Identify Amir’s strongest emotions in Chapters 1-12. Which emotions are persistent, and which change over time? Based on these emotions and how are presented, compare Amir with one other character from the novel and judge (a)which of these characters is more in touch with their true emotions and (b) which of them is more justified in feeling the way they do.
“That was a long time ago, but it’s wrong what they say about the past, I’ve learned, about how you can bury it. Because the past claws its way out.” (Chapter1) If the soul of a man inevitably engraves with the mark of time, then the childhood undoubtedly guards the secret gate of life. For Amir, the event occurred in the winter of 1975 left him an unforgettable scar while also aroused …show more content…
On the one hand, it seems that the overall reason Amir treats Hassan the way that he does is attributed to his envy toward Hassan. “Baba was there, watching, and he patted Hassan on the back. Even put his arm around his shoulder.” (Chapter 4) Hassan has an athletic advantage over Amir which impresses Baba more so than Amir’s intellectual capabilities and here the word “even” implies Amir’s strong jealousy towards Hassan. On the other hand, the superiority hidden behind Amir’s mask emerges in his mind and gradually distorts their original friendship. As Amir grows up and finds out that he was a Pashtun while Hassan was just a Hazara, he realizes that Hassan was inferior to him and that he was just someone who served him——“Maybe Hassan is the price I need to pay, the lamb I need to slay, to win Baba.” (Chapter 7) suggests the authentic emotion in Amir’s inner that he thinks Hassan is worth sacrificing. In contrast with Amir’s emotional characteristics, Hassan seems prefer to hiding his true feelings. In fact, there are many foreshadowing in the first several chapters that implying Hassan’s subtle but elusory emotions behind his royal and tough mask. For instance, we can feel Hassan’s woeful heart from “Hassan never talked about his mother, as if she’d never existed.” …show more content…
From where I stand, I reckon that Amir’s condescending and envious feelings are deserved to have basically due to the special social culture. In that time period, Pashtuns are considered the most powerful ethnic group in Afghanistan society and the Hazaras are oppressed severely. What the soldier barked to Hassan, “You! The Hazara! Look at me when I’m talking to you!” (Chapter2) directly reflects the phenomenon of social inequality and tribal discrimination are absolutely common and reasonable. To be exact, in other Afghani people’s eyes, a boy like Amir who comes from a powerful and wealthy family would never make friends or play with a flat-nosed Hazara just like what Assef said, “How can you talk to him, play with him, let him touch you?” (Chapter 5) Hence, it’s justified that Amir has instinctive superiority over Hassan which causes him never consider Hassan as a friend and also his envy since there was no point for Baba to treat a boy “born with stupid harelip” so nicely. Beyond that, feeling guilt and sorrow are also deserved for Amir because they are like a kind of suitable punishment for how he treated Hassan. “Amir agha and I are friends.” (Chapter 7)——Facing Hassan’s genuineness and reliance, Amir ultimately chooses betrayal his conscience and escape the sin. Whereas, everyone should pay the price for the
“That was a long time ago, but it’s wrong what they say about the past, I’ve learned, about how you can bury it. Because the past claws its way out.” (Chapter1) If the soul of a man inevitably engraves with the mark of time, then the childhood undoubtedly guards the secret gate of life. For Amir, the event occurred in the winter of 1975 left him an unforgettable scar while also aroused …show more content…
On the one hand, it seems that the overall reason Amir treats Hassan the way that he does is attributed to his envy toward Hassan. “Baba was there, watching, and he patted Hassan on the back. Even put his arm around his shoulder.” (Chapter 4) Hassan has an athletic advantage over Amir which impresses Baba more so than Amir’s intellectual capabilities and here the word “even” implies Amir’s strong jealousy towards Hassan. On the other hand, the superiority hidden behind Amir’s mask emerges in his mind and gradually distorts their original friendship. As Amir grows up and finds out that he was a Pashtun while Hassan was just a Hazara, he realizes that Hassan was inferior to him and that he was just someone who served him——“Maybe Hassan is the price I need to pay, the lamb I need to slay, to win Baba.” (Chapter 7) suggests the authentic emotion in Amir’s inner that he thinks Hassan is worth sacrificing. In contrast with Amir’s emotional characteristics, Hassan seems prefer to hiding his true feelings. In fact, there are many foreshadowing in the first several chapters that implying Hassan’s subtle but elusory emotions behind his royal and tough mask. For instance, we can feel Hassan’s woeful heart from “Hassan never talked about his mother, as if she’d never existed.” …show more content…
From where I stand, I reckon that Amir’s condescending and envious feelings are deserved to have basically due to the special social culture. In that time period, Pashtuns are considered the most powerful ethnic group in Afghanistan society and the Hazaras are oppressed severely. What the soldier barked to Hassan, “You! The Hazara! Look at me when I’m talking to you!” (Chapter2) directly reflects the phenomenon of social inequality and tribal discrimination are absolutely common and reasonable. To be exact, in other Afghani people’s eyes, a boy like Amir who comes from a powerful and wealthy family would never make friends or play with a flat-nosed Hazara just like what Assef said, “How can you talk to him, play with him, let him touch you?” (Chapter 5) Hence, it’s justified that Amir has instinctive superiority over Hassan which causes him never consider Hassan as a friend and also his envy since there was no point for Baba to treat a boy “born with stupid harelip” so nicely. Beyond that, feeling guilt and sorrow are also deserved for Amir because they are like a kind of suitable punishment for how he treated Hassan. “Amir agha and I are friends.” (Chapter 7)——Facing Hassan’s genuineness and reliance, Amir ultimately chooses betrayal his conscience and escape the sin. Whereas, everyone should pay the price for the