The Kite Runner Discussion 6th

From Amir's point of view, the Kite Runner is very much a Bildungsroman Novel. I say this because this novel shows us a timeline of his life and then later in the novel shows us how he is reflecting on it/the emotions he has based off of it.

More specifically, in the first few chapters Amir tells us how Hassan was raped by Assef and he didn't do anything about it. Then, later on in the book when Amir is a older child/young adult he narrates on the guilt he now lives with.

4. Cruelty can be a character trait but it's also defined as immoral actions. I believe that Assef was a cruel and a downright psychopath because he has no remorse for people regardless of who they are and he only does things for the benefit and enjoyment of himself (stoning people, trafficking children, assault, and genocide). Amir did cruel things such as lie and basically kick Hassan out or watch him be assaulted but he never had the courage to admit he did those things and take true ownership. Amir also never enjoyed watching Hassan get assaulted and he didn't lie about Hassan for sport. Cruelty can also be looked passed (not entirely in my opinion) and especially to Amir. From a religious perspective: Allah or God have the authority to say whether you've been forgiven and can enter heaven if you've been cruel.

3. What I think "The Kite Runner" is trying to say about redemption is that is doesn't always have to be a 'get back' and someone or something but rather developing and changing character and doing things that contradict the characteristic or event that made you feel need to be redeemed or need redemption. Redemption can also be a situation where you feel the need that someone needs to punish you in some way. For example, when Amir and Assef were fighting. Or even when Soraya married Amir the proper way, she was redeemed from running away with a random guy.

During the fight on page 289, Amir asks himself if he is "satisfied now?" And he finally feels better. Amir is asking himself if after all the wrong doings in his life, does he finally feels whole. Redemption and repentance of sins can take years, but this book teaches us that it doesn't matter how long it takes, "there is a way to be good again"

I think "The Kite Runner" is trying to say cruelty grows from creating separation between people. Not only does Assef justify his cruel actions through the separation of the Hazara and the Pashtun, Amir justifies his cruel lack of action the same way. Thinking as he ran away that Hassan was "just a Hazara" (pg. 77)

I think "The Kite Runner" is trying to say that redemption comes from things their remorse pushes them to do. Rahim Khan is the face of redemption within the story. He sets up the theme on page 2 with his statement of "there is a way to be good again."(pg. 2) Later in the story Rahim brings good back up in his final letter, with "true redemption is... when quilt leads to good."(pg. 302)

Question 2- A big part of every coming-of-age story is admitting mistakes and learning that our mistakes don't make us bad people. Amir, after moving to America, discovers that even the people who he views as perfect, such as Soraya running away or Baba impregnating Hassans Mother, make mistakes. Then, Rahim Khan says "there is a way to be good again" and eventually Amir realizes that his mistakes do not define him or prevent him from being a good person like he believed for all those years, his mistakes made him stronger and strengthened his morals which would help him in the future.

Yes it's a coming of age novel. But I will say, while Amire does grow, I can not mess with him at all. The biggest sign of his growth is when he accepts Rahim Khans mission, finally trying to right his wrongs. But he still a man child, getting sad that Baba wanted Hassan at his graduation. Keep crying.

I think that "The Kite Runner" is trying to say that redemption is complicated, as Amir goes decades without his "redemption" of rescuing Sorhab and many things happen in between that make his life harder. If the Taliban had never gone into Afghanistan, he never would have had a reason to save Sohrab, and he never would have gotten his redemption. In this way, his redemption was not up to him and was instead up to the other people in the world. He was powerless after Hassan died to even ask for forgiveness for what he had done, so he was unable to try for redemption. If Rahim Kahn had not told him about Sorhab, he never would have had a shot at redemption. Many things were completely out of his control and he needed others to be on his path to redemption. It was due to the necessity for others to guide him on his path to redemption that it was complicated as many things could have gone wrong, and if one thing changed it would have caused him to walk off the path. His time in America opened his eyes to what he had truly done, and that only happened because the Russians were so bad. It was always someone else who put him on the path, so I guess that redemption is also reliant on others and is impossible to do alone.

2. I would like to say that it is a coming-of-age novel because it makes you realize how in another countries they have very inhuman rules for example the taliban who just kills people who think they are worthless or the brave ones who go against them, it was nice to see how Amir went against them and made it clear he was disgusted with the Taliban and especially with Assef.

"What do you want to do with him? or to him" - Assef

"That's disgusting" - Amir, page: 285

"The Kite Runner" is obviously a coming of age story when Amir is able to tell others his relation to Sohrab and by extension Hassan without hesitation. Admitting to be "[Sohrab's] hal-uncle" (pg. 252) to the orphanage's owner without having to be directly asked finally answers the question posed since the start of the book of how Amir and Hassan were connected.

I think the kite runner is trying to explain the cruelty of the world in the first half of the book, specifically when Hassan and Amir stop talking about what happened in the alley. First of all, the alley scene is cruel itself but Hassan and Amir not talking after further highlights the cruelty of the world.

The largest coming of age moment in the entire book is after the phone call with Rahim Khan. This call marks the shift in Amir's attitude towards life. Before, he had just accepted that there was nothing he could do to change who he was: that he would always and indefinitely be a coward. He could not help or save anyone. However, after hearing the words, "there is a way to be good again" (pg. 192) from Rahim Khan, he realised that he could change. He shifts from being a coward and running away from all danger to heading into it head first. He travels back to Afghanistan to save Sohrab and even faces his fear of Assef by fighting him in order to get Sohrab back.

Question 4: I think the kite runner is trying to explain how the world is a cruel place with cruel people in it and you just have to make the best of it. This is why there are so many cruel parts like Hassan getting abused, the stoning, and Amir's fight with Assef.

Question 4: I think The Kite Runner depicts people as prone or resilient to cruelty and some float between the three. Assef was born to bully people and abuse the power he had which caused lots of people to suffer. Hassan was born with a pure heart and always loved and cared and when asked to do something he would respond with "for you a thousand times over" just showing how caring and cruelty-free he was. While this is the case for some people, Amir had cruel thoughts hence why he had to spend his life attempting to redeem himself so that he could live at peace with himself. While cruelty can be thrust upon some people, ultimately everyone has a choice on how they will live and treat those around them.

Throughout his childhood recollection, Amir repeatedly talks about how he looks back and feels guilty about what he has done. This shows his progression to adulthood and how he has grown. A specific moment was when he and Assef fought, and Amir finally had the peace and healing he had always craved. This shows his growth as a person and how his perspective has changed from when he was a child.

I think Amir's "coming-of-age" moment was during the fight with Assef when he began to feel true peace. Amir felt that he finally got what he deserved when he ran away from Hassan being sexually abused. Amir says on page 289 In the middle of the fight that he finally "felt healed" even though he was probably in the worst pain in his life. This healing wasn't physical, but instead fixing years of regret and pain that he never was able to come to terms with.

I think the kite runner is trying to say everyone has a second chance at making things good again. This is shown when Rahim Khan says "There is a way to be good again" to Amir and hangs up the phone. This causes Amir to think about his past actions and eventually decides to take his shot at redemption even though he has yet to know Sohrab is his nephew. This is only one example of redemption in the book as him getting beaten by Assef during this part is another way he "felt" redeemed even though he was being punched and beaten. Overall, the book digs into about redemption.

Question 3: I think that the book is trying to say that there is always a way to make up for mistakes made in the past. This is why Rahim Khan's quote of "there is a way to be good again" is repeated throughout the book so many times. It is to remind readers that their past mistakes do not define them and that there is pretty much always a way to make up for them.

I do think that Amir was able to atone for not helping Hassan. In each situation, he was faced with the choice to help protect someone he cared about or put himself first. He was too young and too scared to step in for Hassan and the guilt that he felt for it was most likely sparked his bravery to save Sohrab. Although he may not have been trying specially to atone for his actions by bringing Sohrab back to America, he knew deep down that he needed to, not for himself to feel better but for Hassan. Throughout his adult years and watching Baba succumb to his illness I think Amir learned that even the bravest people suffer but people also suffer for their bravery. Amir knew that bringing Sohrab to America would include a lot of suffering, but he acted out of bravery finally putting others before him, ultimately atoning for not being brave for Hassan out of fear of suffering.

3. About redemption, I think there is always time to tell what has really happened but sometimes if you wait too long then there's that feeling of hating yourself and regret of thinking you should've done it earlier. In my opinion it's never too late to forgive yourself and be able to forgive others.

"Said it in a passing, almost as an afterthought. A way to be good again." - Amir, page: 192

This is a coming-of-age novel because Amir starts as a young boy who has a friend who he treats like a brother until he has a falling out or has someone else around him of his class and age, but grows to be a man who sees things for what they truly are and sees his friends from his youth as his brother again. This is not only because Hassan is Amir's half-brother, but because he realizes what he had before he left him alone in that alley. He sees the persecution of the Hazzarahs as ethnic cleansing, as evident when he talks with Assef the Taliban, and when he takes in Hassan's son as his own even though he's not from the same class he is.

I think he does. When Amir brings Sohrab to America, he "[u]nlike [Soraya], [who'd] gradually abandoned her attempts at engaging him"(367) continues to try to help Sohrab be happy again. Amir is really trying to help Sohrab get over his trauma in the way that he was unable to help Hassan. He is doing this because he wants Sohrab to be happy and knows that this is what Hassan would have wanted-his son to be safe and happy. So, despite Sohrab's lack of response, Amir never gives up because he is determined to help Sohrab and it does pay off when Sohrab smiles. Because of this selfless act of patience and love that Amir did by taking in this child, I believe that Amir has atoned for what he did.

Question 2: The kite runner is definitely a coming of age novel because we can see Amir's progression throughout the entire novel. An example of this is when Amir did not step in to save Hassan from getting abused by Assef but in the end he stepped in to fight Assef to save Sohrab. This shows his character progression as he becomes less of a coward at the end of the book.

Question 3: I think that the Kite Runner is saying that redemption is a complicated issue. While you can atone for what you have done, it will never undo what your actions caused. Amir does everything in his power to make up for what he has done and is extremely guilty but that doesn't mean that its all better. When he was getting beaten by Assef he said that "in a corner of [my] mind, [he] had been looking forward to this." Amir never got a perfect happy ending but he did things to help redeem himself because of the guilt that followed him and was only a little relieved when he was physically punished. In the end he didn't have a perfect happy family but because he attempted to redeem himself he was able to not let his past completely control him anymore.

The Kite Runner is a coming-of-age novel as seen when he starts having feelings for Soraya at the market. After meeting her at the market he lies "awake in bed" thinking about her "sickle-shaped birthmark" and how his heart "stuttered at the thought of her" (Page 142). This is the first time we see the feelings about a girl with Amir. Thus, this is a coming-of-age book as feelings described in these years of life are talked about in the book.

I do not believe he completely atoned for not helping Hassan because he never apologized. He may have saved his son, but he still messed up and almost lost him more than once. When Hassan finally came out of his room after being assaulted, Amir pushed him away until he wanted him to hit him with a pomegranate. Amir never apologized then, and he throws Hassan under the bus to escape his guilt, but he never fesses up to what he did. Rahim Kahn may have known what Amir did, and Amir may have felt remorse, but he never vocalized this. When Amir gets Sorhab, he doesn't watch him or know him well enough to know where he's run off to, so he almost fails at his "mission". He also fails when he needs Sorhab to fight his battles for him when he's failing to fight Assef. This also happens when Sorhab tries to end his life because he is so scared. Amir just kept pushing and pushing without ever backing off and listening to Sorhab. In this way, he wronged not only Hassan but Sorhab also.

Amir atoned for not helping Hassan when he stepped up to Assef to help Sohrab escape assault similar to his father's. When Assef told Amir the "[he] [had] to earn [Sohrab]"(pg. 286) Amir knew Assef was going to "get" (pg. 286) him, he didn't stand down, like he did with Hassan. His life threatening injuries were what actually redeemed him though.

Question 2: The Kite Runner is a coming-of-age novel because the big mistakes that Amir makes are when he is only a little kid. Rahim Khan explains to him that "there is a way to be good again." Amir then proceeds to dedicate a lot to making up for his past actions. Things that he would have never been able to do as a child but now as an adult and reflecting on his life he is able to know what this is right and fight for it such as saving Hassans son.

Question 1:

Yes I think that Amir has truly atoned by the end of the book because he has admitted to others what he has done and has made up for his mistakes by going and saving Sohrab. Amir sacrificed a lot to save the kid and was able to make up for his previous mistakes with Hassan through his son. Although the reason why Amir went back to Afghanistan was not to see Hassan, he ended up staying longer then expected and going to great lengths to protect the kid.

Question 1: I do not think that Amir has atoned for not helping Hassan. I think it is an unforgivable act. The only reason Amir went back to Afghanistan was to see Rahim Khan who sprung the entire situation on him and Amir was basically forced to find Sohrab. Not to mention he felt obligated to do it since he was his uncle but I do not think Amir really wanted to and he complained about it the entire time.

4. What I think the kite runner is trying to say is to not be afraid to speak up, because since Amir didn't do anything due to fear he could've told someone but felt guilty. So what is trying to say is if you don't do anything then at least speak up or if you can do something about it at that right moment when the problem happened.

"I bit on my fist. Shut my eyes." - Amir, page: 73

Question 1: Yes I think that Amir has atoned for his sins not helping Hassan. I do not think that it was when Assef was beating him even though Amir said he "felt at peace" when it happened. Receiving physical beatings did not atone for his sins but instead when he felt true remorse and put his life on the line to help Sohrab.

I do think Amir has atoned for his sins because after he left Afghanistan he attempted to do only good in his life. He also went back into a country with war and the Taliban to rescue Hassan's child. This is a brave act and he indisputably saved Sohrab from the same things that were happening to Hassan in the alleyway. Thus, even though it was years later, he did a job for his dead half brother that he should have done in the first place. I think this example, combined with him being a good person and not doing other terrible things atones him for not helping Hassan.

Question 2--Focusing on Amir, provide a specific example of how "The Kite Runner" is a Bildungsroman, or a coming-of-age novel. This can be a moment where he has an epiphany about his behavior or situation.

Question #3--What do you think "The Kite Runner" is trying to say about redemption? Use a specific example from the text to support your answer.

I believe that the Kite Runner is trying to tell us that when someone performs the act of being cruel, they will have far worse consequences.

For example, Assef had been so cruel to both Amir and Sohrab and because of his cruelty, Sohrab shot Assef in the left eye.

I believe that the Kite Runner is telling us that redemption is possible, but only if you really want it.

Back to the example of Amir ignoring Hassan and not coming to his aide while he was being raped, Amir could have just continued his adult life living with that betrayal and guilt, but instead he wanted to prove that he had the courage to stand up for Hassan (even if it wasn't directly Hassan) and gain redemption. He went back to the Taliban filled Afghanistan just to save Hassan's son and I believe that that gave Amir redemption because he showed everyone that he could have courage and braveness which at first he didn't show as a younger child.

Yes, I believe Amir has paid for not helping Hassan. I say this because he put everything he created in America on the line when he returned back to Afghanistan to save Hassan's son. Amir could have just left Sohrab to rot and possibly be killed in the Taliban controlled country, but he instead made a plan to go get Sohrab and after bringing him back to America, eventually adopted him.

I don't know if this would have helped Amir's guilt, but I think in some ways it helped him come to terms with himself.

2. One way how "The Kite Runner" is a coming-of-age novel is where Amir finally does things where he isn't seen as a coward and actually does things that don't necessarily benefit himself. For example, at the end of chapter eighteen when he decides to go find Sohrab not because it was the right thing to do but because it was Hassan's kid and to also help baba atone for his own sins, let alone his own. Amir from a young age has always known that he's a coward and has never had merit compared to Hassan but him actually doing things to show that he's willing to do the right thing and fix things represents Amir "coming-of-age"

I think a big part too redemption is self forgiveness because if you can’t forgive yourself its really hard to redeem yourself. I think that Amir really did try to redeem himself by Mir being put in the same situation twice and now he’s trying to figure out what to do better. “There’s a way to be good again”

I think the Kite Runner introduces cruelty in a way that is foreign to all of us. It speaks on several topics that a lot of us have never had to think about, such as the stoning in the stadium. It paints these horrendous actions as something that is common and happens on a day to day basis, which is very eye opening and offers a culture shock for people who have lived outside of that.

I think it's trying to say that we cannot cruel actions based on what we may assume because everybody has a different reason for acting with cruelty. Assef acts cruel because of his power complex, Baba acted cruel because of his morals and his inability to fully care for his own son, Amir acted cruel out of fear, Hassan acted cruel out of protection. Every person in the story acts out of cruelty eventually, but we are able to dismiss some people's actions because of the context in which they are acting, which is something we are not always given. Context is important in determining is someone has truly acted with cruel intent.

Q4.) The Kite Runner illustrated numerous actions of extreme violence and cruelty. Form the Taliban, Assef, and even Amir himself. Many different forms of cruelty are present and they are each presented differently and for different reasons. But regardless of the reasoning behind such cruelty The Kite Runner wants us to know it is never justifiable. From Amirs treatment and abandonment of Hassan, his excuse being that Hassan is the price paid for Babas' love; To the Talibans very obviously cruel and unjust stoning of two innocents at the soccer field. None of these events are ever justified in the book, and they are all justly vilified throughout the book.

Question 4

I believe that Kite Runners main theme of cruelty is that cruet itself is defined by the perspective of people. Now let me explain. For example Assef sees his cruelty to the Hazzaras not as cruelty, but as an honorable cause that needs fixing. Or Amir, when Hassan was sexually assaulted he knew it was cruel, but in the end believed that it was for the greater good for himself. Cruelty is only cruelty if a person thinks it is. Cruelty is defined by the perspective of those inflicting it. To most there is a deep sense of morality that many know right and wrong, but for some that moral compass is skewed by cultural differences, and social standards. And it is only if people view it as cruel, that it is actually cruel.

The Kite Runner is trying to say that those who participate in cruelty will only suffer more. The first hint of this is during the scene when Amir keeps smashing the pomegranates onto Hassan. He is doing this because he wants Hassan to do it back to him, but then Hassan smashes a pomegranate on himself. Because of this, Amir "let the tears break free, rocked back and forth on [his] knees" (pg. 93). Another example of this is when Assef gets punished for his cruelty in his fight with Amir. After all of the things he has done to hurt people, the fight ends in him losing his eye, yelling, "Bismillah! Bismillah!" (pg. 291) while rocking back and forth on the floor.

3- Redemption is something that everybody will try to achieve at some point in their lives. Redemption can be as elaborate as building orphanages and helping others like Baba or it can be as simple as leaving someone who isn't right for you, like Soraya did. Even when actions are taken for redemption it often feels like it's never enough and mistakes still loom over people. The Kite Runner explains this idea but also shows that redemption cannot happen without acknowledging mistakes and that cannot happen without pain, "A man who has no consciousness, no goodness, does not suffer."

The Kite Runner ultimately is a story about how chasing redemption leads to nowhere. Throughout the entire book, Amir chases redemption, yet at the end he returns to his normal life in America, living completely the same but with a plus one that Amir himself admits doesn't change his life really in anyway due to him living a "life of silence."

Question 4-What do you think "The Kite Runner" is trying to say about cruelty? Provide a specific example from the text.

I think that The Kite Runner is saying that cruelty may be awful and painful, but it is also the only way to move forward. For instance, with Assef's kidney stone, it was being beat up that finally got him to pass the stone that had been causing him to "[pee] blood for three days"(283). Cruelty was the only thing that got Assef to pass that kidney stone and to move forward with his life and heal from it. Yes, being beat up hurt, but without it, Assef would've been stuck peeing blood and the stone would've only gotten worse. The cruelty of being kicked helped Assef heal and move forward.

Q3.) At the end of the book Amir is overjoyed about Sohrabs' small smile, and after the smile fades he admits that "It was only a smile. It didn't make everything alright. It didn't make Anything alright" (Ch.25 Pg.371). Whilst this refers to Amir's previous mishaps with just Sohrab it also serves to indicate that what happened will never be alright no matter how much good you do. The important thing is moving forward as a greater person for everyone around you. The past is out and the future is brighter.

I think that the book is trying to show that cruelty is wrong but is part of that nature man. When Amir left Hassan in the alley it was cruel but his thoughts were self-perseving. He later was able to repent and atone for his sins, and be forgiven, showing that even after being cruel you can still be saved. Assef on the other hand is a very cruel man and commits many sins, but he chooses to continue down his path, making him not just someone who made a cruel choice but a cruel man.

The Kite Runner is making a statement that redemption is not only achievable, but also necessary to achieve a normal and happy life. Amir achieves redemption in this novel after saving Sohrab. Had he not gotten his redemption back, he would have lived his life suffering. However, Baba is also an important character that highlights this. After what Baba did to Hassan's mother, he felt an immense guilt. So he decided to raise Hassan in his house along with Ali. Assef reveals the climate of Hazaras in Afghanistan when he says, "If idiots like you and your father didn't take these people in, wed be rid of them by now. They'd all just go rot in Hazarajat where they belong. You're a disgrace to Afghanistan" (pg. 41). Because of this, Amir and Hassan both realize the trouble Hassan would be in if Baba hadn't taken him in. Baba had redeemed himself after the horrible thing that he did, and because of that, he was able to live a happy and fulfilling life, eventually dying in the house of Amir and Soraya, peacefully, and with "no pain [that]night" (pg. 173).

#1 He has a lot of anger and regret inside of him that makes him not open up as easily because he never told anyone and when he met Soraya he heard her and reassured her that it's okay and that he wouldn't change his mind about their relationship because he knows how it would feel to be judged by someone who is important to you. Then when he went through the fight with Assef he felt much better because of how guilty he felt even though he was just a kid and it's normal to be scared to those kind of problems. And he made sure to help Sohrab with everything he could do, with making him feel safe and reassuring him as well because that's what he would've wanted in the past when he lived with Hassan.

"No, Soraya. Not even close, nothing you said changes anything. I want us to marry."-Amir, page: 165

"You're not dirty, and you're not full of sin" - Amir, page: 320

I think that "The Kite Runner" is trying to say that cruelty appears differently in different people. For example, Assef's cruelty is different than Amir's. Assef's cruelty is more about fists and showing people that you are better than them through force. This is different from Amir's as Amir's is far more silent. It lies beneath the surface and does not show itself often, except for when he's scared. He was scared to help Hassan in that alley and was cruel to Hassan afterward due to that fear as he pushed Hassan away and even became violent with him (pomegranate scene). While Assef's cruelty came out many times and was very obvious, it still showed his weakness, as he used brass knuckles to prove his prowess. Amir's cruelty also showed his weakness, as he was a coward and his fear brought out his cruelty. While cruelty is bad in its entirety, I would rather face Amir's cruelty than Assef's cruelty as it is not as harsh or forthcoming and is only liable to appear in times of fear. In all, cruelty comes in many forms and fashions but will show one their weaknesses and faults.

Question 1-

No, but close. I think that Amir is on the path to redemption, he isn't there just yet but he is getting closer. The main reason I have for this is that he has never, verbally, outright admitted what happened and that he was wrong. The only person that knew what happened was Rahim Kahn, but he figured that out for himself, Amir never told him. For Amir to finally "redeem" himself I think he needs to tell someone, his wife, a therapist, or someone close to him, and verbally tell them what happened, and admit what he had done. This isn't because I think Amir is a terrible person, or that he hasn't done enough already, it's because this would be good for Amir. By finally telling someone he is able to get it off his chest, he is able to finally let it go and begin to heal from what happened and all the guilt and hatred he has against himself.

Question 2

During the fight with Assef, when Amir's body is "broken-just how badly [he] wouldn't find out until later-[he] felt healed"(289). Amir finally got what he was searching for his whole life-punishment for what he did, and what he should've gotten that day in the alley with Hassan. Despite the fact that Amir was beat senseless, he was finally healed for what he did. He realized that he deserved this beating, and that it was long overdue. This beating allowed him to heal, and to forgive himself because he believed that he had finally been punished.

Question 3

I think that it's trying to say that it is always possible. Even though Amir never got to apologize to Hassan, he was still able to be "[h]ealed at last"(289). Even though Hassan was long gone, Amir was still able to be saved from his own past by forgiving himself because he got what he wanted-punishment. No matter how overdue it can be, redemption can always come.

Q1.) I do not believe that Amir truly atones for not helping Hassan. The action or lack there of, of Amir is not something that he could ever truly atone for. Amir's journey has been a journey not of atonement but of acceptance and growth as he strived to be better in the future. Since the beginning of the book looking forward Amir only learned that "it's wrong what they say about the past, I've learned, about how you can bury it. [but] the past claws its way out"(Chapt.1 Pg. 1) So all you can do is embrace it and be better.

Q2.) The Kite Runner is most definitely a coming of age novel and one of the moments that helps illustrate this the most is closer towards the end of the book. Amir has a sudden realization about his feelings with Baba. When he considers that Baba might have thought Hassan to be his true son, due to how kind and brave he was, Amir realizes that he doesn't really care anymore. He has matured and gained emotional independence, not letting his emotions regarding Baba cloud his judgement anymore.

 Question 3-

I think that in Kite Runner, the main message about atonement and redemption is that there is always a way to get better. One of the most famous quotes said in the book is Rahim Khan telling Amir about Sohrab and he tells Amir, "There is a way to be good again." This quote is one of the main focus points of the story. That there s always a way to be better, to be good.You will make mistakes, but there is always a way to atone and become better from them.

No Amir is sorry as hell. Im standing ten toes until the day I die that Amir is a horrible narrator and nothing that anyone says will change my mind. The entire book he acts naively without thinking about the consequences of his actions, not to mention being a total douchebag at the beginning of the book to Hassan because he's an entitled prick. He claims that he is "not sure at all" what the outcome of meeting with Assef will be, which to be honest I do mess with because he lowkey slides for Sohrab there, but he couldn't have taken a second to think about a plan? On top of that, the same day, literally like two hours after he talks to Omar, he decided to put the kid back into an orphanage in order to adopt him, knowing damn well that was not going to go over well with the kid. If he had stopped and thought about this life changing decision for more than two hours, then he would've received the call from Soraya and the kid never would've tried to kill himself. I speak for all of us when I say this, every single one of us in this class. ALL of US, yes US, hate Amir

I believe that Amir was able to atone for not helping Hassan. Amir has always been a coward. Since the day that he was born, he would run away from any trouble, or Hassan had to protect him. However, as soon as he finally realized that he had a "way to be good again" (pg. 192) he took the opportunity to finally do something. After traveling all the way back to Pakistan and meeting with Rahim Khan, he debated going to Afghanistan to save Sohrab under the guise that he would save him and then give him to another family who takes in refugees. Amir scours Afghanistan, travelling from Farid's house to an orphanage, then to a soccer stadium where he had to watch a man get stoned to death. He did all of this just to save Sohrab. Then after finally meeting the man who took Sohrab, he realizes it's Assef. Assef then tells Amir that they must fight for him to take Sohrab, and because he doesn't want to be a coward any longer, Amir says, "All right" (pg. 286). Then, after Assef is defeated, Amir can do nothing but worry about Sohrab's wellbeing, even when he himself is on the brink of death. Then, after Sohrab ran away, Amir panics and runs to find him as quickly as possible. Amir then finds out that this family he was supposed to give Sohrab to never even existed, but since Amir wishes to atone for his mistakes, he decides he will house Sohrab in his own home and raise him as his own. Then, after Sohrab's attempt on his life, Amir carries his body to the ambulance and stays with Sohrab the whole time. Amir was doing all of this on top of trying to figure out how they were going to get back to America. After finally getting back to America, Amir does as much as he can to make Sohrab happy again. The ending of the book signifies Amir's atonement the most as, while kite flying with Sohrab, "One corner of his mouth had curled up just so. A smile" (pg. 370) symbolising the hope for Sohrab's future, and the atonement he has earned for his misdeeds.