Symbols: The Pomegranate Tree

The pomegranate tree is used as a symbol in the novel, The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini, to symbolize friendship and loyalty between Amir and Hassan. Hosseini writes, “There was a pomegranate tree near the entrance of the cemetery. One summer day, I used one of Ali’s kitchen knives to carve our names on it: ‘Amir and Hassan, the sultans of Kabul.’ Those words made it formal: the tree was ours.” By this, Hosseini is trying to portray the idea that the carving in the tree formalizes Amir and Hassan’s friendship. It also shows that their friendship will last forever like the carving does.

In a desperate attempt for redemption of his guilt, Amir throws pomegranates at Hassan craving that Hassan will hit him back and free him from his guilt. “Then Hassan did pick up a pomegranate. He walked toward me. He opened it and crushed it against his own forehead.” It can be seen that the pomegranates were used to show the unrequited loyalty that Hassan has for Amir. Even in the circumstance where Hassan has a pomegranate thrown at his face, he keeps his integrity. Hassan wrongs himself by hitting his own head with a pomegranate, which shows that even though Amir has clearly betrayed him, he has no intention of wronging him back. Therefore, the tree as a whole where the two boys often sat under the shade of its canopy and read stories, symbolizes Hassan’s loyalty for Amir.