In the past, I have been inside countless classrooms with a poster on the wall that says, "Ten years from now, it won't matter what shoes you wore, what clothing you had, or how popular you were... What will matter is how well you treated others" or something to that effect. Amir, the protagonist in The Kite Runner, is learning just how true this saying is as he tries to cope with his guilt for his crimes against his childhood friend, Hassan.
After Hassan was raped by Assef, Amir is filled with guilt for not stopping the crime. He avoids Hassan, shutting himself up in is room and reading rather than going out and playing with Hassan (Hosseini 88). Eventually, Amir's remorse becomes so great that he frames Hassan in stealing some of Amir's birthday presents. Baba forgives Hassan, but his father, Ali, refuses to stay any longer, and the father and son move to Hazarajat (Hosseini 105-107). None of this makes Amir feel any better. Even that which Amir had hoped to attain by his wrongdoing, his father's approval, soon wanes (Hosseini 93).
But life must go on. When Amir is eighteen, Russia takes over Afghanistan, so Baba and he flee to America. But still Amir does not escape his memories of Hassan. After he graduates from high school, Amir and his father is overjoyed. He says, "'I wish Hassan had been with us today...'" (Hosseini 133). Immediately Amir has a pang of regret. "A pair of steel hands closed around my windpipe at the sound of Hassan's name" (Hosseini 134). Even as Amir makes a new life for himself in the U.S., his past still weighs him down.
By now, I hope Amir has finally learned that doing the right thing and sticking up for one's friends is more important than the transient approval of others. In the short term, approval may be more comfortable, but as life goes on, doing the right thing is the only thing that will allow true peace of mind. At this point, it's hard to see how Amir will be able to overcome his conflict with his conscience. All that is left to do, it seems, is attempt to make fewer such mistakes in the future.
Monday, October 29, 2007
Monday, October 22, 2007
Monday, October 15, 2007
The Kite Runner: Post Two
As I read The Kite Runner, a theme that really stands out to me is how the way people influence each other can have good and bad consequences.
One relationship where this is the case is the bond between Amir and Hassan. Amir holds a lot of sway over Hassan, and he is very much aware of this. He sometimes trifles with Hassan's loyalty, like when Hassan said, "Would I ever lie to you, Amir agha?" (Hosseini 54). Amir responds, "I don't know. Would you?" (Hosseini 54). Hassan vows, "I'd sooner eat dirt" (Hosseini 54). Amir decides to tease him, and asks, "Really? You'd do that?" But Hassan continues to be loyal and earnest, replying, "If you asked, I would" (Hosseini 54). Amir sometimes takes this devotion, and the power it gives him, for granted, not realizing how lucky he is to have such a faithful friend as Hassan. As Amir later thinks, "He was just a Hazara, wasn't he?" (Hosseini 77).
Amir has much influence over Hassan, but in turn, Amir's father, Baba, has a great hold over Amir. Throughout his life, Amir has never been able to meet Baba's expectations. The one thing Amir does well that Baba values is fly kites. So when Baba suggests to Amir, "I think maybe you'll win the tournament this year" (Hosseini 56), winning the kite-flying tournament becomes Amir's raison d'etre. Amir yearns for acceptance from his father, and forgiveness for his mother's death when he was born, and believes winning the tournament and bringing the losing kite home to be the only way to earn these things. This influence helps Amir in that it encourages him to do his best to win.
On the other hand, these two influential relationships and the struggles contained in them soon converge into an event of utter malevolence. When Amir finally cuts the string of his last opponent, he is overjoyed, but is concerned about getting that last kite. He scarcely has to tell Hassan, who is an extraordinary 'kite runner'; Hassan assures him, saying, "I'm going to run that kite for you... For you a thousand times over!" (Hosseini 66-67). However, after Hassan has gotten the kite, a group of bullies, whom Hassan previously offended in his defense of Amir, corners him. They offer not to pulverize him if he will give them the kite, but in his loyalty to Amir, Hassan refuses (Hosseini 72). Amir has gone searching for Hassan and his kite, and finds him with the bullies, but he does not interfere, throughout the whole awful episode of violence, because his desire for the kite, and through it his father's approval, is so deep (Hosseini 77).
Because Amir does not fully understand the nature of the many influences in his life, and doesn't have his priorities very well-ordered, his conflicts grow even more twisted and deep. Having betrayed his staunchest ally for the sake of transient attention from his father, it remains to be seen if Amir can find a way to mend the harm he has caused.
One relationship where this is the case is the bond between Amir and Hassan. Amir holds a lot of sway over Hassan, and he is very much aware of this. He sometimes trifles with Hassan's loyalty, like when Hassan said, "Would I ever lie to you, Amir agha?" (Hosseini 54). Amir responds, "I don't know. Would you?" (Hosseini 54). Hassan vows, "I'd sooner eat dirt" (Hosseini 54). Amir decides to tease him, and asks, "Really? You'd do that?" But Hassan continues to be loyal and earnest, replying, "If you asked, I would" (Hosseini 54). Amir sometimes takes this devotion, and the power it gives him, for granted, not realizing how lucky he is to have such a faithful friend as Hassan. As Amir later thinks, "He was just a Hazara, wasn't he?" (Hosseini 77).
Amir has much influence over Hassan, but in turn, Amir's father, Baba, has a great hold over Amir. Throughout his life, Amir has never been able to meet Baba's expectations. The one thing Amir does well that Baba values is fly kites. So when Baba suggests to Amir, "I think maybe you'll win the tournament this year" (Hosseini 56), winning the kite-flying tournament becomes Amir's raison d'etre. Amir yearns for acceptance from his father, and forgiveness for his mother's death when he was born, and believes winning the tournament and bringing the losing kite home to be the only way to earn these things. This influence helps Amir in that it encourages him to do his best to win.
On the other hand, these two influential relationships and the struggles contained in them soon converge into an event of utter malevolence. When Amir finally cuts the string of his last opponent, he is overjoyed, but is concerned about getting that last kite. He scarcely has to tell Hassan, who is an extraordinary 'kite runner'; Hassan assures him, saying, "I'm going to run that kite for you... For you a thousand times over!" (Hosseini 66-67). However, after Hassan has gotten the kite, a group of bullies, whom Hassan previously offended in his defense of Amir, corners him. They offer not to pulverize him if he will give them the kite, but in his loyalty to Amir, Hassan refuses (Hosseini 72). Amir has gone searching for Hassan and his kite, and finds him with the bullies, but he does not interfere, throughout the whole awful episode of violence, because his desire for the kite, and through it his father's approval, is so deep (Hosseini 77).
Because Amir does not fully understand the nature of the many influences in his life, and doesn't have his priorities very well-ordered, his conflicts grow even more twisted and deep. Having betrayed his staunchest ally for the sake of transient attention from his father, it remains to be seen if Amir can find a way to mend the harm he has caused.
Tuesday, October 9, 2007
Memoirs
Why do people write memoirs?
What power is there in telling our own stories?
Judging by memoirs' status as a standard part of an English curriculum, there clearly must be something that makes memoirs important and educational. Yet it takes few qualifications to write a story about something that happened to yourself. Perhaps people write memoirs to teach others a lesson the writer has learned through life, or to communicate one's point of view in a way to which others may relate.
When a person writes about an event, it usually is one of significance, for it to be remembered. Often the things that affect us most carry some sort of lesson that was useful. The lesson is valuable to one's own life, but if it is shared with others, it can reach even further. By telling other people the story, they can learn the same lesson without a similar bad experience. Some might say that people learn better through experience than when simply told. However, memoirs have the power to allow the reader to see the event, and resulting lesson, through the eyes of the writer; they experience the incident without it actually happening to them. These stories serve as a happy medium between rules and lectures from grown-ups and unfortunate experiences for everyone.
Similarly, a memoir can help other people understand a person's opinion or point of view. If a person tells the story of how they came to think or be something, then other people can sympathize better. As I wrote in an earlier post, people don't live in a vacuum; circumstances play a large role in the development of our personalities and beliefs. Unfortunately, it can be hard for others to see the past events that helped shape a person into the present individual. The power of a memoir is in how readers get a glimpse into a person's thoughts. They may not understand everything about a person– it's only a memoir, not a mind-reader or even an autobiography– but the snapshot received can still illuminate much about a person.
By the sharing of lives and lessons, we begin to see the people around us a bit more clearly than we would have otherwise. If these things weren't written down, then we would have to start over every generation, and we'd never make progress in sympathizing with each other. So, power to English class, I guess.
Judging by memoirs' status as a standard part of an English curriculum, there clearly must be something that makes memoirs important and educational. Yet it takes few qualifications to write a story about something that happened to yourself. Perhaps people write memoirs to teach others a lesson the writer has learned through life, or to communicate one's point of view in a way to which others may relate.
When a person writes about an event, it usually is one of significance, for it to be remembered. Often the things that affect us most carry some sort of lesson that was useful. The lesson is valuable to one's own life, but if it is shared with others, it can reach even further. By telling other people the story, they can learn the same lesson without a similar bad experience. Some might say that people learn better through experience than when simply told. However, memoirs have the power to allow the reader to see the event, and resulting lesson, through the eyes of the writer; they experience the incident without it actually happening to them. These stories serve as a happy medium between rules and lectures from grown-ups and unfortunate experiences for everyone.
Similarly, a memoir can help other people understand a person's opinion or point of view. If a person tells the story of how they came to think or be something, then other people can sympathize better. As I wrote in an earlier post, people don't live in a vacuum; circumstances play a large role in the development of our personalities and beliefs. Unfortunately, it can be hard for others to see the past events that helped shape a person into the present individual. The power of a memoir is in how readers get a glimpse into a person's thoughts. They may not understand everything about a person– it's only a memoir, not a mind-reader or even an autobiography– but the snapshot received can still illuminate much about a person.
By the sharing of lives and lessons, we begin to see the people around us a bit more clearly than we would have otherwise. If these things weren't written down, then we would have to start over every generation, and we'd never make progress in sympathizing with each other. So, power to English class, I guess.
Tuesday, October 2, 2007
Black Boy: Post Two
What types of things does Richard "hunger" for
and what are the effects (positive and negative) of hunger?
A nearly omnipresent hunger throughout Richard's life is the longing for his physical needs to be met. For almost his whole life, his family has been poor and scarcely manages to survive. He is always acutely aware of those around him who have enough to eat. At lunchtime at school, he pretends not to be hungry, but is really salivating at the sight of the others' food. This inspires him to begin working so he can have food, too, which is good in that food improves his health and the money helps his family get by. However, Richard's jobs also make clear the way most white people treat black people, which disturbs him.
Another unfortunate hunger of Richard's is his need for sympathy and understanding. Virtually all the grown-ups in his life have severely punished Richard for his every misdeed without ever taking the time to listen to his side of the story or explaining what he did wrong. For instance, when Granny was washing Richard and he said something rude, she immediately begins yelling at him and tries to beat him; he runs away. If he had understood what he had done wrong, he would have taken his punishment quietly, but to him it seems that Granny is just randomly attacking him, and so is deeply frightened. All these seemingly unjustified punishments lead Richard to resent authority, and to refuse to allow himself to be punished by anyone. This makes everyone consider him a ne'er-do-well, although he isn't.
A third hunger, deeply engrained in Richard's personality, is his desire for knowledge. Even when Richard was a very small boy, his setting the curtains on fire and pestering his mother with questions show that he is curious and bright. As he gets older, he asks even deeper questions about the world, particularly the hardships imposed on blacks, and develops a thirst for reading and writing. The good thing about Richard's intelligence is that it opens up more possibilities in life for him. Unfortunately, the Jim Crow South seeks to prevents blacks from having any opportunites. Closer to home, Richard's family interprets his questions as being smart-alecky, and his Granny thinks the stories he reads and writes are sinful.
It is not fair for any kid to have to grow up with such deep hunger in him, especially a kid with as much potential as Richard. Hopefully, he will be able to find a way to satisfy his hungers in subsequent chapters.
Throughout his life so far, Richard has had to endure much pain and want. As a result of this, he hungers for many things, which impacts his life in many ways.
A nearly omnipresent hunger throughout Richard's life is the longing for his physical needs to be met. For almost his whole life, his family has been poor and scarcely manages to survive. He is always acutely aware of those around him who have enough to eat. At lunchtime at school, he pretends not to be hungry, but is really salivating at the sight of the others' food. This inspires him to begin working so he can have food, too, which is good in that food improves his health and the money helps his family get by. However, Richard's jobs also make clear the way most white people treat black people, which disturbs him.
Another unfortunate hunger of Richard's is his need for sympathy and understanding. Virtually all the grown-ups in his life have severely punished Richard for his every misdeed without ever taking the time to listen to his side of the story or explaining what he did wrong. For instance, when Granny was washing Richard and he said something rude, she immediately begins yelling at him and tries to beat him; he runs away. If he had understood what he had done wrong, he would have taken his punishment quietly, but to him it seems that Granny is just randomly attacking him, and so is deeply frightened. All these seemingly unjustified punishments lead Richard to resent authority, and to refuse to allow himself to be punished by anyone. This makes everyone consider him a ne'er-do-well, although he isn't.
A third hunger, deeply engrained in Richard's personality, is his desire for knowledge. Even when Richard was a very small boy, his setting the curtains on fire and pestering his mother with questions show that he is curious and bright. As he gets older, he asks even deeper questions about the world, particularly the hardships imposed on blacks, and develops a thirst for reading and writing. The good thing about Richard's intelligence is that it opens up more possibilities in life for him. Unfortunately, the Jim Crow South seeks to prevents blacks from having any opportunites. Closer to home, Richard's family interprets his questions as being smart-alecky, and his Granny thinks the stories he reads and writes are sinful.
It is not fair for any kid to have to grow up with such deep hunger in him, especially a kid with as much potential as Richard. Hopefully, he will be able to find a way to satisfy his hungers in subsequent chapters.
Friday, September 28, 2007
The Kite Runner: Post One
In The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini, the story so far is about two boys, Amir and Hassan, along with Amir's father, Baba.
Amir, the story's narrator, has grown up with Hassan and they play together every day, but he still doesn't consider Hassan his friend, due to their cultural and socioeconomic differences. Amir thinks, "In the end, I was a Pashtun and he was a Hazara, I was Sunni and he was Shi'a, and nothing was ever going to change that. Nothing" (Hosseini 25). Along with this, Amir's father is among the wealthiest businessmen in Kabul, while Hassan's father is a lowly servant (Hosseini 4, 6). Possibly due to this belief in his superiority, Amir is always the leader when he plays with Hassan, but if they get in trouble, Hassan takes the blame (Hosseini 4). However, when other kids bully Amir, he never sticks up for himself; Hassan drives them off instead (Hosseini 22).
Hassan might have less than Amir does, but he makes up for it with his perpetual cheerfulness (Hosseini 25). He is also very loyal to Amir; he never tells on Amir when he gets in trouble for Amir's schemes (Hosseini 4). Although it might seem that Hassan does not care to question the world much, he is actually very bright despite his lack of schooling. This sometimes irks Amir; he says, " I read him poems and stories, sometimes riddles– though I stopped reading those when I saw he was far better at solving them than I was" (Hosseini 28).
Amir's father, Baba, although often distant toward Amir, nevertheless has a deep influence on him. His nickname, Toophan agha or "Mr. Hurricane" (Hosseini 12), sums it up best: he has a very forceful personality. Whatever he wants to happen, happens, except for where his son is concerned. Amir is very different from Baba, which worries him. He tells his friend Rahim Khan, "'He needs someone who... understands him, because God knows I don't'" (Hosseini 23).
Although it is very early in the book, Khaled Hosseini uses a lot of foreshadowing. It is clear that in the pages to come, these three characters will have great impacts on each other's lives.
Amir, the story's narrator, has grown up with Hassan and they play together every day, but he still doesn't consider Hassan his friend, due to their cultural and socioeconomic differences. Amir thinks, "In the end, I was a Pashtun and he was a Hazara, I was Sunni and he was Shi'a, and nothing was ever going to change that. Nothing" (Hosseini 25). Along with this, Amir's father is among the wealthiest businessmen in Kabul, while Hassan's father is a lowly servant (Hosseini 4, 6). Possibly due to this belief in his superiority, Amir is always the leader when he plays with Hassan, but if they get in trouble, Hassan takes the blame (Hosseini 4). However, when other kids bully Amir, he never sticks up for himself; Hassan drives them off instead (Hosseini 22).
Hassan might have less than Amir does, but he makes up for it with his perpetual cheerfulness (Hosseini 25). He is also very loyal to Amir; he never tells on Amir when he gets in trouble for Amir's schemes (Hosseini 4). Although it might seem that Hassan does not care to question the world much, he is actually very bright despite his lack of schooling. This sometimes irks Amir; he says, " I read him poems and stories, sometimes riddles– though I stopped reading those when I saw he was far better at solving them than I was" (Hosseini 28).
Amir's father, Baba, although often distant toward Amir, nevertheless has a deep influence on him. His nickname, Toophan agha or "Mr. Hurricane" (Hosseini 12), sums it up best: he has a very forceful personality. Whatever he wants to happen, happens, except for where his son is concerned. Amir is very different from Baba, which worries him. He tells his friend Rahim Khan, "'He needs someone who... understands him, because God knows I don't'" (Hosseini 23).
Although it is very early in the book, Khaled Hosseini uses a lot of foreshadowing. It is clear that in the pages to come, these three characters will have great impacts on each other's lives.
Tuesday, September 25, 2007
Black Boy: Post One
Is Richard a "bad" boy?
When should behavior be blamed on the person and when should it be blamed on the environment?
I think that Richard is not an inherently bad boy, but much of his bad behavior is at least partly explained by his environment. One place where this seems to be the case is when Richard burns down his house at age four. The reason he chose to play with fire in the first place is because his mother told him to keep completely quiet and still, which is a lot to expect from almost any four-year-old. His decision to burn things was only intended to entertain, not destroy.
Another misdeed that I feel Richard is not fully culpable for is when he kills a kitten. In contrast to when Richard set the house on fire, the murder of the kitten did arise from an evil impulse, so some blame rests on Richard. However, the idea of killing the kitten came to him because his mean-spirited father, who ought to have known better due to his greater age, told him to do so in anger; Richard saw a chance to get back at his father without being beaten. Therefore, Richard's father's abuse also bears some responsibility.
A third event where Richard behaved badly, but was not truly accountable is when he became an alcoholic at age six. The original reason for this is because he was fascinated by the frightening, mysterious saloon; I don't think it's especially surprising that a young boy would be amazed at the odd behaviors exhibited by drunk people. Unfortunately, Richard was captured by a customer, after which all the patrons pressured him to drink, and on top of that paid him for doing so. Thanks to the drunkards' poor influence, Richard soon became addicted to alcohol and to the money he received. He should not have returned to the saloon, but the blame rests far more heavily on the drunks who encouraged him.
Basically, I think behavior can be blamed on people to a certain extent, but the circumstances are very important to determine the degree of culpability. If a person isn't old enough or smart enough. for instance, to know their actions are wrong, they certainly are not accountable for them. Circumstances also come into play when things such as provocation and motive are taken into account. If a person was adequately provoked into a misdeed, then the provoker deserves part of the blame. If a person's intent was harmless when they acted, they should not be considered completely evil for their deed.
After all, people don't live in a vacuum. Our surroundings affect our lives as much as we do.
I think that Richard is not an inherently bad boy, but much of his bad behavior is at least partly explained by his environment. One place where this seems to be the case is when Richard burns down his house at age four. The reason he chose to play with fire in the first place is because his mother told him to keep completely quiet and still, which is a lot to expect from almost any four-year-old. His decision to burn things was only intended to entertain, not destroy.
Another misdeed that I feel Richard is not fully culpable for is when he kills a kitten. In contrast to when Richard set the house on fire, the murder of the kitten did arise from an evil impulse, so some blame rests on Richard. However, the idea of killing the kitten came to him because his mean-spirited father, who ought to have known better due to his greater age, told him to do so in anger; Richard saw a chance to get back at his father without being beaten. Therefore, Richard's father's abuse also bears some responsibility.
A third event where Richard behaved badly, but was not truly accountable is when he became an alcoholic at age six. The original reason for this is because he was fascinated by the frightening, mysterious saloon; I don't think it's especially surprising that a young boy would be amazed at the odd behaviors exhibited by drunk people. Unfortunately, Richard was captured by a customer, after which all the patrons pressured him to drink, and on top of that paid him for doing so. Thanks to the drunkards' poor influence, Richard soon became addicted to alcohol and to the money he received. He should not have returned to the saloon, but the blame rests far more heavily on the drunks who encouraged him.
Basically, I think behavior can be blamed on people to a certain extent, but the circumstances are very important to determine the degree of culpability. If a person isn't old enough or smart enough. for instance, to know their actions are wrong, they certainly are not accountable for them. Circumstances also come into play when things such as provocation and motive are taken into account. If a person was adequately provoked into a misdeed, then the provoker deserves part of the blame. If a person's intent was harmless when they acted, they should not be considered completely evil for their deed.
After all, people don't live in a vacuum. Our surroundings affect our lives as much as we do.
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