Wednesday, October 2, 2013

Fish Bowl #6, Chapter 21 of The Kite Runner

Welcome to your sixth fish bowl!

A few reminders if you're looking for an A for the day:

(A) Bring at least one quotation and/or page reference into at least one of your responses.
(B) Explain your thinking thoughtfully and thoroughly (try to avoid the one-sentence response).
(C) Keep it professional, including the usage of proper grammar and spelling.
(D) Comment frequently from the beginning of the conversation to the end.


Remember also that you're welcome to get into a hot seat in the inner circle for a little while and earn some of your daily participation points there.


Enjoy!

142 comments:

  1. Why is it so important to know your mother? And why is it that Amir did all of this for that boy of Hassans Why?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Mothers are most likely the soft parent in your family. She is very sympathetic and makes you feel loved and you find yourself within through your mom and dad. without your mom, would would feel like half of you is useless or gone.

      Delete
    2. I agree with Jackson how you want to know your mom because she is very sympathetic and makes you feel loved. I also believe that it is important to know what your mother was like and how she made you who you were today. She was the woman who gave birth to you no matter what.

      Delete
    3. I think it is important to know your mom because it can help you understand your background. You can find comfort in knowing that their is somebody out there that wants to support you. I think doing it for Hassan's boy shows that he is serious about taking him in his arms. I think he wants to do this so that he can help to raise him and show him his background.

      Delete
    4. I think that knowing your mother is very important because mothers fill the empty space inside of you. You will always know that your mother is there to give you comfort and protection. Having a mother or a motherly figure will make you feel more secure and centered. I think that Amir did everything to look for Hassan's boy because he finally realized how important Hassan was during his childhood and life. Because Amir makes a mistake, he probably is trying to redeem himself by doing something that Hassan would've really appreciated.

      Delete
  2. Knowing your parents (mother or father) gives a person a sense of identity, it allows them to connect to their roots. Amir did all of this because he feels responsible for what happened to Hassan, as seen by the nightmare on page 240. He is doing this to get a sense of redemption.

    ReplyDelete
  3. On page 259 Amir talks about seeing a dead body near a restaurant. He says there had been a hanging. Do you think it was an act of the Taliban? What does it say about the Taliban?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. It was most definitely committed by the Taliban, and this says that the Taliban has been there too long. This is because hardly anyone noticed it, said on page 259, which means that it has happened so often that it is normal.

      Delete
    2. I think that the hanging symbolizes the cruelty that is present in Kabul. The auctioning of the leg i think really shows how desperate the situation.

      Delete
    3. Well on page 259 it doesn't clearly state it but I would assume it is becuase they are the only ones killing people and I feel that the Taliban is ruthless and that's how they still are today. Like crashing planes into the World Trade center

      Delete
    4. It was definitely an act committed by the Taliban. It sets the scene and gives us a visual of how truly distorted and violent this form of government was. "A young man dangled from the end of the rope tied to a beam, his face puffy and blue, the clothes he wore on the last day of his life were shredded and bloody." The Taliban is causing so much violence and murder in Afghanistan making it such an unsafe place to be in during this time.

      Delete
  4. On page 261 Amir talks about walking up the driveway of a place he used to call home. Now supposedly home to the Taliban. How would you personally feel if you came to find out that people that inflict harm upon others are living in the luxury of a place you once lived in?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I would be filled with rage. I would want to do whatever I could to stop them form the horrible things that they do.

      Delete
    2. If that was me walking up I would feel violated because it was an important part of my life. It would've been part of my childhood. It was where happy memories were now there is a person from an evil group living there. It is just unmoral for the Taliban to be there.

      Delete
    3. I think it would be very disorienting. Seeing such degradation of your own society would be incredibly foreign to nearly anybody. I can imagine that one would feel heartbroken seeing a community you care about being so broken by greed and power, along with the just plain immoral acts that the Taliban promote. I can also imagine feeling hopeless and sick to think that you came from the same society that those people came from.

      Delete
    4. Truthfully i would want to just kill all of them. but i know there is really nothing i can really do about it because i value my life. i think this is how amir also feels.

      Delete
    5. I would feel extremely saddened if my home was taken over by an evil group like the Taliban. I think the fact that his house is now owned by the Taliban shows symbolism of how when he was growing up things were so much more peaceful in Afghanistan and now it is complete war and violence.

      Delete
  5. On page 267 Amir thinks, "Maybe it was a hopeless place." What caused Amir to think this? And why does he think this?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Amir thought this because of the jokes Farid and Amir were sharing. Even as the rest of the world is moving forward, people in Afghanistan still tell the same old jokes. While it is a result of the Taliban, their lack of growth has made Amir think that Afghanistan is stuck in the past.

      Delete
  6. This comment has been removed by the author.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. This comment has been removed by the author.

      Delete
    2. When Amir says "I don't want to forget anymore," I think it means that he is ready to face his past and I guess try to fix what he did in some way. I think we all have done this at one point or another. For instance, when you are a kid and steal a cookie from the cookie jar you feel guilty and apologize even though no one even noticed that you took an extra cookie.

      Delete
  7. On page 259 (the first page of ch.21) It said there was a hanging dead body and nobody seemed to notice. I find this really sad because you must have to frequently see dead bodies to not notice. I think this is sad because I know in the United States people would definitely notice. I also find this very devastating because it said his clothes were bloody and his face was blue and purple, and nobody even notices. I wonder if the boy that was hanging dead did anything to get killed, or if he was just an innocent person? I feel bad for the people who are victims of the Taliban because there is so many of them and its hard to stop the Taliban.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I do not believe anyone in their lifetime can ever get used to the idea of seeing people suffer or die. I believe people were saddened and upset at seeing the dead body but everyone was too scared to take any action against this injustice. On page 248 Farid says "Don't ever stare at them! Do you understand me? Never!" This shows the fear that the Afghan people have toward the taliban.

      Delete
  8. On page 271 Farid was shaking his head Saying " And they call themselves Muslims" Why do you think he took such offense to that?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I think that he said this and was offended by it because of how morally wrong it is.

      Delete
    2. Because they do not want to betrayed as people that they are not. The Muslim people are generally very giving and kind people but there are a lot of radicals who justify the horrible things that they do in the name of "Islam". That places a blanket over everyone eyes because that gives them a so called "excuse" to do what they do, and a way to gain more supporters for their cause. If people learn that their actions are justified in the name of god, then they will continue doing things that are deemed "just". On page 270 Assef says "How shall we answer those who throw stones at the windows of god's house? WE SHALL THROW STONES BACK!" They bring in god to justify their actions and gain supporters.

      Delete
    3. I think he took such offence because these people who are committing such felonious, immoral acts are representing his own religion. And he would not want to be associated with their violence.

      Delete
  9. On page 263 Amir says, "I don't want to forget anymore." What does he mean by this?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I think this means that Amir spent his whole life trying to forget the past and like move on with his life, and now he realizes that he can't run from it you can just except it and move on. I also think that he is trying to remember the good times that he had with Hassan and that he is missing him so he is trying to bring back those memories.

      Delete
    2. Amir is finally facing his past with courage rather than trying to hide and run from it with cowardice, he decided he has had enough of running away from his past.

      Delete
    3. He doesn't want to forget all the painful things he has been through because without the memory of those things he wouldn't be who he is.

      Delete
    4. I think he means that he is ready to man up and he isn't going to run away this time. He knows that life isn't perfect and everything he is going through is part of life and maybe he thinking that his life was pretty good as a kid and now a lot is falling apart and he is ready to face his problems and try to fix them and he doesn't want to just run away from them this time.

      Delete
    5. Amir's statement has a double meaning. Not only does he not want to forget what he's seeing but he also does not want to suppress the memories of what happened with Hassan any longer either.

      Delete
    6. I think its his way of saying he doesn't want to be the person that tries to forget their past because of mistakes they made. It shows he wants to grow into a better person. He doesn't want to forget the good things he is trying to accomplish.

      Delete
  10. On page 263, Amir, when he was visiting his old house, says, "I don't want to forget anymore". What do you think he meant by that?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I believe that Amir had realized how it was cowardly to turn his back on his country and what was happening, and to bury the past. While he was in America, he really tried to just get a fresh start, and he sort of forgot his old life. By returning to his old house, he realized that he doesn't want to forget his fond memories, and he wants to remember everything that had happened.

      Delete
    2. Amir is saying that he is now willing to accept the past and move past it. He is saying that he can deal with the events that occurred in Afghanistan.

      Delete
  11. When Amir returned to his house, it reinforced the idea that he was a "tourist in his own country" (page 231) because when he saw his house everything there had also been different. He described it "of fallen splendor" (page 262), and I believe that this is showing how everything has basically gone to pieces, and nothing is as he remembered.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I agree with you because, he was gone for so long and when he was a kid things weren't as bad and he didn't really notice the bad because he almost isolated from it because his dad was so wealthy. And now that he is back as an adult he actually understands what is happening and he is not used to it. His home is completely different and I think this may be a wake up call to him having him realize how bad things really are.

      Delete
  12. Why does the Taliban choose to throw rocks at the man and woman in front of the big crowd?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I think they want to show the public not to disobey the law, or challenge them, by making others see what they're capable of. They want to scare the public into behaving.

      Delete
    2. The Taliban want to show that they are in charge and this killing showed the people that they can back up their rules with punishment. I think this is shown to keep the people in line, so the people don't rise up against them.

      Delete
    3. I think they choose to throw rock at the men in women in front of big crowd so that the people in the crowd know that if they do something wrong then this how you will be punished and that you can not escape. So not only are they punishing people they are like also trying to warn the people like this is what happens when you disobey us or our God.

      Delete
    4. This ties in with why Assef chose to rape Hassan instead of just beating someone. Being stoned to death really illustrates a slow, painful death that is brutally uncommon in the modern world that we are familiar with. By choosing to stone the man and woman to death, a very painful and alarming death is occurring to show the readers just how violent times were in Afghanistan during this period. It is easy to assume that the destruction taking place in this book illustrates similar destruction in rural parts of our modern world, but by using an uncommon and brutal death in this book it shows the true violent period Afghanistan is going through in this book.

      Delete
    5. They chose to do this in front of everybody because this way they are showing everyone that they are in control and they have power. Because if I were one of the outsiders I would be so scared and I wouldn't want to mess them because I wouldn't want this to happen to me. This way everyone knows what they are capable of and the Taliban is just getting what they want by everyone being scared of them and because they are so scared they "respect" them.

      Delete
    6. Adding on to Olivia, I also think this ties on the reoccurring theme of violence. The author, throughout the book, tries to show power over one another by violence. Throwing rocks at people could be viewed as a form of violence that shows power.

      Delete
    7. The Taliban chose to murder people in such a violent way because it was there warning to civilians that if they do not obey the Taliban then the same awful things will happen to them.

      Delete
  13. What kind of crime was commited that the couple were sentenced to be stoned to death? and what kind of an impact does this have on amir? I think it could remind amir of when he just stood by and basically watched hassan get degraded or his spirit "killed" while in the allyway

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Page 270 includes a cleric trying to reason with the crowd so he can justify the murder of the two people. They committed adultry and the cleric had said that they shall die for their sins. And yeah of course that is an excellent connection to Amir's past. It really explains why he doesn't watch the killings.

      Delete
  14. On page 259 there is an array of violence that is occurring at this time in Afghanistan. My question is why do you think people at this time are so oblivious to the violence that is occurring? Are they scared to speak their opinion on it? Or are they used to it?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I find that it is most likely both. If they speak about it or try to voice their opinions, then most likely they will face the same fate. Along with this, they have been under Taliban rule for so long that this is a normal occurrence. While I'm sure they hate it, there isn't much they can do to stop it or prevent it without they themselves also dying.

      Delete
    2. It is an amalgamation of both fear and growing accustomed to it. The people are afraid of what the Taliban would do if they spoke out, while the Taliban has been doing it so long, that it has lost its horror and shock. It has become the norm, this array of violence.

      Delete
    3. I think that the people are definitely not used to the violence. They are forced to live with it, because if they don't, they will be killed. I also think it is possible that some people agree with the ideals of the Taliban, although they would be a minority, they would still exist. The people who are against the Taliban are terrified to speak their mind, because to do so would mean death.

      Delete
    4. I think that it is a little bit of both. They are probably getting used to it because violence is becoming so normal to them that they just kinda go with. But, I am sure they are so scared to speak up because, they see people getting rocks thrown at their heads and the Taliban is putting them in holes and they are probably scared that is going to happen to them so they just keep their mouth shut and hope for the best.

      Delete
    5. I agree with Earl, that they aren't used to it, but they have to live with it. Most of the people are scared to speak their minds, I know if I was in that spot I would not want to speak up. There could be an immediate death for just speaking up. For example, Hassan's wife spoke up and she got whipped for it. It would be too much of a risk to speak up and reject the Taliban.

      Delete
    6. I think they are afraid to speak what they think out of fear of what the Taliban could do to them. The Taliban punishes those who don't follow and worship them in a very visual and public way so people are aware of what could happen to them or their families.

      Delete
  15. From the quote, "Farid warned me. He had. But, as it turned out, he wasted his breath." (page 243) What does Amir mean when he says Farid wasted his breath? Why does he say this?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Amir says this because even though he had fair warning as to what was happening, there was no possible way for him to really prepare him for what Amir was about to see. It's like the saying "I'll believe it when I see it." You never really believe something is that bad, or that it could be true, until you see it with your own eyes.

      Delete
    2. I think he means, that at first he thought that Farid was exaggerating, that everything would be worse than he remembered, but not hugely different or bad, then he goes there and realizes that Farid was right; Afghanistan isn't how it used to be.

      Delete
  16. On page 272 the Taliban man just accepts to see Amir and Farid right away. Why does he immediately accept their request to meet with him? Does this show he has no fear and he is in a position of power?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I think that the Taliban man accepts there request right away because he knows that he has the power, so their request can only benefit him. In other words, he has nothing to lose because nobody would dare take anything from him without him letting them, so he can only gain something by the meeting.

      Delete
    2. I think Amir got the meeting so quickly because it may have looked like he was dressed nicely and also because it states " we has personal business to discuss with the man in White." I think that had a lot to do with getting the meeting so quickly. I think the clothes Amir chose to wear has some sort of importance to getting the meeting so quickly.

      Delete
    3. I think the Taliban man accepts so quickly because he has nothing to fear of them. I think that the Taliban man does have power over them because he is in the Taliban and that if something happens to him, they would most likely be killed for doing harm to him.

      Delete
  17. Thsi chapter starts off by Amir and Farid going over to Baba's old house. Amir describes the house as "the picture of fallen splendor" (pg. 262). They can't cant enter the house and explore it. What do you think Amir means by "the picture of fallen splendor"? How does he feel about it?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. What Amir means by this is that the house used to be something splendid and something that he and his family take pride in. Now he describes it as a fallen splendor, something that used to symbolize beauty and power now lays forgotten and abandoned.

      Delete
  18. On page 260 when Amir and Farid are talking they say, ""This isn't so bad," I remarked. "No surprise. Most of the important people live here now." "Taliban?" "Them too," Farid said." This makes me come to the realization that Amir never did know the true Afghanistan and that how even in these rough times, there still are social classes. However, the social classes have become, the rich and poor, the Taliban and there supporters and everyone else.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Also, the Taliban don't see themselves as any lesser than anyone else. To the Taliban they are the best, no one else is better than them. They are never wrong, fearful, and they are the most powerful.

      Delete
  19. on pages 271 when they are stoning the two people why do you think that the taliban stoned the people so publicly? Is it to gain a sense of power? To show people that they are in control?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. They are doing this in public because they don't care and they are trying to show everyone that they are in control and that they have power over everyone. They are showing that if you mess with them they can do the same to you. The Taliban clearly is in need of attention and power and by doing this and showing everyone how violent they are people will respect them. Not respect them in the sense of looking up to them but respect them in the sense that they are scared and they don't want this to happen to them.

      Delete
    2. i think it is a sign of control and to throw them who is boss. on page 270 they say "WE SHALL THROW THE STONES BACK!" i think that the man speaking is saying that he committed a sin and he must pay. so they do this in public so that they can strike fears into the peoples eyes.

      Delete
  20. "We are Hassan and Amir, famed adventurers and the world's greatest explorers, about to receive a medal of honor for our courageous feat." Do you think that in this passage Amir is trying to remind himself of the bravery he once possessed so that he can learn to use it again while back in Afghanistan?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Yeah I think it is because he is in his home town but it is an unknown town now because it is torn to pieces and you can barely make out what the buildings are and this is the time when he needs to find his courage and get back the boy so that he can save Hassan's this time.

      Delete
  21. What does the begger symbolize in this chapter and book? Why would the author included him into this story?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. If there was no begger then Amir would have never "met" his mother. Then Amir and Hassan wouldn't have that extra little something in their connection because they both some how met their mothers.

      Delete
  22. Do you think that Baba would have stood up against the taliban or stood with them?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I think knowing how Baba is a strong willed man and how he always wanted Amir to stand up for himself, he would probably stand against them.

      Delete
    2. I think Baba would have gone against the Taliban because on page 270 Amir quotes Baba. " Piss on the beards of those self-righteous monkeys. They do nothing but thumb their rosaries and recite a written book in a tongue they don't even understand. God help us all if Afghanistan ever falls into their hands." Baba obviously thinks that they do not understand or respect what they do. This is why i think Baba would go against the Taliban.

      Delete
    3. in chapter 10 is the time when they where fleeing form Kabul. i think the Taliban is the reason that they left so i think he would be strongly agent them

      Delete
  23. On page 261 it says "I stood outside the gates of my father's house, feeling like a stranger." Why does Amir say this? Does he have hope that his country may be saved?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Amir feels like a stranger because the peaceful kite flying childhood he remembers is nothing like it used to be. Nothing is the same. Including his father's house. On page 262 it states "The house itself was far from the sprawling white mansion I remembered from my childhood." I think Amir has lost all hope for this country. Not only has he lost almost every important person in his life but he has also come to realize that he himself is too scared to do anything to fix/change the country back anyways.

      Delete
    2. I think that Amir says this because it has changed so much since the last time he saw it. All of the changes to the house, I think, makes Amir think that his country cannot be saved.

      Delete
  24. On page 262 Amir states "The house itself was far from the sprawling white mansion I remembered from my childhood."
    I think what Amir means by this is that he is devastated from everything that has happened to the place he grew up in, and how its not the way he remembers it. I also think he means that its not the same white mansion because it's been through a lot and he says "It looked smaller. The roof sagged and the plaster was cracked." and he also mentioned how the windows were broken. I think this is significant because Amir probably remembers all the good memories from the house, but now all he sees is a damaged house with cracked windows and all, and seeing the dead people all around drains his good memories and floods his brain with bad thoughts.

    ReplyDelete
  25. Everybody in Afghanistan is effected by the Taliban whether it is a small of big affection, everyone will feel a loss or longing for their loved ones and their old life. If you were one of those Afghanistan people or anybody else, do you wish you could have lived your life with more umph and have no regrets when your country is taken over by another ideology?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Of course I would. If my country was taken over by a tyranny, I would want to have some good memories of my life. However, I think not knowing what happiness is could alleviate the pain of the suffering that they go through.

      Delete
    2. I personally would try to live my life with more umph and have fun doing it. I would want to have some good memories also. I think that everyone should still feel happiness sometime in their life, if they don't then that isn't a life worth living.

      Delete
  26. On page 259 it said there was a hanging dead body and nobody seemed to notice. This is so messed up to me. Why do you think it is "normal" or not weird to them?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I think that this is normal because they are living in war territory. Dead bodies are normal for war.

      Delete
    2. It is because the Taliban have been in control for so long. After so many repeated acts of violence, the people of Afghanistan have become desensitized to the horror of those acts.

      Delete
    3. I think it's normal to them because it's the way they have lived under Taliban rule for so long. They may not have showed that they noticed but they may have noticed and not shown emotion to it just because it happens so frequently.

      Delete
    4. At this period of time in Afghanistan violence is a daily thing. It is something that the people of Kabul wake up understand will take place everyday. To us this is sickening and its hard to read because for the most part we wake up to a peaceful society with very little violence. In Afghanistan at this time though there is so much violence going on every second that people are adapting to it and it has become an unfortunate expectation of recurrence.

      Delete
    5. I think the people are getting use to Taliban rule. It isn't something rare to them any more. The Taliban have been in rule for a few years now, and the people of Kabul have seen many disturbing things. It probably was messed up to them at the beginning but as the violence increased it started to effect them less. On page 271 we see how the Taliban publicly punish people in a violent manner. I think violence and death is no longer a huge shock in this community.

      Delete
    6. This is normal to the people of Afghanistan because it happens so much, that this is pretty much routine for them now. I'm sure that when this had just started happening, and they had just started to see dead bodies for the first time, they were really shocked and terrified such as Amir was on page 269 right before the stoning when he thinks, "I had never in my life wanted to be away from a place as badly as I did now." However, after a while, and seeing thousands of dead bodies, people become immune to it and just learn how to get on with life.

      Delete
    7. At this time in Afghanistan the people that live theirs lives have been totally turned upside down by the Taliban. War is breaking out in front of their homes. People are being killed everywhere they look. Young children don't know that they are living in a corrupt area. They are being raised in a place where killing is normal. Adults have seen so much that they may not even remember how their lives were before the war broke out.

      Delete
  27. On page 264 Amir sees the tree that Hassan and he use to play at. How does the pomegranate tree represent Amir and Hassan's friend ship? How did Amir feel when he saw the tree was no longer growing fruit?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I think in this whole chapter he is seeing old places that he was ALWAYS with hassan the window he would look out the, the tree they would climb, and the tree on the hill. That this is the statement that says he has missed Hassan and wished he would've stepped up for him. I think that even tho that their relationship has withered that the names carved into the tree still says to Amir that even though he left they were still brothers and friends at heart.

      Delete
    2. The tree represents their relationship, and this relationship has lost all of it's life, but it still is there. Even though it is dead. Amir most likely felt very sad to see the pomegranates not growing anymore, but I think he is still happy to see that the memory is still there.

      Delete
    3. The tree kind of represents Hassan and Amir's friendship, because it's dead just like the tree. Amir felt really sad, and it kind of sunk in, that he wouldn't ever see the tree bear fruit again and he'd never see Hassan again.

      Delete
    4. I think that the pomegranate tree is a very interesting part of Amir's visit to his old neighborhood. I think it represents youth. In Amir and Hassans' youth, they could do anything and say anything to each other, and their relationship would continue to bear fruit. After all that had happened, and after Amir and Hassan aged, they started to realize that their relationships did not bear fruit, (literally in the case of Amir and his wife), because they did not have the element of lightheartedness and youth that childhood friendships did. I think that Hosseini is using this to make a statement, saying that youth is a very valuable element in life.

      Delete
    5. I feel like the tree represents the relationship Amir and Hassan had. As their relationship grew, the tree did also. After Amir left for America and Hassan stayed behind, they had already lost contact, and didn't talk for almost 25 years. Within that time, the tree started to die, reflecting their relationship. However, when Amir saw the carving of their names in the tree that said "Amir and Hassan. The Sultans of Kabul", it reminded him of the happy memories they had, and it is almost like a gravestone of their friendship, and for Hassan. That carving will always be in the tree, even if the tree has died, and their friendship will always be in Amir's heart, even if Hassan isn't physically there, and their friendship has "died."

      Delete
  28. On page 260 Amir says, "Farid turned onto the street. I saw Baba's house right away." What is the significance of that?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. The significance is, that no matter how long you leave home, or how far away you go you can always find your way back home.

      Delete
  29. On pages 266 and 267, Farid explains a little more about himself and all that he's been through. Does this help you to understand him better and why he was a little rude at first to Amir?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Yes, it shows why Farid is so bitter when it comes to people entering Afghanistan. He has lost hope in the good of a person. After losing so much, Farid is angry that people are just entering to get money. He is angry that no one is doing something about the Taliban.

      Delete
  30. Why do you think that the crowd kind of cheers when the man is getting stoned and the woman? Is it that they actually think it's 'fun' or do they only do it because they are scared that if they don't the taliban would like beat them or kill them?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I think the crowd cheers because all of the joy has been taken from their lives and they have nothing else to look forward to other than the death of other people. It is really inhumane and barbaric, but that really is what they have left to live for. Hope and the executions.

      Delete
    2. The crowd cheers when they see it happen. I don't think they are sheering for fun, they are more shocked and scared. It said that after awhile the OH's died down. They probably got sick of it and were disgusted by what the Taliban are doing. It also shows the power the Taliban has over the people.

      Delete
  31. I think that a lot of this chapter sums up Amir's emotions about returning home. Farid tries to help him throughout by telling Amir to forget about everything that has happened because the past is the past. Amir goes on to say that he does not want to forget about the past. Not only does he not want to forget what he saw, he also does not want to surpress the memories of what happened with Hassan anymore. I think this shows that Amir is taking the hero road because he is trying to overcome the obstacles that come his way.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I agree. I believe that Amir's hero's journey all began when he returned to Afghanistan. Once he got there he decided to go and rescue Sohrab, and he has gone to every extent to find him, no matter what could possibly happen to him. I think this shows selflessness and bravery, both characteristics of a true hero.

      Delete
  32. The memories Amir keeps having shows how he enjoyed his childhood and misses it. He remembers all the good things that happened and doesn't want to remember the bad things that happened. Amir said, "I don't want to forget anymore." pg. 263. So he just wants to remember how nice his life was coming up until the incident in the ally.

    ReplyDelete
  33. Throughout Amir's experience of being back in Afghanistan, with all he has seen you never really see much fear from him. Do you think he is hiding it or is he really not scared of what could happen to him in his beloved country?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I think he has grown strong over time and he is not scared. He is probably scared for his country but, he doesn't fear for his own life.

      Delete
    2. I think it is a mix between hiding his fear and not feeling as much fear as other Afghans. The people who stayed back in Kabul have experienced much more than Amir. Amir still hasn't seen all the violence the Taliban has brought. Looking back on page 248 Farid says "Don't ever stare at them! Do you understand me? Never!". This shows the difference between someone who has seen the Taliban and someone who has just arrived. Amir doesn't know what they are capable of and what actions the Taliban will take. Farid shows more fear because he knows what they are capable.

      Delete
    3. I agree with Jordyn because I feel like he is scared for his county, but he is not scared for his own life. The country is in danger, not him.

      Delete
  34. The actions of the Taliban on page 271, really made me want someone in the story to fight back "He picked up a rock and showed it to the crowd". This part made me truly realize all the horrible things that the Taliban have done, and all the cruel things they do.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I agree with you, and had the same feeling that someone should have challenged the Taliban. I think that when he showed the rock to the crowd, it was symbolism of his power, and he was challenging the crowd to try to do something. However, I believe that after all the violence those people have seen, nobody would dare stand up to him.

      Delete
  35. For the people who have been killed by the Taliban, do you think they have committed actual crimes that made the Taliban's kill them or is it to show everyone that the Taliban's have much more power over them?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I feel like if they do a little crime or something wrong, the Taliban immediately think they have power so they just go ahead and kill them. The crimes or the things they do wrong are probably not that bad but the Taliban are evil and cold hearted so they just kill them.

      Delete
    2. I think they are doing it to show power over everyone, it ties into what Assef did to Hassan at the start of the story.

      Delete
  36. On page 261, " I stood outside the gates of my father's house, feeling like a stranger." Why does Amir say this? Has he changed or has the country itself changed?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Both. Amir has grown into a very different person. Seeing his childhood home through the eyes of an adult has completely changed his perspective. The house has also changed greatly because of the Taliban's actions. It has become unfamiliar to Amir.

      Delete
    2. Both - Amir has obviously changed, he has changed from a child to an experienced man. He now has a completely different perspective of his past, a perspective of regret and guilt. He looks at the house and remembers all the things that happened there, and all the things he felt there, and does not recognize the person he once was, compared to the person he is now. Also, the city has been changed by the Taliban, and the city no longer feels like home.

      Delete
    3. I think Amir says this because not only has the surroundings of his house change which it is stated in the book, but the way the house looks. Like it probably does not feel the say or seem the same way it did when he was running through those gates when he was little he has like a different sense then it did then.

      Delete
  37. On page 271- "Next to me Farid was shaking his head. "And they call themselves Muslims." he whispered."
    I think that Farid was offended by that because he knows that Muslims don't act like that, and it is a shame that they call themselves Muslims. I think he means that it brings shame to the Muslim religion because "real" Muslims don't act like that.

    ReplyDelete
  38. on page 259, Amir remarks about how the man that was hung in front of the restaurant, "Hardly anyone seemed to notice him." do you think that you could just walk past a dead mangled body every day just like it wasn't even there? or with anything the taliban is doing, do you think that you would be able to live with just walking around dead bodies, and public killings on the same field where your friend, brother, son, family member play soccer?

    ReplyDelete
  39. Do you think Amir and Assef will cross paths again at some point in the story? If so, what do you think will happen between the two of them?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. If he is not dead yet then there is a possible chance that they could cross paths.

      Delete
    2. I think they could. It is very possible. Khaled Hosseini is really strong in the surprise factor in this book. I think Amir will immediately know that it is Assef and he will try to avoid him, but Assef will find him and speak to him. (Wouldn't it be crazy if Assef was the leader of the Taliban?(in the book))

      Delete
    3. I do think Amir will eventually cross paths again in the story this is because when a Assef bulled Hassan in that alley it was a big turning point in the story and then it was kind of just left alone. So I think they will come back to this and this will be Amir chance to stand up for Hassan and tell Assef what he did was wrong.

      Delete
  40. Throughout the story, Baba worries because Amir never stands up for himself. On page 22 Baba is talking to Rahim about Amir "... there is something missing in that boy." When does this change? Even when Amir starts picturing his mother; what if Amir's mother was still alive, would Amir have grown that sense of strength and self respect from his loving mother? I feel all Baba gives to Amir is tough love and Amir needs soft love from his mom, but without that Amir can't learn what he need to, to be stregth and successful.

    ReplyDelete
  41. Do you think Amir has faced reality while being back in Afghanistan? Seeing everything so violent and destroyed do you think Amir has realized how important the little things are? Does seeing the way Afghanistan is now make Amir regret any of his past?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. yes, I think that reality has definitely hit Amir in the face. The reason why it took him so long was because when he was a kid, everything came to him so easily. So when Amir moves to America and learns that he has to work hard for everything, he finally starts to understand the real world. After realizing, he goes back to Afghan to redeem everything he has done wrong.

      Delete
  42. On page 264, when Amir says "by the time I reached the top of the craggy hill, each ragged breath felt like inhaling fire. Sweat trickled down my face.", do you think Amir was genuinely out of shape, or did it just not feel right without Hassan there, and not being excited to go up on the hill and read together or doing something else?

    ReplyDelete
  43. when Amir says "I don't want to forget anymore" on page 263 do you think that he's coming to more of a realization that everything that happened in his past can not be erased and he has to stop running from it and start facing what he did?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Yes I think that when Amir comes and visits his house he's kind of facing reality finally after all these years, of what he's done. Amir is finally taking responsibility and not just ignoring his past.

      Delete
    2. I think he came to the realization that he cant erase his past but I think he is realizing he has to move on in life now that he is more mature.

      Delete
  44. On Page 264- it talks about how Amir went to the cemetery under the pomegranate tree, and how he saw what he and Amir had carved "Amir and Hassan. The Sultans of Kabul."
    Why do you think that Amir went to this spot?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Amir went to that spot because he wanted the good memories to come back. He wanted to remember Hassan and the great times they had together. I think he is realizing/remembering that what happened to Hassan in the ally wasn't the only thing form his childhood, that he had really good memories too.

      Delete
  45. Even though I believe that the Afghanistan people are becoming immune to violence, I still think they have sympathy to some people. This is shown on page 272 when the doctor is checking if the guy being stoned is dead, and when he says no, "The crowd moaned." This shows that even though the Afghanistan people are becoming accustom to killing, they still show some sympathy to killing. This leads to the question, how long until the people of Afghanistan are completely accustom to killing and just don't care anymore?

    ReplyDelete
  46. On page 264, Amir states, "It was still there, and so was the old pomegranate tree." The pomegranate tree is obviously something that was brought up several times throughout the book, what is the significance of it?

    ReplyDelete
  47. "I saw a dead body near the restaurant. There had been a hanging." pg 259. The Taliban has completely taken over ever sense Amir and Baba left Afghanistan and Amir has gained this sense of human are mortal even when Hassan got raped, so Human will do whatever to stay alive.

    ReplyDelete
  48. On page 264- Amir mentions how Hassan said in his letter that the Pomegranate tree had not grown fruit for many years. I find this ironic because it almost hasn't bloomed with fruit since the Taliban came. When Amir went to the Pomegranate tree, he said that it was fruitless, leafless and lifeless... Just like Kabul turned out when the Taliban came.

    ReplyDelete