1.
“Huddled together in the dining room and waiting for the sun to rise, none of us had any notion that a way of life had ended.” (p. 36)
This quotation reveals that the protagonist is beginning to enter a time of conflict by which he states, “live had ended”. He no longer will experience the feelings of happiness and the freedom to roam the streets and fly kites with his friends.
“My body was broken—just how badly I wouldn’t find out until later—but I felt healed. Healed at last. I laughed.” (p. 289)
This quotation is about Amir and his conflict of finding punishment for his actions. He finally, after countless attempts on his part, receives punishment for letting Assef rape Hassan. This reveals that Amir feels guilty for his actions, until his confrontation with Assef, which despite the physical pain, made him feel psychologically “healed”.
2.
Amir finally gets the beating he was looking for!
This quotation is about the desire for punishment that Amir feels he should receive from Assef. Amir feels guilty because he was given the choice to save Hassan, which would result in him being physically tortured, or to let Assef rape Hassan. The conflict is Amir’s search for punishment, which he doesn’t receive until he’s beaten by brass knuckles.
Confusion arises about unfamiliar vocabulary spoken on radio!
When Russia invaded in 1979, gunshots were part of a coup in which Daoud Khan took over the government. This resulted in the streets being closed down. Curious about the change, Amir and Hassan tune into the morning radio to hear talk of what happened on the radio, but they don’t understand what it means that Afghanistan has become a republic. The confusion doesn’t remain implanted for long in their brains as they depart and climb a tree shortly after. The conflict in this is the takeover occurring in Afghanistan. The effect could be the physical, mental, and economical issues that are evident in a warzone area.
Boy plays “Bystander” during back alley confrontation!
When Amir wins the local kite flying competition, it sends Hassan running for the recently let lose kite (the losing one). Hassan vows to bring the kite back for Amir, which is why he is on pursuit. Amir searches the neighborhood, asking homeowners if they have seen the boy, until finally he stumbles across an alleyway. Hassan has Amir’s kite and is surrounded by Assef and two other boys. Assef tells Hassan they will let him go only if he hands over the kite, which Hassan refuses. He states that he ran the kite fairly, and it belongs to Amir. Assef says Amir wouldn’t be as loyal to him, “an ugly pet Hazara”. The boys and Assef charge Hassan, and all Amir does is watch form behind the corner. The conflict here is ultimately between Amir and Hassan. Does Amir step in for Hassan, or does he listen to what the others are saying about him? For Hassan, does he continue to hold onto the kite and have faith that him and Amir are friends, or does he subside to the “bullies”, give the kite away, and accept that Amir isn’t as loyal as he thought? The effect, Hassan is beaten and raped, while Amir will have to live with the guilt as he watches it all go down.
Insomniac arises in the darkness beneath us!
Shortly after the rape, Amir is forced to attend a large traditional Afghan dinner, one which he doesn’t enjoy as its in recognition of Amirs placing in the tournament. The guilt he feels overrides any feelings of happiness or success in the young boys mind. After the dinner, they all lie down in the same room, but Amir cannot sleep. Amir is faced with a problem. Does he tell everyone about the rape and risk being punished for not helping, and he will have to deal with the guilt associated with just that? Or does he pretend like nothing ever happened and skip the physical punishment and just live with the mental punishment? He says aloud that he watched Hassan get raped, but nobody is awake to hear him. It is after this unheard confession that he states “this is the night I became an insomniac”. From now on, Amir has chosen to take the silent route and refrain from telling anyone the events he witnessed.
Christmas, a time to mentally play those closest to you!
On the morning of Christmas, Amir opens his presents. Amir is troubled by the presence of Hassan and Ali to leave. Meanwhile, he takes the birthday money and a watch that Baba gave him and stuffs everything under Hassan’s mattress. He then goes on to tell Baba that Hassan stole them. When Alo and Hassan return, Baba confronts Hassan, and to Amir’s surprise, Hassan “confesses” to stealing it. Amir realized that Hassan saw him in the alleyway, and he was well aware that Amir was playing him at that moment. Once again, both characters face conflict. Does Amir confess to Hassan and apologize for not stepping in to help, or to call for help? Or does Hassan confront Amir and attempt to make him feel less guilty by saying things like “it wasn’t your fault”, ”there's nothing you could have done”, etc. Hassan could also pretend that he DIDN’T see Amir in the alleyway, and he WASN’T aware that Amir was playing him by pretending he stole the goods. The result, Amir confronts Hassan and wishes that he be punished for his non-actions in Hassan’s rape. He pelts Hassan with pomegranates, expecting that Hassan will fight back, but nothing happens!
“Huddled together in the dining room and waiting for the sun to rise, none of us had any notion that a way of life had ended.” (p. 36)
This quotation reveals that the protagonist is beginning to enter a time of conflict by which he states, “live had ended”. He no longer will experience the feelings of happiness and the freedom to roam the streets and fly kites with his friends.
“My body was broken—just how badly I wouldn’t find out until later—but I felt healed. Healed at last. I laughed.” (p. 289)
This quotation is about Amir and his conflict of finding punishment for his actions. He finally, after countless attempts on his part, receives punishment for letting Assef rape Hassan. This reveals that Amir feels guilty for his actions, until his confrontation with Assef, which despite the physical pain, made him feel psychologically “healed”.
2.
Amir finally gets the beating he was looking for!
This quotation is about the desire for punishment that Amir feels he should receive from Assef. Amir feels guilty because he was given the choice to save Hassan, which would result in him being physically tortured, or to let Assef rape Hassan. The conflict is Amir’s search for punishment, which he doesn’t receive until he’s beaten by brass knuckles.
Confusion arises about unfamiliar vocabulary spoken on radio!
When Russia invaded in 1979, gunshots were part of a coup in which Daoud Khan took over the government. This resulted in the streets being closed down. Curious about the change, Amir and Hassan tune into the morning radio to hear talk of what happened on the radio, but they don’t understand what it means that Afghanistan has become a republic. The confusion doesn’t remain implanted for long in their brains as they depart and climb a tree shortly after. The conflict in this is the takeover occurring in Afghanistan. The effect could be the physical, mental, and economical issues that are evident in a warzone area.
Boy plays “Bystander” during back alley confrontation!
When Amir wins the local kite flying competition, it sends Hassan running for the recently let lose kite (the losing one). Hassan vows to bring the kite back for Amir, which is why he is on pursuit. Amir searches the neighborhood, asking homeowners if they have seen the boy, until finally he stumbles across an alleyway. Hassan has Amir’s kite and is surrounded by Assef and two other boys. Assef tells Hassan they will let him go only if he hands over the kite, which Hassan refuses. He states that he ran the kite fairly, and it belongs to Amir. Assef says Amir wouldn’t be as loyal to him, “an ugly pet Hazara”. The boys and Assef charge Hassan, and all Amir does is watch form behind the corner. The conflict here is ultimately between Amir and Hassan. Does Amir step in for Hassan, or does he listen to what the others are saying about him? For Hassan, does he continue to hold onto the kite and have faith that him and Amir are friends, or does he subside to the “bullies”, give the kite away, and accept that Amir isn’t as loyal as he thought? The effect, Hassan is beaten and raped, while Amir will have to live with the guilt as he watches it all go down.
Insomniac arises in the darkness beneath us!
Shortly after the rape, Amir is forced to attend a large traditional Afghan dinner, one which he doesn’t enjoy as its in recognition of Amirs placing in the tournament. The guilt he feels overrides any feelings of happiness or success in the young boys mind. After the dinner, they all lie down in the same room, but Amir cannot sleep. Amir is faced with a problem. Does he tell everyone about the rape and risk being punished for not helping, and he will have to deal with the guilt associated with just that? Or does he pretend like nothing ever happened and skip the physical punishment and just live with the mental punishment? He says aloud that he watched Hassan get raped, but nobody is awake to hear him. It is after this unheard confession that he states “this is the night I became an insomniac”. From now on, Amir has chosen to take the silent route and refrain from telling anyone the events he witnessed.
Christmas, a time to mentally play those closest to you!
On the morning of Christmas, Amir opens his presents. Amir is troubled by the presence of Hassan and Ali to leave. Meanwhile, he takes the birthday money and a watch that Baba gave him and stuffs everything under Hassan’s mattress. He then goes on to tell Baba that Hassan stole them. When Alo and Hassan return, Baba confronts Hassan, and to Amir’s surprise, Hassan “confesses” to stealing it. Amir realized that Hassan saw him in the alleyway, and he was well aware that Amir was playing him at that moment. Once again, both characters face conflict. Does Amir confess to Hassan and apologize for not stepping in to help, or to call for help? Or does Hassan confront Amir and attempt to make him feel less guilty by saying things like “it wasn’t your fault”, ”there's nothing you could have done”, etc. Hassan could also pretend that he DIDN’T see Amir in the alleyway, and he WASN’T aware that Amir was playing him by pretending he stole the goods. The result, Amir confronts Hassan and wishes that he be punished for his non-actions in Hassan’s rape. He pelts Hassan with pomegranates, expecting that Hassan will fight back, but nothing happens!
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