Gift of Guilt - Kite Runer

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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. Like father like son, Amir follows his father’s footsteps by keeping Pashtuns and Hazara’s separate, continuing the cycle of guilt until Amir breaks the cycle for both Baba and himself by doing what is right, out of love. The guilt begins with Baba and threads through out his life into Amir’s life, until unconditional love cuts it out of the cycle. One act of selfishness, begins the cycle. Baba betrayed his friend in the worst way an Afghan man could be disgraced: “How had Ali lived in that house day in and day out, knowing he had been dishonored by his master in the single worst way an Afghan man can be dishonored?” (225) Baba stole Ali’s honor. He had slept with Ali’s wife and bore a son, Hassan. This is the source of Baba’s guilt. A guilt that stays with Baba for the rest of his life. It causes him to do different things, such as feeding the poor on the streets, building an orphanage, giving money to friends in need. In this way, Baba tried to redeem himself; to seek forgiveness (302). Baba’s guilt caused him to do these good deeds in an attempt to get rid of his guilt. The one thing that Baba never tried, was to redeem himself to Ali and Hassan. In fact, Baba treats Hassan differently from Amir. Baba was more harsh with Amir than Hassan. Baba never forgot Hassan’s birthday, and he always asked Amir if Hassan wanted to come with them on excursions or where the

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