The Kite Runner
Discuss how the ever-changing politics of Afghanistan affect each of the characters in the novel.
Amir - benefit - grew up and lived adult years in America Baba - lost all his power, forced to adapt to American life Hassan - benefited during Russian invasion, experienced extreme prejudice when Taliban came Rahmin Khan - a little affected, fled to Pakistan
Baba and Amir know that they are very different people. Often it disappoints both of them that Amir is not the son that Baba has hoped for. When Amir finds out that Baba has lied to him about Hassan, he realizes that "as it turned out, Baba and I were more alike than I'd never known." How does this make Amir feel about his father? How is this both a negative and positive realization?
Amir is angry at his father for robbing him of a half-brother, but is also relieved because his entire life he strived to be like his father and finding out that they are similar in the way that they both keep huge secrets. It's a positive realization due to the fact that Amir discovers the similarities between he and his father, but is also negative since the similarities they share are not exactly traits to be proud of.
As Amir remembers an Afghan celebration in which a sheep must be sacrificed, he talks about seeing the sheep's eyes moments before its death. "I don't know why I watch this yearly ritual in our backyard; my nightmares persist long after the bloodstains on the grass have faded. But I always watch, I watch because of that look of acceptance in the animal's eyes. Absurdly, I imagine the animal understands. I imagine the animal sees that its imminent demise is for a higher purpose." Why do you think Amir recalls this memory when he witnesses Hassan's tragedy in the alleyway? Amir recollects the memory again toward the end of the novel when he sees Sohrab in the home of the Taliban. Discuss the image in the context of the novel.
Amir recalls this tragedy in the alleyway because both situations are similar. Hassan's loyalty causes him to accept what is going to happen to him, and Amir believes that he is going to go through with it for a higher purpose, which is to get the kite so Amir can earn his father's acceptance. He recalls it again with Sohrab due to the fact Sohrab's situation is extremely similar to Hassan's situation, both with Assef as the predatory figure.
Discuss the difference between Baba and Ali and between Amir and Hassan. Are Baba's and Amir's betrayals and similarities in their relationships of their servants (if you consider Baba's act a betrayal) similar or different? Do you think that such betrayals are inevitable in the master/servant relationship, or do you feel that they are due to flaws in Baba's and Amir's characters, or are they the outcome of circumstances and characters?
Amir's betrayal involved him running away, leaving Hassan to get raped so that he could get the kite and earn Baba's approval. Baba's betrayal involves him sleeping with Ali's wife Sanaubar and boring Hassan, who he tells Ali to pretend to be his son. I believe these betrayals are different, and have to do with character flaws and outcomes and circumstances. If one was in Amir's place, regardless of wanting a kite or not, the first instinct would be to run away to safety. Now that instinct may also be stepping in and defending, but perhaps this is a character flaw for Amir - caring about his safety and earning Baba's approval. Baba is just another man who sometimes cannot resist the charms of a woman, and cares for his ego so much that by telling Ali to call Hassan his son he makes sure people don't know he, a Pashtun, slept with a Hazara.
Compare and contrast the relationships of Soraya and Amir and their fathers. How have their upbringings contributed to these relationships?
Both of their fathers had been high-powered, important men in Afghanistan, including rich businessman and military general. While Amir constantly tries to please and earn the approval of his father, Soraya explicitly states her difference and chooses to do what she wants, regardless of her father's opinions.
What is the significance of the irony in the first story that Amir writes? After hearing Amir's story, Hassan asks, "Why did the man kill his wife? In fact, why did he ever have to feel sad to shed tears? Couldn't he have just smelled an onion?" How is his reaction to the story a metaphor for Amir's life? How does this story epitomize the difference in character between Hassan and Amir?
In the story, the man satisfies his greed by destroying what is most dear to him. This is reflective of Amir, and how he is willing to sacrifice Hassan being raped so he can earn Baba's approval. In doing so, he sacrifices his friendship with him and feels guilt for the rest of his life. It also goes to show how Amir tries to take the easier way out of things, including running away instead of helping Hassan. Hassan, however, would most likely do the opposite.
Amir and Hassan have a favorite story. Does the story have the same meaning for both men? Why does Hassan name his son after one of the characters in the story?
The story has a different meaning for both of them. For Amir, the father and son (Sohrab and Rostam) represents the relationship between him and his father, and talks about how all fathers secretly harbored a desire to kill their sons. Hassan is touched on an emotional level, and names his son Sohrab because Sohrab was his favorite character from the story.