Mini Essay #4
There is a scene at the end of chapter 22 where Assef is beating up Amir to the point where it seems plausible that Amir would die. However, Sohrab takes the brass balls on Assef’s table and shoots Asssef in the eye. There is a literary parallel in that Sohrab uses a slingshot to protect Amir just as Hassan had used his slingshot to protect Amir from Assef, yet an irony in that he saved his rescuer as the rescuee. Although Hassan never shot the slingshot at Assef, Sohrab does take the shot and blinds Assef. Sohrab shooting Assef in the eye and blinding him is symbolic of the fact that Assef has always been figuratively blind towards the pain and suffering of others.
There is some significance in the fact that Amir himself states that he feels peace and healing despite being brutally beaten by Assef’s brass knuckles. Amir needed physical punishment to atone for his sins-Amir did nothing as Hassan was raped. We can see Amir’s desire for punishment throughout his entire life. For example, before driving Hassan away, Amir attempted to antagonize Hassan in an attempt to get Hassan to retaliate and hurt him. With this desire for punishment denied, Amir’s guilt continued to wear on his conscience.
On one hand, there are people like Hassan, who not only help others but also actively save them. On the other, there are those like Assef and the Taliban, who delight in chaos and harming others. Both groups are content with their perspectives and actions, yet Amir falls into neither category and is racked with self-doubt for the majority of the narrative. Without the conviction of the other characters, Amir was stuck running away from his feelings and responsibilities. By the end of the novel, finally having chosen his actions for himself, his path to atonement ends with a toothless smile.
Reflection
This scene in the book was the turning point where all the different plot lines that were built over the course of the entire book were finally concluded. I had alot of fun writing about this chapter as I could finally see the results of Amir’s prior actions and why he acted a certain way.
Rough Draft
notes: Amir was the kite runner all along Amir was ashamed because Hassan was so inherently pure Amir was jealous that Hassan could act on his relationships with such conviction Amir has learned that the value of life is measured by valuing others
Previously, Amir valued himself only through the eyes of his father and society, with his kite trophy and social status respectively. In constantly seeking Baba’s approval, he ultimately failed to absorb his most valuable lesson: that he must “stand” on his own. Even when marrying Soraya, he only did so to make his father proud and probably a general desire to fit in with social expectations. When Soraya demonstrated honesty through her confession, he did not celebrate the opportunity to create a real emotional connection but retreated further into his status-paradigm by reacting with jealousy.Even when marrying Soraya, he only did so to make his father proud and probably a general desire to fit in with social expectations.
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