The Kite runner begins in a culture that is not very relevant to me. The only thing I really know about the Muslims is they devalue women and have large families, therefore I believe it might be hard for this book to catch my attention. However the fact that the story begins “In media res” does help me to begin to pursue reading it. At the begging of the book when the author says “I became what I am today at the age of twelve, on a frigid overcast day in the winter of 1975 “ I am already enthralled with anticipation as to what has he become, and what caused him to become this? This is an instant way that I have notice the author thus far is able to keep my attention.
As the story begins I fully enjoy the vivid image that is painted in my mind of the setting. It seems as if the author really tried to involve the reader into his culture. Explanation of what a kite running it, and what the character of Amir and Hassan do I their spare time like “ roam the streets” or “ read stories” help me to understand what the life is like over there. The many different character foils also help for me to get a feel and emotional appeal to the story. An example is how Rahim Khan is a character foil of Baba. He is the supportive like father that fills in for the lack of support Baba seem to give his son Amir. Rahim seems to believe in Amir more than Baba saying that to him “ you just need to let him ( Amir) find his way.” Another character foil is that of Amir and Hassan. Hassan is the typical loving and quite side kick of Amir, while Amir is the more deceptive and a little power struck dictator in their friendship. I am curios for the future to see how these two character foil unfold and if their character change because of each other.
11.6.07
28.5.07
Free to run
The final words of Amir are simple, but hold an immense amount of meaning. His concluding words, as he is retrieving the kite for Sohrab are “ I [run]”, which becomes even more powerful to the ending of the book, when Amir repeats again “ I ran”. The simplicity of the statement is obvious, because he simply is running as free as the wind to retrieve the kite; as Hazzan did for him one. However the statement “ I ran” is huge because, to me for once it seems that Amir is running for something instead of running away. Going back to the beginning of the book, he ran away from Hazzan when he was in need. He also ran away from the guilt, which like a plague haunted him, by plotting for Hazzan and his father to be kicked out. It was not until he ended up on an adventure back in Afghanistan that the clouds began to shift His character began its slow trasision.He had no idea what he was getting into but made an effort to push forward and fight for what is right. However he was hesitant to do so, always questioning, and remembering, contradicting himself, wondering why he was not back in America with his loving wife? As time and experience has shaped his character he,now as “ [he] ran” it with complete passion and without hesitation.. This statement shows incredible passion because there is no uncertainty. He first offered, “ Do you want me to run that kite for you?” and with a simple nod from Sohrab he said ‘ for you a thousand times over” and just begins to run.
In my mind I picture this slow motion movie clip, where this grown man’s arms are flailing around like an imbecile, as he flows freely with the wind. He captures everyone’s attention because he looks like sure an idiot, but he doesn’t care. The sun is a golden color reflecting off of the red and maple leaves. He runs, run in the open field, finally with some sort of purpose. This is how I view Amir now, his confidence has blown through the roof, and he really has come to terms with himself. It has taken a life time to deal with his guilt that has entrapped his soul, but he is now free, free to run with no limitations.
In my mind I picture this slow motion movie clip, where this grown man’s arms are flailing around like an imbecile, as he flows freely with the wind. He captures everyone’s attention because he looks like sure an idiot, but he doesn’t care. The sun is a golden color reflecting off of the red and maple leaves. He runs, run in the open field, finally with some sort of purpose. This is how I view Amir now, his confidence has blown through the roof, and he really has come to terms with himself. It has taken a life time to deal with his guilt that has entrapped his soul, but he is now free, free to run with no limitations.
9.5.07
A Character of countless suprises
Yet again Amir character is full of countless surprises. At this point in the book he is back in Afghanistan, his homeland, searching for technically, his nephew (which he actually just found out about). The shocker is that Afghanistan is not as Amir knows it to be. Now through war it is as if a hurricane has devoured all the good while leaving people desperate, famished, with no water or food. The streets are pilled with children with no fathers, and Tabil’s, only ready to kill more. This as one can imagine is an ultra disaster in the mind of Amir, yet he seems to remain secure in himself and the new war torn afganistan.. At one point in chapter 20 where he finds out that his nephew has most likely been sold into the sex trade, he remains unreasonably calm. However Amir fellow Farid freaks onto the man who sold Amir nephew and begins to attack him, screaming, “ I’m killing him”. It is Amir who intervenes and stops Farid. Why does Amir stop Faird? Why would a person who was sneaky enough before to set up Hassan in order to get him kick out of the house, suddenly be so rational and calm?
I believe the answer to this question is that Amir’s guilt is driving him. The trip back to Afghanistan is a way to finally setting thing right with Hassan, and sending Amir’s guilt to the grave. In knowing this though; Amir character seems strange because I would suspect that he would be a little bit crazier. After seeing his old home, and seeing the ruins, after knowing what Hassan had to live through, one would think that Amir would have more guilt. I would expect this guild to drive him crazy and possibly drive him back into a moment of his old self. In his old self he would want to run away, just forget what has happened, and act cowardly as always. The fact that he is not acting this way and is remain calm and confident is surprising. I guess I am skeptical to believe that this surprise will last much longer. I would expect in the near future of the book for Amir’s old character to emerge at one point or another. The immense guilt that he has lived with for so long, has had too strong of a hold on Amir life for it to be dissolved that easily. I predict a struggle within Amir character, but maybe I will be surprised again, it seems it is hard to know with Amir and his surprising character.
I believe the answer to this question is that Amir’s guilt is driving him. The trip back to Afghanistan is a way to finally setting thing right with Hassan, and sending Amir’s guilt to the grave. In knowing this though; Amir character seems strange because I would suspect that he would be a little bit crazier. After seeing his old home, and seeing the ruins, after knowing what Hassan had to live through, one would think that Amir would have more guilt. I would expect this guild to drive him crazy and possibly drive him back into a moment of his old self. In his old self he would want to run away, just forget what has happened, and act cowardly as always. The fact that he is not acting this way and is remain calm and confident is surprising. I guess I am skeptical to believe that this surprise will last much longer. I would expect in the near future of the book for Amir’s old character to emerge at one point or another. The immense guilt that he has lived with for so long, has had too strong of a hold on Amir life for it to be dissolved that easily. I predict a struggle within Amir character, but maybe I will be surprised again, it seems it is hard to know with Amir and his surprising character.
16.4.07
A lifted Burden
Since furthering into the novel “ The Kite Runner” I have actually been in awe at the character change within Amir. I was assured that this story would really be almost depressing because of Amir weak and cowardly personality. To predict the ending from the first 10 chapters I would say that the only outcome for Amir character development would be the fact that later on in life, he is able share his story by writing a biography. In doing this he would be finally release his guilt and possibly move on from the past that haunts him. What actually happens though is that Amir character seems to change shortly after the significant event… getting married. When he marries Soraya the mood in the story shifts because for once Amir’s father is truly proud of his son. By true I mean that this time it is not for something that is fake, like when he brought home the blue kite, but for something that Amir actually accomplished himself. That moment in time where his father is proud of him seems to lift life long insecurities within Amir, like the fear he will never meet his father’s expectations. It also appears to annihilate the constant comparison in Amir head, between Hassan and himself. This is proven when at the wedding Amir father states “ I wish Hassan were here to see you”. Instead of Amir normal retaliation to comments like this he returns a smile and remains happy. This positive change of character continues, Amir is no longer unhappy, and begins to write and sell his books, becoming quite famous in the Afghanistan community. As Amir character constantly develops, a sense of honor begins to emerge from Amir, specifically when he decides to go back and reconcile with Rahim Khan. While visiting, Amir also accepts the task bestowed upon him by Rahim to locate Hassan’s child, and make amend with Hassan’s once and for all. This to me is the ultimate demonstration of Amir’s changed character because, never in the past would Amir do anything for anyone else, especially Hassan. Amir has had years to make things right with Hassan, but he was always to cowardly to do so. Finally in doing so it is like a burden is lifted, and a new Amir comes out.
15.3.07
The Price of Approval
Why does it always appear that the honest person always loses, while the dishonest, selfish, and cowardly person comes out on top? This is a question I would like to raise after reading chapter seven of “ The Kite Runner”, and learning the sacrifice that Hassan made, only to aid in Amir agha’s glory. When Hassan fought till the end in order to give the promised “ blue kite” to Amir agha, he showed true loyalty, along with an honest and pure character. In return for his outstanding character, he experienced a sexually devaluing act, which played a huge role in the negative change in his character. At this same point in time Amir agha had the opportunity to save his so called “ friend” from this traumatic experience, and in the least give his verbal praise for his loyalty, but in reality he chose to be the dishonest, selfish, and cowardly person, and who uses Hassan to gain the approval of his father. It is evident when Amir agha describes seeing his father as “ just the way he’d imagined”, that he has gained his fathers approval but all at the cost of Hassan’s dignity.
After analyzing the out come of this situation, I realized that although Amir agha gains his fathers approval, its is only for a mere second, and after that second his cowardly choice haunts him, and leaves him feeling empty. Amir agha after the situation continues to fight for his father attentions like when he asked if his father will take his to the movies, but still his father poses, “ Do you want to ask Hassan to come along?” This aggravates Amir and in his head he reflects, “ Why did Baba have to spoil it like that?” Amir believes that because it appears as if he won the kite tournament, and got the blue kite, that he should continue to have the attention, and he wonders why his father still cares about Hassan. The answer to his question in my mind is that when people cheat, and try to get by the easy way they gain nothing, and their moment of glory is short and superficial. After it is over they are left with nothing but guilt. Even though Hassan does not appear to have gained anything at this point I am sure the in the end his strong character will benefit, while Amir’s weak and shameful character will only cause his more emptiness and hardship in the future.
Why does it always appear that the honest person always loses, while the dishonest, selfish, and cowardly person comes out on top? This is a question I would like to raise after reading chapter seven of “ The Kite Runner”, and learning the sacrifice that Hassan made, only to aid in Amir agha’s glory. When Hassan fought till the end in order to give the promised “ blue kite” to Amir agha, he showed true loyalty, along with an honest and pure character. In return for his outstanding character, he experienced a sexually devaluing act, which played a huge role in the negative change in his character. At this same point in time Amir agha had the opportunity to save his so called “ friend” from this traumatic experience, and in the least give his verbal praise for his loyalty, but in reality he chose to be the dishonest, selfish, and cowardly person, and who uses Hassan to gain the approval of his father. It is evident when Amir agha describes seeing his father as “ just the way he’d imagined”, that he has gained his fathers approval but all at the cost of Hassan’s dignity.
After analyzing the out come of this situation, I realized that although Amir agha gains his fathers approval, its is only for a mere second, and after that second his cowardly choice haunts him, and leaves him feeling empty. Amir agha after the situation continues to fight for his father attentions like when he asked if his father will take his to the movies, but still his father poses, “ Do you want to ask Hassan to come along?” This aggravates Amir and in his head he reflects, “ Why did Baba have to spoil it like that?” Amir believes that because it appears as if he won the kite tournament, and got the blue kite, that he should continue to have the attention, and he wonders why his father still cares about Hassan. The answer to his question in my mind is that when people cheat, and try to get by the easy way they gain nothing, and their moment of glory is short and superficial. After it is over they are left with nothing but guilt. Even though Hassan does not appear to have gained anything at this point I am sure the in the end his strong character will benefit, while Amir’s weak and shameful character will only cause his more emptiness and hardship in the future.
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