Roles of Women in Afghanistan

The roles of women in Afghanistan can be compared to the roles of women in America before the 19th Amendment was established. They lack the respect that women should. The Qur'an has led to the belief that men are allowed the privilege of having or (owning rather) more than one wife. However, women are only allowed one husband whom they must worship even if they do not love him entirely. The Qur'an teaches that Polygamy is alright, but I feel that change must be made to stop this way of life. Women are not allowed to withhold jobs or positions of respect. However, having children can cause a climb in the social ladder for many women in Afghanistan. There are also very strict beliefs about the clothing that is to be worn by women of Afghanistan. They are to cover themselves except for their eyes if they are out in public. In a way, I feel that this is a little contradictory. Women are often treated like objects, but yet they are not allowed to be looked at including being looked upon with respect.

Question 6 from Kite Runner

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 the 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? Discuss the image of the context of the novel.

I feel that Amir recalls the sacrificing of the lamb when he sees Hassan being raped because he is witnessing evil taking from the innocent. Hassan's inocence was taken from him just as the lamb's life was taken. Amir says, "I watch because of the look of acceptance in the animal's eyes." He watches because he is hopeful that the lamb (or Hassan) will accept what is happening. He feels that this will be cathartic for himself to see that they are at peace with their tragic events also. In a way, these events show that Amir is selfish, because he is watching for his own good rather than doing what is best for the good of others. However, he feels very sorrowful and guilty when watching. Everyone can relate to Amir's wanting to see "the look of acceptence." This quote withholds much importance in the theme of the story. Amir is searching for the "look of acceptance" from all around him especially "Baba." However, he will realize that the acceptance from Hassan can prove to be more important than those from the Pashtuns.

Chapters 6-7

In Chapter Six, Winter has just arrived. This is both Amir, and Hassan's favorite season. Amir said that he liked winter because "As the trees froze and ice sheathed the roads, the chill between Baba and me thawed a little." This was due to the children's favorite tradition, Kabul's big kite race also takes place in winter Amir desperately wants to win this to prove himself to his father, Baba. Amir says, "Baba and I lived in the same house, but in two different spheres of existence. Kites were the one paper-thin slice of intersection between those spheres."Amir feels that he must win the kite race and prove himself to his father. I feel that the card game at the end of chapter six could be significant. As it reads, Amir killed Hassan's king, and played him his final card." This could have been foreshadowing of Amir killing Hassan's spirit.
Chapter Seven begins with Hassan describing a dream to Amir. Hassan dreamt that He, Amir, Ali, Rahim Kahn and thousands of other people were at the lake, but no one was swimming because a monster was in the lake. Hassan and Amir decided to swim anyway, and discovered there was no monster. Then they change the name of the lakd to the Lake of Amir and aHassan, Sultans of Kabul. He asks Amir what he makes of it, and he says it's a "dumb dream." Hassan tells Amir that Ali told him that dreams always mean something. I ,myself, am unsure of whether I believe that or not. The day of the kite race has arrived and the rooftops are filled with spectators. Amir begins to get nervous, and hesitant about racing his kite. The number of kites steadily dwindles down until only a few are left. Before he realizes it, Everyone is yelling "you won" "you won". Amir feels like he's in a dream. Then Hassan runs the kite for Amir. After a while, Amir begins to worry and looks around for Amir. As readers we get the idea that Hassan is in a not so friendly area when Amir asks an old merchant about Hassan and he replies, "What is a boy like you doing here at this time of day looking for a Hazara?" He is told that Hassan has been spotted...with other boys chasing him. This is where Amir finds himself in the alley which we were introduced to in Chapter one. Amir sees that Wali, Kamal and Assef are the ones after Hassan. They end up harassing and eventually raping Hassan. All the while, Amir is watching, hiding, and taking no action to put an end to this. An overwelming feeling of guilt had overtaken Amir.

Chapter 8

Chapters six and seven were very difficult for me to read. In fact they were even difficult for me to understand completely. I did not realize until during chapter eight that Assef, Wali, and Kamal actually raped Hassan. As chapter eight begins Amir is being served breakfast, and Ali is telling him how all Hassan will do lately is sleep and seems depressed. Ali asks if Amir knows anything that may have happened to cause this. "How should I know?" replies Amir. At this point, I am very disappointed in Amir's character. I was very sad to read about how Amir snapped at both Ali, and Hassan. Then he spoke of Hassan's unwavering loyalty. Baba tells Amir he would like to take him on a trip, and also that he is dissappointed Hassan cannot go along on the trip. Baba brings along plenty of relatives on the trip. On the ride over, all Amir continues picturing things that occured in the alley on that grim day. Next, Amir t goes to Baba and asks for Ali and Hassan to be replaced. Baba becomes furious, and tells Amir that they are family and belong together. My understanding of Baba is metamorphasizing throughout these chapters. He is turning out to be much more personable that I would have ever thought. Then, towards the end of the chapter, Amir's birthday arrives. Much to his disappointment, Assef shows up at his party gifting him with a Biography of Hitler. Amir becomes sick with not only hate but guilt for what has happened. At the very end of the chapter, Rahim Kahn comes up to Amir and tells him that he almost married a Hazara woman, and once again reassures Amir that is welcome to come to Rahim Kahn whenever he needs to. It is as if Rahim Kahn just has a feeling that something may have happened. Chapter eight ends with a display of elaborate fireworks, and then complete darkness. This may be a very meaningful metaphor.

Chapters 4-5

Chapter four opens with the story of how Ali became Baba's childhood friend as well as his uncle. Amir describes how difficult it is to overcome history, and set aside differences in religion. I loved when Amir stated, "But we were kids who had learned to crawl together, and no hisory, ethnicity, society, or religion was going to change that either." Amir goes on to tell about how Hassan and he enjoyed watching John Wayne. Hassan also enjoyed when Amir read to him. I found the part when Amir tricked Hassan into thinking 'Imbecile' means intelligent. Amir(in this specific incident) is symbolic of so many people today who try to do or say awful things to others out of jealousy. Then Amir tells Baba that he has written a story. After a few short moments of being ignored, he is "rescued" by Rahim Khan. Amir reads Rahim Khan's note over and over. Rahim has wrote that he has talent and is not to waste it. Amir wishes that Rahim was his father. Amir then tells his story to Hassan. He is very offended when Hassan questions his writing. Amir also feels that the fact that Hassan is illiterate is something that he can hold over his head.

In the beginning of Chapter 5, Afghanistan is being invaded. Hassan, and Amir are overtaken with terror. Ali fibs and says, "They're shooting ducks." Soon, Baba arrives home, and wraps Amir and Hassan in his arms. Amir claims that he is "glad about whatever happened that night." The next morning, Hassan becomes very fearful that he and his father be taken away. Then we are introduced to Assef, a young boy who towers over the other children. It was not uncommon for Assef to harass Ali or the boys. Assef says that if and when Daoud Khan comes to his house for supper, he will tell him how Hitler was a great leader. He then looks at Hassan and says "Afghanistan is the land of Pashtuns. It always has and always will be." Assef asks how Amir can call Hassan his friend. Then the truth comes out as Amir thinks to himself: "He's not my friend. He's my servant." The day ends, and time lingers on until it is Hassan's birthday. Hassan is introduced to his birthday present, a plastic surgeon to fix his cleft palet. Hassan's lip heals well and it chaned from a grotesque wound to a jagged line. Then at the end of the winter it became a faint scare. He ends the first chapter by saying that it was ironic because that was the winter Hassan stopped smiling.

Chapters 1-3

Chapter One of Kite Runner Began with a powerful insight by saying "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." While reading this I became very curious of what actually happened out in the alley that day. Then the speaker recieves a phone call from Rahim Kahn, who is Amir's father, Baba's friend. He begins to flashback to when he was twelve or so.

In Chapter Two, we are introduced to Ali who is Baba's hired man, and Ali's son, Hassan. Ali and Hassan are Hazaras which is a minority in Afghanistan. They are respected by Baba, and Amir. However, they are living outside Baba's mansion in a mud house. Amir describes Hassan as a very kind, and loyal friend. He describes Hassan as looking like a Chinese Doll which we can associate with the Mongolian Descent that is found in Hazaras. Amir describes Hassan as if he is his brother. Then he describes his birth and how his mother died giving birth to him. He also says that Ali and Hassan's mother were an arranged marriage to try better Ali. After Hassan was born, his mother refused to hold him, and soon after she ran away to with performers which is looked on as much worse than dying. In the end of the chapter, Amir says that his first word was "Baba", and Hassan's was "Amir".

The Third Chapter, I have to say was very saddening to me. Amir describes how his father has always been very competetive, as well as very down to business and easily angered. Amir overhears his father and Rahim Kahn (who seems like a very understanding, and kind man) talking about him. His father compares Amir to himself at age twelve, and questions why Amir can't be more like him. Rahim replies, "Children aren't coloring books. You don't get to fill them with your favorite colors." I thought this was a great quote. Later on in the chapter, Amir comes to his father telling him that drinking is sinful just as Baba is having a drink. Baba sits Amir on his lap, and begins lecturing that the greatest sin is theft, and how his father's (Amir's Grandfather's) life was stolen when he was stabbed. Then Amir goes on to say that he has a love/hate relationship with his father. He feels that it stemmed from him taking away Baba's "Princess."

Kite Runner Blog

Well, this country bear is sure excited to read Kite Runner!