"He had the same resolved look on his face as the day he'd dropped the stack of food stamps on Mrs. Dobbin's desk." -Page 156
Throughout the entire story, Baba maintains his stubborn attitude. His stubborn ways become especially apparent when he and Amir move to America to start a new life. First, Baba refuses to learn English like Amir suggests. He also takes back the food stamps that he is given by their eligibility officer in San Jose. Finally, Baba refuses any kind of chemo medication or treatment when he finds out that he has cancer. He doesn't even allow Amir to tell anyone what is going on with his health. Even during the ups and downs that came with immigrating to America and starting over again, Baba remains "hardheaded" and "far too proud" for his own good. When Amir finally makes him go to a pulmonologist, Baba refuses to even speak to the first doctor after hearing that he was from Russia. Even though Dr. Schneider was born in Michigan, Baba could not allow himself to look past the Russian background of the man. Baba's obstinate personality may get in the way sometimes, but it is a part of who he is and who he has always been.
Tuesday, March 22, 2011
Blog #4 Literary Term: Irony
"Then he told Baba about Kamal. I caught only snippets of it: Should have never let him go alone...always so handsome, you know...four of them...tried to fight...God....took him...bleeding down there...his pants...doesn't talk anymore...just stares..." -Page 120
IRONY: a discrepancy between appearances and reality
There are many cases of irony in "The Kite Runner". One of the first situations involving irony that stood out to me was when Amir chose to leave Hassan instead of helping him. He chose the kite over his best friend because he thought that the kite would bring him happiness and lead to approval from his father. Amir thought that the blue kite was his key to success, but it actually did the opposite for him. The cost that came with the kite would haunt Amir for the rest of his life. Leaving Hassan in exchange for the kite actually turned Amir into the type of person his father despised the most.
Another example of irony also involves Hassan's rape, but it revolves around Kamal, one of the bullies present that day in the alley. He was the one who was worried about his parents finding out about the rape because he didn't want to get into trouble. He doesn't directly take part in the rape, but he holds Hassan down while Assef does it. This is ironic because Kamal ends up getting raped too later in the book. Just like Hassan, he is no longer himself and doesn't even speak. Kamal stood by and let Hassan get raped by Assef, and then it happens to him after that. He now goes through what he helped put someone else through, which is very ironic.
IRONY: a discrepancy between appearances and reality
There are many cases of irony in "The Kite Runner". One of the first situations involving irony that stood out to me was when Amir chose to leave Hassan instead of helping him. He chose the kite over his best friend because he thought that the kite would bring him happiness and lead to approval from his father. Amir thought that the blue kite was his key to success, but it actually did the opposite for him. The cost that came with the kite would haunt Amir for the rest of his life. Leaving Hassan in exchange for the kite actually turned Amir into the type of person his father despised the most.
Another example of irony also involves Hassan's rape, but it revolves around Kamal, one of the bullies present that day in the alley. He was the one who was worried about his parents finding out about the rape because he didn't want to get into trouble. He doesn't directly take part in the rape, but he holds Hassan down while Assef does it. This is ironic because Kamal ends up getting raped too later in the book. Just like Hassan, he is no longer himself and doesn't even speak. Kamal stood by and let Hassan get raped by Assef, and then it happens to him after that. He now goes through what he helped put someone else through, which is very ironic.
Monday, March 21, 2011
Blog #3 Literary Term: Theme
"I lifted Hassan's mattress and planted my new watch and a handful of Afghani bills under it. I waited another thirty minutes. Then I knocked on Baba's door and told what I hoped would be the last in a long line of shameful lies." -Page 104
THEME: the insight about human life that is revealed in a literary work
Througout the half of the book that I have read so far, one common theme regarding the character of Amir has stood out to me. From his early years as a child even up until his early twenties, Amir constantly thinks about himself. During his childhood, his number one priority is getting the approval and love from his father that he has always wanted. Amir wants this more than anything, and he is willing to do anything to get it. He lets his best friend get raped just so he could have the last kite from the kite fighting tournament. Then, he lies about Hassan and Ali stealing his new watch and money. He never thinks about how his decisions have the power to change the course of someone's life. As Amir grows up and immigrates to America with his father Baba, there are still times that he shows his selfish side. For example, when Baba gets sick and may have cancer, Amir's first thoughts revolve around himself. He asks, "What about me, Baba? What am I supposed to do?". He is supposed to be a grown man who was learned to care for himself, but he still relies on Baba. Because he needs to change, I hope that Amir learns to not be selfish in the second half of the book.
THEME: the insight about human life that is revealed in a literary work
Througout the half of the book that I have read so far, one common theme regarding the character of Amir has stood out to me. From his early years as a child even up until his early twenties, Amir constantly thinks about himself. During his childhood, his number one priority is getting the approval and love from his father that he has always wanted. Amir wants this more than anything, and he is willing to do anything to get it. He lets his best friend get raped just so he could have the last kite from the kite fighting tournament. Then, he lies about Hassan and Ali stealing his new watch and money. He never thinks about how his decisions have the power to change the course of someone's life. As Amir grows up and immigrates to America with his father Baba, there are still times that he shows his selfish side. For example, when Baba gets sick and may have cancer, Amir's first thoughts revolve around himself. He asks, "What about me, Baba? What am I supposed to do?". He is supposed to be a grown man who was learned to care for himself, but he still relies on Baba. Because he needs to change, I hope that Amir learns to not be selfish in the second half of the book.
Blog #2 Literary Term: Symbol
"Hassan didn't struggle. Didn't even whimper. He moved his head slightly and I caught a glimpse of his face. Saw the resignation in it. It was a look I had seen before. It was the look of the lamb." -Page 76
SYMBOL: a person, place, thing, or event that has meaning in itself and that also stands for something more than itself
The lamb is an extremely important symbol in "The Kite Runner". In many religions, the lamb symbolizes and stands for sacrifice, especially of something innocent. It is connected to the character of Hassan in this story. Hassan did nothing to deserve what was done to him in that alley, which negatively affected every aspect of his life. His childhood was taken from him, and his friendship with Amir would never ever be the same. He could have easily given up the blue kite that Amir had asked him to run. However, he chose to be faithful to Amir, who honestly wasn't the best friend and didn't deserve such kindness and loyalty. Even when Assef, Mali, and Kamal told Hassan about how badly Amir really treated him, Hassan still remained devoted and dedicated to Amir. In this situation, Hassan proves once again that he is a great friend to Amir and would do anything for Amir to be happy. Even if he had to suffer, he would do it all "a thousand times over" for Amir.
SYMBOL: a person, place, thing, or event that has meaning in itself and that also stands for something more than itself
The lamb is an extremely important symbol in "The Kite Runner". In many religions, the lamb symbolizes and stands for sacrifice, especially of something innocent. It is connected to the character of Hassan in this story. Hassan did nothing to deserve what was done to him in that alley, which negatively affected every aspect of his life. His childhood was taken from him, and his friendship with Amir would never ever be the same. He could have easily given up the blue kite that Amir had asked him to run. However, he chose to be faithful to Amir, who honestly wasn't the best friend and didn't deserve such kindness and loyalty. Even when Assef, Mali, and Kamal told Hassan about how badly Amir really treated him, Hassan still remained devoted and dedicated to Amir. In this situation, Hassan proves once again that he is a great friend to Amir and would do anything for Amir to be happy. Even if he had to suffer, he would do it all "a thousand times over" for Amir.
Blog #1 Literary Term: Conflict
"I had one last chance to make a decision. One final opportunity to decide who I was going to be. I could step into that alley, stand up for Hassan--the way he'd stood up for me all those times in the past--and accept what would happen to me. Or I could run. In the end, I ran." -Page 77
CONFLICT: the struggle between opposing forces or characters in a story; can be external or internal
Khaled Hosseini's "The Kite Runner" incorporates many conflicts within the story, both external and internal. One external conflict that everyone deals with at one point in the story is war. Afghanistan is being taken over by the Russians during Amir's childhood, which is a serious conflict that has affected the everyday life of the Afghan people. Another external conflict occurs between the two groups of young boys in the book. Whenever they run into each other, it is always Hassan and Amir versus Assef, Kamal, and Wali. Assef, Kamal, and Wali end up brutally abusing and raping Hassan, which creates another huge conflict in the friendship between Amir and Hassan. After Amir realizes that he was a coward and just stepped aside and let this terrible thing happen to Hassan, he begins to go through an internal conflict. He feels guilty for leaving his best friend, who has been like a brother to him for his entire life, to be tortured by the three bullies. He is ashamed of his selfishness, because he was only thinking about the kite that he wanted instead of thinking about the safety and feelings of Hassan. This conflict is always on Amir's mind, even after Hassan and his father are no longer his servants. There are many conflicts in "The Kite Runner" so far, and they all can be connected to each other in some way.
CONFLICT: the struggle between opposing forces or characters in a story; can be external or internal
Khaled Hosseini's "The Kite Runner" incorporates many conflicts within the story, both external and internal. One external conflict that everyone deals with at one point in the story is war. Afghanistan is being taken over by the Russians during Amir's childhood, which is a serious conflict that has affected the everyday life of the Afghan people. Another external conflict occurs between the two groups of young boys in the book. Whenever they run into each other, it is always Hassan and Amir versus Assef, Kamal, and Wali. Assef, Kamal, and Wali end up brutally abusing and raping Hassan, which creates another huge conflict in the friendship between Amir and Hassan. After Amir realizes that he was a coward and just stepped aside and let this terrible thing happen to Hassan, he begins to go through an internal conflict. He feels guilty for leaving his best friend, who has been like a brother to him for his entire life, to be tortured by the three bullies. He is ashamed of his selfishness, because he was only thinking about the kite that he wanted instead of thinking about the safety and feelings of Hassan. This conflict is always on Amir's mind, even after Hassan and his father are no longer his servants. There are many conflicts in "The Kite Runner" so far, and they all can be connected to each other in some way.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)