Monday, March 29, 2010
"Why are you here?" asks Farid. "I mean, why are you really here?"
When Farid poses that question to Amir the night before they plan to meet the Taliban leader whom they hope will help them recover Sohrab, Amir replies, "For the boy." Yet that response isn't enough for Farid. Years and years of cultural values and beliefs force him to push Amir more and he then asks, "What I mean to ask is why that boy? You come all the way from America for....a Shi'a? This, of course, kills all the laughter in Amir. In what way has this cultural perspective, and/or cultural discrimination, shaped and twisted not only Amir's life, but that of his father's life, and even the lives of his fellow Afghans? As you continue to read chapters 21, 22, and 23, please reflect on the events and circumstances discussed in earlier chapters and tell me how good men, men like Baba, Rahim Kahn, Amir, Farid, and even Baba's father, find themselves perpetuating a cultural practice they know devalues and dismisses a segment of their own society? Do you think it had to be this way? Why or why not? (In responding to this question, please feel free to extend your opinion through text-to-text or text-to-world connections.)
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
In the Afghan culture, it was basically forbidden to be-friend someone who didn’t fit within your social standards. Ali and Hassan were Hazara’s, which were looked down on in Kabul. They were servants, and being that they were not allowed to show any emotional connection, Baba’s secret of sleeping with Sanaubar had to stay under wraps. Although Amir was infuriated with the fact that he wasn’t aware Hassan was his half-brother until after Baba had passed, that’s the reason he went back to Afghanistan to obtain Sohrab, Hassan’s son. The shell around the reason Amir went back to Afghanistan was in fact for Sohrab, and only to put him in a shelter. The real reason nestled within that shell, and was way beyond Sohrab and the shelter. Amir realized that this was his way of fixing things, “There is a way to be good again.” This was it, the open door to him finding a sense of forgiveness that he never had, towards both his father himself. Mending the pieces that had been broken in previous years, and learning without realizing what he needs to know. During the trip, he discovered that it was his fate to take care of that boy, to get beat to near death by Assef, and finally open up and accept he has made mistakes and is now able to grow from them, guilt-free. I think it had to be this way because of their personalities. Baba was afraid of what the society would have said, so even though his idea of the worst sin is theft,” When you tell a lie, you steal a man’s right to the truth.” He simply couldn’t bear the consequences. Maybe in the end, things would have been different. However, the outcome of the life filled with lies has seemed to become complete in full circle. Karma has come back around, all secrets have been exposed, and Amir has finally become who he was trying to be. If Baba and Rahim hadn’t kept this in, nothing would have turned out the way it did. It had to be this way.
ReplyDeleteIn Afghanistan, discrimination shapes the lives of everyday Afghans in every possible way. For Amir's father Baba, it took away his chance of having a relationship with one of his sons. Baba had relations with a Hazara woman and it lead to Hassan, who was his illegitimate son. Unfortunately because Hassan was half-Hazara he could not be recognized as Baba's child and was instead treated as Amir's servant. That was the way things had to be because of the customs and cultural perspective for Afghans toward the Hazara people. It even affected the youth of Afghanistan like Amir who unfortunately never got to have a true friend because of the cultural divide. It even affected Baba's best friend Rahim and he never married because of it. He was in love with a Hazara woman but his family would never accept her and he had to let her go. These were good men but they were force-fed these beliefs that their culture was above that of the Hazara people. They believed that this was the way they had to be because of the society they lived in. I do believe that it could not be any other way. They were brought u to be this way and it is hard to change when you are taught that one thing is right and another is wrong. If that is the way others are around you it starts to stick on you as well. This can be related to the short story "No Witchcraft for Sale" where the natives are unappreciative and the white people are seen as superior to them.
ReplyDeleteThis cultural perspective of the Hazara/ Shi'a people in Afghanistan has shaped the lives of the characters in a negative way. Due to this perspective many events that have occurred in the novel have been negatively impacted decisions made by those who have succumbed to this way of thinking and view. For instance Baba withholding the truth from Hassan and Amir. "It was a shameful situation. People would talk." Rahim Khan said to Amir in attempt of explaining Baba's decision. All because the negative connotation that comes with Pashtu and Hazara affairs, Baba kept a secret that would've changed Amir and Hassan's lives. I believe that it had to and would continue to be this way. I say that because due to the difference in religious practices and fear, the two groups would not be able to integrate completely. No one was daring enough to go against the norms. Not even a well respected, honored, and feared man like Baba was daring enough to be different. Let alone for someone to break the norm now, therefore I believe it had to be that way and will continue to be.
ReplyDeleteWhen it comes to Baba’s father, Baba himself, Amir along with Farid and Rahim were the outliers of Afghan. In other words they were men of great honor and very respected and high in society. They were the pure Afghans, yet they didn’t behave as all did. Instead they were kind to all Hazara’s and aiding in their every need. However, there was always a thin line between their relationships because of cultural division of Pashtuns and Hazaras. However, they were still kind to the Hazaras and treated them well in the end. I do not believe it had to be that way because this showed they all had feelings and cared about them but they also respected their cultural priorities and rules. The reason I believe it should because even though they are all humans are the same and should be treated equally in reality it’s never going to work that way. I’d rather have the Hazara’s have a thin line of separation but treated with respect by people like Baba and the others. When it comes to Amir saving Sohrab, the beating up by Assef compelled him to realize that he deserved it for his mistakes but he had the opportunity to be good again for what he had done in the past. Overall, the fact that he realized he could do good again and the fact that Baba always kept his secret from Amir kind of had to be that way. The reason being that it was destiny for Amir to go back and get a beating to realize he was human and he had done wrong but it was now time for redemption and make the best out of his life.
ReplyDelete