The Kite Fighters

“[Kee-sup] took his time, ensuring that the frame for the kite he was making matched the first one in every way. Meanwhile, Young-sup had moved on to the kite paper. He guessed at where the center of the rectangle lay and cut a rather lopsided circle out of the middle.”

The brothers’ kite construction reveals much about their differing approaches and personalities. Where Lee Kee-sup is methodical, Young-sup is hasty and messy, which results in a useless kite for Young-sup. The two learn that they must use their strengths to help the other because, through collaboration, they make a winning team.

“The kite was like a part of him—the part that could fly.”

Kite flying allows Young-sup to temporarily escape the confines of Korean society, limiting him to his role as the second son and future rice merchant. As his kite soars, his aspirations do as well, his kite serving as a symbol of his freedom and potential to follow his dreams.

“But as the days went by, the kite’s construction gained his interest. He began to see that the flying walked invisibly beside every step of the making.”

The kite-making process is also a symbol of Kee-sup and Young-sup’s sense of brotherhood. Where Young-sup was once impatient with his brother for being meticulous, he learns to appreciate this perfectionism as a strength, and knows that the only way he can fly well is if he has a well-constructed kite—he cannot be a good flier alone.

“Kee-sup’s hair was twisted upward and around itself until it formed a smooth knot on top of his head. The topknot was tied firmly in place with silk thread [...] His father placed the cap carefully over Kee-sup’s topknot and tied the silk ribbon under his chin.”

Kee-sup’s capping ceremony marks his official transition from childhood to adulthood. The rituals of this day highlight the stronghold tradition has on Korean society, while also introducing Young-sup’s challenging nature to such unquestioning participation. This rite of passage creates tension for the brothers, who feel conflicted between honoring the codes of conduct dictating Kee-sup’s new seniority versus continuing to treat each other as equals.

“Like most Korean women, the boys’ mother governed the household [...] But, following tradition, she herself never left the house—nor handled money.”

Through the theme of Honor and Tradition, Park highlights the importance of behavioral norms practiced in 15th-century Korea. Though mostly explored through the relationship of the Lee brothers, the author also mentions the way these norms even more drastically affected women. Despite taking on the labor of managing the family and the home, a woman’s work (and identity) was mostly invisible to the rest of society.

“Make me a kite—a King’s kite. Bring it to the palace when it is finished.”

The King’s request for a kite is the highest praise they could receive, validating their skills and hard work. This does, however, put immense pressure on Kee-sup to create something worthy of the King, but with support and encouragement from his family, he creates something of which he is proud. Ironically, he has received the attention of the King for his true passion, crafting, rather than being a scholar—the work he has been preparing for to earn the King’s attention.

“He fought to keep his face blank, even as his throat tightened with the feeling of injustice. It’s just a hat, he thought rebelliously [...] Kee-sup is my brother, the same as he has always been. But now, somehow, I’m supposed to treat him differently.”

Young-sup struggles with his brother’s transition to adulthood, not wanting to acknowledge the seemingly arbitrary new superiority Kee-sup has. At 11 years old, Young-sup is beginning to think critically of these traditions and the fairness of them but knows he should keep these thoughts private. Despite these “rebellious” thoughts, Young-sup is nevertheless conditioned to not say or act upon them, as showing disrespect is a grave social error.

“Lee loved both his sons, but the family honor was dependent on his first-born. This was the custom, the age-old tradition. There was no other way.”

Lee, Young-sup and Kee-sup’s father, accepts the fact that he must exist within this larger system, no matter how he feels about it. While honoring tradition retains significant cultural elements like kite fighting and crafting, it can also create major disparities within a society and leave people feeling hopeless.

“I wish to learn this kind of speech. It cannot be done in the presence of others. But here, on this hillside, I wish for us to speak to each other as you did to your brother.”

The King’s radical request for Young-sup to teach him how to speak casually signifies several things. The secrecy in which this must happen shows that even the King is not immune from social judgment and feels obligated to abide by the social hierarchy. However, his desire to make friends with the brothers and interact with them as equals demonstrates that commonality can be found between two vastly different social classes, and that genuine human connection can transcend society’s prescribed labels.

“Kee-sup, you have made the kite—a kite truly worthy of a King. It deserves to be in the competition [...] As for you, Young-sup—I want you to fly it for me.”

When they present the finished dragon kite to the King, the Lee brothers receive the highest praise. The King’s request of Kee-sup’s crafting and Young-sup’s flying validates both of their immense skills, but also goes against the social order. In requesting that Young-sup be the one to fly the kite, the King shows that he is willing to subvert rules of birth order, while also recognizing that skill can be completely independent from age.

“Shuttlecock…a game you can play when you have no one to play with.”

The brothers’ walk home from the palace displays Kee-sup’s maturity and introspective nature: While Young-sup is simply excited about their fun day, Kee-sup reflects on how lonely the King must be because he has never had friends. This realization also allows the brothers to reflect on how lucky they are to have each other, and to be grateful for the Family and Brotherhood they have, despite the difficulties of navigating their interpersonal dynamics.

“Nothing else matters! Second son—what’s that? I might as well be a dog! I don’t matter to him—he doesn’t care anything about me.”

Young-sup’s frustrations finally culminate, and he lashes out at his brother. His language is emotionally charged, feeling so inconsequential to his brother that he does not even feel human. In this moment, the profound emotional effects of such a rigid clan structure become evident, because even if Young-sup knows that his father cares about him, Lee’s prioritizing of Kee-sup continuously reinforces the idea that Young-sup is less important.

“Between father and son: love from the father, duty from the son. Between king and subjects: fairness from the king, loyalty from his subjects. Between husband and wife: kindness from the husband, obedience from the wife. Between older and younger: consideration from the older, respect from the younger. Between friend and friend: faith from each to the other.”

Park incorporates the Five Virtues of Confucius, which explicitly outline the societal expectations of Korea. Each of the relationships mentioned in the virtues is present in the novel: Lee and his sons; the King and his subjects; the Lee parents; the age difference between the Lee brothers; and the friendships between the brothers and the King. Ironically, it is in studying these virtues that Kee-sup cleverly justifies advocating for his brother to fly because he has so many other loyalties than just that to his father.

“[...] Young-sup realized what he had known all along—that he wasn’t really angry at Kee-sup. But he dared not be angry at his father, either; it was forbidden by the tradition of filial duty. Whom was he angry at, then?”

After calming down, Young-sup does not know toward whom to direct his frustration. He does not arrive at an answer to his own rhetorical question, indicating his immaturity. Readers can discern that he is frustrated with the larger societal structure, which everyone is a part of, therefore making it extremely difficult for an individual to act.

“Do you want to know the worst thing? No one has ever asked me if I want to be a scholar. I don’t. I want to do something with my hands. But that kind of work doesn’t get you a position at the court. So I spend all my time working on something I don’t even want to do.”

The conversation Young-sup has with Kee-sup after their fight is another pivotal moment in their relationship. Kee-sup, as the serious, respectable eldest, finally speaks candidly about the burden of being the first-born, which provides Young-sup with critical perspective. All along, Kee-sup has also been forced into a position he does not want but feels obligated to pursue. This honesty and vulnerability demonstrates Kee-sup’s love for his brother and strengthens their sense of brotherhood.

“Well, today I finally did something I wanted. I spoke to our father and asked him to allow you to fly the King’s kite in the competition.”

The big reveal of the brothers’ confrontation on the hill is that Kee-sup went against their father’s wishes and advocated for his brother to fly. This is simultaneously a huge act of bravery and disrespect, and Kee-sup’s willingness to anger their father shows Young-sup just how much he loves him, and just how much he believes in his ability to win.

“Yet you say there would be no advantage without skill. It is you yourself, and your brother, who must decide if it is honorable.”

Worried that their pottery-coated kite line might constitute cheating, Young-sup consults with Kite Seller Chung, a reputable source for all kite advice. Honor and Tradition are serious virtues in Korean society, and Young-sup does not want to ruin his chance of winning or his reputation with such a costly mistake. Though Chung agrees the special line is not forbidden, he treats the brothers like adults and tells them to assess the honorability themselves—which requires them to examine their own morality rather than relying on someone else to tell them what to do.

“‘I’ve been counting my steps—by nines.’ Kee-sup grinned. ‘I’ve been counting every nine people we pass.’ The brothers laughed, no longer alone in their anxiety.”

Counting nines is a superstitious ritual to invoke good luck, and this interaction on the way to the kite fights shows the less harmful side of deeply ingrained tradition. By once again sharing their anxieties and being vulnerable, the brothers remind each other that they are not alone, and will always support one another.

“You have to trust me, little brother. I know what you can do with a kite—even better than you do yourself.”

Young-sup is adamant about using the same line for his last match, even though he risks losing his kite if it frays completely. He doubts his own abilities, convinced he can only win by using the enhanced line. Kee-sup, however, knows his brother’s skills, and in an exercise of true trust, Young-sup allows him to re-tie the line.

“It’s Kee-sup, Young-sup thought. He’s right here with me—he’s talking to me somehow. And his strength came back to him as he remembered that more than anyone else it was his brother who deserved his best efforts now.”

In his final, most difficult match, Young-sup struggles to maintain energy and focus. By imagining his brother’s voice, Young-sup shows just how deep their connection is and how much he trusts Kee-sup. Even though Young-sup originally wanted to win the fights to prove himself and make his King and father proud, making his brother proud becomes most important of all.

“Young-sup lost his balance and fell to his knees outside the circle just as the white kite snapped free.”

The end of the final kite fights is suspenseful for both the characters and the reader. Park creates this mood by drawing out the match, mirroring Young-sup’s exhaustion, and making the results inconclusive. Though it creates confusion and stress for Young-sup, it sets up the scene for Lee to cheer for his son, and even without knowing who won, Young-sup feels acknowledged and celebrated.

“It was then that the brothers saw the rarest of sights: a broad smile on their father’s face, as he continued to shout their name.”

A reserved man, Rice Merchant Lee’s actions have always spoken for him, and the novel concludes with a display of pure pride. Despite Lee’s initial disappointment in the change of plans, the risk the brothers took paid off and they proved Kee-sup right. In flying most honorably, Young-sup not only proves that he is a stronger flier, but that a second son can also defend the family’s name.

“‘No warrior ever fights alone,’ the King said, ‘and neither did these two fighters. However great their skills, they could not have achieved what they did today without help.’”

The King breaks with tradition by honoring the winning kite makers, as well as their fliers. This departure from the norm sets a precedent for more inclusion, while also emphasizing the motif of hard work. Moreover, the recognition of both Lee brothers demonstrates that both sons can be equally celebrated, and that collaboration and trust were critical to their success.