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Earlier in the Autobiography of a Face post I wrote about how after reading about half of Truth and Beauty I could see that Lucy and Ann’s reactions to certain events were very different in many cases. I brought that back to a quote about how Ann’s adulthood was shaped by Catholic school and how Lucy’s was shaped by beating cancer.

After finishing Truth and Beauty I wanted to reiterate that point. When Lucy was fighting heroin addiction, Ann was very scared that Lucy would die, but because Lucy had beat cancer she felt she was invincible and couldn’t die. Ann knew this. On page 247 she said, “Life had been conspiring to kill Lucy since she was ten years old and life had failed. At every turn she wrestled with death. She always won.” Unfortunately this feeling of invincibility allowed Lucy to stay on drugs. Ann was scared of drugs because she thought they would surely kill you, but Lucy wasn’t because of her life experiences.

I just finished the book and I loved it; it is a wonderful piece of storytelling.

As I read the book I developed a dislike, bordering on hatred, of Amir. He uses his social status and wealth to manipulate the people around him (especially Hassan). He reminded me of Daisy in The Great Gatsby, while Hassan reminded me of Gatsby. Hassan strives to prove his unwavering loyalty to Amir just as Gatsby strives to prove his affections to Daisy. In the end social order wins, and when the time comes for the powerful to sacrifice for the powerless, the former flees and the latter suffers. Gatsby is framed for the murder of Myrtle and killed by Wilson. Assef rapes Hassan. One might argue that if Amir had stood up for Hassan, Assef would have raped him too. I tend to agree. But was it worth Amir’s years of insomnia and internal turmoil? Was it worth destroying the 40-year relationship between Baba and Ali? Was it worth Amir losing the only person who was truly kind to him? The choice of being raped should never be one a child has to face, but Amir owed Hassan for all the years he had spent fighting his battles and taking care of him.

Amir’s last years in Afghanistan were a living hell because everything around him reminded him of how good Hassan was to him, and how in Hassan’s time of need, Amir could not return the kindness. He was so determined to win Baba’s affections he was willing to sacrifice the one person who meant the most to him. The guilt weighed so heavy on his mind that he spent much of those last years locked in his room reading and writing.

I won’t reveal the rest of the book, but I will say Amir’s choice to abandon Hassan that winter day attributed to immense repercussions.

I feel The Kite Runner is just one book in a sea of literature that pits the human instinct of survival against the morals that we claim to uphold. The moral character always suffers; think John Proctor in The Crucible, Gatsby in The Great Gatsby, Antigone, and Hamlet. The list is endless. I liked how Khaled Hosseini chose to tell the story from Amir’s (the immoral character’s) point of view; he attempts to explain the force of survival (we never hear Abigail Williams’, Creon’s or Claudius’ side of the story). It makes The Kite Runner unique; and suggests if we continued to observe the lives of Abigail, Daisy, Creon and Claudius we would discover they are no less moral than their moral counterparts.

While I of course agree with Nabil that when Amir looked on in silence while his best friend suffered in the alley he set himself up for a lifetime of depression and guilt, I disagree that he can be held completely responsible for his actions – or lack thereof. At this time, Amir was only a child. He could not have known at that time how much guilt he would feel, and how wrong it was for him to simply stand aside and allow Hassan to suffer instead of him. While most children know the difference between right and wrong, you have to look at the way society was at this time. Hassan and his people were looked down upon and often treated no better than dogs. Behavior like that of Assef’s, while moraly repungnant, was unfortunately common and to some people socially acceptable. Right and wrong may have been confused in Amir’s mind while he was in a state of shock. Another point I must make – I cannot on good conscience say in his defense, as I have no desire to defend his actions – is while Hassan was his best friend, throughout most of the novel Amir shows a certain reluctance to admit to the extent of their relationship. Since Hassan was his servant and his race was persecuted at the time, many people would have been disgusted or astounded to hear Amir, high in social status and from a wealthy family, admitting to loving Hassan, a lowly servant. It was simply not accepted during these times.

I have one more thought on the subject as to why Amir chose to remain silent. Throughout the novel, Amir sought his father’s pride and approval above all else. He wanted the blue kite that Hassan was defending more than anything. If he spoke up and was assaulted himself, chances of Assef obtaining the kite were very high. While this does not particularly make him a likeable character by any standards, least of all mine, it may have been a thought that crossed his mind at this turning point in his life.

While reading this scene in The Kite Runner, one must ask themself: What would you do? If your best friend was being assaulted in such a way in an alley directly in front of you, would you speak up? Or would you pretend it never happened? Perhaps this is not the correct question to ask, because I do not believe at this point that Amir was looking at Hassan as a best friend. I think Amir was seeing Hassan strictly as his servant while he watched this horror transpire in order to convince himself that it was acceptable for him to walk away. Hopefully if the victim in question was your best friend, your answer to the above question is a resounding yes. However, if your servant was in this situation, what would you do? Most of us, safe at our computers in our comfortable lifestyles would like to think we would speak out, but we cannot truely know until we are placed in the exact situation. My point is that this is far too great a burden to be placed upon a child such as Amir. He was faced with a question that many mature adults never face in their lifetime – stand up for what they believe in and be assaulted themselves, or live with guilt and the assault of their best friend over the heads for the rest of their lives. While I do not support Amir’s actions and desperately wish he would have done something to return all the kindness Hassan had shown him, I cannot in good conscience be too rough on him, considering the circumstances. I do not believe he is a bad person, I just think he made an extremely bad choice when he was too young to make an informed decision, and that bad choice had immense repercussions. However, I do believe that through good deeds and repentance throughout his adult life, Amir did find a way to “be good again”, and find some peace within himself.

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While I of course agree with Nabil that when Amir looked on in silence while his best friend suffered in the alley he set himself up for a lifetime of depression and guilt, I disagree that he can be held completely responsible for his actions – or lack thereof. At this time, Amir was only a child. He could not have known at that time how much guilt he would feel, and how wrong it was for him to simply stand aside and allow Hassan to suffer instead of him. While most children know the difference between right and wrong, you have to look at the way society was at this time. Hassan and his people were looked down upon and often treated no better than dogs. Behavior like that of Assef’s, while moraly repungnant, was unfortunately common and to some people socially acceptable. Right and wrong may have been confused in Amir’s mind while he was in a state of shock. Another point I must make – I cannot on good conscience say in his defense, as I have no desire to defend his actions – is while Hassan was his best friend, throughout most of the novel Amir shows a certain reluctance to admit to the extent of their relationship. Since Hassan was his servant and his race was persecuted at the time, many people would have been disgusted or astounded to hear Amir, high in social status and from a wealthy family, admitting to loving Hassan, a lowly servant. It was simply not accepted during these times.

I have one more thought on the subject as to why Amir chose to remain silent. Throughout the novel, Amir sought his father’s pride and approval above all else. He wanted the blue kite that Hassan was defending more than anything. If he spoke up and was assaulted himself, chances of Assef obtaining the kite were very high. While this does not particularly make him a likeable character by any standards, least of all mine, it may have been a thought that crossed his mind at this turning point in his life.

While reading this scene in The Kite Runner, one must ask themself: What would you do? If your best friend was being assaulted in such a way in an alley directly in front of you, would you speak up? Or would you pretend it never happened? Perhaps this is not the correct question to ask, because I do not believe at this point that Amir was looking at Hassan as a best friend. I think Amir was seeing Hassan strictly as his servant while he watched this horror transpire in order to convince himself that it was acceptable for him to walk away. Hopefully if the victim in question was your best friend, your answer to the above question is a resounding yes. However, if your servant was in this situation, what would you do? Most of us, safe at our computers in our comfortable lifestyles would like to think we would speak out, but we cannot truely know until we are placed in the exact situation. My point is that this is far too great a burden to be placed upon a child such as Amir. He was faced with a question that many mature adults never face in their lifetime – stand up for what they believe in and be assaulted themselves, or live with guilt and the assault of their best friend over the heads for the rest of their lives. While I do not support Amir’s actions and desperately wish he would have done something to return all the kindness Hassan had shown him, I cannot in good conscience be too rough on him, considering the circumstances. I do not believe he is a bad person, I just think he made an extremely bad choice when he was too young to make an informed decision, and that bad choice had immense repercussions. However, I do believe that through good deeds and repentance throughout his adult life, Amir did find a way to “be good again”, and find some peace within himself.

Jenny-

There is no legitimate way to refute what you said; it seems you have a bigger heart than I do.

The bottom line is: if Hassan was Amir’s friend then Amir should have stood up for him, even if he would have been punished for it. Friendship and loyalty transcend societal norms, they are either present or they are not. I see no gray area. One either makes the choice, or he doesn’t.

I think people like Assef who thrive on the fear of others must be stopped; otherwise they will continue to commit atrocities. Hassan, because he was a Hazara, had no power in society. Amir however was the son of the richest and most influential person in the Wazir Akbar Khan section of Kabul. My question is: how can people like Assef be stopped if the powerful do nothing?

On the other hand Amir was doomed from the start: Baba and Hassan fought his battles for him. They must have meant well, but they ended up crippling Amir; he never learned how to fight for himself and was consequently set up for failure.

And I agree, Amir did the right thing in the end.

Nabil-

I am by no means defending his actions, I am merely pointing out that it may not have been a cut and dry yes or no decision for Amir. Obviously the right thing to do would have been to stand up for Hassan, and from this point on in the book I harbored a distinct feeling of dislike for Amir.

I absolutely agree with your point that Amir should have done something, as he was in a great position of power. However, when he and his father fled to America, much of that power was lost, and they had to concentrate on keeping their own lives safe. Of course, he had plenty of time while they were still in Kabul, and had he done something, other events that played out (I don’t want to give away the ending!) may have been prevented. Amir seems to have a pattern of doing nothing until it is too late.

I also really enjoyed this book; I too like Nabil disliked the character of Amir at the begging of the novel. Typically I tend to like books more when I can relate to or have devotion for the main character which wasn’t as much the case in this book. Early in the novel, however weak and selfish Amir appears I at least developed a pity towards him. I by no means excuse Amir from any of his actions but his priorities were severely offset in my perspective. He valued the affection and approval of his father over everything else, something which he believed he could only receive by emulating him. In reality Amir’s father did love and care for Amir very much, which was why he was so hard on Amir and in the end of the novel you can see how Amir’s actions are affected by his father and how they helped him atone for the sins of his childhood. If Amir’s father had not been so hard on him, Amir would most likely have not made the decision to go back and fight to save Hassan’s son. That said Amir did redeem himself in my eyes by the end of the novel and I think a glimmer of hope that Amir will eventually realign his priorities and become a stronger more moral person is what inspires that feeling of pity and keeps you engaged in Amir’s story from the begging.
Throughout the novel many people believe that Amir’s main sin is that he stood by silently and watched his best friend, someone who cared about him and was unconditionally loyal to him be violently raped to either save himself from a similar fate or to save the blue kite which in his eyes was the love and affection of his father. However, horrendous that was I found Amir’s inability to see that he cared for Hassan and that they truly were best friends was his main fault. Amir prided himself throughout the novel that even though he was weak and a coward he was concise of that which in turn made it OK or least alleaved him slightly of that fault. He believed that it was his ability to accept the truth that made the truth OK. However it was in the end his inability to admit the truth that allowed him make that selfish and heartless choice.
I believe that one of the main flaws in humanity is our inability to act against things we believe to be wrong and that at one point or another all of us have been guilty of this, whether it’s walking by a piece of trash on the ground and not picking it up or something more palpable like Amir’s silence in the time when his friend really needed him. I believe that this (along with other things) is what gives us a bond on some level with Amir and gives us hope for him and humanity.

Only on page 109, I find myself hooked on the novel. Jenny, Nabil, and Michele, I only read the beginning of your comments because I didn’t want to ruin the end of the story for myself so if I duplicate some of your points I apologize.
Towards the beginning of the novel I pitied Amir. Growing up Amir felt he could never meet his father’s expectations. Baba also seems to have a more of an understanding and bond with Hassan. Baba treats Amir and Hassan as equals which makes Amir extremely jealous. Amir wanted special attention from his own father and I found that completely understandable.
As the novel continued, my feelings toward Amir drastically changed. I didn’t like how Amir had dual roles toward Hassan. He switched between his best friend and his owner. I realize how difficult the situation must have been at times but even when the boys were just outside playing Amir would be little Hassan. For example, when Amir would read to Hassan and mock him for not knowing some of the words. Amir felt the need to make himself superior. Hassan didn’t seem to notice this and was nothing but a good friend. I was touched when Hassan encouraged Amir by sharing his dream before the kite tournament. “Hassan couldn’t read a first-grade textbook but he’d read me plenty. That was a little unsettling, but also sort of comfortable to have someone who always knew what you needed” (62). My negative feelings toward Amir only grew stronger after he witnessed Assef torturing Hassan.
Nabil-
I couldn’t agree with you more. When Amir just stood by as his supposedly best friend got raped, I hated Amir. What made me even more upset was the fact that Hassan was only suffering because he wanted to get the blue kite for Amir so badly. Hassan wanted nothing more but to please and be accepted by Amir.
Jenny-
You make valid points for Amir’s silence. I understand how shock and fear can cause irresponsible decisions. I’m sure the pressure to prove himself to his father didn’t help Amir’s decision making either. What bothered me the most was when Amir realized he had made a poor choice and continued to bury the lie with more lies. Amir was a coward. Even guilt ripping him apart couldn’t make him do the right thing.

Dana -

I agree with you completely – Amir’s biggest fault was cowardice. It was demonstrated again and again throughout the entire novel. Hassan and his father were always fighting his battles for him as a child, so I guess in his defense he never had the chance to actually gain some confidence in himself. However, this does not make me dislike him any less. If he could just have been brave enough to stand up for Hassan, or even to tell the truth after the fact, much of his guilt and grief could have been avoided. Instead, he could not bear to be around Hassan every day and framed him so that Amir’s father would throw him out. Alas, the best laid plans of mice and men… the plan backfired, and Amir’s father instantly forgave Hassan. However, Hassan and his father chose to leave despite this, breaking Baba’s heart. In trying to free himself of his guilt – without success- Amir hurt the people whom he loved and who loved him the most, all because of his own cowardice.

Throughout The Kite Runner it was obvious that Amir looked up to and wanted to please Baba. At the same time Hassan wanted to please Amir. On page 11 Amir remembers, “…we spoke our first words. Mine was Baba. His was Amir. My name.” I feel that this concept led to the tragedy that ended Hassan and Amir’s friendship.

First of all, Hassan wanted to please Amir by running the kite for him. So when Assef wanted the kite, Hassan wouldn’t give it to him because he cared more about Amir’s happiness than his own. Amir’s admiration of Baba also led to their downfall.

Instead of telling Baba what Amir saw and what he did wrong, he kept his mouth shut because he didn’t want Baba to think he was a coward. This dug at Amir’s conscious for many years to come. He couldn’t even think about Hassan because it made him think about his sins. This forced Amir to set-up Hassan so that Baba would make them leave. In the end this plan backfired because Hassan knew what Amir had done. And again Hassan tried to please Amir by taking the blame.

Glancing through the previous comments (although I only read portions as to not give the end of the novel away), it seems there is a general consensus that, based on his low integrity, Amir is a less than respectable character. Based on his cowardice, it is a very natural assumption, and it makes realize why Hosseini decided to make Amir the narrator. Had the narrator been any other character, the reader would have very little pity towards Amir, as there would be no special relationship between reader and Amir. Seeing the story through Hassan’s eyes, for example, would leave us with a completely bitter taste towards Amir, with no great hope for redemption on the reader’s part. The love-hate relationship the reader is forced to have with Amir is representative of many of the relationships we have to experience in our real lives. Most of those we encounter will have certain qualities which deserve very little respect, but other positive characteristics could perhaps trump those traits.

One thing I also noticed was the way in which not only the main characters, but the outside world is illustrated in a way which shows the low integrity of general society. In all of the assigned summer reading, society is reflected with disgusting characteristics of selfishness and disrespect towards others. Assef depicts the immoral intentions of society in The Kite Runner, sneakily masking his sins with a well-mannered cover. In Lucy Grealy’s world, those who did not accept her because of her face showed the sometimes unavoidable and cruel exclusions of our society. Finally, in The Road, it was clear that the apocalypse had brought out the raw, animal-like characteristics of almost every man. It is interesting how vastly different the plotline is for all these novels, yet all carry and underlying genre of Man vs. Man, showing how our human relationships will ultimately determine who we are.

Of all the books we were assigned this summer, I feel The Kite Runner was the best. It had many twists and turns that kept me interested. I thought it was sad that the characters had lived with their lies and never revealed the truth. They all seemed to have secrets or something they were hiding from the other characters. When Amir was learning the truth, I think he felt some relief. He of course was immediately upset with his father for lying all of those years, but I think simply knowing the truth helped him. Now Hassan was more than just a servant from his childhood. They had been brothers. I think this definitely led Amir to make the decision to go after Sohrab. I was happy to see that he was going to help out Sohrab and stand for something he now felt was important to him.

I also thought when Amir met up with Assef at the end he finally received his punishment from his past. He had felt terrible for never standing up for Hassan and had to live with himself in disgust. He also had to get rid of Hassan because he couldn’t even bare to look him in the face after that incident. I think this fight helped Amir lift some of the guilt he had been carrying since that day in the alley. I’m glad he managed to overcome Assef’s violence and stop this bully once and for all. He had finally “fought his own battle” rather than stand on the side watching someone else get hurt. I believe if he hadn’t fought against Assef, Sohrab would have a very similar fate to his father, if not already. Amir had defeated the person who violated Hassan years ago and in turn rescued Sohrab.

When I read that Amir had a scar on his upper lip after his clash with Assef, I was shocked. Now he would forever be reminded of Hassan and their relationship. He would not be able to escape thoughts of what had happened in the past before the scar. Now with the scar, I thought it was going to be even harder on him. I realize though that this scar was a reminder for him that he had ended Assef’s “reign of terror” and saved Hassan’s son. This scar could now symbolize the good things Amir did, his beliefs, and what he stood up for.

I also wanted to mention the significance of the pomegranate tree from their childhood. When their relationship is good and the are sharing many good times they carved into the tree, ‘Amir and Hassan, the sultans of Kabul.’ At this time the tree was healthy and times were good for them. Later in the story Amir reads that “the tree hasn’t borne fruit in years” through Hassan’s letter. This is after their relationship has been broken or damaged. The tree was now unhealthy as well as their friendship. I feel that this tree could illustrate the ups and downs of their friendship over the years.

I just finished the novel. The plot consists of so many twists I couldn’t put the book down. Amir had shoved his life in Afghanistan aside. When returning to his country, Amir was forced to overcome his past. It was brilliant how events traced back to Amir’s childhood. Assef being the Talib Amir had to face to save Sohrab. Sohrab threatening Assef with a slingshot just as his father had. Amir ending up with a harelip just as Hassan had. Although Amir’s journey back to Afghanistan began with guilt, I think in the end of the novel his actions were based on pure love.

I was so surprised when finding out Hassan was Baba’s son. As soon as I read those words everything made sense. Baba treated Hassan and Amir equally, always wanted Hassan to come along, made Hassan’s birthday special every year, and was beside himself when Hassan and Ali left. I thought it was because Hassan was who Baba wanted Amir to be. Baba, who was always spoken so highly of, was filled with guilt just like Amir. Hosseini displays the power guilt has over the human soul.

I disagree with Jenny’s comment earlier on about children not knowing right from wrong. At this point in the story, Amir obviously knew what was happening was not right. Earlier on in the novel, Amir describes Assef as a sociopath, and as someone who talks about inhuman things.
“I will never forget how Assef’s blue eyes glinted with a light not entirely sane and how he grinned, how he grinned, as he pummeled that poor kid unconscious. … Years later, I learned an English word for the creature that Assef was, a word for which a good Farsi equivalent does not exist: ‘sociopath’. ” (p. 38)
He had to know what was happening to Hassan in the alley wasn’t right. The fact that Amir was young and didn’t know right from wrong did not play a factor in his decision; however his inability to handle the situation at such a young age is more likely. Being placed in that situation is definitely not easy for an adult, let alone a child. Most adults would probably have done the same thing as Amir. No matter how much one would like to believe he would make the right decision if placed in the situation, no one ever quite knows until it happens.

Spencer, I agree with what you said in your last post. While reading The Kite Runner I felt disgusted by many of the actions that Amir took to get Hassan out of his life. Even after all that he did I didn’t hate him. Now after reading Spencer’s comment I realize why. I was able to read not only what he did, but how badly he felt about it and how it haunted him throughout his life, even enough to allow him to stand up and fight when he got the chance. Actually being inside of Amirs’ head allowed me to feel pity for him, and his situation.

I believe that this was the purpose for Amir being the narrator. It allowed us not to write him off as a bad guy immediately. It showed that people can change. If Hassan would have been the narrator, it would have made us hate Amir like we hate Assef. If Hosseini would have made Assef the narrator, I am sure that we would have a totally different point of view of him. The reasons for why he turned out the way he did. We probably would have felt pity, not hate.

bill-

your comparison of Amir to Daisy is very accurate and like everyone else i agree completely.

And i also agree with you that although we all though Amir should have been the hero and defended Hassan i think we need to take a walk in his shoes during the rap.e and the aftermath. Although Amir has power over his friends and does not always use it for the better he still pays for it through his years of depression and nightmares. By using his power just as Daisy did to Gatsby it sets the stage for Amir’s actions, or there lack of, to detrimental to his future.

Love, cruelty, and redemption…these prominent themes make Kite Runner beautifully stunning. I found myself attracted to the novel from the start, for me it was one of those books that I just couldn’t put down.

Just a few chapters into the book I found something interesting within the relationship of Amir and his father. At times Amir adores his father, “He motioned to me to hold his hat for him and I was glad to, because then everyone would see that he was my father, my Baba.” He craves his fathers approval, and wants his father to think well of him, “marveling, not for the first time, at how badly Baba could sting me with so few words.
We’d had a fleeting good moment – it wasn’t often that Baba talked to me, let alone on his
lap – and I’d been a fool to waste it.” And at the same time I sense a dislike, almost a rivalry from Amir towards his father. Amir says, “You can’t love a person a person who lives that way without fearing him too. Maybe even hating him a little.” Amir seems to be waiting for an emotional indictor of approval that never seems to come. I feel great sadness for Amir, for I don’t believe it’s a lack of love that propels his father to do this, but rather that his father just lacks the means to show this.

It was also evident that there is a common theme of betrayal throughout the novel. Amir betrays his friends Hassan from the beginning, making fun of him and taking advantage of his lack of education. Then there is the betrayal when Amir does nothing as Hassan is brutally attacked and raped. One feels disinclined to blame Amir for his action, or lack thereof. He is young; perhaps his intervention would have only led him to be attacked as well. Yet, I feel Amir’s lack of action is due in part to his father. His father in a way, expected Amir to act like this, and Amir lived up to his father’s worst expectations.

As I wrapped up the novel, one quote in particular jumped out at me as a great thematic summation. Sohrab recounts, “Father used to say it’s wrong to hurt even bad people. Because they don’t know any better, and bad people sometimes become good.” Obviously, there is a direct connection from Sohrab’s words and Amir’s journey of redemption. The motivation behind Amir’s liberation of his past sins was fueled by one very strong force: his conscience. This, I feel, was the difference between Aseef and Amir. Amir’s entire life was changed by the secrets he held, and the burden of these secrets eventually tore his mind apart with guilt. This was the measure that Amir truly was a decent person despite his past. The reason Aseef never “became good” was that his conscience never told him that he was a “bad person.” Redemption is never sought after if there is no guilt to precede it.

As I look back upon The Kite Runner, I examine Amir and Hassan’s relationship again. I notice that at times Amir treats Hassan as a true friend, while at others he treats him only as a servant. Their relationship is that of true friends while they are kite running, Amir treats Hassan as his equal. And in this aspect of life, Hassan is an equal; in fact, he is superior to Amir at kite running. While the boys are kite running Amir never thinks of deceiving Hassan or taking advantage of him. The boys work together and behave as friends. They also show their friendship at other times during the winter months, as they sit inside by the heater and play games. Their relationship is that of master and servant at times like when Hassan is attacked in the alley. He looked upon Hassan as his servant, so as not to feel obligated to step in and intervene. Hassan was merely a servant, not a friend, and this is how Amir was able to walk away. However, I don’t doubt that Amir loved Hassan and appreciated him. Although Amir made a poor decision, that poor decision went on to haunt him, tearing him apart, and thus, reveling his true love for Hassan. I believe Amir valued Hassan just as much as Hassan valued Amir, but that Amir didn’t know how, or felt that he could not show it. Hassan may have had a bigger heart than Amir, but Amir looked up to Hassan just as much as Hassan did to him. It was easy for Hassan to publicly show admiration for Amir, he was expected to, while Amir was expected NOT to. I feel that Amir’s inability to admit that he loved Hassan was one of his biggest faults, and sets him up for much guilt and suffering later on. Had he acted the way he should have when they were boys, he would not feel so guilty as an adult and heartbroken when he heard of Hassan’s death. Although Amir redeemed himself, he continued to live on with emptiness inside him after missing years of a great friendship.

Obviously the theme of redemption was very present in this novel. Throughout most of his life, mostly in America, Amir was plagued by the need for redemption of the sins that he committed during his childhood. To me it seemed as if Amir would have let his whole life pass by without actually trying to redeem himself. Luckily for him, Rahim Khan wouldn’t allow that to happen. On page 192 Rahim Khan says to Amir at the end of a phone conversation, “Come. There is a way to be good again”. These words had a huge impact on Amir, fueling his desire for redemption.

Still, it took a few harsh words and the truth to get Amir to save Sohrab and be “good again”. Amir didn’t even want to save Sohrab at first. Fear had been the reason that Amir didn’t help Hassan during their childhood, and it was almost the reason for why he would’ve left Sohrab to die. But after dealing with the pain of his sins for most of his life, he finally found the courage to go back to Afghanistan. Looking back I see how influential Rahim Khan was to all this. Without him, Amir would never have known about what had happened to Hassan, or even if he did find out he would never have done anything to save Sohrab. So unlike many stories where redemption is fueled by the character who wants to obtain it, in this novel it is started and kept going by another character.

I personally thought that the Kite Runner was the best book that was assigned to us over the summer. It gave me a new perspective on the country and people of Afghanistan that I had never thought of before. You always here in the news about how someone got blown up or al qaeda’s resurgence but you hardly ever get to hear the people’s story and the customs they hold and cherish. It’s a refreshing look at an otherwise depressing situation.

A major topic in The Kite Runner is the relationship between Amir and Hassan. Hassan displayed loyalty beyond anything expected from a servant, and many people would say that he loved Amir. Amir was not so kind and at many times wary of Hassan’s natural talent (like being able to solve riddles) and sometimes resented him. He only played with Hassan when nobody else was around, conscious of the social order that disallowed equality and an open mutual friendship between a Pashtun and a Hazara. Amir could have informally circumvented that and been a true friend to Hassan anyway, but he was young and hungered for acceptance from his people and especially his Baba, as others have already pointed out. This desperate hankering to be accepted blinded Amir and negatively affected his judgment.

I agree that Amir’s inaction when Hassan was raped was not the right thing to do. He was a child and I would not have expected him to be able to handle the situation. (Really, who wants to be raped?) He knew that he had the opportunity to “stand up for Hassan — the way he’d stood up for me all those times in the past — and accept whatever would happen to me” (77). However, this is still too much to ask from anybody. So running away would have been justified, had Amir attempted to fix the problem afterward. Amir could have better dealt with the assault’s aftermath. He could have asked Hassan what had happened and then gotten help, instead of ignoring Hassan’s obvious injuries. He could have chosen to not push Hassan away. But what Amir did was not constructive, not what a friend would have done. Instead Amir was selfish and made the cowardly decision to overlook Hassan’s wounds and push his “friend” away, in order to acquire Baba’s approval.

It is easy to criticize Amir for his actions according to our American morality, but keep in mind that Amir’s culture did not make his choice any easier. Amir, as a Pashtun, was not supposed to have an “inferior” Hazara friend. (Ironically, Hassan was superior to Amir in several fields — like athleticism, skill, raw talent, and moral fiber.) According to society, Amir was not supposed to care about Hassan and several times throughout the novel he was questioned and even ridiculed for caring about a “worthless” Hazara. His father and his community prized a “manly” man, which Amir, by default, was not — so it was understandable that he would seize any opportunity to improve upon that. Now one could say, “Amir didn’t stand up for Hassan and that didn’t make him a manly man.” But what would or could you have done in that situation? He was Amir, sensitive and privileged but feeble. There was no way he could have fought off Assef and the other two bullies. Though Amir made a bad decision, it probably saved his butt (no pun intended) — but he could have salvaged a friendship had he not followed that decision with other mistakes.

At least Amir learned to become an independent man and even redeem himself by saving Sohrab. One might argue that was too little, too late, but it shows a remarkable improvement of character from the weak child he once was. He was a little like Hamlet in that way: so apprehensive that his inaction created a new batch of troubles that he eventually tries to fix — but so sensitive that he berated himself, knowing that deferral was the flimsy option.

As I was reading this book, I couldn’t help but feel depressed. Poor Amir went through so much. As a kid he saw his friend/servant raped. I agree with everyone on this matter, in the sense that Amir knew that it was wrong, and that he was motivated, not by a sense of survival, but by selfishness. However, how many of us stand up for those we deem our friends. Yes, the situation Amir was in was extreme, and we would like to say that we would step in, but how many of us would do exactly what Amir does? For example lets say you have a friend that hangs with a different group than you. This friend is viewed as below your group. What if one day your group of friends started making fun of this other friend behind his/her back? Would you stand up for him/her at the risk of losing all your other friends?

One quote that stood out to me was on page 289 when Amir said, “My body was broken… but I felt healed. Healed at last. I laughed.” This showed how hurt he had been from what he had done to Hassan. That his mental pain was even worse than the physical pain he received from Assef. How after Assef beat him up it made him feel free from his sins.

I also believe that he felt healed because he had not been a coward for the first time in his life. That he stood up to Assef even though he knew what would happen. At this time in the novel Amir was close to death mentally, so it wasn’t anything new to be close to death physically. In my opinion, this quote summarized what Amir had been trying to achieve his whole life. To be healed, not physically but mentally.

Mr. Hosseini has an interesting style of writing. His text is very descriptive. Hosseini details to the reader exactly the specifics of the environment of the characters, creating an impeccable image. Hosseini’s writing although descriptive has wonderful flow, which makes The Kite Runner an easy read. Hosseini’s best tool is his outstanding characterization. The characters of The Kite Runner are very well developed and the reader quickly is able to form strong opinions on each one.
Hosseini’s novel’s narrator, Amir, suffers from similar problems as Lucy in Autobiography of a Face and Truth and Beauty. Amir is tormented by his own cowardice much like the way Lucy struggled with a face damaged by cancer. Amir is afraid to define himself. Amir admits he had, “one final opportunity to decide who I was going to be. I could step into that alley, stand up for Hassan—the way he’d stood up for me all those times in the past—and accept whatever would happen to me. Or I could run. In the end, I ran. I ran because I was a coward.” (77) Amir’s inability to define himself changes the whole complexion of the rest of his life. Amir’s relationship with Hassan is forever damaged. All of Amir’s behavior is tainted by his guilt. This is very similar to Lucy lack of self-definition harms her own self-image, contributes to promiscuous and ultimately detrimental behavior.

Ali makes some very good points. Amir’s feeling of being a coward makes him do cowardly things. Much like Lucy’s feeling of being ugly or unworthy prevents her from fitting in with normal society, and turning to drugs and sex. I wonder how many of us define ourselves in a way that affects the outcome of our life? How many people are depressed and turn to drugs to make them feel happy? How many people feel ugly and therefore do anything a person of the opposite sex tells us to do? How many of us are guilty of trying to mold ourself to someone else’s view or suffer from a lack of self-esteem?

This is my third time posting and not being able to. It has been very frustrating.

Overall, the book and I had a love-hate relationship. There were certain parts that I adored. I think Hosseini has a brilliant sense of pace. However, the story itself disappointed at certain points. I felt that I never actually was able to know the characters. I had no great revelation at the end. Normally, after I read lovely literature, I’ll be able to pause and soak the meaning in. The Kite Runner never actually let me do that. Hosseini didn’t offer a lot of depth that I crave.

I also would have enjoyed a bit more symbolism.

Sometimes, I think the characters didn’t really “get it.” Amir knew that he treated his “best friend” terribly. He let him get rap[]d, he mentally and physically abused him, and he discredited many things that he did.
Amir was not a good friend or brother. Hassan just didn’t have anyone else, and was desperate for some sort of companion.

It reminds me of Cain and Abel, mentioned above by Kreinbring.
“I am not my brother’s keeper”
And Amir certainly did not act like one.
No one sees Cain’s side of the story – and I think the main point is that Amir redeemed himself towards the end. Even then, he made some careless mistakes – he did nothing to stop Hassan’s terrible change, and he didn’t really go through a lot of trouble to change his relationship with Hassan [who was still willing to forgive him] because of simple jealousy and weakness.

I think there is a great parallel to Jesus here, but I’ll post about that later.

I decided to just post now instead, since the idea is fresh in my mind.

I think this is an idea that Hosseini more than hints at. Not only does Hassan “turn the other cheek” as he is pelted with fruit by Amir, but he stands firm and knows what he believes in. He expresses unstoppable love towards someone who does not treat him well.

He is also referred to as “the lamb to slay.”
Jesus is often referred to as the lamb as well – the ultimate sacrifice.

Perhaps this idea is why Amir finds Hassan’s almost … divine forgiveness unreachable. Amir decides that he must aspire to be like his friend, but understands that his friend was so wonderful and lovely that being like him is nearly impossible.

Even one of the greatest lines of the book – the most interesting idea “being good again” can be related to the idea of “the lamb of God” – Jesus had to die, and the people that follow him must prove themselves. They can only hope to prove themselves by renewing themselves, being made new and “good”, in a sense.

More later concerning Jesus and Hassan.
I like this concept.

Liz, as a practicing Catholic, your last post made me disappointed for not seeing the Hassan-to-Jesus parallel while I read. It really makes complete sense, from the lamb comparison to “turning the other cheek.” Another similarity between the two lies in the fact that both were denied by those that truly cared for them. When approached by Assef, Amir replays, “‘But he’s not my friend!’ I almost blurted. ‘He’s my servant!’.” It is significant to note that Amir nearly spoke the words of betrayal towards Hassan just moments before Hassan stood by his side during Assef’s tormenting. There is a clear connection to the way in which Jesus was denied three times by Judas, interestingly enough, right before Jesus died on the cross to cleanse the world’s sins. The similarities of an impeccable attitude and willingness to forgive truly unite the two men together.

From what have read about Hassan and Jesus, both lived nearly flawless lives; I’m curious to see what other connections are made between the two.

Laura’s last post really got me thinking. Does what we think of ourselves affect how we actually behave? I believe it does. People who do have a low self esteem tend to hide People who think highly of themselves tend to make sure everyone around them knows it. After Amir made the mistake of not standing up for Hassan, he belittled himself. He had such negative thoughts about himself that when asked to save Sohrab, he was hesitant. Of course this was also out of fear but I think Amir felt he flat out just couldn’t do it. He didn’t have faith in himself. No matter what mistakes we make in life, I think it’s important to support yourself. I’m not saying don’t admit to being wrong. I’m saying take responsibility and never lose yourself by thinking about everything you could’ve done differently in life. Amir fell into that trap for years. Amir did have the opportunity to redeem himself, but many of us won’t experience such a coincidence.

It disgusts me to see how uncompassionate Amir is towards Hassan. Instead of using his higher education and social standing to benefit Hassan, who is unrelentlessly devoted to him, Amir instead ensures that Hassan knows Amir’s superior intellect and heritage. Also, Amir doesn’t even consider Hassan his friend. He considers Hassan as merely a servant to do his bidding, not realizing that Hassan sees him as more than his employer, but also as a friend, and even as an idol to which he can look up to. Amir abuses this power, allowing Hassan to stand up for him in their battle against Assef but later not returning the favor when Assef rapes Hassan. Cowardice is no excuse in this instance, but instead, Amir sees Hassan as an expendable Hazara who is not worth the risk to help.

I kind of agree with Adam on Amir’s relationship with Hassan. He should have considered Hassan as his friend and equal rather than just some servant to hang out with while he was bored. He also took advantage of Hassan’s illiteracy for his own pleasure. What made me disturbed the most was he didn’t apologize to Hassan for betraying him. Rather than admit his guilt and continue to hang out with Hassan he decided to cut Hassan off from him rather than deal with his shame. On that note Amir shows gets a little redemption by coming back and saving Hassan’s son Sohrab and sticking up for him like he should have for Hassan 25 years before.

I would like to respond to Spencer and Liz’s posts. I totally agree with the connection between Hassan and Jesus. Another aspect I would like to add is that they both have amazing humility. Throughout the gospel of Matthew Jesus speaks about being a servant and having humility. Also, by what we read about his life we see that even though he is greater than all of us, he made himself like humans and even served them.

Hassan also exhibits great humility. From always praising Amir, to accepting that he is just a servant. He works hard and never whines about all he has to do. There are probably even more similarities between Hassan and Jesus.

Soraya is the newfound courage in Amir. After Soraya’s struggle with identity — running off with a man out of honor — she confessed her secret and asked for forgiveness from her family, and eventually from Amir. Amir ranted that he, “envied her. Her secret was out. Spoken. Dealt with. I opened my mouth and almost told her how I’d betrayed Hassan, lied, driven him out…But I didn’t. I suspected there were many ways in which Soraya Taheri was a better person than me. Courage was just one of them” (165). Her courage also showed when she taught her Hazara servant how to read, even when relations between Pashtuns and Hazaras were eyed suspiciously. This made him realize that he needed to redeem his courage and dignity, and go visit his dying friend, Rahim Khan.

The courage in Amir shined through when he found out his whole life was a lie, but he still searched for Hassan’s orphan son, Sohrab. He put the devastating lies and scandals of both himself and his father behind him. All he wanted to do was start from scratch, and ‘be good again’. It was ironic that Amir thought about his wife, in-laws and career as a reason to return home, when his wife subsequently inspired him to be brave and fix as much damage from his past as he could: by helping little Sohrab.

I would like to add to Liz Silverman’s idea of religious references in this novel. Baba and Amir’s conflicts with their God, Allah, heavily influenced their choices.

Starting with Baba, he seemed to be a ‘rebel’ in the beginning of the book, drinking alcohol freely, not praying, among other actions. A hint of his rebellion was because of his wife’s death. Later, when the scandal about Hassan’s real father is told to Amir, I realized that the true anger Baba exerted was not towards Allah, but towards himself. He couldn’t believe that a higher power could save him from his sins, so he chose not to consult Allah for ‘guidance’. Perhaps if he found courage and faith through God, he could have told his secret, and asked for forgiveness and unity between him, Ali, Hassan, and Amir.

As for Amir, he explained his conflict with his God by thinking, “perhaps something, someone, somewhere, had decided to deny me fatherhood for the things I had done. Maybe this was my punishment, and perhaps justly so. ‘It was meant to be,’ Khala Jamila had said. Or, maybe, it was meant not to be.” (188). Amir wasn’t extremely religious, like his father, but realized that this was a message to ‘be good again’. Turn your life around. Amir did what he could by going to Pakistan and Afghanistan. Although that wasn’t his intentions, his instincts and his conscious is what led him there.

Although Baba couldn’t turn his life around the way he wanted, he gave his son the opportunity to live in America, study in whichever field he chose (although Baba was reluctant at first), and marry a beautiful Afghan woman. And in turn, Amir did his part in mending the wounds, and Baba assumingly watched from heaven overjoyed. Although a God isn’t what initially inspired Amir to turn his life around, his instincts that were given to him by God proved to be a profound factor in the outcome of this story.

Liz Campo,

I don’t think that Baba ever seemed to be rebelling against Allah. Rather, I believe he was defying the conduct that is associated with Islam. You can be at peace with God but disagree with the traditions and practices of your creed or the attitudes of people who claim to share your religion. Perhaps if he had embraced his religion, imperfections and all, he would have sooner come to terms with his transgression, but it was his progressive attitude that gave him the courage to move to America and give his son a new life.

Responding to Ali’s very early post –

“Hosseini’s novel’s narrator, Amir, suffers from similar problems as Lucy in Autobiography of a Face and Truth and Beauty. Amir is tormented by his own cowardice much like the way Lucy struggled with a face damaged by cancer”

I actually think Amir and Lucy have very different circumstances and reactions. To be honest, I don’t see the great parallel in what was written. If anything, Lucy and Amir are opposites.

Lucy showed everyone her courage and creativity by using her weakness, whereas Amir let his envelop him and … in a way, mold him. Lucy resisted her weaknesses, whereas Amir readily embraced his. I think one of my main complaints against Amir was that he didn’t fight against his jealousy in the least. He wasn’t a good person.

At the end of the book I actually wasn’t sure if I liked Amir. Of course, he FINALLY “redeemed” himself – but only after the man who gave him the letter told him it was a way to “be good again.” If you recall, at first – Amir immediately declined. I never really liked his character.
I don’t think morality for the sake of redemption is morality at all. Throughout the book, I felt like Amir was driven by guilt and not by friendship or love.

And Adam, the saddest thing is – I don’t think Hassan saw Amir as a “servant” or a Hazara. As a matter of fact, he grew up with his Father influencing him in the opposite direction. I believe he felt an urge to conform, fit in, and therefore, he grabbed onto this fact to make himself feel better. So, he didn’t even have ignorance as an excuse.

Also, I didn’t like some of the one-dimensional characters.

Assef ra[]es Hassan.
His parents are scared of him.
He also likes little boys.
He shoots people in stadiums.
Oh, and by the way – he is a big fan of Hitler.

I feel like we didn’t really get to see exactly why Assef acted the way he did. I found him to be fairly interesting, and I wish we were given a little more on his character’s actions.

Again though, I did enjoy the book quite a bit – I just didn’t care for certain characters.

Liz, I completely disagree with your assessment of Ali’s comparison. I do think that Lucy Grealy allowed her face to envelop and define her, much as Amir allowed his cowardice to define him. Lucy turned to many bad habits, including drugs and sex, to offset her depression regarding her face. Even Amir didn’t reduce his moral standards because of what he had done. I honestly think that Lucy and Amir both allowed their deficiencies to control their lives.

On the other hand, the two situations are completely different. Lucy’s situation was brought upon her by a disease over which she had no control. She made her situation worse by always focusing on what she didn’t have rather than what she had. Amir’s situation was brought about by a cowardly decision he made in fear of Assef. He made his situation worse by not confronting it and eventually driving Ali and Hassan out of the house. Lucy’s situation was a physical setback that turned into a psychological and emotional nightmare, whereas Amir’s problems always were psychological. The comparison can be made between the two, but you also have to contrast their situations to get the entire picture.

Half way through The Kite Runner, I have found Hosseini’s commentary on the American dream quite interesting. Classical literature has presented America as the land of the prosperous. America represents wealth, streets paved with gold; freedom from the struggles of dreams unrealized. For Hosseini’s tale, America represents a chance to forget a troubled past. Amir describes, “America was a river, roaring along unmindful of the past.” (136) Amir isn’t concerned with the money to be made or the pleasures to be enjoyed. Amir’s American dream is one of new beginnings and ultimately separation from the pain of his past.
Moreover, Amir’s journey to America was filled with sadness. Hosseini uses Amir’s journey as a canvas to illustrate contemporary challenges of Afghan refugees and their trek to America. Amir and Baba forfeit everything to escape the persecution of the new regime. Baba, a man of great stature, is forced to humble himself to poverty and humiliation. He is forced to leave the land he loves, all his material possessions and his status behind as he starts over in America. Hosseini’s novel also comments on the pressure on immigrants to assimilate to American culture. Western ideals are flaunted in the face of the Afghan conservatism and Amir is tempted to conform. However, Amir although hated by the reader for his cowardice, stands by his culture.

I agree with May from a few posts back. Baba did not neccesarily believe in no god but he didn’t approve of the religous customs of islam (referring to shah’s as old men who chant words in a language they do not even know). I do however think that Amir’s relationships and the events in his life were shaped somewhat by God (like unexplained infertility). I thought that was a creative way by the author of showing Amir’s personal feelings about Islam and the whole God vs. no God debate as compared to his father.

While I was reading this book I was trying to relate Amir’s and Hassan’s home and lifestyle to present day. It reminded me of Grosse Pointe. Most people picture an image of old, stately, gigantic houses across the shoreline of Lake St.Clair. However, there are plenty of smaller houses in Grosse Pointe. It’s a common stereotype to believe that if you live in Grosse Pointe you are wealthy and that you live in one of the spectacular houses.

I thought that the relationship Amir and Hassan had wouldn’t be very common in recent Grosse Pointe culture. Baba was a very rich and well-respected man in Kabul. Ali was simply a worker for Baba. In Grosse Pointe’s culture, which I believe is similar to Kabul, I would think this close friendship between Hassan and Amir would be very unlikely. In fact, I believe it would be frowned upon. I thought one of the themes of the story was that you can become friends with anyone, no matter what their background is; regardless of race, gender, economic situation etc. I believe that many wealthy people would never associate with someone who is poor. Right from the beginning of the story this made me like Amir. He didn’t allow this issue to prevent him from having a strong relationship with Hassan. Ali used to serve dinner to Baba and his friends and later on Baba and his friends would discuss politics, business, and soccer. This is a great example of a younger boy showing no prejudice where his father did. I think that we can all learn from this instance.

I would like to add on to my last comment. Even Amir didn’t learn from himself. When he was young and didn’t follow stereotypes, he was great friends with Hassan. Later on however, Amir realized his superior standing in society compared to Hassan. I agree with Adam on that issue. However, one of the themes in this story is redemption, which is a fairly common theme. “There is a way to be good again.” Hosseini placed this line in the book as a foreshadowing of Amir’s future redemption. That quote was probably one of the most important and influencial quotes in this book. It also attracted my attention right away, to see this line italicized. I thought that this was a powerful start to the book and we immediatley saw on thoght’provoking quote, which I think is almost essential in any good piece of writing.

I think I may have been misunderstood with my comment. May and Evan, I did not ever think that Baba was being rebellious toward Allah, but instead that he had hints of rebellion in the beginning. I wrote footnotes in my book that maybe this is a sign of utter disbelief, and that it would escalade into hatred because of some event or another. So, my prediction was a tad off, but I also stated that I realized that the anger was at himself, and not towards Allah, directly in my last comment. Sorry for the confusion, but I thought I had mapped out my observations clearly…

Keep commenting on this if you’d like, connections with main characters and a form of God are always fun.

When I wrapped up this novel, I was mixed between interpretations. I felt completely satisfied, as in the plot had come together in an understandable manner, but I also was so curious and distraught. What has driven the Taliban, among other hate groups, to do this for so long? Yes, we all know the answer, it is “in the name of Allah”, but I have to concur with Liz Silverman when she commented on Assef’s onesidedness. It would have been nice to find out what happened, besides being thrown in jail, that truly made him grow to hate Hazaras. To the point of genocide. I am obviously naive to this because I haven’t witnessed the oppression firsthand. Is it as psychological as I am hoping it to be? Maybe I am making excuses for the oppressors because it is too hard for me to believe one would want to wipe out their own kind. I hope that it is because of a troubled childhood, or an abusive relationship that went on without end, so that there is a reason, an extremely small one in comparison to the crime they commit, but it’s still a reason. Let me know your thoughts.

Changing the subject a tad, I would like to comment on Hosseini’s style of writing. It kept me content throughout the novel as far as Amir and Hassan’s insight of the culture and daily life. Hosseini liked to reiterate on memories from the past, even for just a second, so that the story was containable and cohesive. For example, on page 365, when Amir was chatting with an Afghan acquaintance about the king’s return to Afghanistan after 28 years of exile. Amir said,

“I remembered the night in 1973, the night Zahir Shah’s cousin overthrew him; I remembered gunfire and the sky lighting up silver — Ali had taken me and Hassan in his arms, told us not to be afraid, that they were just shooting ducks.”

Hosseini had a unique way of connecting exact events and the later memories of these events to remind the readers of the reality of Afghanistan’s situation. I hope those reading this comment know what I am talking about. It happens a lot in this novel. I appreciate this, because being forgetful at times, it is nice to have an “Ah ha” moment while reading. It keeps the reading involved and interested, which most likely was Hosseini’s intention.

Hosseini’s style of writing really enlightened me. Hosseini wrote this great long book, but I didn’t see any filler. He gave us a accurate image of each setting and what was occuring during each point of the story. He was very descriptive throughout the entire book. Even in other great books I read, I still recognized some filler that I didn’t think was totally necessary. What I thought was most incredible though was the fact that this was an actual situation. This wasn’t a fictional story that allowed creativity. This was simply a precise description of a story in Afghanistan. I am amazed and applaud the writing of Hosseini

Liz S.,

I understand your reasoning for disagree with my previous posts. From a view of each character’s personality, one may observe Lucy and Amir to foil one another. Lucy is brave and outgoing, where as Amir is cowardly and often timid among stronger characters. However, my post was a discussion of the characters inner struggles and the methods by which each handled them. Although, Amir’s cowardice is dissimilar to the cancer of Lucy, each character handles their situation in similar fashions.

As I read on in The Kite Runner, I was captivated by Hosseini’s tale of Amir and Assef’s altercation as adults. Hosseini writes, “’What’s so funny?’ Assef bellowed. Another rib snapped this time left lower. What was so funny was that, for the first time since the winter of 1975, I felt at peace. I laughed because I saw that, in some hidden nook in a corner of my mind, I’d even been looking forward to this…The slingshot made a thwiiiit sound when Sohrab released the cup. Then Assef was screaming.” (289-291) Stylistically, this passage of The Kite Runner is classic. Hosseini uses circular techniques that allow him to connect the reader from the beginning of the story to the end with amazing parallels. Hosseini weaves flashbacks to Amir’s childhood with Hassan under the pomegranate tree. The use of this flashback at this juncture of the novel, allows the reader to easily measure how far Amir has grown.
This passage also serves as a climactic moment as Amir is finally “healed”. In childhood, Amir’s cowardice ruled him. He was to fearful to stand-up to injustice and leaned on Hassan to fight for him or not fight at all. Ultimately this caused Amir the most shame and haunted him into adult life. Now, during his return to his homeland, a symbol of past sins and disgrace, Amir acts with bravery and pride. However, Amir is yet again saved by the fight of a friend, in this case his guardian angel’s son, Sohrab.

Yes. Liz Campo, I understood what you meant about rebellion the first time, but I didn’t agree with its phrasing so I took a more stabby approach to clarify.

When it comes to the Taliban (like Assef), one should try to understand what the individuals are going through. It is doubtlessly difficult to sympathize with people who injure or murder people for arbitrary reasons like exposing one’s ankles, but Taliban members are people too. Some actions may disgust us but a Taliban member might see it as necessary to maintain order. He might have been raised to see authority to be of utmost priority, so he is willing to do anything to preserve it.
Think: A lot of the new Taliban members were of our age. Were they forced into it, or did they choose that path willingly, awed by the apparent glory that illuminated that option? For me it is impossible to associate some extreme actions of the Taliban with an entire nation or even an entire people — but some Americans choose to waste their energy hating particular Middle East nations or Islam. (Not that I am implying that all Americans are this ignorant.) Each person has his own story, his own reasons for his actions, and it isn’t fair to just label him or his people as “evil” without considering context.
Take for example Hannibal Lecter, the brilliant but disturbing psychologist. Some call him evil but after considering his early life (Hannibal Rising), I can see why he chose such a disquieting life. I think Assef could have been a similar case and agree that he should have been better characterized.

Also, one more thought, that if you know me well enough you have probably heard me say several times:
Ruthless actions cannot be committed “in the name of God”. Using religion as an excuse to hurt other human beings is disgraceful but a reality. Most of the people who kill in the name of religion have some underlying reason to do it, but they aren’t strong enough to face the true motive. Maybe they have been indoctrinated by society to see certain people as inferior or even burdens to humankind — so such burdens should be removed from this world. This racism is in itself a problem but nobody dares confront it, so some people rally around the church (or mosque, if you prefer) and pretend to be doing good for God.

It’s similar to some atrocious actions committed by the Crusaders (killing and mutilating people who happened to disagree with their ideas). I would never associate those acts to any Christians simply because they claim to have the same religion. The Crusaders used the cross as an excuse to “exterminate” the people whom they felt didn’t deserve the right to live… but from a historical perspective that was a cowardly decision. I say, face your own problems like a mature person and deal with them so you don’t drag religion into it.

Yes, I agree completely with your observations, May. This is what I was talking about. I, too, am discouraged when those that persecute others say that it was in the name of God. It is a facade, an excuse, to make them feel righteous, when the real motive is mostly a personal hatred. I also agree with May’s statement, “Each person has his own story, his own reasons for his actions, and it isn’t fair to just label him or his people as “evil” without considering context.” I would like to reiterate that the method of telling the story that Hosseini chose made Assef seem fully evil, in every aspect, thought, and action during his life. I wish that Assef’s character would have explained more about the night he was thrown into jail, and maybe give some more background on the ‘abuse’, so his story would be apprehendable. Obviously, Assef’s brutality leads readers into pitying Hassan even more, and making Amir’s debt to Hassan more extensive. This style of writing fits the plot line very well, don’t get me wrong, and it is up there with Catcher in the Rye as one of my favorite books, but I was hoping for another dimension.

I tend to agree that Assef was rather one-sided in his descriptions. However he was not the focus of this story. He was just the symbol of the evil that needed to be redeemed. The real focus was Hassan’s and Amir’s relationship and the defining moment in both of their lives. Also isn’t it plausible that some people are just evil from creation? I mean Hitler was just plain evil. He persecuted Jews because they were someone to blame for the economy of Germany failing. Hitler was also just angry because he wasn’t accepted into an art school run by the Jews. Granted he was upset about the abrupt end to World War I and the harshness of the punishment, but he decided instead to exterminate all Jews and other undesirables to create the superior Aryan race. So if this type of evil has existed in real life isn’t it plausible that Assef was just plain evil?

The reason, in my mind, why Assef is shown as a one-dimensional character is to portray the Taliban as ruthless, senseless killers who only care about their own power. His whole purpose for writing this novel was to show what life in Afghanistan was like under the Taliban. This book was first published in 2003, right during the time in which the Americans began to overthrow the Taliban regime. This novel was written to inspire people to help the Afghani people. You have to keep this perspective in mind when you are considering the actions of the Taliban in Hosseini’s writing.

I realize the true intent of this story. In fact, I mentioned it in my last comment: “Obviously, Assef’s brutality leads readers into pitying Hassan even more, and making Amir’s debt to Hassan more extensive.” I agree with Adam about the intention for the readers to sympathize Afghanis, and I am not blaming Hosseini for not giving the other side of Assef’s story, because he simply doesn’t know the Taliban’s true motives either. I am saying this in a general stature. Knowing the full story of any persecuting group would make the world understand the fuel to the fire. But then again, it would be easier to solve international conflicts…You see, this book got me thinking deeply about scenarios I hadn’t thought about before, which is yet another result of Hosseini’s method of writing. Go figure.

I think this is a odd comparison but while reading I noticed that Assef reminded me of Draco Malfoy from Harry Potter. As other people were saying in earlier blogs, Assef was plain evil. He did not see the other side of someone’s life. Also, another point that connected Draco and Assef is that they both did not accept people different from themselves. They thought that pure blood was the only way to go. They also thought less of the people that befriended the minority.

In the beginning of the story, all Amir wanted was to make Baba proud of him and notice him. Amir went to great lengths to earn his father’s approval. After Amir won the kite flying competition, he left Hassan to defend for himself while he went to basque in his father’s acceptance. Amir later feels guitly for his actions in not helping his friend when he was in need. This moment haunts Amir for a long time until he is able to help out Hassan’s family. It is just like all of the other books we have read this summer. Each person has a flaw because no human is perfect. Amir’s flaw, not defending his best friend in his time of need.

Redemption is a beautiful thing. The ability to learn from past mistakes and make the right choices later is simply astounding; even though redemption is usually found because of guilt. The guilt pierces ones conscience and forces one to look for “a way to be good again”. Though, even after one has been “redeemed” the guilt will never leave. Guilt leaves bruises that will never heal, no matter how many good deeds are done. Though that is no reason to not look for redemption. Guilt never disappears but the pain of it can certainly be lessened.
Journeying with Amir through his process of redemption, I found this act of kindness extremely inspiring:
“Earlier that morning, when I was certain no one was looking, I did something I had done twenty-six years earlier: I planted a fistful of crumpled money under a mattress.” (p.242)
Amir was able to try to redeem his nang and namoos by doing the exact same act used to frame Hassan to help a family in great need. At this point, it is obvious that Amir is changing as a person and becoming more generous and understanding of the world he was so oblivious to.

I find it hard to believe that people are actually living in conditions that are described in the book. I hear about it on the new and i read about it but I have always found it hard to believe. After reading this book it made their situations more real to me. Hearing about someone’s story put it into perspective. I have a better understanding on what they were thinking going through and how they felt. I realize how much American’s should take their should take their lives for granted because not everybody has the kind of opportunities that we have.

When Amir says, “…I think a big part of the reason I didn’t care about Soraya’s past was that I had one of my own. I know all about regret,” I began to wonder how humanity tends to correct their sins when the immediate object of their sins can no longer be addressed. (180) In “The Kite Runner” Baba takes care of Ali and Hassan because he feels bad for having an affair with Ali’s wife. Amir for example tries to get Hassan to throw pomegranates, is glad from receiving the beating from Assef, and helps Sorab. Though the latter was mostly out of love, it was also partly out of guilt. Due to the fact that Amir and Baba were morally conscious humans, they tried to make up for their sins.
What I wondered was “Does trying you best to make up for a sin of the past, right you of that wrong.” I pondered the idea of “How many “rights” does it take to overcome a “wrong.”” Though I don’t have an answer for these questions, I do feel that both Amir and Baba made up for their sins. Since their sins where theft in different variations, I feel that they made up for it by giving back. Baba gave security and safety to Ali and Amir gave back his devotion to Hassan.
Though they were good men and took responsibility for their actions, not all react the same way. Furthermore, Amir and Baba would not be considered criminals in our time. Those who commit murder and are offenders like Assef tend not to be morally conscious. This is when our society steps in and decides what punishment will address their sin. Hosseini writes, “God says that every sinner must be punished in a manner befitting his sin.” (270) In the world today, society takes on the role of God.

“…There is only one sin, only one. And that is theft. Every other sin is a variation of theft.” (17)

This was my favorite line from the entire book. I understood it as soon as I read it and so that did not leave much for me to examine. What I started pondering though was of how we respond to this sin. There are those who believe in an eye for an eye, in retribution. Then there are those who believe that an eye for an eye for an eye leaves the whole world blind, in penance and atonement. I think that Amir and Baba believed in the latter. They believed and acted on atonement and self-punishment. They corrected their sins by giving back to those they had secretly stolen from.

I believe in both forms of punishment. I think that the way Amir and Baba responded to their sins was the next best thing to not committing the sins at all but I also believe in retribution for more serious crimes such as murder.

There are two similarities I found between Lucy and Amir.

The first one is simple, they both craved for their parents attention. Lucy tried to make her mom happy by not crying during her visits to the hospital and Amir longed for his father’s attention. He won the kite fighting competition for his dad, in order to see him cheer. Then he presented the blue kite Hassan gave him so that Baba would love him.

Secondly, Amir’s character can be related to the personality of Lucy Grealy. The way Lucy used her face to define herself was the same way Amir used his sin to define himself. Though Lucy’s act or rather her fate was brought upon her and she had no other option but to cope with her unwanted outcome. Her life composed of surgeries, random relationships/occurrences with men, and abundance of loving friends was a direct result of the way she acted due to her traumatic childhood that carried on into adulthood. This can also be said about Amir’s life. Though he choose to not help Hassan thus bringing his sin and regret upon himself, he used this self-inflicted shame to shape his life. (Forgiveness of Soraya, helping Sorab, etc.)

Shibandri-

While I completely agree with you that Lucy and Amir are similar in that they allowed their misfortune, or in Amir’s case his sin, to shape their life and who they became, I disagree with you on the other similarity you stated. I do not believe Lucy sought the attention of her mother, I think she sought the attention of people in general. Lucy’s wish was to be different, special, from others around her. Her illness gave her that wish; perhaps not in the form that she wanted, but still she got the attention she desired. Amir’s one desire was to feel that his father was proud of him and loved him. In the end, his efforts were unneccessary; Baba loved his son very much – he was just trying to reconcile his own guilty conscience. Amir was astounded when he discovered that Hassan was his half-brother; this is not the reason he expected for Baba’s apparent favoratism of Hassan. I guess Lucy and Amir were similar in that they both had desires, and both had their wishes fulfilled – in a roundabout way. It puts a whole new light on that old cliche saying: be careful what you wish for.

I must thank you Mr. Kreinbring, for asking it of your students to read this novel. It was my favorite of the summer reads by far, and for me the most enlightening.

“And that’s the thing about people who mean everything they say. They think everyone else does too.” (Page 55)
Sincerity was the only language that Hassan and Ali were familiar with, and they were oblivious to deceit of any kind. They lived and worked honestly which left whole, full hearts beating in their chests. The knowledge of truth and lies are embedded in this novel, and fashion a base on which to impress the virtue of honesty.

“But no one woke up and in the silence that followed, I understood the nature of my new curse: I was going to get away with it.” (Page 86)
Amir wanted to be freed from his immense burden with punishment for his sins; he did not however, wish to dispel Baba’s reverence. He couldn’t stand up to Assef when he was a boy because his fear was too great. Amir relished every strike from Assef as a man, hoping to finally chase away his cowardice, and become worthy of Hassan’s honor by saving the life of his only son. Amir showed his good character in his suffering. As humans we were born to sin, and we may not always act in a reputable manner. I think it is important to realize the power of honest confession and how it can change the course of life. Seeking and comprehending the truth are vital to decision making. How can one make an honest decision if he doesn’t know the truth of the situation?

“Maybe it was because Baba had been such an unusual Afghan father, a liberal who had lived by his own rules, as a maverick who had disregarded or embraced societal customs as he had seen fit.” (Page 180)
Baba lived his life by giving his wealth to those who needed it, while honoring Afghan traditions which abided by his law. His law was to do as you please so long as you do not steal. I feel as though Baba’s standards of living are similar to those of my own, or my ideal standards. I strive to create my own code of living that will grant others my respect and keep my mind and soul well fed.

As to be expected and like most of my peers, The Kite Runner was my favorite of this year’s summer reading. Its captivating plot filled with twist and turns held the reader’s attention while Hosseini’s ability to weave flashbacks, historical events and afghan culture is masterful.
One of the most thought provoking passages of Hosseini’s novel came towards the end of Amir’s journey toward redemption. Amir explains, “that was how forgiveness budded, not with the fanfare o epiphany, but with pain gathering its things, packing up, and slipping away unannounced in the middle of the night.” (359) Hosseini uses this passage to emphasize to the reader the true theme of this novel. As his text explains, The Kite Runner isn’t a novel of heroism or courage. Rather, The Kite Runner is a fable of forgiveness. It is a tale where mistakes are made, but like the characters, the reader recognizes forgiveness and redemption are more important.

As I wrote in my blogs for Truth and Beauty it was very difficult for me to get through it, so when I got too frustrated to read I decided to start The Kite Runner. Problem was, I got just as frustrated with this book. I did enjoy the unexpected and twisted plot, but I could not find myself to have respect for Amir. I found Amir and Hassan’s friendship was almost identical to Lucy and Ann’s. Amir and Lucy took advantage of the friendships they had. I find Amir a week and pathetic character. Even in the end I did not find myself liking him. He ran from his problems and only faced them when he was forced to.

Amir was from a different culture where your family’s past shaped your future. I cannot even fathom how hard it must have been for Hassan already, living in a world where no matter what, he was seen as trash and only useful to do someone’s dirty work. Imagine living in a world where if your parents happened to come from a poor family, it meant you also had to chance of success. I believe that is something that as Americans we take great advantage of, that we chose our futures. When Amir moves to the United States it is a new start for him, a place where he can change what he was, and escape from his past. Although his past does eventually catch up with him, I believe the ability to find himself away from the world he grew up in was what enabled him to change.

The foreshadowing in this book is remarkable. Hosseini’s ability to make this book and its context become full circle in incredible. Hosseini explains that the one thing that Amir and Hassan were able to do in front of everyone and not be ashamed of was run their kites. “Kites were the one paper thin slice of intersection between those spheres” (page 49). In the end of the book, after everything has happened with Amir and Sohrab, the one thing that brings them back together is kite running.

“The Kite Runner” was, by far, my favorite book on this summer reading list. The father and son relationship was dynamic, and went to the center of why the main character, Amir, grew up to become the man he became .Even though we’ve seen it before, this particular father-son story had meaning to me. I saw that these two people lived in two different worlds, and saw it with very different eyes. “The problem, of course, was that Baba saw the world in black and white. You can’t love a person who lives that way without fearing him too. Maybe even hating him a little” (15)
They had two different perspectives about honor, loyalty, and justice. These differences conflicted with eachother and are the reason why their relationship was so antagonistic.

Amir’s father is portrayed as a very hard man, and Amir thought the hole between them was a deep, dark abyss. And as we read from Amir’s perspective, he sees his father doing many good deeds and being praised by many people, but not for the sake of reaping any rewards from them, in this life or the next. However, he learns a huge truth about his father from Rahim Khan, and finds a connection between them in the most unlikely place. “We had both betrayed the people who would have given their lives for us… Rahim Khan had summoned me here to atone not just for my sins but for Baba’s too.” Amir felt it was an obligation to fulfill, not just for his sack, but for his father’s as well. Completing this task was a way for him to but the past behind him, feel good again, and no longer be haunted by the sin of turning his back on a friend, when he needed him most. Learning this truth also explains somethings to Amir, like why his father built an orphanage and selflessly helped so many people. It was his way of atoning for his sins, just like his struggle to find Sohrab.

“The Kite Runner” is so full of foreshadowing, you could probably read it several times, and still not have found all the subtle hints Hosseini leaves for us. The very first one I read, and the one that immediately stood out to me, was when Amir mentions what his and Hassan’s first words were.
“Mine was Baba.
His was Amir. My name.
Looking back on it now, I think the foundation for what happened in the winter of 1975–and all that followed– was already laid in those first words.” (11)
The author doesn’t even try to hide it or make it like a clue for his readers to find. It’s simply there, for the purpose of letting you know what’s coming, and that it will be heartbreaking. As a boy, and for even the most part of his adult life, Amir always yearned for and felt the need to attain his fathers’ recognition, attention, and love. That was his first priority. Hassan, however, thought of Amir as his best friend and therefore his number one priority, whenever they were in danger, was to protect Amir.
After having finished the book, I find more meaning in these scattered highlighted passages now than when I highlighted them in the first place because I thought they would have meaning. In sum, I really liked this book, as well as the authors writing style.

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