When Amir returns to Pakistan, Rahim Khan encourages Amir to find Sohrab from a war torn orphanage and says “there is a way to be good again” (page 2). Amir believes he can be redeemed if he can complete this task since Sohrab's parents were executed. Through the redemption process Amir faces troubles to get Sohrab from Assef. While Assef was beating Amir, Amir could not help it and starting to laugh the harder Amir laugh the harder Assef punch him, kicked him (page287). Amir injuries were so bad that the doctors later told him that he was lucky to be a live (page297).
The strained father son relationship that Baba and Amir have is the catalyst for Amir’s crime against his half-brother Hassan. Amir’s strained relationship with Baba and his need for Baba’s acceptance has blinded Amir so that he is unable to see that his actions towards Hassan in the alley were unacceptable. The responder is given as insight into Amir’s thoughts through the use of first person narration, before, during and after the rape. This allows the reader to observe how the strained relationship between Baba and Amir has affected the motivation of Amir to commit his sin. Throughout the early chapter of the book we learn that Amir has “always felt that Baba hatted [him] a little.” He has always longed for his father’s approval, acceptance and admiration, as he feels responsible for the death of his mother.
Since the day Amir is born, he feels that his father dislikes him. While his mother gave birth, Amir continually felt as though he had to fix the ruining of his father’s life of love with Sofia. After all, they did not have much similarity, leading to a problem; Amir really had nothing to do that could affect Baba since they have nothing similar. Baba was more energetic, confident, and big on taking risks whereas Amir is not. The differences between the father and son are so abundant that Baba emphasizes, “If I hadn’t seen the doctor pull him out of my wife with my own eyes, I’d not believe he’s my son” (Hossieni 25).
This truly shows how different Baba and Amir are. Chapter 4 We are taken back to 1933 when Baba was born. Near this time Ali’s parents were hit and killed by two drunk men. Someone needed to take care of Ali or he would be sent to an orphanage so Baba’s father brings him into the family. After this quick flashback Amir is reading to Hassan by their favorite pomegranate tree.
Jim choked his father for not standing up for him and he stormed out of the house. Jim wanted to confront his parents about his problems that he has and he wanted to fix it. He does not want to run away from his problems anymore, he wants his parents and him to faced the problems they are having together. Jim wanted his father to learn how to stand up for himself. Ray Stark (Jim Backus), Jim s father, does not have respect from his son and Jim s mother.
The Gift of Guilt Friedrich Nietzche stated, “What was silent in the father speaks in the son, and often I found in the son, the unveiled secret of the father”. Baba kept a secret from everyone and this ended up causing Amir to treat Hassan differently. By reflecting Baba’s actions, Baba’s secret was unveiled through Amir. Amir tried to get his father’s approval and tried to be more like his Baba, but he thought he never would. The truth is that Amir is more like Baba than he knew.
He calls himself a coward because he does not stand up for himself or others when the time calls, until the end of the story when he saves Sohrab. However, other people show courage throughout their entire part of the book. The main people who do this are Baba, and Hassan. The first act of courage that you really get to see and understand is when Assef and his boys are hassling Amir and Hassan. Amir tries to talk to the older boys, and make them leave them alone.
Amir wants to be like his father; however he thinks he can never match up to him. He is said to be Baba’s son however his disposition makes the reader doubt Amir has what it takes to become like his father. d) Amir lies to his father because he doesn’t want anyone else interfering with quality father/son time. “I wanted Baba all to myself”. Also a lot of times Hassan was there to ruin whatever bosom moment Amir was having or could have had with his father.
This does not sit well with Baba. He refuses his services, stating, “I swear on your mother’s face I’ll break his arm if he tries to touch me” (155). No one will ever understand why, but some people just do not like certain groups. Because Baba has so much self-pride, he discriminates against Russians. In doing so, he threatens the Russian doctor and refuses his services.
Further in the novel, Amir, after moving to America, travels back to Afghanistan to save Hassan’s son, Sohrab, from the eccentric Assef, who is a higher member of the Taliban. Assef has sexually abused, beaten and forced Sohrab to belly dance, all because Sohrab is just a “Hazara boy” (p294). To another extent of ethnic discrimination, Baba is Hassan’s biological father but he will never admit to it for the sake of “his honour,” (p235) and “his name” (p235). For if people would find out about this, Baba would be socially casterized. The discrimination of ethnicity throughout Afghanistan is contributing to the decaying class system.