After Hassan and Ali’s resignation and departure from the house, Amir’s life changes drastically. With constant reminders of Hassan and the rape, even thousands of miles couldn’t stop him from feeling the deep guilt and shame about having been a coward and allowing a true friend to get hurt.
The political transformation in his country propels Amir from a sheltered, comfortable upper-middle class lifestyle where his only preoccupation was his jealousy towards Hassan because of the qualities Hassan possessed and he didn’t. The transformation from childhood to adulthood occurs rapidly in Amir as he is forced to witness rape, death, displacement and a strange new life in a foreign country where they would be considered minorities, impoverished and alienated. I found it interesting that when Baba told Amir to think of something good and happy, he visualized himself with Hassan flying a kite in a field. This illustrates the depth of their friendship even though he never reciprocated the loyalty Hassan had towards him. We are able to get a sense of nostalgia for his rushed childhood.
After the move to America, a huge culture clash occurs. Baba’s traditional upholding of values such as honor and respectability contradict America’s progressive liberal ideologies. Amir is able to adapt well in this society because of the flexibility of being young. Throughout his transformation into adulthood, he surprisingly grows apart from Baba and his inflexible mindset. Living as a low class immigrant has humbled Baba to the point where he is able to show long lasting affection towards Amir after graduating high school. I expect to see even more changes throughout the rest of the chapters. However, I hope that Amir and Hassan will reunite.
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