“I regret not the things I have done, but the things I have not done” (Rory Cochrane). Life tends to have many obstacles to overcome and how they are overcome depends on each person. Taking the wrong path, especially when you know it's the wrong one, can lead to a life full of guilt. Guilt stemming from a troubled past is a motif in the book The Kite Runner. Khaled Hosseini uses syntax and diction to describe a story in which the characters, especially Amir, are constantly coming to terms with their past and learning to move forward, while in the film it is more difficult to distinguish the growth of the characters, due to the third person point of view. see; Yet in both cases, readers/viewers learn to understand the importance of solving a problem when it arises and moving on. Soraya and Sanabuar are the perfect examples of people who learn from their past mistakes and eventually move on. After running away with a man while living in Virginia, Soraya feels the need for Amir to know so they can begin their relationship: "'When I came home, I saw that my mother had had a stroke, the right side of her face was paralyzed and… I felt so guilty. She didn’t deserve this’” (164). Soraya's paused syntax reveals her sense of guilt; even though she knows it's not her fault her mother had a stroke. Soraya understood that what she did was wrong and her ability to discuss her upsetting past shows that she had accepted it responsibly and moved on. This scene was portrayed perfectly in the film; although the seriousness of the subject was slightly lessened due to Khanum Taheri, Soraya's mother, following Soraya and Amir, which at the time seemed humorous; viewers need to remember that this is a different culture and some situations are handled differently. There was no mention of Sanabuar in the film, yet she played a key role in...... middle of paper ...... action is visible to Sohrab, leading to the thought of his desire to accept his past. After having difficulty forgiving himself for not having helped Hassan, and again with Sohrab, Amir learns that he fights his whole life to learn to move on from his past and that he is ready to do whatever is necessary to help himself and the people he loves. it is difficult to see the growth of the characters through the film The Kite Runner, this is visible in the book due to the additional scenes, allowing the audience to fully grasp the theme of having a troubled past and learning to accept, and move on. . If the characters never forgave themselves, they would live a life steeped in guilt, unable to accomplish anything without feeling unworthy; which many people seem to struggle with today. Forgiveness and growth are the key to fulfillment and happiness in life. Works Cited The Kite Runner