Sunday, October 24, 2010

The Kite Runner Chapter 9-10

Chapter nine starts off on the day after Amir's birthday party. Amir is going through all of his presents but is disinterested in them. He states that "I didn't want any of it - it was all blood money; Baba would have never thrown me a party like that if I hadn't won the tournament." page 101. Through this statement Amir is letting his guilt show. However he is still unable to admit to anyone the horrific event that he allowed to take place. Finally he comes to a conclusion which is, "Either way, this much had become clear: One of us had to go." page 102. Amir's only concern in easing his own suffering. He tries to pretend that he is also concerned with Hassan's well being and that his leaving will be beneficial to both of them. However the truth of the matter is that if he really wanted to help Hassan he would have told someone about what he had seen. Deep down inside Amir realizes what he truly is though. This can be told from this statement, "I wanted to tell Ali it was not the book, but I who was unworthy." page 103.

Amir's plan to get rid of Hassan was to hid his watch and some of the money he received for his birthday under Hassan's mattress. Then he told his father about it, who in turn went and talked to Ali. Amir's father returns to the house and tells Amir that everyone is going to sit down and discuss the situation together. It was almost thirty minutes before Ali and Hassan join Amir and his Baba in the study and when they enter it can be seen that they had both been crying. Amir's Baba asks Hassan if he had stolen the money and he lies and says yes. Amir believes that Hassan lies in order to protect him one last time because Amir knows that if Hassan had said no then his father would have believed him. Amir's Baba shocks him by stating that he forgives Hassan. Ali announces however that he and Hassan are leaving anyway. Amir's Baba begs them to stay but they refuse. Amir knows that this means that Hassan told Ali what happened and that he indeed did know that he had been in the alley the whole time. Amir's Baba begs them to at least tell them why they have to leave and again they say nothing. Finally Amir's Baba agrees to drive Ali and Hassan to where they want to go, but he starts to cry. The fact that Amir's Baba is crying is very reveling; it shows that he truly loves Ali and Hassan and definitely thinks of them as more than just servants. 

Chapter 10 starts out five years later and Amir and his Baba are traveling in a truck with other refugees. It can be inferred that there has been a Russian take over in their home town and the only chance at survival was for them to leave. There is a point in which on of the Russian soldiers tries to take advantage of one of the women refugees. Amir's Baba stands up for her and refuses to allow such an action to take place. He does not stand down even when the guard threatens to shoot him. Amir thinks to himself "Do you have to always be the hero? Can't you just let it go for once?" page 115. From this statement it can be seen that he wants his father to do the same thing he did concerning Hassan's situation; turn and run away and let what ever is going to happen, to happen. Fortunately Amir's Baba does not back down and another Russian soldier comes and intervenes before anything drastic takes place.

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