How is the action of The Kite Runner a metaphor for the rest of the novel’s action?

Kite running is a cultural tradition of Afghanistan,
reminiscent of the country’s beauty, prior to Taliban rule. Before the country’s
political and military upheaval, residents fly kites, filling the blues skies with
colorful creations. Once the Taliban takes control, these contests are
banned.

In the book, two main characters, the
privileged Amir and his servant friend Hassan, spend many happy days flying kites
together. These carefree days represent the boys’ youth and innocence, but it also
symbolizes Afghanistan’s dark side. During kite running competitions, participants coat
their kite strings with glass shards to slice an opponent’s kite strings. These
competitions leave blood on the hands of Amir and Hassan, like the blood that will
follow under Taliban rule.

Once a year in the
story, the town holds a kite running competition. Amir’s father wants his son to win to
prove his son’s prowess. Amir and Hassan work side-by-side all day until they finally
win. Hassan seeks no credit and happily retrieves Amir’s blue kite. As Hassan tries to
fetch it, though, he is surrounded by another group of boys that lost the contest. The
leader of the group will become a high-ranking Taliban official later in the book.
During the encounter, Hassan is raped, and Amir watches from a distance, but does not
intercede. Innocence is lost.

The boys’
friendship falls apart while Afghanistan unravels. Amir and his father seek refuge in
the U.S. However, Amir is forced to face the demons he left behind in Afghanistan when
he returns to try and rescue Hassan’s orphaned son. The boy has become a toy for a
high-ranking Taliban official, the same one who raped
Hassan.

Amir finally manages to make a
treacherous escape with Hassan’s son, but the boy is psychologically damaged. He shows
signs of healing at the end of the story as he watches Amir run a kite, restoring
innocence again.