Alexa Ferrer Reaction #4

I am absolutely disgusted with Amir. One thing is to be completely traumatized by the rape and ignore Hassan as a lame defense mechanism. Another thing is to completely betray the one person in the world that absolutely adores him more than anything. The way he treated his father and Ali by throwing all his toys to the side made me lose any once of respect I ever had for Amir. I do not tolerate disrespect and found that to be disgusting on Amir’s part.

Although I read the book in 8^th grade I completely forgot the part of Amir’s coldhearted betrayal. I felt stabbed when Amir put the items under Hassan’s bed, but the worst part was when Hassan admitted to doing it. I don’t understand how Amir can single handedly ruin his entire family. Although not directly related Ali and Hassan were the closest people Baba and Amir had to them, and I was surprised Amir didn’t even react to his father’s grief for it all.

            After last week’s reaction, I was able to find sympathy for Amir and try to see the situation from his point of view. Now I don’t even believe he has a conscience. The act he committed by sending Ali and Hassan away is disgusting and unforgivable and I am sitting here as I write this blog trying to find some sort of empathy for him. It scares me that people can be so selfish and cruel, yet it is a sad reality in the world. An interesting aspect of the way this book is written is how every time Amir says or does something mean, he acknowledges how awful he is and never tries to justify his cruelty. I think I would expect most people to defend themselves at all times but he just accepts that what he does is horrific and he happens to suffer the consequences through the guilt that was eating away at him.

            In a way I am relieved that Hassan and Ali are not longer in the story for the time being because my heart would break for every kind act they would do. I am very interested in the situation Kabul is in during Amir and Baba’s exile and I am excited to read more about it. The bus ride out of Kabul showed a very admirable part of Baba and I wish Amir would take after his father in that sense.