Enjoy a thoughtful discussion of Chapter 16 in The Kite Runner today.
If you would like something to discuss, you might ponder why I have specifically included the image of Neo from The Matrix clip you watched yesterday; this is the moment in which he selects between the blue pill and the red pill. How might this relate to Chapter 16?
84 comments:
Amir feels like he is losing another person in his life, a very important person. Because Rahim was the one who believed in his writing as much as Hassan. He treasured the journal that he was given.
So he probably feels old wounds from his Father dying. That feeling of being alone.
I think that Amir is very shocked and sad. It was something unexpected for him to hear. Rahim was someone he was really close to and he is getting used to losing someone close to him even though it's still sad for him.
I agree with Elizabeth because Amir is losing most of his old family. Baba and Amir were close when Baba died and I think losing Rahim is like losing Baba agian.
I think that the message of this chapter is that "Everyone dies. You just have to know what to do afterwords."
Because, parents die. It's a concept that most people don't think about because it seems so surreal.
When Amir finds out that Rahim is dieing it hits him harder then it did when he found out his father was dieing because Rahim was more father-like to him and showed more love and compassion to him that his father never showed him.
What is the equivalent of "Afghan town" (196) in America?
This is like almost any part of cities in the US that almost all a minority, such as "China towns," or the "West side." It seems that people of the same culture always tend to stay together because of their sense of family to one another.
I agree with Nicole and Aprilin the sense that Amir is feeling very shocked and sad but because he is alone and has already lost Baba andnowis losing someone again.
I think that it shocks Amir into recognising that he cannot hide from his past in America, and i also agree with what Nicole said about him having renewed feelings of being lonely, even though he's married
I think that Amir feels like he doesn't really have anyone any more because he lost Baba and now the person that was almost the person responsible for who he is today. I don't really think Amir knows what to feel.
I thiink that Amir is really upset because Rahim was one of the only people who really believed in his writting and supported it. Amir still remembers rahim giving him the journal and treasures it. It probably really upsets him that all of the people he was closest to are dying.
Amir definitely feels alone in the world now. Rahim and him were very close and now that he's losing him, Amir is very sad. In addition, Amir's father is dead. He is hvaing a hard time.
I agree with Jake. Had I been Amir and heard about what was happening with the Taliban I would be grateful that my Father and I got out.
However I would also feel remorse that other's that I know were going through it.
I think that if I were Amir, I would be very upset that I got out and there were hundreds of people who didn't. I agree with Brian that it would also spark worry about Hassan and the people that he grew up with. I think he also might be angry that they are destroying his homeland
I agree with Brian because Amir would rather be living in America where it's safe, than in Afghanistan where there is war.
If I was Amir and heard about what was happening back in my homeland I would be angry that I was forced to leave when my friends and loved ones were left there to die. Something I have taken from this book is that we need to value our friends and family so if I was saved and my friends were dying I'd be angry.
Amir was more shocked when he found out about Rahim because he was close to him and Rahim was like a father to him. Now that Baba is gone and he is losing Rahim, I think it is hitting him pretty hard.
I agree with Nicole. I think this chapter is about how to deal with losing so many people and thinking about how you are going to move on. Amir has lost many people he cared about in his life and he is learning how to deal with it slowly.
I think it's sad how Amir is losing so many people. He needs those people in his life. However, it could be making him stronger and mroe independent.
I agree with Brian about how he is worried about all his old friends because and how he doesn’t know how they are doing under the Taliban rule.
I agree with adam, Amir has lost a lot of people that he loves so he feels alone even though he is married. He probably doesn't know what to feel because bad things keep on happening to him.
Amir and Rahim were closer than even Amir and his father throughout his childhood and now Amir has lost Baba and Rahim is dying. Everyone that he was close to is gone now and he is probably struggling with that because he feels like he has lost everyone.
If I were Amir and I had heard about what life is like back in Afghanistan under the rule of the Taliban I would be worried. I would be worried for the people I knew down there's lives and how they are going to make it work. I also would want to go back and try to do something about it.
Nowlan- I agree that Amir was more hurt to find out that Rahim was dying. But I also think that no matter how Baba treated Amir there is a love there that can't be found between Amir and Baba.
I think that Amir is just really upset because other than Hassan,Rahim is the only one that supported Amir's writing because Baba never did. Baba thought that writing was a waste of time and there was no way that Amir will ever make a living out of it, Rahim on the other hand supported Amir.
I agree with Brian that when Amir found out that Hassan had been living in Baba's house with Rahim, I think he was incredibly glad and relieved that Hassan had been safe and that he had been with Rahim, whose a friend. I think that it gives Amir some peace.
I agree with Rachel when she says that losing the people that are close and dear to Amir are makeing him stronger but I also think that it's eating at him on the inside too.
I agree with John we need to value our friends and family cause they are very important in our lives.
I agree with Mark and Brian. Amir feels so much safer living in America where they are free, even though he is poorer here, he likes it more. In Afganistan it was full of violence, where Amir was living in fear everyday, even though he was rich and at a higher level of living.
I agree with Elizabeth and Jeni. I think Amir is a little upset because no one told him but then he seems relieved because during the book Amir has been wondering about how Hasan has been living.
I agree with Brian because Amir feels that Hassan will be protected by Baba and Rahim when he is living with them because that is where he grew up and it holds a special significance and protective quality to him.
I agree with the inner circle when they are talking about how Amir felt when he found out that Hassan had been living in his house with Rahim. I think he was probably relieved to know that someone is there to take care of Rahim and also how they were both safe, or as safe as they could be under the Taliban.
I think Amir is happy that Hassan is no longer living in their mud house and living in better conditions in their old house.
Brian, I agree that Amir would be haapy that Hassan is staying in the house with Rahim. The onl problem is that Amir tends to get jealous and he could end up envying Hassan even more for that.
I think that when Amir finds out that Hassan had been living in Baba's house with his wife and Rahim Khan, like Jenni said, would feel relieved because he would know that his friend and his pregnant wife were safe and had a roof over thier heads.
I think that Amir was feeling betrayed because Amir and Baba were forced to leave, but Rahim Khan remained in Baba's house with Hassan. He also feels relieved that Hassan is alive. When Amir was living in America, he couldn't forget about the memorable times they spent together.
Rahim asks Amir's permission to tell Amir about Hassan's life because Rahim knew that they haven't talked in a long time and it is a touchy subject so he didn't want to bring up Hassan unless Amir wanted to hear about it.
Amir was probably confused, also mad. Knowing that Hassan had been living in his house probably triggered a whole new type of anger.
I think that when Amir found out that Hassan had been living with Rahim, he felt a mix of feelings. I think he felt relieved but upset at the same time. He was relieved to know that Hassan had been taken care of by one of his good friends but upset because it probably brought back some memories of him and Hassan and brought back his feelings of guilt.
I think the taxi driver is important because he describes what has been going on and sets the scene of where Amir is going.
I agree with Allie that losing people close to Amir is making him stronger, but it probably not a good thing, the loss of those people close to him is probably eating at him.
I agree with Jake that the taxi driver was an important story teller for Amir, and he helped him understand what was going on. It prepares him for how different the country and the people were going to be.
Just to get another conversation going on this blog:
Why did Mrs. Leclaire put the Matrix picture on this blog?
I agree with the inner circle, I think that Amir would be happy to know that Hassan is okay and well taken care of during such a hard time. Amir still cares about Hassan as a sort of brother otherwise he wouldn't care about what he did in the past so he would want Hassan to have a good place to live.
The taxi driver is important because he is like the "story teller" and lets people know what is going on. He tells people where Amir is.
I agree with Jake when she says that the taxi driver set the tone for chapter 15. Even though the taxi driver didn't know Amir had been gone but told him exactly what happened from the time he left to the time he came home.
I agree with April, the taxi driver was important because he helps describe what has been going on in Kabul and gives us a better understanding of what has happened there.
On page 199, Rahim Khan describes the ongoing war in Kabul and how each neighborhood is like its own country. "You practically need a visa to go from one neighborhood to the other" (199). In most of the story, the motif of family is present. Families trust each other and help each other out, as shown in many places throughout the story that I don't have time to reference right now. However, this is a change. Before all of the violence in Kabul, it was like a large family, with many people being social with others and helping each other out when needed. Now that there is constant violence and Kabul split in different factions, there is no trust among people. Afghanistan has effectively lost some of its identity.
I agree with the inner circle when they are talking about the importance of the taxi driver. He is like the storyteller of what had happened while Amir was gone and how his home as he had known it changed dramatically.
I agree with you Mark, in the book Amir thinks about Hassan in about every chapter.
In terms of fallowing the path to being a hero, does this mass loss of family and friends that Amir has continue to keep him on the path to being a hero? Has he been showing any more signs of becoming a hero?
I agree with Mrs. Leclaire that it sounds weird when he says Rahim was a thing made of skin and bones, but it makes sense with what Rahim has been through and I understand why Amir feels lost when he returns home.
I think that the reason that they choose that word choice is because it is like a whole different person than you have known it is like Rahim isn't even there anymore.
I think when Amir found out that Hassan was living in Baba's house with Rahim he was happy and relieved because he was scared that after getting fired he was afraid where Hassan would be and when he found out that he was sheltered and taken care of he was relieved because his lie of Hassan stealing the money and the watch didn't ruin Hassan's life and put him on the streets.
I think the description of Rahim Khan by Amir was just to show how bad things had been since Amir had left. I also think that Amir probably feels bad for leaving Rahim in Afghanistan even though Rahim wanted to stay.
Although Rahim is dying, isn't it disrespectful and a little weird that Amir would call Rahim a "thing with skin and bones" after all that Rahim did for him. And this is when Rahim would need Amir's love the most.
The significance of when the book talks about that Rahim is only skin and bones is that Amir no longer recognizes him and is weird seeing him and not really knowing who he is.
Life for Amir has changed a lot. People he knows like Rahim, and his childhood home has changed. I agree wit Brian that the relationship between Amir and Rahim has died off. What Rahim is described as is kind of showing a symbol of pain in the relationship or something's missing/has died off.
I agree with Brian that Amir feels the effect of the time, and the fact that Rahim has gotton so much older and Amir might feel like they left Rahim, and none of them knew how bad it was really going to get. I think that he still loves Rahim but it's just different than he remembers and that's hard for him. That would explain the elephant in the room
George:
It almost feels like the time in Kabul is similar to the Great Depression in the 1920's. Everything is fun, and everyone is rich before then all of the sudden every is struck poor and are miserable.
Statistics show that there were more suicides during those times then ever before.
WHy do you think the taxi driver tells people where Amir is?
Nowlan- I don't think with Amir losing another person close to him keeps him on the path of being a hero. I feel like he isn't strong enough to do anything significant.
Nowlan- I think Amir is still on the path to become a hero, and even more so now because he went back to Pakistan to apologize to Hassan.
Amir feels akward around Rahim because even though they have a close relationship the fact that Baba is dead messes things up between them. It is like when my uncle died, his wife of only two months tried to stay in touch with our family but because the link that connected her to our family was gone the relationship died.
I think the description of Rahim being something that was skin and bones pretending to be Rahim is a way to show how much has changed. Things are not the way that Amir remembers them, he has always been lucky to not have to see real pain in life and even when his home is falling apart him and his father leave and then when he comes back all he sees is the effect that it has on other people and he doesn't really understand it.
I think that Amir feels awkward seeing Rahim because so much has changed and he hasn't seen him in so long. Also because Rahim is sick and Amir doesn't know what to do or what to say to him because he is really upset about it. So many things had happened and changed that it probably made him feel a litte awkward talking to him. Another reason is because I think that Rahim knows what happened to Hassan and Amir knows he knows they just aren't acnowledging it. That's probably the elephant in the room.
I agree with Shay about the meaning of the figure of skin and bones. Amir doesn't recognize him anymore, and yea, it's awkward. The fact that Rahim is dying makes it a bit harder for Amir to learn to recognize and care for Rahim like he used to.
The elephant in the room is Rahim becuase since he is dying, it is just awkward without him there. It is different and Amir will need to get used to it.
Do you think that maybe we will be re-introduced to Assef in the later chapters in this book?
Nile,
I do not believe Amir was being disrespectful of Rahim by desrcibing him as skin and bones. I think he was using that as how he saw Rahim now and that he does not seem like himself because of the things he had been through.
I agree with jake that Hassan and Amir need to be reintroduced and start over. If it's necessary at the time, they need to talk about what happened. I think that they could be friends again because Hassan is so forgiving and Amir has been bound to change a lot throughout all the years.
I'm surprised that Amir, who seemed to search for love early in the book, allows the relationship between him and Rahim become so awkward. I would think that he would just try harder to establish their connection.
I think the author decided to re-introduce Hasan because they need to tell what happened to him after they left. I think they might see each other before he leaves. I think that there is a possibility that they might become friends but who knows.
Allison asks why Amir seems awkward around Rahim. This is shown by the cliche, an elephant in the room. Amir does not want to acknowledge his past that he knows that Rahim is knows as well. Amir simply feels guilty for never settling the issues of his past and leaving Rahim, Hassan, and Ali alone while he hides in America.
I agree with Elizabeth that Hassan will forgive Amir because that is the type of person he is. Now its up to Amir to dig up his guilt and deal with what he did.
I think the author put Hassan back in the book because he was a major part in this book and just making him disappear wouldn't really work so its kind of predicted.
I think that Hassan and Amir will run into each other before Amir leaves for America. I think that Hassan will want to start over, but Amir is hesitant at first. Eventually, I think that Amir will forgive Hassan and they will become friends again.
I think that before Hassan and Amir can be friends again Amir has to forgive himself for what he did because even after all this time he hasn't forgiven himself. Hassan already forgave him but they couldn't be friends because Amir couldn't get over how horrible what he did was.
I agree with Elizabeth when she says that Amir will apologize and Hassan, being the forgiving person that he is will forgive Amir for not standing up for him when he was raped. I think Amir could have been more worked up about the rape then Hassan may have been.
I think the taxi driver is a symbol for the change that has gone through Amir/ Hassan/ Rahim's relationship and it foreshadows immense change in the future.
I don't think that they would reintroduce Assef because he was like a person that was there to prove a point but not a reoccurring character.
Annie, I think we will be re-introduced to Assef in the book. Now that Amir came back to Afghanistan and Rahim Khan is almost dead the book needs someone to cause problams for Amir and Hassan again
What is the significnce, if any, of the narration switching from Amir to Rahim in chapter six?
Will Amir ever get that color tv for Hassan because of they promise Bada made?
I think that Amir and Hassan will restore their freindship but it will be awkward at first but i think while time passes their relasionship will be restored
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