had many chances before then to set things right and confess his crimes, but he was afraid of Baba being disappointed in him, and Hassan hating him. Atonement is a frightening thing, even more so to a child who doesn't understand the people around him and how they think. The guilt causes Amir to hate himself and wonder about what life could be like if he had saved Hassan. Would Hassan forgive him? Would he and his father have escaped to America with Hassan and Ali? Would Hassan still have a son if he went to America with them? Thinking about these things makes Amir realize that it is he who ultimately caused Hassan's death and Sohrab's misfortune. Baba also feels a sense of guilt because he slept with Ali's wife and she gave birth to Hassan. Hassan is biologically Amir's half brother and Baba's son, but because of his reputation, he had to keep it a secret from both of them. Keeping that secret tormented Baba for his whole life, and he took it to the grave.
Facing Reality After Living a Sheltered Life:
"That's the real Afghanistan, Agha sahib. That's the Afghanistan I know. You? You've always been a tourist here, you just didn't know it." - Farid.
Both Baba and Amir have lived very (in comparison with the rest of the population of Kabul) sheltered, luxurious lives in Kabul. They had servants, a mansion, an American car, and Baba had a great reputation. Amir never had to work for his food, and the streets were filled with people he knew. Amir took things for granted, not realizing how wonderful his life was until he and Baba moved to America. Baba had to leave all of his hard-earned material possessions back in Kabul, and they had to struggle to earn every dollar. Amir never realized how difficult it was to make a living out of nothing, given his father was a wealthy merchant. Facing reality when all his life he has been being pampered is something that takes a bit of time. He needed to realize that not everything he learned from school or from people he knew was fact, and that in every country, there is controversy, racism and poverty. By seeing different facets of things or places he thought he once knew, he broadened his horizons and learned to empathize.
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