Kite runner Flashcards
(34 cards)
Presentation of Afghanistan
- poverty + impact of war
“Rubble and beggars. everywhere i looked that was what I saw”
“When Kabul finally did unroll before us, I was certain, absolutely certain that he had taken a wrong turn somewhere”
“Where are the trees?”
Khala Jaheri
- known for her enchanting singing voice
- raga, type of folk song which was usually a man’s speciality
- the general forbade her from ever singing in public, dominant role
- Hosseini made her interested in plants + vegetables, feminine activities
- marriage was just a formality, the general never listened to his wife
- “every woman needed a husband”
Soraya
- learn about her past with the man she eloped with
- she admits the double standards between men and women
- represents frustration and anger
“It’s so fucking unfair”
Farzana
- Traditional respectful woman
- Avoids Rahim’s Gaze
- Passive
- Has great admiration of Hassan
- Housewife
“domestic” abilities are valued and praised, but we do not receive the description of her, only the work she does for Hassan.
Sanubar
- Returns to fulfil her motherly duties
- delivers Hassan’s son, restores what is lost
- major development
- the way she acts contrasts with the way she was talked about
- could be argued that her return was a positive thing, but at the same time the scars on her face could be seen as a punishment, atone
- Ironic how she says she saw Hassan in her dreams, but earlier on she ran away to fulfil her dreams, Perhaps Hosseini wrote this to emphasise how a woman’s main role is maternal and to be a mother.
Rahim Khan
- Father figure : the dad Amir always wanted
- Intelligent + wise
- Represents hope + redemption
- Believes in Amir from the start
- Encourages Amir
- Contrasts with Baba’s character
- Open minded, less stereotypical
- Catalyst for amir’s redemption
- Embodies Amir’s last chance
- “Rahim Khan had always beem one of the most instinctive people i’d ever known”
“But I am not surrending to Fate here, I am being pragmatic”
“There’s a way to be good again”
Baba
Chapter 3 :
Views on masculinity deeply affect how he treats his son, loves reputation within society more than anything. Has a negative view on the teachings of the mullahs, “There is only one sin and that is theft”
Chapter 11 :
Shows Baba’s weaknesses which contrasts to earlier chapters, The environment has an effect on his character. Less relevant in american society. “Baba didn’t move to America for me, did he?”
Chapter 18 :
Shows Baba’s hypocrisy, as he betrayed Ali and lied to Amir and Hassan for years “I’ve been learning that Baba had been a thief”
Assef
Chapter 5 :
he is introduced as Amir’s Dad’ friend’s son, he is depicted to be picking on Ali and Hassan. “I learnt an English word for the creature that Assef was, a word for which a good Farsi equivalent didnt exist : sociopath”
Chapter 7 :
Hassan runs into Assef and his friends, they ask him for amir’s kite however he refuses and Assef rapes him. “there is nothing sinful about teaching a lesson to a disrespectful donkey”. “A loyal hazara, loyal as a dog”
Chapter 22 :
Assef is now a member of the taliban, him and amir meet again and begin to fight due to their past conflict. “i wonder why you have come all this way for Hazara”
Themes in Chapter 1
Guilt, regret, memory, past
“I became what I am today at the age of 12”
“But it’s wrong what they say about the past, I’ve learned you can bury it”
Themes in Chapter 2
Women, motherhood, ethnic + religious differences
“No one was really suprised when Sanubur eloped”
“Hassan never talked about his mother as if she never existed
Themes in Chapter 3
Religion, masculinity, Amir and Baba’s relationship
“Do you want to know what your father thinks about sin”
“If I hadn’t seen the doctor pull him out my wife with my own eyes, I would have never believed that’s my own son”
Themes in Chapter 4
Class, Arrogance + ego, jealousy, Representation of the west
“But it’s such a common word”
“Taught by Hassan of all people”
Themes in Chapter 5
Class, Jealousy, ethnic differences, Rebellion
“I learned an English word for the creature that Assef was, a word for which a good Farsi equivalent does not exist; sociopath”
“I wished I had some kind of scar that would beget Baba’s sympathy”
Themes in Chapter 6
Jealousy, Kite, Culture
“But by far, Hassan was the greatest kite runner I’ve ever seen”
“And maybe Baba wouldn’t yawn and steal looks at his wristwatch all the time”
Themes in Chapter 7
guilt, fear,ethnic differences, Privilege, Violence, Betrayal
“Hassan didn’t struggle, Didn’t even whimper, he moved his head slightly and i caught a glimpse of his face”
“In the end I ran”
Themes in Chapter 8
Guilt, Regret,Ego
“Hit me back!”
“Are you satisfied? Do you feel better”
Themes in Chapter 9
Betrayal, Guilt, self-worth
“I wondered how and when I’d become capable of causing this kind of pain”
“I watched Baba’s car pull away from the curb, taking with it the person whose first spoken word was my name”
Themes in Chapter 10
Conflict, War, Invasion
“The gun Roared”
“What none of the others in the room knew was that that Baba wasn’t joking”
Themes in Chapter 11
Setting, expectations of the west, American Dream
“Baba loved the idea of america”
“But the bay area’s smog stung his eyes”
Themes in Chapter 12
women, status, guilt
“I envied her, her secret was out”
“Soraya. Swap meet princess”
Themes in Chapter 13
American Dream, women, patriarchy
“It’s the happiest day of my life Amir”
“The idea of fatherhood unleashed a swirl of emotions”
Themes in Chapter 14
guilt, regret,past
“There is a way to be good again, Amir”
“Except now I knew he knew”
Themes in Chapter 15
War + Conflict, setting
“Then a thing made of skin and bones pretending to be Rahim Khan opened the door”
“Is it as bad as I hear?”
Themes in Chapter 16
Women, Culture
“There were a lot of reasons why I went to Hazarajat to find Hassan in 1986”
“They named him Sohrab, after Hassan’s favourite hero from the shahnemah”
