violence in the kite runner quotes
Though Amir interacts with many characters throughout the book, his guilt primarily relates to Hassan, but not exclusively. Now I'm 28 and I'm getting married! Memory and the Past Betrayal (including. Maybe Hassan was the price I had to pay, the lamb I had to slay, to win Baba. After carrying the guilt of what he did to Hassan, Amir believes this is some divine punishment. Amir has just asked Soraya to marry him, and she has agreed, but she said she had something to confess to first. As an adult, Amir can confront this guilt by talking with a friend of his family, Rahim Khan, about what happened. He soon feels guilty but does not come clean or apologize, instead offering him old clothes or broken toys. I wished he'd give me the punishment I craved, so maybe I'd finally sleep at night.''. In this beautifully-written passage, Amir learns one of the main "lessons" of the bookthat forgiveness and redemption often do not involve concrete acts or dramatically-satisfying conclusions, but rather consist of slow, unnoticeable changes to messy, complicated situations. or keep failing and beg everyone for help, Just doing research and the last time I visited there werent many recent comments now two extra, Ethan, you sound like your 6, please growup, Youre all nerds for being here; im just about to fail a class and need quotes for an essay by midnight (2 hours) i should just look in the book or actual be doing the essay, but instead im here typing this cause its more easy to type then the actual essay. A peer named Assef often taunts Hassan and his father, Ali, for being Hazaras. Set in Afghanistan, the novel deals with friendship, family, betrayal, class relations, loyalty, and atonement through the . His name escaped my lips: Assef.. If youre looking for a heavy, poignant story, pick it back up. Redemption Eventually, he faces his actions and attempts to atone for them. The curious thing was, I never thought of Hassan and me as friends either Never mind that we spent entire winters flying kites, running kites. Another rib snapped, this time lower. A San Francisco Chronicle bestseller. A leaf in the woods, shaking in the wake of a startled bird's flight. Assef in The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini | Quotes & Analysis, Baba in The Kite Runner: Description & Character Analysis, Foreshadowing in The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini | Analysis & Examples, Literary Techniques in the Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini | Metaphors, Symbolism & Foreshadowing, Amir & Baba in The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini | Relationship & Analysis, Sohrab in The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini | Character & Traits, Quotes About Gender Inequality & Roles in The Kite Runner, Anne Frank - The Diary of a Young Girl Study Guide, Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll & Mr. Hyde Study Guide, Create an account to start this course today. Because to him, you're nothing but an ugly pet""Amir agha and I are friends," Hassan said. In the morning, Jalaluddin would probably think wed gone out for a stroll or a drive. She has a Master of Education degree. Somehow, I feel that that seems to point towards two views of life, equally compelling as having two views of the movie. In the book, the main protagonist Amir, a young Afghan boy, experiences a violent event in his early childhood that affects the rest of his life and the choices he makes. You dont get to fill them with your favorite colors. (21), It may be unfair, but what happens in a few days, sometimes even a single day, can change the course of a whole lifetime, Amir. (142), wow ryan and jesse true love at its finest. One important quote about guilt and redemption comes from Rahim Khan, who told Amir that true redemption comes when guilt leads to something good. They're like having in-class notes for every discussion!, This is absolutely THE best teacher resource I have ever purchased. 'Listening to them, I realized how much of who I was, what I was, had been defined by Baba and the marks he had left on people's lives Now he was gone. Looking back now, I realize I have been peeking into that deserted alley for the last twenty-six years. It really makes you think more deeply, after each quote, about the book, the culture, the differences in social strata, everything. Listening to them, I realized how much of who I was, what I was, had been defined by Baba and the marks he had left on peoples lives Now he was gone. That was what I was coming in the bathroom to tell you. Violence, the intentional harm of a person or thing, plays a central role in this story about growing up in Afghanistan. Except now that I had it, I felt as empty as this unkempt pool I was dangling my legs into.''. A city of harelipped ghosts. Plus, get practice tests, quizzes, and personalized coaching to help you During kite fights, the strings are covered with glass and all participants end up bloody. Afghanistan has experienced terrible violence and tragedy, but here Hosseini suggests that redemption is still possible for the countrypeace can come out of war, and Afghanistan can be "good again." 1256 Words. To unlock this lesson you must be a Study.com Member. Amir did live apart from the majority of the country, and his experiences growing up were vastly different from most Afghans. He also tells Amir the truth about Baba, revealing that Hassan and Amir are half-brothers. You have a visa to go to America, to live with me and my wife. Detailed explanations, analysis, and citation info for every important quote on LitCharts. Babas other half. In Amir's experience growing up in Afghanistan, violence is incorporated as part of his daily life. Baba has just died, and Amir is trying to come to terms with his death. The unentitled, unprivileged half. Every other sin is a variation of theft. Amir is redeemed from not helping Hassan by saving his son. character, This tragic passage is a clear condemnation of the war that has ravaged Afghanistan for decades, and it also continues the theme of violence and rape on a political scale. Its ethnic hierarchy, imbalance of wealth and power are integrated . My brother Jalal actually went to fetch his hunting rifle before my father stopped him. Later in life, Hassan has a son named Sohrab. Amir has finally returned to Afghanistan, and he feels like a stranger in his own country. "A boy who won't stand up for himself becomes a man who can't stand up to anything.". Unlike Americans, who tend to shelter their children from violent acts, parents take their children to watch violent games in which the participants may be seriously injured or killed in front of the crowd. Someplace with no ghosts, no memories, and no sins. I wanted to step into the foyer, smell the orange peel Ali always tossed into the stove to burn with sawdust. This is crucial because it shows that Rahim Khan never gave up on Amir despite his sins, and even now feels that Amir has the opportunity to create something good out of his past mistakes. Though the fact that Sohrab, an ethnic Hazara and Amir's illegitimate half-nephew, is living with their family is highly scandalous, Amir does not shy from the truth. He tells this to Sohrab, who panics. Baba couldnt show me the way anymore; Id have to find it on my own. You just didn't know it., I opened my mouth, almost said something. Fathers and Sons A city of harelipped ghosts. Redemption Ch 25 Amir His family friend Rahim Khan tells him that when guilt leads to something good, it is redemption. Thats the Afghanistan I know. He has worked as an English instructor, editor and writer for the past 10 years. America was different. Then he smiled his Hassan smile and disappeared around the corner. As his life hangs in the balance, Amir prays for him to live, saying that he will do everything his religion asks, praying every day and memorizing the Koran if God spares Sohrab. There are more peripheral instances of rape as well it is implied that Kamal, one of Hassans tormentors, was raped by soldiers, and Baba saves a woman from being raped by a Russian soldier. Set against the background of the fall of Afghanistan's government to the Soviet Union and the rise of the Taliban regime, Amir and his father ("Baba") leave Afghanistan and move to the United States, where haunting memories of his childhood best friendHassan, the son of his father's servantand . What do you mean Mr Assef? The books Amir reads and even the competitions have an aspect of danger and violence. Kites were the one paper-thin slice of intersection between those spheres. Because the past claws its way out., Quiet is peace. They think everyone else does too., There is only one sin. Kite-fighting is the preferred activity. With open arms. Try refreshing the page, or contact customer support. This quote comes from a letter Rahim Khan left for Amir before Rahim Khan's death. This adds a new layer of complexity to the father-son relationships in the book: Baba and Amir (who were both more alike than either thought), Baba and Hassan (who didn't know Baba was his real father), and Ali and Hassan. Maybe Hassan was the price I had to pay, the lamb I had to slay, to win Baba. flashcard sets. I promise."'. Long before the Roussi army marched into Afghanistan, long before villages were burned and schools destroyed Kabul had become a city of ghosts for me. Ch 22 We had both betrayed the people who would have given their lives for us. kite runner 23-24. It didn't make everything all right. It demands it, even more than in times of peace." And that is theft. "That's the real Afghanistan, Agha sahib. copyright 2003-2023 Study.com. There is a way to be good again, Rahim Khan had said on the phone just before hanging up.'. Violence and Rape Hassan: He is Amir's close childhood companion and servant. Violence and Rape This idea is made even more poignant by Hosseini's mention of kite fighting. I cannot believe it. . Amir struggles with guilt before Hassan's assault, but that event is the primary event in his life that causes guilty feelings. Complete your free account to access notes and highlights, Your father, like you, was a tortured soul. Memory and the Past There was a monster in the lake I was that monster. With open arms. Let me save you the trouble: Nothing that you remember has survived. You couldnt trust anyone in Kabul anymore for a fee or under threat, people told on each other, neighbor on neighbor, child on parent, brother on brother, servant on master, friend on friend. I heard people on the street, jolted from sleep and probably still in their pajamas, with ruffled hair and puffy eyes. Maybe it was because I had been raised by men; I hadnt grown up around women and had never been exposed firsthand to the double standard with which Afghan society sometimes treated them But I think a big part of the reason I didnt care about Sorayas past was that I had one of my own. Kites. We hadnt told him. There is no monster, hed said, just water. Courage is one of the most notable themes portrayed in the novel the kite runner. So now, whenever I really want something, I try to remember what she said about the apples., In the end, the world always wins. Sit at the kitchen table, have tea with a slice of, "That was when Baba stood up. Kites symbolized Amir and Hassan's happy childhood days, then they also became associated with Hassan's rape, and now their absence represents the Taliban's brutal rule. Afghan society's social norms and taboos are significant to him, while religion is less so; this changes towards the end of the book. The juice splattered on his face. This suggests that Amir has finally found a kind of redemption through his actions, and he can relive his past and memories without the pain and guilt he once felt. Someplace with no ghosts, no memories, and no sins.'. Hello Connections If you're looking for a powerful story that will stay with you long after you've turned the last page, I highly recommend "The Kite Runner" But I hadn't turned out like him. 9 chapters | As it turned out, Baba and I were more alike than Id ever known. "I became what I am today at the age of twelve, on a frigid overcast day in the winter of 1975", the narrator, Amir, begins. Memory and the Past Come. ''I finally had what I'd wanted all those years. Thats the real Afghanistan, Agha sahib. The Kite Runner Cultural & Historical Context, The Kite Runner: Quotes About the Taliban, Comprehensive English: Overview & Practice, Praxis Core Academic Skills for Educators: Reading (5713) Prep, EPT: CSU English Language Arts Placement Exam, Common Core ELA - Language Grades 9-10: Standards, Common Core ELA - Literature Grades 11-12: Standards, Common Core ELA - Writing Grades 11-12: Standards, Common Core ELA - Speaking and Listening Grades 9-10: Standards, Common Core ELA - Language Grades 11-12: Standards, Common Core ELA - Speaking and Listening Grades 11-12: Standards, Study.com ACT® Test Prep: Practice & Study Guide, Study.com SAT Test Prep: Practice & Study Guide, Relationship Between Amir & Hassan in The Kite Runner, Soraya in The Kite Runner: Description & Character Analysis, Sanaubar in The Kite Runner: Analysis, Redemption & Quotes, Relationship Between Amir & Baba in The Kite Runner, Religion in The Kite Runner: Influence & Quotes, Sohrab in The Kite Runner: Analysis & Character Traits, Hassan in The Kite Runner: Description & Character Analysis, The Kite Runner Title: Meaning & Significance, Working Scholars Bringing Tuition-Free College to the Community. Initially, Baba tells Amir not to believe everything the mullahs (Islamic religious leaders) tell him, asserting that the only true sin is theft. Redemption Maybe even hating him a little.. Only a smile. The answer floated to my conscious mind before I could thwart it: He was just a Hazara, wasn't he? You may wish to use joining words from the list of subordinating conjunctions above. The Kite Runner Challenge. The answer floated to my conscious mind before I could thwart it: He was just a Hazara, wasnt he? He knew I'd seen everything in that alley, that I'd stood there and done nothing. I thought I saw him nod. Hosseini starts drawing the book to a close, and Amir, who has been looking back and reflecting on his past, now catches up to his present in the narrativehe is back in the U.S., and Sohrab is living with him and Soraya. Amir agha and I are friends, Hassan said. Rahim Khan was aware of the ways that both Baba and Amir had transgressed, in Baba's infidelity and fathering of Hassan and in Amir's abandonment of Hassan. His name rose from the deep and I didnt want to say it, as if uttering it might conjure him. Many critics believe the paucity of the women characters as anti-feminist or anti-women. Because I'm so profoundly happy. Hassan had been the "kite runner" of the novel's title, but now Amir is the one saying these words and running a kitenot for Hassan, but for Hassan's son. 8. Great quotes heresaved my life. 'I looked at Hassan, showing those two missing teeth, sunlight slanting on his face. Amir previously had promised him that he would not have to go back to an orphanage; at the news, he has to go back to places where he had been hurt, and Sohrab attempts suicide. What was the old saying about the bad penny? After this moment, Amir decides he cannot be around Hassan any longer, as the guilt is too much. Was it a fair price? Hassan, however, refuses to fight Amir, denying him the catharsis of punishment. Amir When you cheat, you steal the right to fairness.". Ch 25 Right now Amir and Baba are fleeing their house because of the political turmoilAfghanistan has been taken over by a Communist regime, and Russian soldiers have invaded the country. Amirs saw what was happening to Hassan but choose not to help Hassan. Violence is a way of expression and thought, which is why I believe violence is necessary for The Kite Runner. Memory and the Past Khaled Hosseini's novel, The Kite Runner, takes readers on an eye opening journey of peace and war in Afghanistan through the eyes of the young Afghan protagonist, Amir. Makes it easier.To what?To go on, Farid said. Amir feels somewhat shaken by this revelation, but realizes that it pales in comparison to his own secret betrayals. I knew all about regret. Farid sat smoking behind the wheel.I have to look at one more thing, I told him.Can you hurry?Give me ten minutes.Go, then. Then, just as I was turning to go: Just forget it all. If someone were to ask me today whether the story of Hassan, Sohrab, and me ends with happiness, I wouldnt know what to say. At this point the SovietAfghan War was raging, and Kabul was a very dangerous place to be. The abuse of power can be defined as misusing one's authority for his own personal gain or a lack of action when it is in one's power to act against something negative. Was it a fair price? But I think a big part of the reason I didn't care about Soraya's past was that I had one of my own. he said. In a kite fight, the kite strings are covered with glass that is used to cut other kites out of the sky. This particular quote precisely demonstrates the inner sentiments for amir in the kite runner that he genuine wishes for casting off being the slave to his emotions. Hassan, a Hazara (an ethnic minority), rightfully recognizes that the Taliban won't make things better at allespecially for Hazaras, who are Shi'a Muslims, while the Taliban are Sunni. Though Amir is the boy's uncle, he demonstrates the devotion and love that a father should. '"Do you want me to run that kite for you?" 'My suspicions had been right all those years. The Kite Runner is a novel of conflict, and the conflicts range from warring armies, factions, worldviews, and ethnic groups to the conflicts between individuals, fathers and sons and Amir and . Baba, Amir's father, is fond of Hassan and often includes him on family outings, much to Amir's envy. She herself left the cupboard open. Baba's guilt comes from the fact that he illegitimately fathered Hassan. He remembers, ''Something roared like thunder. He carries this guilt for the rest of the book. It is never so profound as when Baba takes Amir to the Buzkashi tournament that takes place on the first day of spring in Afghanistan. It's also suggested that all of Baba's philanthropy and charity work was partly inspired by a desire to redeem himself for his betrayal of Ali. It is also very true in the Philippines, where there is this huge gap between the rich and the poor. You know, Rahim Khan said, one time, when you werent around, your father and I were talking I remember he said to me, Rahim, a boy who wont stand up for himself becomes a man who cant stand up to anything. I wonder, is that what youve become?. However, Amir primarily feels guilt concerning Hassan. Enrolling in a course lets you earn progress by passing quizzes and exams. I walked back to the Land Cruiser parked along the sidewalk. Combine the pair of sentences by changing one into an adverb clause. There is a way to be good again, Rahim Khan had said on the phone just before hanging up. Ch 13 Punctuating Direct Quotations. We hadn't told him. And so it was with kite fighting. Follow the directions in parentheses. It's impossible to know someone else's experience, of course, or to judge what makes someone a "real" citizen of anywhere, but Farid also has a point in his bitter accusation. '"How much more do you need to see? Redemption "It was only a smile, nothing more. But before you sacrifice yourself for him, think about this: Would he do the same for you? Rahim Khan's phrase "there is a way to be good again" then becomes a kind of mantra for the second half of the novel, as Amir tries to redeem himself for his past betrayals through taking action of his own. The half who had inherited what had been pure and noble in Baba. When he had a chance to stop Hassan's assault, he was worried that the prized blue kite Hassan had caught for him would be damaged or stolen, so he allowed Hassan to be assaulted rather than risk the kite. I feel like its a lifeline. 'As it turned out, Baba and I were more alike than I'd ever known. Delve into the major themes of Khaled Hosseini's The Kite Runner. Thats just the way of things. (99), One day, maybe around 1983 or 1984, I was at a video store in Fremont. 'I loved him because he was my friend, but also because he was a good man, maybe even a great man. He cupped his hands around his mouth. Teacher Editions with classroom activities for all 1725 titles we cover. Redemption Excellent compilation. Because the past claws its way out. ', 'In the morning, Jalaluddin would probably think we'd gone out for a stroll or a drive. When the Afghan monarchy is overthrown, it is an event Amir will never forget. They share experiences such as nursing from the same woman and growing up together in the same home. All other trademarks and copyrights are the property of their respective owners. This scene is so significant because it is essentially the conclusion of two scenes from decades earlierboth of Amir and Hassan's encounters with Assef, the first being when Hassan frightened Assef away with his slingshot, and the second being when Amir watched Assef rape Hassan and did nothing. Amir also holds some prejudicial attitudes against Hassan for being Hazara, contributing to his inaction. Except hed been wrong about that. Somewhere glass shattered and someone shouted. Though Amir witnesses it, he does nothing to stop the act, both out of fear and jealousy of his father's affection for Hassan. You state the quote, and leave it for the reader to discover his or her own musings about it. My past was like that, always turning up. In his childhood, Amir and his close companion, Hassan, spend much of their time together. Redemption The original text plus a side-by-side modern translation of. Never mind that to me, the face of Afghanistan is that of a boy with a thin-boned frame a boy with Chinese doll face perpetually lit by a harelipped smile. In the real world, and in the fictional world too. Rahim Khan Ch 16 As an adult, Amir and his wife are unable to have children. Farid Detailed quotes explanations with page numbers for every important quote on the site. 'What was the old saying about the bad penny? Below is some information about these three critical characters in the novel: An error occurred trying to load this video. Amir has lived in America for decades, and has built a life for himself entirely separate from his past, but now it's as if he's facing an echo of the same situation he faced as a boybeing threatened by Assef, and trying to defend (and now, redeem himself to) Hassan, or in this case Sohrab, Hassan's son. If youre looking for a light, feel-good read, put The Kite Runner back on the shelf. Amir Once again Hassan is associated with his cleft lip (harelip), which at this point is a symbol of a lost, happier past. Ch 14 'A man's plumbing is like his mind: simple, very few surprises. Except he'd been wrong about that. Because the past claws its way out. Memory and the Past Then Id bring it home and show it to Baba. - Amir". I have to write a thesis statement on this book for my LA class.
