The theme of loss is central to both Heaney’s “Death of a Naturalist” and Hosseini’s “The Kite Runner”. Do you agree?

Although at first glance, ‘The Kite Runner’, published in 2003, and Heaney’s collection of poems published in 1966 entitled ‘Death of a Naturalist’ seem to be from two entirely different realms of literature, they serve to be proof that similar ideas can be expressed in very different ways. When one explores below the surface, both Heaney and Hosseini have many similarities in their writing, that serve to mirror key themes, one of which is loss, a key element of both pieces of literature that effect the reader significantly.They key theme of loss is essential to the novel “The Kite Runner” as one of the most profound and moving moments in the novel is when Amir finds out about the death of his brother, Hassan. Rahim Kahn gives Amir explicit details of Hassan’s death, as he talks about Hassan being “shot… in the back of the head”. However all Amir can manage is to “whisper” the word “no” repeatedly; a reaction that suggests the shock of the tragic loss had a profound effect on Amir. Indeed, the structure breaks down to an irregular speech with pauses, conveying Amir’s sense of loss and disbelief. This is a prominent moment that changes Amir’s life forever, as critic Callum Kerr argues, “It means he can now never seek forgiveness from Hassan for what he did as a child.” However, it can also be argued that not only is Amir upset that he cannot seek forgiveness, but is also deeply traumatised and hurt that he lost such a prominent figure in his life, and this heartbreak is worsened when the reader finds out that Hassan was Amir’s blood brother. A possible explanation for Rahim Kahn’s calm nature when talking about the death of Hassan is that the violent nature of the Taliban regime in Afghanistan at the time has resulted in the desensitisation of violence in not only Rahim, but in almost all of the inhabitants. Furthermore, it is not surprising that, as a Hazara, Hassan was killed, as the Talibans explicitly persecuted Hazara Muslims throughout their time in power. In 1998, three thousand Hazara men, women and children were killed in a massacre known as the ‘Mazar-i-Sharif’, and humanitarian groups claim that the bodies were lying on the streets for weeks before the Taliban allowed them to be moved due to the smell. The loss of a brother is also a key theme in Heaney’s poem “Mid-Term Break”, where he describes being at his younger brother’s wake, and is taken aback when “I saw him for the first time. Paler now” Heaney’s use of caesura marks the moment that the speaker sees his dead brother with a pause, and the simple comment which followed conveys a sense of calm; but the trivial nature of the remark portrays a sense of disbelief and Heaney is evidently unsure how to react. Therefore, it is clear that both Amir and the speaker of Mid-Term Break are deeply affected by the loss of their brothers, and the loss served to impact both of their lives.On the other hand, although both Heaney and Hosseini convey a sense of loss through the death of a brother, the deaths were in contrasting circumstances, and therefore had different consequences. For Amir, Hassan’s death further isolates him from the peaceful life in Afghanistan he once knew. Indeed, Amir contemplates how much he has lost when he reflects on time where his family, including Hassan, Ali and Rahim, all gathered after Hassan’s surgery; and then disturbingly realises that “now everyone in that room was dead or dying. Except me.” The harsh language employed by Hosseini conveys the shocking realisation that Amir faces; and Hosseini skilfully combines this with a short sentence that puts further emphasis on Amir’s isolation as he has lost the most influential figures in his life. Contrastingly, in Mid-Term Break, young Heaney is greeted by “old men standing up to shake [his] hand”, his “father crying”, and his mother “held [his] hand”. The poem itself is a tremendously poignant recount of a young boy’s wake and taken from Heaney’s own personal experience, as his brother, Christopher, died at the age of four when he was hit by a car.  All of the actions convey the love and support surrounding the speaker, and the physical connection between himself and his mother serves to reflect the unbreakable bond he has with key figures in his life, such as his parents and more distant, “old” family members; something Hosseini emphasises that Amir no longer has. Critic Amy Field argues that the stereo-typical gender roles are inverted by Heaney when he conveys the father showing emotion by “crying”, yet the mother is being strong and supportive by taking his hand; and this conveys how “death can cause grief and trauma, but also confusion”. This is differing from the consequences of Hassan’s death on Amir, as Callum Kerr argues, the death is “another spur forcing Amir towards maturity”. These differing critical interpretations serve to echo the contrasting circumstances surrounding the boys at the times of the deaths. Studies on attachment by influential psychologist Bowlby support the importance of having support at a time of grief, which Heaney portrays in his poem by recalling how there were “old men standing up to shake my hand”, as well as the comforting gestures from his mother and father. However, Amir felt “tired and drained” after the shocking news of Hassan’s death, and did not have any other family to support him.To conclude, the theme of loss is central to both Hosseini’s novel and Heaney’s collection, as both convey the theme as inevitable to life, but within the theme of loss comes contrasting moments of hope. Although Heaney’s biographical life and Amir’s fictional life are situated in different realms of time, and completely different societies and experiences; both experience loss in similar ways. Thus, loss is not only central to literature but also to reality itself, and is therefore conveyed across a multitude of literature, including ‘The Kite Runner’ and ‘Death of a Naturalist’.