Mid-end of pg#289“My body was broken—just how badly I wouldn’t find out until later—but I felt healed. Healed at last. I laughed. ” This occurs when Amir is at Assef’s home, on the search for Sohrab. When then realizes that Assef has Sohrab, in order to win him over he had to fight Assef. Assef beats Amir with brass knuckles, causing Amir’s ribs to snap, cutting his slip and busting his jawline. Amir felt as if he deserved this, so he feels relieved. Amir believes he should have fought Assef years ago, to save Hassan from getting raped.
Ever since the rape occurred Amir struggled with guilt upon himself and it worsened since he was never punished. He tried to get punished when he was younger, by getting Hassan to throw pomegranates at him, because he thought he would then be equal for the way he treated Hassan. Hassan Decided to break the pomegranate on his forehead causing Amir to feel for guilty, because Hassan was so loyal to him. (Pomegranates symbolize Amir’s guilt, and Hassan’s loyalty) . Amir’s guilt carried on throughout his life until he confronted Assef and the fight made Amir feel psychologically healed, which caused him to laugh, when he was getting beat up.
End of pg#301“Your father, like you, was a tortured soul, Amir jan” When Amir reads the letter from Rahim Khan, Rahim Khan states that he and his father are similar. Both Baba and Amir were guilty for something they had done in the past and there guilt always followed them everywhere. Baba was guilty for sleeping with Ali’s wife Sanubar and having Hassan. Amir was guilty for Hassan’s rape and for the way he always treated Hassan in their childhood. Both Amir and Baba had guilt that tortured them, it shows how they are both similar throughout the book. They both made mistakes that caused them to have lifelong guilt.
Mid end of pg#222No he wasn’t. He and Sanaubar had Hassan, didn’t they? They had Hassan–” “No they didn’t,” Rahim Khan said. “Yes they did! ” “No they didn’t, Amir. ” “Then who–” “I think you know who. ”Rahim Khan tells Amir about Baba’s betrayal to him and Hassan. Baba slept with Ali’s wife Sanaubar, and had Hassan. Baba never told Amir or Hassan that they were half-brothers. Amir starts to see similarities between his father and him. Amir also feels that he is not the only one with guilt upon him. Baba also walked around with guilt. Amir’s betrayal of Hassan brings Amir and Baba closer in ways Amir would never predicted.
Even though they have two different stories upon guilt, they both still share the secrecy of guilt. Beginning- mid if pg#103 “It’s modest and not worthy of you, Amir agha. But we hope you like it still. Happy birthday. ” A lump was rising in my throat. “Thank you, Ali,” I said. I wished they hadn’t bought me anything. I opened the box and found a brand new Shahnamah, a hardback with glossy colored illustrations beneath the passages. In this quotation Ali gives Amir his birthday present which is a hardcover book of the Shahnamah which is a book Amir used to read to Hassan near the pomegranate tree.
Amir felt guilty for taking the book because he didn’t deserve it. Ali and Hassan aren’t very rich and they decided to get Amir a really nice book, it made Amir just feel worst because he felt bad for the way he treated Hassan and because he did not help Hassan during the rape. Amir feels guilty for accepting the present because he knows he is not worthy of it. End pg#2 “There is a way to be good again” This quotation has many meanings behind it one being guilt. Rahim Khan tells Amir there is a way to be good again, for what he has done in his childhood.
Rahim Khan knew about Hassan’s rape and that is the only reason he tries to help Amir, by telling him that he has another chance to not only let go of his lifelong guilt but to also redeem himself for what he had done with Hassan. Rahim Khan helps Amir feel better about himself for what he had done in his childhood that he could not get back. The quote also shows atone for Amir’s sins. Amir does not have to go through his life with the memory of his childhood haunting him, he has a way of being good. Amir gets a last chance to fix his mistakes. ? Reading Logs: Kite Runner
Theme: Betrayal and Redemption Page #QuoteDescription/Explanation Mid end of pg#222No he wasn’t. He and Sanaubar had Hassan, didn’t they? They had Hassan–” “No they didn’t,” Rahim Khan said. “Yes they did! ” “No they didn’t, Amir. ” “Then who–” “I think you know who. ”Rahim Khan tells Amir about Baba’s betrayal to him and Hassan. Baba slept with Ali’s wife Sanaubar, and had Hassan. Baba never told Amir or Hassan that they were half-brothers. Amir starts to see similarities between his father and him. Amir also feels that he is not the only one with guilt upon him. Baba also walked around with guilt.
Amir’s betrayal of Hassan brings Amir and Baba closer in ways Amir would never predicted. Even though they have two different stories upon guilt, they both still share the secrecy of guilt. Beginning of pg#19“Because the truth of it was, I always felt like Baba hated me a little. And why not? After all, I had killed his beloved wife, his beautiful princess, hadn’t I? The least I could have done was to have had the decency to have turned out a little more like him. But I hadn’t turned out like him. ”In this quotation Amir thinks Baba doesn’t really like him because Amir is different from Baba they don’t share many of the same interests.
Baba likes soccer and wrestling, while Amir like to write, and read. Baba is very courageous and on the other hand Amir is very sensitive. Amir thinks he needs to redeem himself because he blamed himself for killing his beautiful mother at birth and because he is nothing like his father. Amir feels that he needs to redeem himself for what he had done, and for not being like Baba. Baba never really bonded with Amir as they were so different. Baba also said there is only one sin which is theft. Amir feels that because of his birth he killed his mother, which means Baba has no wife, which is considered theft to Baba.
Amir feels that he has sinned for stealing the right of Baba having a wife, and Amir having a brother. Amir feels that he needs to redeem himself for his actions. Beginning of pg#361 Hassan is dead now. That boy sleeping on the couch is Hassan’s son. He’s my nephew. That’s what you tell people when they ask. ” They were all staring at me. “And one more thing, General Sahib,” I said. “You will never again refer to him as ‘HaI always zara boy’ in my presence. He has a name and it’s Sohrab. ” In this quote it shows that Amir is standing up for Sohrab. Amir is trying o redeem himself to Hassan and his family by doing the right thing.
Amir feels by doing so he is being and been faithful to Hassan all along and is removing the guilt from himself. Amir now knows the importance of Hassan to him and will do anything to stand up for Sohrab as it helps Amir to redeem himself to Hassan. Amir only has one way to redeem himself, which is Sohrab and he will do anything because of what Hassan willingly did for him. Beginning pg#302Sometimes, I think everything he did, feeding the poor on the streets, building the orphanage, giving money to friends in need, it was all his way of redeeming himself.
And that, I believe, is what true redemption is, Amir jan, when guilt leads to good. In this quotation from Rahim Khans letter, Rahim Khan tries to teach Amir how to redeem himself as his father being an example. Baba, who slept with Ali’s wife Sanubar, tried to redeem himself by always going to the less fortunate and like food to the poor and money to friends in need. From Rahim Khan’s letter from Rahim Khan Amir learned how to redeem himself from his mistakes. Amir then tries his best to redeem himself from Hassan, by giving Sohrab a better life that he deserves.
End pg#2 There is a way to be good again” This quotation has many meanings behind it one being guilt. Rahim Khan tells Amir there is a way to be good again, for what he has done in his childhood. Rahim Khan knew about Hassan’s rape and that is the only reason he tries to help Amir, by telling him that he has another chance to not only let go of his lifelong guilt but to also redeem himself for what he had done with Hassan. Rahim Khan helps Amir feel better about himself for what he had done in his childhood that he could not get back. The quote also shows atone for Amir’s sins.
Amir does not have to go through his life with the memory of his childhood haunting him, he has a way of being good. Amir gets a last chance to redeem himself to Hassan and Rahim wants to help Amir. Mid of pg#220“I want you to go to Kabul. I want you to bring Sohrab here,” he said. Rahim Khan gives Amir a last chance to redeem himself to Hassan, By finding Hassan’s son Sohrab and giving him a better life. Amir must go to Kabul to find Sohrab from an orphanage and bring him back with him so he can have a better life. Rahim Khan is trying to do whatever he could to help Amir from the guilt and tension he has from his childhood.
Also Amir’s last chance to redeem his friendship. Reading Logs: Kite Runner Theme: Father vs. Son relationship Page #QuoteDescription/Explanation Mid of pg#295“They fall to the ground with a loud thud and Baba is sitting on the bear’s chets, his fingers digging in its snout. He looks up at me and I see. He’s me. I am the wrestling bear” (295). When Amir fought Assef, he was severely injured, triggering him to recall the memory of Baba wrestling the bear, which made Amir compare himself to Baba. Leading to a Father vs. Son relationship connection.
The quotation reveals how Baba and Amir are alike, because they both fought in fierce fight’s; Amir with Assef and Baba with a bear. End of page #22“A boy who won’t stand up for himself becomes a man who can’t stand up to anything. ” As Baba talks about Amir with Rahim Khan. This quote shows Father vs. Son relationship between Amir and Baba. Baba talks about Amir’s cowardice, and how Amir is not capable of standing up for what is right. Baba does not praise Amir because of his lack of courage to stand up for himself, but Amir is always wanting Baba’s attention.
Since Amir wants Baba’s approval and is cowardice it causes the rape of Hassan. This quotation also shows if Amir is willing to risk his life for the search of Hassan’s son Sohrab in Kabul in order to redeem himself. Amir had the courage and strength that he lacked in before, to redeem himself and save Sohrab. End of pg#301 “Your father, like you, was a tortured soul, Amir jan” When Amir reads the letter from Rahim Khan, Rahim Khan states that he and his father are similar. Both Baba and Amir were guilty for something they had done in the past and there guilt always followed them everywhere.
Baba was guilty for sleeping with Ali’s wife Sanubar and having Hassan. Amir was guilty for Hassan’s rape and for the way he always treated Hassan. Both Amir and Baba had guilt that tortured them, it shows how they are both similar. Mid of pg#116Baba slapped my hand away” haven’t I taught you anything? He snapped. This quotation shows that there is tension between Baba and Amir and Baba is done with Amir always being cowardice. Amir always thinks he is a disappointment to his father since he is nothing like his father, and does not live up to the expectations of his father.
In Baba’s eyes he believes and Amir should be more courageous and brave, to follow the footsteps of a well gown man. The tension and miscommunication between them is a major role throughout the book reflecting their Father vs. Son relationship. End pg#21 Mid pg#23 “He’s always buried in those books or shuffling around the house like he’s lost in some dream…I wasn’t like that. ’ Baba sounded frustrated, almost angry”. “If I hadn’t seen the doctor pull him out of my wife with my own eyes, I’d never believe he’s my son”. In this quotation it shows that Baba is not proud of how Amir’s personality is, because Amir’s is nothing like him.
Baba wants Amir to be strong and be able to carry on his name, but Baba never takes the time to develop a strong relationship with him. Baba is emotionally distant from Amir and they have no real connection. Baba wouldn’t even believe that Amis was his son if he didn’t see him come out of his mother’s womb. Baba would never believe that Amir is his son. Baba does not have much of an attachment on Amir. Baba does not put effort to fix their relationship or create a father and son Bond. Since Baba was not devoted to his relationship with Amir he wasn’t able to provide a strong fatherly figure in his life.
Mid Pg#56″I was going to win, and I was going to run that last kite. Then I’d bring it home and show it to Baba. Show him once and for all that his son was worthy. “In this quotation Amir wants to win the kite tournament and he does. After winning the tournament all Amir wants to do is show Baba so he can make Baba proud for what he had done and feel more appreciated by Baba. Amir thinks if he doesn’t win Baba won’t love him and this is his way to make Baba feel more affectionate towards Amir and gain more attention. Even though Amir wins and Baba is happy he is still treated the same why in their Father vs. Son relationship.
