“What they say about the past, I've learned, about how you can bury it is wrong. Because the past gets away with it” (Hosseini). In The Kite Runner, Hosseini shares Amir's journey to atonement. As Amir states, he was unable to bury his past, just like his father, Baba, who spent most of his life haunted by his sins. Although both father and son are consumed with guilt, the way they atone for their iniquities is different. As Baba attempts to live his life according to the Afghan saying: “Life goes on, regardless of beginning, end…crisis or catharsis, moving like a slow, dusty caravan of kochis [nomads]” ( Hosseini 356), Amir departs from this traditional perspective. Baba chose to continue his life without worrying about his past, while Amir finally decides to confront his. Although Baba and Amir have acted immorally, the choices they make to find redemption affect the success of their individual attempts. In the novel, Amir's quest for atonement is more effective than Baba's because he acts virtuously, while his father acts selfishly. Ultimately, Amir is the more successful of the two because, unlike Baba, he seeks holistic atonement and is willing to make sacrifices to achieve redemption. In The Kite Runner, readers learn that holistic atonement can only be achieved when peace is made with God. , the people you hurt, and yourself. Although Afghanistan is a largely religious country, Baba is described as decidedly secular. Early in the novel, Amir asks Baba about sin, and through this conversation, Baba reveals his lack of faith. He says, “if there is a God out there, then I hope he has more important things to do than drink scotch or eat pork” (Hosseini 18)... . middle of paper.... ..through his actions to save Sohrab, Amir became the man his father always wanted him to be. Although Baba never lived up to the persona he had created for himself, Amir did, and that is why his attempts at atonement were more successful than those of his father. While Baba was unable to seek more than personal redemption, Amir found atonement with himself, Hassan, and God. Amir also found the courage his father lacked to make the sacrifices necessary for redemption. Amir's ability to transform into a strong character was a result of what he learned about his father's strengths and weaknesses. Even though Baba was unable to achieve true redemption, he was a true role model who provided his son, Amir, with the skills necessary to achieve atonement for both of them. Works Cited Hosseini, Khaled. The kite runner. New York: Riverhead, 2003. Print.