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Kite Runner ~ Continuation of Analysis for Baba not understanding Amir
...presence. Nevertheless, Baba struggles to emotionally support his son and ends up emotionally isolating him by not being able to connect with Amir. -
Kite Runner ~ Baba not understanding Amir
Baba and Amir are different people who grew up liking different activities,"' ...always buried in those books or shuffling around the house like he's lost in some dream,''' Baba states, ''' I wasn't like that,''' (21). This is important because Baba could not find a relatable aspect in Amir, his son, which reveals the intense power dynamic throughout their father-son relationship. In addition, Amir is quiet and struggles to get the approval and recognition from Baba who has a strong... -
Kite Runner ~ Hassan's Birthday
Baba treated Hassan as an equal person to Amir, " [He] never missed Hassan's birthday," (44). Through this quote, Baba expresses equal devotion to his servant's son, even though they are from different social classes. Therefore, it signifies that the author uses Baba's high socioeconomic power to influence the way their community accepts Baba's equal treatment and loyalty of someone in a lower socioeconomic status. -
Kite Runner ~ The Last Kite Tournament
The author uses word choice to create a suspenseful atmosphere by stating, "... [Amir] saw Hassan run a kite for the last time," (55). Through this quote, the author reveals that a substantial event will happen in the novel by using the literary device, foreshadowing, which creates a suspenseful atmosphere. This is important in the plot development because the reader knows something will happen but must infer what will happen by using context clues. -
Kite Runner ~ Continuation of Analysis for the Pomegranate Tree
...uses Hassan's ethnicity to covey the fact that, even though Hassan is a Hazara servant and Amir wants Hassan to retaliate, Hassan's loyalty and social status compared to Amir requires Hassan to treat Amir with respect. -
Kite Runner ~ The Pomegranate Tree
Hassan and Amir went to their favorite pomegranate tree and Amir picked up a pomegranate and stated, '''What would you do if I hit you with this,''' Amir hit him with another pomegranate and said, '''Hit me back,''' (92). This is significant because Amir struggles to find closure after Hassan's rape because he failed to help Hassan. Moreover, through his self loathing, he further tests Hassan's love and loyalty. This indicates the power dynamic between the two boys and how the author... -
The Kite Runner ~ Amir's Watch
Amir received a watch from Baba for his birthday and used it as a way to create a reason for Baba to fire Hassan and Ali, ''I lifted Hassan's mattress and planted my new watch and a handful of Afghani bills under it,'' (104). In this quote, Amir shows his feelings of guilt from his failure to save Hassan from Assef raping him, which disregarded the values Baba taught him. This is important because Amir's actions do not reflect his morals, and therefore it makes him a lesser person than Hassan. -
The Soviet Invasion
With the Soviet Invasion of Kabul, the United States was skeptical of the Soviet's motives, "...Soviets engineered the coup as a pretext," (The New York Times). -
During the Soviet Union Occupation
During the nine years of Soviet occupation, "the conservative populace was antagonized... that offended Muslim tradition," (The New York Times). -
Kite Runner ~ Leaving Kabul
Amir and Baba left their home in Kabul and sat, "...with our suitcases between our legs... cramped with these strangers in the tarpaulin-covered cab of an old Russian truck..." (110). Consequently, Baba and Amir are forced to leave their beloved country and move to the United States to escape the Russians. This shows the authors' use of political events, in the novel, to create a more developed plot. -
The Kite Runner ~ Baba's Noble Moment
While Baba and Amir were being smuggled into Jalalabad from Kabul, they passed a checkpoint at Mahipar where a Russian soldier wanted to spend a half an hour with the women in the truck, but Baba stood up and stated, "'Tell him I'll take a thousand of his bullets before I let this indecency take place,"' (116). This reveals Baba's strong values about what is proper behavior. Baba displays strong morals which he lives throughout his daily life and is not afraid to use bold actions in the face... -
The Kite Runner ~ Continuation of Analysis Baba's Noble Moment
... of someone who has a higher status than him. This is important in the novel because the author uses Baba's high socioeconomic status, along with his strong morals and beliefs, to covey his importance among the other characters and demonstrate how Baba influences the other character's opinions. -
Kite Runner ~ The General's Approval
Amir fell in love with Soraya and asked Baba, "...to ask the General Taheri for [Soraya's] hand," (161). The author created a female character in Amir's life to bring him peace, and to remind Amir of his haunting past through Soraya's own checkered past. Furthermore, this signifies Amirs' ongoing battle within himself to come to terms with his past failures. -
The Kite Runner ~ Baba's death
Baba had cancer, and soon after he found out, Soraya and Amir got married, "Baba never woke up," (173). Amir struggled to find approval from Baba throughout his life. This illustrates how the power dynamic will change as a result of Baba's passing. It signifies how Amir will rise in standing and step out of the shadow he always stood in, as a result of his father's high socioeconomic status. -
Aftermath of the Soviet Invasion
After the Soviet troops left Afghanistan, the country was in shambles and, "... a beacon to Islamic extremists from across the globe... ," (NYT). -
The Taliban Takeover
The Taliban movement was dedicated to purifying Afghanistan and Mullah Omar, "... created a genuinely popular movement in a country weary of corruption and brutality," (The nEw York Times). -
The Kite Runner ~ Amir's Return to Afghanistan
Amir and Farid stopped on their way to Kabul at Farid's house in Jalalabad where he truly reconnected with the land and realized he, " ... was home again, standing on the soil of [his] ancestors," (240). This is important in the novel because it shows how Amir feels guilty about going to America and leaving behind his struggling friends and family. Furthermore, this shows how the author uses human empathy to allow the reader to have a deeper connection with Amir. -
Fundamentalist Islamic Law Imposed in Afghanistan
Pakistan gave money and weapons to Mullah Omar, allowing his group, and the Taliban, to become stronger and very powerful, forcing Afghans to obey strict Islamic laws, "international criticism of the Taliban's harsh measures had little effect on the regime...they seemed to welcome the pariah status," (The New York Times). -
The Kite Runner ~ Rahim Khan's Reveal
Rahim Khan was ill, and so Amir traveled to Pakistan where Rahim Khan told Amir life-changing information, "[Amir is] thirty eight years old and [he] just found out [his] whole life is one big fucking lie," (223). This is important in the novel because it shows Baba was not always as honest as he presented himself to be throughout his life; nevertheless, it helped Amir further connect with his father by knowing he was not the only one feeling burdened by guilt. Moreover, this is... -
The Kite Runner ~ Continuation of Analysis of Rahim Khan's Reveal
...significant event in the plot because Rahim Khan exposed Baba's deepest secret, which directly contradicted Baba's perspective of the greatest sin, theft, which he instilled in Amir as being morally forbiden. -
Taliban Rising Once More
The Taliban gained strength with Pakistan's aid, "had taken control of Afghanistan, imposing strict enforcement of fundamentalist Islamic law," (The New York Times). -
The Kite Runner ~ Soccer Game
Amir and Farid attended a soccer game to see the Taliban official who took Sorhab away from the orphanage and was stunned by what the Taliban did," ...hurled the stone at the blindfolded man in the hole," (271). This quote shows the severity of how people in Afghanistan were treated and the impact the Taliban's torturous actions had on others. Amir's experience in the arena is important because it impacts Amir's confidence when facing the Taliban in order to get Sohrab back safely. -
The Kite Runner ~ Finding A Old Frenemie
Amir went to the Taliban to find Sohrab and there, he met his old acquaintance from childhood, "His name escaped my lips: Assef," (281). This is important in the novel because it illustrates how Amir's past relationship with Assef turns deadly as a result of Assef being part of the Taliban. Furthermore, the author illustrates the power dynamic between past relationships and how they impact present relationships. -
Kite Runner ~ Amir Opened Up to Soraya about his Past
Amir was unable to open up to Soraya about his past, even though Soraya told him; her deepest regrets and failures, until he,"... told [Soraya] everything. Everything," (325). This is important in the novel because it shows how Amir finally accepts his past failures and does not feel burdened by them anymore. Furthermore, the author uses the character, Soraya, as a person where Amir can safely let go of his built up guilt, and therefore Soraya brings Amir peace about his failure to help Hassan. -
Kite Runner ~ Sohrab's Suicide Attempt
Amir rescued Sohrab from the abusive Taliban, but when Amir could not take Sohrab back to America with him and suggested putting Sohrab in an orphanage until he could come to America Sohrab, "... cut himself deeply...lost a great deal of blood..." (348). The quote signifies how the author uses real life hardships and consequences to reinforce the plight of the Afghani people. Also, the author uses this event to allow the reader to sympathize with Sohrab's pain. -
Kite Runner ~ Continuation of Analysis from Sohrab's Suicide Attempt
and further deepen the connection to the people in the novel. -
9/11 Invasion
After Osama bin Laden moved to Afghanistan, he worked with the Taliban to control the country and orchestrate the World Trade Center attack, which caused, "the United States to join forces with rebel groups that had never accepted Taliban rule, notably the Northern Alliance, which represented minority tribes," (The New York Times). -
The Karzai Government
The rule of the Taliban was over, and Hamid Karzai sat as leader of the interim government, but he became less popular and the, "Afghan population... blamed him for the manifest lack of economic progress and corrupt officials," (The New York Times). -
The Taliban Resurgence
Although, the Taliban had lost their control of Afghanistan," the Taliban regrouped and began to extended its influence... assisted by a a resurgent opium trade..." (The New York Times). -
Obama's War
After Obama took office, his administration wanted to withdraw United States troops from Afghanistan, but the United States was, "trying to convince Afghans that the United States [was] not walking away and to warn the Taliban that aggressive operation against them would continue," (The New York Times).