I think the reoccurring theme throughout the book is the character’s relationship to the past and how it shaped them into the people they are. In chapter twenty-two, when Assef is beating up Amir, Amir begins to feel peace again with himself since 1975. This shows how much guilt Amir has felt since Hassan got raped and he did not speak up. The guilt Amir has had to live with his whole life has caused him to think he is responsible for catastrophes. I think Amir’s attempts, throughout the story, to make up for the rape situation make him a wise and good character. From Amir’s experiences, I have learned that a person cannot hold onto a major mistake they made in the past because it will just dwell on them throughout life. If a person makes a substantial mistake, they should apologize and learn to live with that mistake. Also, tragic events are not caused from an individual’s past mistakes. I think this quote summarizes the lesson of the book as a whole “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.
