Some questions to think about: What do you think of Amir's actions? Why does he do what he does and how does it enhance or destroy his character? What is going on inside? What do you learn about the culture and religion that hints at the fact that Amir would decide to do this?
24 comments:
Jenna Marcotte
3/5/08
While reading this book, I found Hassan to be quite interesting, even though he isn't looked at as being worthy due to being a Hazara amoung Pastuns. He still looks at life like a prize and doesn't take things for granted. He's a loyal friend and understands differences between Amir and himself but isn't concerned. He can't read or go to school, but that doesn't get him down he still enjoys the readings from Amir and takes intrest. During this 1st section of reading Amir/narrotor describes the relationships with his father(Baba) and how he doesnt support his writting and wants him to be like everyother boy. He also describes Hassan's family, as well as their similairity of not having mothers. Conflicts arise when Amir and Hassan get confronted with Assef and his friends. He challenges Amir and Amir says that Hassan is his servant, when he's actually his best friend. Hassan sticks up for his best friend and threatens Assef with a sling shot. Later after Amir wins the Kit Champioship Hassan gets "assaulted" by Assef when searching for his kite, Amir watches the whole thing and does nothing to help his "servant" more so friend.
Jenna Marcotte
3/5/08
While reading this book, I found Hassan to be quite interesting, even though he isn't looked at as being worthy due to being a Hazara amoung Pastuns. He still looks at life like a prize and doesn't take things for granted. He's a loyal friend and understands differences between Amir and himself but isn't concerned. He can't read or go to school, but that doesn't get him down he still enjoys the readings from Amir and take intrest. During this 1st section of reading Amir/narrotor describes the relationships with his father(Baba) and how he doesnt support his writting and wants him to be like everyother boy.(athlete, handyman)He also describes Hassan's family, as well as their similairity of not having mothers. Conflicts arise when Amir and Hassan get confronted with Assef and his friends. He challenges Amir and Amir says that Hassan is his servant, when he's actually his best friend. Hassan sticks up for his best friend and threatens Assef with a sling shot. Later after Amir wins the Kit Chappannship Hassan gets harassed by Assef when searching for his kite, Amir watches the whole thing and does nothing to help his "servant" more so friend.
Lydia Perkins
Day One Block Two
I would agree with you about Hassan. You would think that he would be upset and angry with his life. I think that I would if I was him. Not having a mother, not able to go to school, but most of all to not be treated equality. I think that is says a lot about his character to be so optimistic.
Also when Hassan gets "assaulted" when his looking for his kite. I don't know how stupid this might be but I didn't really understand the conflicts between assef and hassan and amir. Dose amir stick up for hassan or not? and what's with assef anyway?
While reading this book I find Amir to have a quiet gratefulness for Hassan. He hangs out with him when no one is around but when he does, he enjoys himself immensely. He loves reading to him because when Hassan asks questions, it makes Amir enjoy the book that much more. I think that he's only ashamed of Hassan because he's their servant. I think that Amir is a selfish person for not doing anything to stick up for Hassan when he got assaulted by Assef because servant or not, if he's you're friend then you do whatever you can to help him especially if they're done the same thing for you. This book hasn't been as bad as I thought it would be. I took The Middle East last year and it didn't spark an interest with me one bit, but this is different. It's a story of 2 kids living seperate lives but learning to be friends regardless. I think it will be interesting and I can honestly say I'm pleasantly suprised by this book.
Sean Knight
Day 1, Block 1
So far I am really interested in this book. I think it is interesting ready about a different culture and learning new things about them. Before this I had never heard of Pastuns or Hazara. I find the conflict that Amir has of considering Hassan as a friend or a servant, very intriguing and can't wait to read more about it!
Sean Knight
Day 1, Block 1
I can't believe that Amir actually was considering calling Hassan his servant in front of Assef and his friends! I believe its an odd connection that Assef made between the Germans and the Jews and the Pastuns and the Hazaras. It makes me sad to know that there are more people out there who consider an entire race inferior, and it almost disgusts me. I hope Amir can push through Assef's beliefs and pressures and realize that Hassan is a good friend and a good Hazaran friend at that!
Sean Knight
Day 1, Block 1
With the plastic surgery Baba bought Hassan for his birthday and other evidence, do you think Baba likes Hassan more than his own son? From Amir's perspective, he sure does!
Colleen Parks
3-9-08
So far I have enjoyed the book. I like how Amir looks at life, and how he values it so much. I respect him for befriending Hassan even though he knows/knew that it was socially rejected to be a friend with a servent. They enjoy the time they spend together, and share a lot of the same life struggles, such as both having lost a mother. Hassan is a great friend to Amir, and enjoys his writings. Since he enjoys them this makes Amir motivated to continue with his writing after he has been more or less shut down to it by his father. One part that really bothers me when Amir didn't stand up for Hassan when Assef goes after him. What are friends for? I guess he is more concerned about what people think about him then helping his friend out.
Sean Knight
Day 1, Block 1
I cannot believe that Amir just let Assef and his friends beat up Hassan in the alley. He could have done something, but he just sat there and then ran away and pretended he never saw it. Then Hassan, god bless his heart, still gives Amir the blue kite so Amir can present it to his dad and see that Baba is proud of him. I'm sick of Amir treating such a good friend like a servant.
Sean Knight
Day 1, Block 1
I don't know what I would do if my country was invading. I can't imagine just packing up and leaving everthing you've ever known behind. I feel bad for Baba and Amir.
Caitlin Endsley
3-9-08
To expand off of what Lydia said, the conflict between Assef and Hassan is because Hassan is a Hazara while Amir and Assef are Patsuns. Apparently this is not acceptable to Assef because he thinks Hitler was a great ruler. he thinks they should do to the Hazaras what they did to the Jews and get rid of them all so they can have a "perfect" society. Amir doesn't care what Hassan is because they're friends but he knows it's socially unacceptable to be friends with a Hazara especially one that's a servant. That's my perspective but I hope I helped clear it up a little?
Caitlin Endsley
Day 1 Block 2
3-16-08
I think that Amir's actions are one of a very confused person. He doens't know what to do with himself. He wants so badly to impress his Baba but also wants to be himself and just be accepted by his father. He's trying desperately to be something he's not and for one reason and that's to make his father happy. I don't think he would've ran Hassan and Ali out of the house if he didn't think Hassan was taking his spot in his father's heart.
My view on Amir's actions is just selfishness. He's insecure about himself so he does what he can to get rid of his competition. At least he knows it's wrong though. He does have a conscience because he feels guilty about what he does...he just doesn't have the will power to do anything about it.
I think all in all Amir is not a bad person, just very very confused and defeated. He's like a teenage girl, never feeling good enough and trying to fit the mold of what you're supposed to be. Only instead of it being society, it's the mold his Baba created for him. He wants nothing more than for his father to be proud of him...not just once for winning the kite tournament but all the time. I believe he has a long way to go and needs to stop being such a rat.
Sean Knight
Day 1, Block 1
Chapter 13 seemed like a very emotional chapter for Amir. Getting married with Soraya and dealing with his father's funeral must be extremely stressful and hard on the heart and mind. I feel for his situation and have realize that this book causes the reader to be very empathetic.
Sean Knight
Day 1, Block 1
I'm glad Amir is going to go back to Pakistan and visit Rahim. He owes it to Rahim and to Hassan to go back. Hopefully Amir will realize what he did in his past was wrong, and will confess his past sins. If he doesn't learn now, I don't know if he ever could?
Sean Knight
Day 1, Block 1
I can't believe that Hassan is Amir's brother! I also can't believe that they kept it from the boys for so long! How could Baba do that, and why would he do that? I think Amir has every right to be fired up, because now he wasn't just horrible to a person, he was horrible to a brother.
Sean Knight
Day 1, Block 1
Amir is such a mess now. I fell horrible for him. I wonder if he wishes that Rahim would never have told him about Hassan and him being brothers? Do you think that would make it any easier? In my opinion, he would be a lot better off if Rahim would have kept his mouth shut.
Colleen Parks
3-23-08
I think Amir is very confused and lost in his life. So much is going on, it's got to be so hard to handle!! Between his father being sick, and getting married so much must be tosing through his mind. Also the marrige it bringing up a lot of feelings other than just love for Amir. He is beginning to think about Hassan and what he may be doing. Amirs mind is much like a ping-pong ball. Bouncing all over the place, back and forth.
Sean Knight
Day 1, Block 1
It is horrible the things that have happened to Afghanistan, and Amir finally gets to see that. He sees that many villages he knew are in ruins, and the people in them that he knew are now either dead or in refugee camps. From this he gathers that the people who died are luckier than those still alive, because of the torture and horrible things that are done to the refugees. This makes me think about the holocaust and the tragedies of that event in history.
Sean Knight
Day 1, Block 1
I find it odd that Amir needed to be beaten to feel at peace. All this time, he felt guilty for leaving Hassan in the alley that day. He tried to get Hassan to hit him one time, because he thought that would fix everything. It wasn't until Assef beat Amir that he felt at peace again. Luckily Sohrab was there with the slingshot, or Amir would have been killed right there. I find it very fitting that Hassan's son repeated history, and threatend Assef with a slingshot. The only difference, is Sohrab actually went through with it.
Sean Knight
Day 1, Block 1
I think the dream Amir has of Baba wrestling a bear symbolizes his own battle with Assef. Amir finally became the man he thought his father always wanted him to be, and he did that by stepping up against his fears and fighting when he was positive he would die. Courage is what Amir gained, and courage is what makes a man.
Sean Knight
Day 1, Block1
I was shocked when Sohrab cut himself. I thought for sure he wasn't going to live, but to my suprise he did. I find it interesting that Amir broke down and prayed now, after not praying for 15 years. He came to a conclusion that Baba was wrong though, and that a God does exist.
Sean Knight
Day 1, Block 1
It's too bad that Amir broke his promise to Sohrab, because now Sohrab doesn't trust Amir at all. The only reason he is going to America with him is because it is better than being a abandoned Hazara boy. Amir promises Sohrab a better life in America, so hopefully he can hold to his word this time.
Sean Knight
Day 1, Block 1
General Sahib refers to Sohrab as a "Hazara Boy" and Amir becomes furious. It completely suprised me that Amir stood up to the General and told him "You will never again refer to him as Hazara Boy in my presence". This was something that Baba would do, and I realized that Amir was acting more and more like Baba ever since he fought Assef. Perhaps he isn't acting like Baba though, and instead just finally standing up for what he believes in.
Sean Knight
Day 1, Block 1
I thought the book came to a very good ending. Amir and Sohrab flew a kite together, and Amir ran down telling Sohrab "for you a thousand times over". I believe Amir's kindness to Sohrab is his last step on his journey to atonement. He makes up for his poor treatment of Hassan by taking Sohrab under his wing and raising him to a better life.
Post a Comment