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.