TH KITE RUNNER: Full Chapter Summary's
CodeyCartledge
2,765 views
28 slides
Feb 13, 2019
Slide 1 of 28
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
About This Presentation
Entire collection of The kite runners chapter summary's for my A Level English literature course.
Hope this helps.
If anyone would like to ask any questions or suggest other topics for me to post please be my guest.
Thank you.
Slide Content
CODEY CARTLEDGE: THE KITE RUNNER: ENGLISH: TRUDI:
CHAPTER SUMMARYS:
THE KITE RUNNER
CHAPTER SUMMARYS:
THE KITE RUNNER
CODEY CARTLEDGE: THE KITE RUNNER: ENGLISH: TRUDI:
CHAPTER ONE:
December 2001
Amir will narrate the whole book, except for Chapter 16, which is narrated by Rahim Khan. This first
chapter is very cryptic if you haven't read the rest of the book, or at least read a summary of the plot.
There, we've warned you.
Amir tells us something happened in the winter of 1975 and this event made him what he is today. He
gives us some scattered images: a crumbling mud wall, an alley, a frozen creek.
Amir remembers a phone call last summer from his friend Rahim Khan. He feels like a past of "unatoned
sins" is calling him up. So he takes a walk and looks at some kites, which remind him of someone named
Hassan.
During the walk, Amir sits on a park bench. He thinks of Baba and Ali, and Kabul, Afghanistan.
The chapter ends where it began: "I thought of the life I had lived until the winter of 1975 came along and
changed everything. And made me what I am today" (1.3).
CHAPTER ONE:
December 2001
Amir will narrate the whole book, except for Chapter 16, which is narrated by Rahim Khan. This first
chapter is very cryptic if you haven't read the rest of the book, or at least read a summary of the plot.
There, we've warned you.
Amir tells us something happened in the winter of 1975 and this event made him what he is today. He
gives us some scattered images: a crumbling mud wall, an alley, a frozen creek.
Amir remembers a phone call last summer from his friend Rahim Khan. He feels like a past of "unatoned
sins" is calling him up. So he takes a walk and looks at some kites, which remind him of someone named
Hassan.
During the walk, Amir sits on a park bench. He thinks of Baba and Ali, and Kabul, Afghanistan.
The chapter ends where it began: "I thought of the life I had lived until the winter of 1975 came along and
changed everything. And made me what I am today" (1.3).
CODEY CARTLEDGE: THE KITE RUNNER: ENGLISH: TRUDI:
CHAPTER 2:
Amir and Hassan get into harmless mischief together as kids. Hassan often takes the blame if the two troublemakers
get caught.
Amir describes his childhood home, built by his father. It has rosebushes, marble floors, mosaic tiles, and gold-
stitched tapestries. Oh, and a crystal chandelier.
Baba, Amir's father, has a smoking room in the house but he doesn't let Amir hang out there. Go away, Amir.
Some of Baba's cabinets have a few pictures: Amir's grandfather and King Nadir Shah and one of Amir's father and
mother on their wedding night. No word yet on Amir's mother. Finally, there's one of little Amir in his father's arms;
Rahim Khan stands off to the side.
Amir takes us inside the little shack where Ali and Hassan, their servants, live. It's nowhere near as opulent as Baba's
house.
Amir tells us his mother died giving birth to him and Hassan's mother – her name was Sanaubar – left soon after
Hassan was born.
One day, as Amir and Hassan are walking past the military barracks, some soldiers heckle Hassan. Apparently, his
mum was quite beautiful and a little free with her favours. But the soldiers are really crude, and Amir tries to
comfort Hassan.
More description of Hassan's mother: Sanaubar, it seems, was really gorgeous and "notoriously unscrupulous."
Now, Amir tells us about Hassan's father: the lower muscles on Ali's face were paralyzed by polio. Ali also walks with
a limp. The neighbourhood kids chase Ali around and call him Babalu or "Boogeyman." Grow up, kids.
We hear more about an emerging tension: ethnicity. Ali, Sanaubar, and Hassan are Hazaras, while Amir and Baba are
Pashtuns. Looking through his mother's old history books, Amir discovers the inequality between the two ethnicities.
Pashtuns are the privileged majority.
We learn Sanaubar taunted Ali along with the neighbourhood kids. But Ali doesn't feel the need to fight back against
his assailants. He loves Hassan so much it doesn't bother him.
Little story from the midwife as told to the neighbour's servant: when Hassan was born (with a cleft lip), Sanaubar
said to Ali: "Now you have your own idiot child to do all your smiling for you!" (2.30).
Amir tells us he and Hassan had the same wet nurse (because Sanaubar left Ali and Amir's mother passed away in
childbirth). Ali tells the boys there is "a brotherhood between people who had fed from the same breast, a kinship
that not even time could break" (2.34). You'll want to remember that.
Amir's first word is "Baba." Hassan's is "Amir."
CHAPTER 2:
Amir and Hassan get into harmless mischief together as kids. Hassan often takes the blame if the two troublemakers
get caught.
Amir describes his childhood home, built by his father. It has rosebushes, marble floors, mosaic tiles, and gold-
stitched tapestries. Oh, and a crystal chandelier.
Baba, Amir's father, has a smoking room in the house but he doesn't let Amir hang out there. Go away, Amir.
Some of Baba's cabinets have a few pictures: Amir's grandfather and King Nadir Shah and one of Amir's father and
mother on their wedding night. No word yet on Amir's mother. Finally, there's one of little Amir in his father's arms;
Rahim Khan stands off to the side.
Amir takes us inside the little shack where Ali and Hassan, their servants, live. It's nowhere near as opulent as Baba's
house.
Amir tells us his mother died giving birth to him and Hassan's mother – her name was Sanaubar – left soon after
Hassan was born.
One day, as Amir and Hassan are walking past the military barracks, some soldiers heckle Hassan. Apparently, his
mum was quite beautiful and a little free with her favours. But the soldiers are really crude, and Amir tries to
comfort Hassan.
More description of Hassan's mother: Sanaubar, it seems, was really gorgeous and "notoriously unscrupulous."
Now, Amir tells us about Hassan's father: the lower muscles on Ali's face were paralyzed by polio. Ali also walks with
a limp. The neighbourhood kids chase Ali around and call him Babalu or "Boogeyman." Grow up, kids.
We hear more about an emerging tension: ethnicity. Ali, Sanaubar, and Hassan are Hazaras, while Amir and Baba are
Pashtuns. Looking through his mother's old history books, Amir discovers the inequality between the two ethnicities.
Pashtuns are the privileged majority.
We learn Sanaubar taunted Ali along with the neighbourhood kids. But Ali doesn't feel the need to fight back against
his assailants. He loves Hassan so much it doesn't bother him.
Little story from the midwife as told to the neighbour's servant: when Hassan was born (with a cleft lip), Sanaubar
said to Ali: "Now you have your own idiot child to do all your smiling for you!" (2.30).
Amir tells us he and Hassan had the same wet nurse (because Sanaubar left Ali and Amir's mother passed away in
childbirth). Ali tells the boys there is "a brotherhood between people who had fed from the same breast, a kinship
that not even time could break" (2.34). You'll want to remember that.
Amir's first word is "Baba." Hassan's is "Amir."
CODEY CARTLEDGE: THE KITE RUNNER: ENGLISH: TRUDI:
CHAPTER 3:
This chapter is more or less concerned with Amir's relationship with his father, Baba. Amir begins by telling some
stories about Baba and slowly shifts into Baba's disappointment in Amir. Amir doesn't tell these stories in strict
chronological order.
Amir starts with this crazy story about how Baba wrestled a black bear. He swears it's not laaf, "that Afghan
tendency to exaggerate" (3.1). Sometimes Amir dreams about Baba and the black bear; in his dreams, Amir can't tell
the bear and Baba apart.
Amir tells us Rahim Khan gave Baba his nickname, "Toophan agha, or 'Mr. Hurricane'" (3.2).
In the 1960s, Baba builds an orphanage. Even though Baba has no architectural experience, he finishes the
orphanage. Baba funds the entire project.
Baba and Amir celebrate the completion of the orphanage by going to Ghargha Lake. Baba asks Amir to bring along
Hassan, but Amir lies and tells Baba that Hassan "has the runs" (3.5). Baba pretty much ignores Amir while they eat
beside the lake.
During the opening ceremony for the orphanage, Baba's hat flies off in the wind. He's giving a speech; Amir picks up
the hat and hands it to Baba. Baba recovers marvelously and there's lots of applause. Amir is very proud – of his
father and himself.
Amir slips in a few words on his mother: "one of Kabul's most respected, beautiful, and virtuous ladies. [...] [N]ot
only did she teach classic Farsi literature at the university, she was a descendent of the royal family" (3.11).
In the fifth grade, Amir returns home from school and tells Baba about Mullah Fatiullah Khan, his teacher. Amir
repeats what the Mullah said about drinking: "those who drank would answer for their sin on the day of Qiuamat,
Judgment Day" (3.13).
As luck would have it, Baba is pouring himself a whiskey from the bar. He proceeds to ridicule the Mullah. And he
tells Amir all sins proceed from a single sin, which is theft. E.g. "When you kill a man you steal his life" or "When you
tell a lie, you steal someone's right to truth" (3.32). Baba gets pretty worked up; he even says if a man were to steal a
loaf of bread he would "spit on such a man" and "if I ever cross paths with him, God help him" (3.34).
Somehow, Amir has woken up the bear-fury of Baba. Amir feels like Baba hates him a little – didn't he did steal his
mother's life by being born?
Cut to school. Amir always wins a classroom game called Sherjangi ("Battle of the Poems"). It works like this: One
person recites a line of poetry, then the next person recites a line that begins with the letter that ended the first line.
Amir is dominant in this game and even beats the rest of his class. And he reads all his mother's books.
Baba isn't OK with all this literature and reading stuff. Baba tries to get Amir interested in soccer instead, but Amir is
hopeless: "I shambled about the field on scraggly legs [...]" (3.40).
At some point, Baba takes Amir to a Buzkashi tournament. In this sport, one man rides around on horses with a goat
carcass while a bunch of other men, also on horses, do everything they can to stop him from dropping the dead goat
in a scoring circle. (This is like kill-the-man-with-the-ball only on horses and with a goat.) On this particular day, the
main rider gets trampled and Amir cries on the way home. Baba is not pleased.
That very night, Amir secretly listens in as Rahim Khan and Baba talk about him in the study. Baba thinks Amir is
weak and that "a boy who can't stand up for himself becomes a man who can't stand up for anything" (3.66). Rahim
Khan tries to defend Amir, but Baba still says some pretty terrible things about his son.
CHAPTER 3:
This chapter is more or less concerned with Amir's relationship with his father, Baba. Amir begins by telling some
stories about Baba and slowly shifts into Baba's disappointment in Amir. Amir doesn't tell these stories in strict
chronological order.
Amir starts with this crazy story about how Baba wrestled a black bear. He swears it's not laaf, "that Afghan
tendency to exaggerate" (3.1). Sometimes Amir dreams about Baba and the black bear; in his dreams, Amir can't tell
the bear and Baba apart.
Amir tells us Rahim Khan gave Baba his nickname, "Toophan agha, or 'Mr. Hurricane'" (3.2).
In the 1960s, Baba builds an orphanage. Even though Baba has no architectural experience, he finishes the
orphanage. Baba funds the entire project.
Baba and Amir celebrate the completion of the orphanage by going to Ghargha Lake. Baba asks Amir to bring along
Hassan, but Amir lies and tells Baba that Hassan "has the runs" (3.5). Baba pretty much ignores Amir while they eat
beside the lake.
During the opening ceremony for the orphanage, Baba's hat flies off in the wind. He's giving a speech; Amir picks up
the hat and hands it to Baba. Baba recovers marvelously and there's lots of applause. Amir is very proud – of his
father and himself.
Amir slips in a few words on his mother: "one of Kabul's most respected, beautiful, and virtuous ladies. [...] [N]ot
only did she teach classic Farsi literature at the university, she was a descendent of the royal family" (3.11).
In the fifth grade, Amir returns home from school and tells Baba about Mullah Fatiullah Khan, his teacher. Amir
repeats what the Mullah said about drinking: "those who drank would answer for their sin on the day of Qiuamat,
Judgment Day" (3.13).
As luck would have it, Baba is pouring himself a whiskey from the bar. He proceeds to ridicule the Mullah. And he
tells Amir all sins proceed from a single sin, which is theft. E.g. "When you kill a man you steal his life" or "When you
tell a lie, you steal someone's right to truth" (3.32). Baba gets pretty worked up; he even says if a man were to steal a
loaf of bread he would "spit on such a man" and "if I ever cross paths with him, God help him" (3.34).
Somehow, Amir has woken up the bear-fury of Baba. Amir feels like Baba hates him a little – didn't he did steal his
mother's life by being born?
Cut to school. Amir always wins a classroom game called Sherjangi ("Battle of the Poems"). It works like this: One
person recites a line of poetry, then the next person recites a line that begins with the letter that ended the first line.
Amir is dominant in this game and even beats the rest of his class. And he reads all his mother's books.
Baba isn't OK with all this literature and reading stuff. Baba tries to get Amir interested in soccer instead, but Amir is
hopeless: "I shambled about the field on scraggly legs [...]" (3.40).
At some point, Baba takes Amir to a Buzkashi tournament. In this sport, one man rides around on horses with a goat
carcass while a bunch of other men, also on horses, do everything they can to stop him from dropping the dead goat
in a scoring circle. (This is like kill-the-man-with-the-ball only on horses and with a goat.) On this particular day, the
main rider gets trampled and Amir cries on the way home. Baba is not pleased.
That very night, Amir secretly listens in as Rahim Khan and Baba talk about him in the study. Baba thinks Amir is
weak and that "a boy who can't stand up for himself becomes a man who can't stand up for anything" (3.66). Rahim
Khan tries to defend Amir, but Baba still says some pretty terrible things about his son.
CODEY CARTLEDGE: THE KITE RUNNER: ENGLISH: TRUDI:
CHAPTER 4:
This chapter – simultaneously – develops Amir's relationship with Hassan and Amir's burgeoning interest in writing.
Coincidence? Probably not.
Amir tells of the story of Ali: Two wealthy young men high on hashish accidentally run over a Hazara husband and
wife. The judge orders the men to enlist in the army; in an act of kindness, the judge adopts the orphan left behind
by the Hazara couple. This judge is Amir's grandfather. Ali and Baba grow up together.
Amir launches into a discussion of ethnicity and friendship. On the one hand, he and Hassan are from different
ethnic groups and have history and society in between them. On the other, they have the same nurse and grow up
together in the same household. Amir doesn't come to a conclusion whether ethnicity drives a wedge between him
and Hassan.
What follows are a few warm-and-fuzzy stories about Amir and Hassan growing up together.
The boys throw pebbles at goats
They go see Westerns at Cinema Park and they go to the bazaar.
Hassan prepares meals for Amir, makes Amir's bed, and polishes his shoes.
Amir reads stories to Hassan on a hill north of Baba's house.
Amir plays a few "harmless pranks" on Hassan. He tells Hassan "imbecile" means "smart, intelligent" (4.20).
Amir and Hassan share a favorite story: "Rostam and Sohrab" from the Shahnamah. It's a story about a father who
kills his nemesis, who actually turns out to be his son.
Amir plays another trick on Hassan. Instead of reading from a book, Amir starts to make up his own story, although
he flips through the pages as if he's reading from them. Hassan loves it. This prompts Amir to write his first short
story.
Amir, proud of his story, tries to show it to Baba. Baba isn't interested at all; Rahim Khan comes to the rescue and
reads Amir's story. Rahim Khan even writes Amir a nice note about the story.
Emboldened by Rahim Khan's praise, Amir reads his story to Hassan. Hassan is enthralled and even tells Amir he'll be
"a great writer" (4.55). However, Hassan points out a plot hole. Amir knows Hassan is right, but he's also angry. He
thinks some mean things.
CHAPTER 4:
This chapter – simultaneously – develops Amir's relationship with Hassan and Amir's burgeoning interest in writing.
Coincidence? Probably not.
Amir tells of the story of Ali: Two wealthy young men high on hashish accidentally run over a Hazara husband and
wife. The judge orders the men to enlist in the army; in an act of kindness, the judge adopts the orphan left behind
by the Hazara couple. This judge is Amir's grandfather. Ali and Baba grow up together.
Amir launches into a discussion of ethnicity and friendship. On the one hand, he and Hassan are from different
ethnic groups and have history and society in between them. On the other, they have the same nurse and grow up
together in the same household. Amir doesn't come to a conclusion whether ethnicity drives a wedge between him
and Hassan.
What follows are a few warm-and-fuzzy stories about Amir and Hassan growing up together.
The boys throw pebbles at goats
They go see Westerns at Cinema Park and they go to the bazaar.
Hassan prepares meals for Amir, makes Amir's bed, and polishes his shoes.
Amir reads stories to Hassan on a hill north of Baba's house.
Amir plays a few "harmless pranks" on Hassan. He tells Hassan "imbecile" means "smart, intelligent" (4.20).
Amir and Hassan share a favorite story: "Rostam and Sohrab" from the Shahnamah. It's a story about a father who
kills his nemesis, who actually turns out to be his son.
Amir plays another trick on Hassan. Instead of reading from a book, Amir starts to make up his own story, although
he flips through the pages as if he's reading from them. Hassan loves it. This prompts Amir to write his first short
story.
Amir, proud of his story, tries to show it to Baba. Baba isn't interested at all; Rahim Khan comes to the rescue and
reads Amir's story. Rahim Khan even writes Amir a nice note about the story.
Emboldened by Rahim Khan's praise, Amir reads his story to Hassan. Hassan is enthralled and even tells Amir he'll be
"a great writer" (4.55). However, Hassan points out a plot hole. Amir knows Hassan is right, but he's also angry. He
thinks some mean things.
CODEY CARTLEDGE: THE KITE RUNNER: ENGLISH: TRUDI:
CHAPTER 5:
In this chapter, there's a sort of hodgepodge of events which set up for events to come in Chapter 7.
So, war comes to Afghanistan. It's July 17, 1973. Ali, Hassan, and Amir huddle together in the living room while
gunfire and explosions thunder around them until morning. Baba shows up safe and sound at sunrise, having made it
through or around the blocked roads.
Amir and Hassan decide to go climb their pomegranate tree. (In an earlier chapter, they carved their names in this
tree.) On their way there, trouble strikes in the form of Assef, Wali, and Kamal, three neighborhood boys.
We learn a little about Assef: he uses brass knuckles, has a German mother, and is known for his meanness. Oh yeah,
he also torments Ali a lot.
Assef starts talking some nonsense about the new leader Daoud Khan and how he's going to have a man-to-man talk
with Daoud Khan next time Daoud is over at his house. Assef will tell him about Hitler and ethnic cleansing and how
Afghanistan needs to get rid of the Hazaras. Amir wants to get out of there. (Don't forget Hassan is a Hazara.) Assef,
like always, has other ideas: he takes his brass knuckles out of his pocket.
Hassan comes to the rescue. In a single movement, he picks up a rock, takes his slingshot out of his back pocket,
places the rock in the cup, pulls back the elastic band, and aims it at Assef's left eye. Kobe Bryant probably isn't this
coordinated.
Assef and his crew back off.
It's Hassan's birthday. Baba always gets Hassan something special, like a Clint Eastwood cowboy hat or train set.
Think awesome toys instead of reindeer sweaters. This year, Baba presents one Dr. Kumar, from New Delhi, to
Hassan. What the deuce? Dr. Kumar performs surgery on Hassan, correcting his harelip.
Amir tells us the scar from the surgery heals by the following winter. At which time Hassan stops smiling.
(Foreshadowing…)
CHAPTER 5:
In this chapter, there's a sort of hodgepodge of events which set up for events to come in Chapter 7.
So, war comes to Afghanistan. It's July 17, 1973. Ali, Hassan, and Amir huddle together in the living room while
gunfire and explosions thunder around them until morning. Baba shows up safe and sound at sunrise, having made it
through or around the blocked roads.
Amir and Hassan decide to go climb their pomegranate tree. (In an earlier chapter, they carved their names in this
tree.) On their way there, trouble strikes in the form of Assef, Wali, and Kamal, three neighborhood boys.
We learn a little about Assef: he uses brass knuckles, has a German mother, and is known for his meanness. Oh yeah,
he also torments Ali a lot.
Assef starts talking some nonsense about the new leader Daoud Khan and how he's going to have a man-to-man talk
with Daoud Khan next time Daoud is over at his house. Assef will tell him about Hitler and ethnic cleansing and how
Afghanistan needs to get rid of the Hazaras. Amir wants to get out of there. (Don't forget Hassan is a Hazara.) Assef,
like always, has other ideas: he takes his brass knuckles out of his pocket.
Hassan comes to the rescue. In a single movement, he picks up a rock, takes his slingshot out of his back pocket,
places the rock in the cup, pulls back the elastic band, and aims it at Assef's left eye. Kobe Bryant probably isn't this
coordinated.
Assef and his crew back off.
It's Hassan's birthday. Baba always gets Hassan something special, like a Clint Eastwood cowboy hat or train set.
Think awesome toys instead of reindeer sweaters. This year, Baba presents one Dr. Kumar, from New Delhi, to
Hassan. What the deuce? Dr. Kumar performs surgery on Hassan, correcting his harelip.
Amir tells us the scar from the surgery heals by the following winter. At which time Hassan stops smiling.
(Foreshadowing…)
CODEY CARTLEDGE: THE KITE RUNNER: ENGLISH: TRUDI:
CHAPTER 6:
In this chapter, we get the skinny on winter kite fighting tournaments, and Amir's dreams of winning this year's
tournament. Pay attention.
Amir loves wintertime, like most other Afghan kids. Why? It's pretty, there's snow, no school, and, most importantly,
kite flying. Baba loves kite fighting, too, so it's a rare connection for them.
Amir tells us a little about kite fighting. He and Hassan used to make their own kites with bamboo, glue, string, and
paper. To make the kite a fighting kite, the boys coat the string in glass and glue. (The point of the kite fight is to cut
the other kite's string with your string – thus the glass.)
There's also kite running, which seems just as important as kite fighting. Once a kite is cut, the kite runners chase
after the released kite and try to run it down. The big deal kite to run is the tournament runner-up – the last kite cut.
Hassan, as it turns, is an expert kite runner.
One winter day, Hassan and Amir run a kite. Hassan is a better kite runner than Amir – faster, more athletic, and
with better instincts – and Amir struggles to keep up. Hassan runs away from the kite that's just been cut. Amir
follows, and they rest on a field by a middle school.
Amir doesn't believe the kite is going land anywhere near where Hassan has led them. So he asks Hassan if Hassan
would ever lie to him. Hassan says no, and that he'd "sooner eat dirt" (6.31). Amir toys with Hassan. In the end, Amir
makes nice and the kite floats down to where they're sitting.
Four days before the kite-fighting tournament, Baba casually tells Amir he thinks Amir is going to win this year. Amir
starts to imagine all the wonderful things he and Baba will do together and how the two of them will grow closer.
Now, Amir really wants to win this tournament.
The chapter ends with Hassan and Amir playing cards the night before the tournament. There's some talk about
Daoud Khan, televisions, and how Amir will buy Hassan a television someday. Hassan thinks Amir will win the
tournament the next day. Amir wins the card game but has the distinct feeling Hassan let him win.
CHAPTER 6:
In this chapter, we get the skinny on winter kite fighting tournaments, and Amir's dreams of winning this year's
tournament. Pay attention.
Amir loves wintertime, like most other Afghan kids. Why? It's pretty, there's snow, no school, and, most importantly,
kite flying. Baba loves kite fighting, too, so it's a rare connection for them.
Amir tells us a little about kite fighting. He and Hassan used to make their own kites with bamboo, glue, string, and
paper. To make the kite a fighting kite, the boys coat the string in glass and glue. (The point of the kite fight is to cut
the other kite's string with your string – thus the glass.)
There's also kite running, which seems just as important as kite fighting. Once a kite is cut, the kite runners chase
after the released kite and try to run it down. The big deal kite to run is the tournament runner-up – the last kite cut.
Hassan, as it turns, is an expert kite runner.
One winter day, Hassan and Amir run a kite. Hassan is a better kite runner than Amir – faster, more athletic, and
with better instincts – and Amir struggles to keep up. Hassan runs away from the kite that's just been cut. Amir
follows, and they rest on a field by a middle school.
Amir doesn't believe the kite is going land anywhere near where Hassan has led them. So he asks Hassan if Hassan
would ever lie to him. Hassan says no, and that he'd "sooner eat dirt" (6.31). Amir toys with Hassan. In the end, Amir
makes nice and the kite floats down to where they're sitting.
Four days before the kite-fighting tournament, Baba casually tells Amir he thinks Amir is going to win this year. Amir
starts to imagine all the wonderful things he and Baba will do together and how the two of them will grow closer.
Now, Amir really wants to win this tournament.
The chapter ends with Hassan and Amir playing cards the night before the tournament. There's some talk about
Daoud Khan, televisions, and how Amir will buy Hassan a television someday. Hassan thinks Amir will win the
tournament the next day. Amir wins the card game but has the distinct feeling Hassan let him win.
CODEY CARTLEDGE: THE KITE RUNNER: ENGLISH: TRUDI:
CHAPTER 7:
This is The Big Chapter. The chapters preceding this one prepare you for this event; the chapters following this one
deal with its aftershocks.
While Amir eats breakfast, Hassan recounts a dream he had the night before. They're both at Ghargha Lake, along
with Rahim Khan, Baba, Ali, and tons of other people. No one is swimming in the water because there's a monster at
the bottom. Amir, however, jumps into the lake; Hassan follows and swims behind Amir. There's no monster. The
crowd on the shore cheers.
Hassan and Amir walk out into the street for the kite-fighting tournament. Strangely enough, Amir suddenly gets
cold feet. Hassan encourages him: "Remember, Amir agha. There's no monster, just a beautiful day" (7.19). They toss
the kite into the air.
The number of kites in the sky dwindles. Soon, just Amir's kite and a blue kite are left. Amir gets a lucky gust of wind
and cuts the blue kite. He wins the tournament. Baba cheers from the rooftop. In these tournaments, people collect
or "run" the defeated kites, but the second-place kite is considered the greatest prize. Hassan runs off after the blue
kite.
Amir takes his kite back to Baba's house and then heads off to find Hassan. After a little wandering, he spots Hassan
in an alley. Assef, Wali, and Kamal are staring Hassan down. Hassan has the blue kite. No one sees Amir.
Hassan tries to defend himself by throwing a rock at Assef . He does hit Assef, but the three boys throw Hassan to
the ground.
Amir interrupts the narrative here with a few memories and a dream. In the first memory, Ali reminds Amir that he
and Hassan fed from the same breast. In the second memory, Hassan and Amir go to a fortune-teller. The fortune-
teller takes a coin from Hassan and reads Hassan's palm and face. Visibly disturbed, the fortune-teller gives Hassan
his coin back. Amir draws back when the fortune-teller comes over to him. In the dream, Amir is lost in the snow.
The wind is blowing so hard it immediately erases his footsteps. Someone with parallel gashes on his hand – Baba? –
reaches out to Amir and they're suddenly in a summery, light-filled field.
Cut back to the scene in the alley. Something is up: Wali and Kamal don't want to participate in whatever Assef has
planned. Assef pulls down his pants and rapes Hassan.
Amir switches to the future tense. It's the next day, which is the feast of Eid-e-Qorban. The feast commemorates
Ibrahim's sacrifice of his son Isaac. According to the custom, each family sacrifices a sheep. Ali, Baba, Hassan, and
Amir watch as the mullah slits the sheep's throat.
Cut back to the alley scene. Amir has one last chance to intervene. But instead he just runs away.
Amir meets Hassan in a ravine near the alley. Each is on his way back to Baba's house. Amir doesn't tell Hassan he
saw what happened.
Hassan is about to tell Amir, but he composes himself and simply hands Amir the blue kite. Hassan is a mess: his
voice cracks, he has a dark stain on the seat of his pants. Amir pretends not to notice. Hassan limps away.
Amir returns to Baba's house with the kite. Baba gathers Amir up into his arms. Amir weeps.
CHAPTER 7:
This is The Big Chapter. The chapters preceding this one prepare you for this event; the chapters following this one
deal with its aftershocks.
While Amir eats breakfast, Hassan recounts a dream he had the night before. They're both at Ghargha Lake, along
with Rahim Khan, Baba, Ali, and tons of other people. No one is swimming in the water because there's a monster at
the bottom. Amir, however, jumps into the lake; Hassan follows and swims behind Amir. There's no monster. The
crowd on the shore cheers.
Hassan and Amir walk out into the street for the kite-fighting tournament. Strangely enough, Amir suddenly gets
cold feet. Hassan encourages him: "Remember, Amir agha. There's no monster, just a beautiful day" (7.19). They toss
the kite into the air.
The number of kites in the sky dwindles. Soon, just Amir's kite and a blue kite are left. Amir gets a lucky gust of wind
and cuts the blue kite. He wins the tournament. Baba cheers from the rooftop. In these tournaments, people collect
or "run" the defeated kites, but the second-place kite is considered the greatest prize. Hassan runs off after the blue
kite.
Amir takes his kite back to Baba's house and then heads off to find Hassan. After a little wandering, he spots Hassan
in an alley. Assef, Wali, and Kamal are staring Hassan down. Hassan has the blue kite. No one sees Amir.
Hassan tries to defend himself by throwing a rock at Assef . He does hit Assef, but the three boys throw Hassan to
the ground.
Amir interrupts the narrative here with a few memories and a dream. In the first memory, Ali reminds Amir that he
and Hassan fed from the same breast. In the second memory, Hassan and Amir go to a fortune-teller. The fortune-
teller takes a coin from Hassan and reads Hassan's palm and face. Visibly disturbed, the fortune-teller gives Hassan
his coin back. Amir draws back when the fortune-teller comes over to him. In the dream, Amir is lost in the snow.
The wind is blowing so hard it immediately erases his footsteps. Someone with parallel gashes on his hand – Baba? –
reaches out to Amir and they're suddenly in a summery, light-filled field.
Cut back to the scene in the alley. Something is up: Wali and Kamal don't want to participate in whatever Assef has
planned. Assef pulls down his pants and rapes Hassan.
Amir switches to the future tense. It's the next day, which is the feast of Eid-e-Qorban. The feast commemorates
Ibrahim's sacrifice of his son Isaac. According to the custom, each family sacrifices a sheep. Ali, Baba, Hassan, and
Amir watch as the mullah slits the sheep's throat.
Cut back to the alley scene. Amir has one last chance to intervene. But instead he just runs away.
Amir meets Hassan in a ravine near the alley. Each is on his way back to Baba's house. Amir doesn't tell Hassan he
saw what happened.
Hassan is about to tell Amir, but he composes himself and simply hands Amir the blue kite. Hassan is a mess: his
voice cracks, he has a dark stain on the seat of his pants. Amir pretends not to notice. Hassan limps away.
Amir returns to Baba's house with the kite. Baba gathers Amir up into his arms. Amir weeps.
CODEY CARTLEDGE: THE KITE RUNNER: ENGLISH: TRUDI:
CHAPTER 8:
This chapter describes the weeks (and year) following the kite-fighting tournament.
Amir rarely sees Hassan – he wakes to find his breakfast already cooked, his clothes folded. Ali asks Amir if anything
is wrong with Hassan, but Amir treats Ali pretty poorly and, worse, doesn't tell Ali about the alley.
Amir asks Baba if they can go to Jalalabad on Friday. Baba asks if Hassan wants to come along. Amir wants Baba all to
himself so he says Hassan is sick.
Much to Amir's dismay, Baba invites tons of relatives to travel with them. (Enough to fill three vans. And you thought
your family vacations were bad.) The vans bounce along. One of Amir's cousins congratulates Amir on winning the
kite-fighting tournament. Amir throws up all over her dress.
That night, everyone eats lots of food. People play poker and have a few drinks. Amir is miserable. After everyone
has fallen asleep – the men sleeping on the living room floor along with Amir – Amir blurts out to no one in
particular: "I watched Hassan get raped" (8.40). No one wakes up or hears him. Amir's insomnia starts that night.
Back in Kabul, there's more silence and distance between Amir and Hassan. Not even the Shahnamah can bring them
together. This continues for the rest of the winter. Amir hangs out with Baba occasionally, but seems to spend a lot
of time reading in his room.
At one point during the winter, Hassan asks Amir if he's done anything wrong. Amir pretty much tells Hassan that he
just wants to be alone.
Right before school starts up again, Amir asks Baba if they can get new servants. Baba is furious. Amir knows he's
really driven a wedge between himself and Baba now.
That summer, Hassan and Amir walk up to the hill with their pomegranate tree. Amir starts to read a story to Hassan,
but loses interest. He picks an overripe pomegranate and begins to pelt Hassan. Amir wants Hassan to fight back, but
Hassan won't. Eventually, Hassan picks up a pomegranate and walks over to Amir and crushes it against his
forehead.
The chapter ends with Amir's thirteenth birthday party. Baba invites tons of people, there's heaps of good food, and
even Ahmad Zahir, the pop musician.
Assef shows up with a gift for Amir. There's an odd rapport between Baba and Assef as Baba asks Assef about soccer.
In one of the most awkward exchanges in the book, Assef gives Amir his present and Amir stalks off. Amir opens the
present on his own. It's a biography of Hitler. Ugh. Amir tosses it into the grass.
Rahim Khan shows up. (He's such a nice guy!) He shoots the breeze with Amir and then tells Amir a story about how
he almost married a Hazara woman. His parents and siblings, though, were outraged at the prospect of welcoming a
Hazara woman into the family. The marriage didn't happen. Rahim Khan gives Amir his gift: it's a leather-bound
writing journal.
Oh yeah, there are fireworks at the party. Some fireworks go off.
CHAPTER 8:
This chapter describes the weeks (and year) following the kite-fighting tournament.
Amir rarely sees Hassan – he wakes to find his breakfast already cooked, his clothes folded. Ali asks Amir if anything
is wrong with Hassan, but Amir treats Ali pretty poorly and, worse, doesn't tell Ali about the alley.
Amir asks Baba if they can go to Jalalabad on Friday. Baba asks if Hassan wants to come along. Amir wants Baba all to
himself so he says Hassan is sick.
Much to Amir's dismay, Baba invites tons of relatives to travel with them. (Enough to fill three vans. And you thought
your family vacations were bad.) The vans bounce along. One of Amir's cousins congratulates Amir on winning the
kite-fighting tournament. Amir throws up all over her dress.
That night, everyone eats lots of food. People play poker and have a few drinks. Amir is miserable. After everyone
has fallen asleep – the men sleeping on the living room floor along with Amir – Amir blurts out to no one in
particular: "I watched Hassan get raped" (8.40). No one wakes up or hears him. Amir's insomnia starts that night.
Back in Kabul, there's more silence and distance between Amir and Hassan. Not even the Shahnamah can bring them
together. This continues for the rest of the winter. Amir hangs out with Baba occasionally, but seems to spend a lot
of time reading in his room.
At one point during the winter, Hassan asks Amir if he's done anything wrong. Amir pretty much tells Hassan that he
just wants to be alone.
Right before school starts up again, Amir asks Baba if they can get new servants. Baba is furious. Amir knows he's
really driven a wedge between himself and Baba now.
That summer, Hassan and Amir walk up to the hill with their pomegranate tree. Amir starts to read a story to Hassan,
but loses interest. He picks an overripe pomegranate and begins to pelt Hassan. Amir wants Hassan to fight back, but
Hassan won't. Eventually, Hassan picks up a pomegranate and walks over to Amir and crushes it against his
forehead.
The chapter ends with Amir's thirteenth birthday party. Baba invites tons of people, there's heaps of good food, and
even Ahmad Zahir, the pop musician.
Assef shows up with a gift for Amir. There's an odd rapport between Baba and Assef as Baba asks Assef about soccer.
In one of the most awkward exchanges in the book, Assef gives Amir his present and Amir stalks off. Amir opens the
present on his own. It's a biography of Hitler. Ugh. Amir tosses it into the grass.
Rahim Khan shows up. (He's such a nice guy!) He shoots the breeze with Amir and then tells Amir a story about how
he almost married a Hazara woman. His parents and siblings, though, were outraged at the prospect of welcoming a
Hazara woman into the family. The marriage didn't happen. Rahim Khan gives Amir his gift: it's a leather-bound
writing journal.
Oh yeah, there are fireworks at the party. Some fireworks go off.
CODEY CARTLEDGE: THE KITE RUNNER: ENGLISH: TRUDI:
CHAPTER 9:
The day after his birthday party, Amir opens all his presents. He gets two from Baba: a Schwinn Stingray, which is
"the king of all bicycles," and a brand-new wristwatch (9.2). He throws most of his gifts in the corner because he
realizes Baba wouldn't have thrown him such a lavish party if he hadn't won the kite-fighting tournament. So, they
feel a little like "blood money" (9.1).
Ali and Hassan give Amir a really nice hardback copy of Shahnamah. It probably took some scrimping and saving on
Ali and Hassan's part to afford this present.
In the lowest of all low deeds, Amir puts his new wristwatch and a wad of cash under Hassan's mattress. He tells
Baba his stuff is missing. Baba talks to Ali; Ali finds Amir's stuff in their house. The two return to Baba's house, having
had a good cry together. Baba asks Hassan if he stole the watch and money. Surprisingly enough – even for Amir –
Hassan says, "Yes." Baba immediately forgives Hassan, which again surprises Amir. Isn't theft the worst of all sins? In
any case, Ali and Hassan decide to leave.
Baba pleads with Ali to stay. Ali refuses.
In the pouring rain (dramatic, right?), Baba drives Ali and Hassan to the bus station. Amir considers running out to
the car to confess, but he stays at the window.
CHAPTER 9:
The day after his birthday party, Amir opens all his presents. He gets two from Baba: a Schwinn Stingray, which is
"the king of all bicycles," and a brand-new wristwatch (9.2). He throws most of his gifts in the corner because he
realizes Baba wouldn't have thrown him such a lavish party if he hadn't won the kite-fighting tournament. So, they
feel a little like "blood money" (9.1).
Ali and Hassan give Amir a really nice hardback copy of Shahnamah. It probably took some scrimping and saving on
Ali and Hassan's part to afford this present.
In the lowest of all low deeds, Amir puts his new wristwatch and a wad of cash under Hassan's mattress. He tells
Baba his stuff is missing. Baba talks to Ali; Ali finds Amir's stuff in their house. The two return to Baba's house, having
had a good cry together. Baba asks Hassan if he stole the watch and money. Surprisingly enough – even for Amir –
Hassan says, "Yes." Baba immediately forgives Hassan, which again surprises Amir. Isn't theft the worst of all sins? In
any case, Ali and Hassan decide to leave.
Baba pleads with Ali to stay. Ali refuses.
In the pouring rain (dramatic, right?), Baba drives Ali and Hassan to the bus station. Amir considers running out to
the car to confess, but he stays at the window.
CODEY CARTLEDGE: THE KITE RUNNER: ENGLISH: TRUDI:
CHAPTER 10:
March 1981
The chapter opens with Baba and Amir crammed into the back of an old Russian truck. They're with other refugees
on their way to Pakistan. Afghanistan has gotten too dangerous. Neighbors have turned against each other, and
everyone seems to be a spy for the Russians.
Amir starts to feel sick and someone asks Karim, the driver, to pull over. He does eventually and Amir gets out. A
MiG (a Russian fighter jet – haven't you seen Top Gun?) flies overhead.
They pull up to a checkpoint. The Russian soldier manning it seems a little drunk. He tells Karim he'll let the truck
pass if he gets to spend some special alone time with one of the women in the truck.
Baba is outraged. Amir grabs Baba's leg, but to no avail. Baba gets up and tells the Russian to shove it. The soldier
takes out his gun out of his holster. (Nail-biting tension.) The gun goes off, but no one gets hit. A superior officer
shows up and gives the soldier a very mild scolding. They make it through the checkpoint.
Cut to Jalalabad. They arrive at a one-story house, and Karim tells everyone the bad news: No truck to Peshawar.
Baba goes crazy and grabs Karim by the throat and almost strangles him. He would have, in fact, if it weren't for the
pleas of a young woman.
In the basement of the house, more refugees have been waiting for weeks. Among them are Kamal and his father. In
an odd twist of events, it turns out Kamal's mother caught a stray bullet in Kabul. Kamal was also raped in Kabul.
Because there's no truck to take them to Peshawar, Karim comes up with an alternative. His cousin owns a fuel
truck, which would work just fine. The refugees pile into the belly of the fuel truck. Almost immediately, Amir's eyes
and nose start to burn. Fumes! Baba tells Amir: "Think of something good" (10.73). He pictures himself and Hassan in
a field. They're flying a kite.
The fuel truck makes it to Pakistan. A bus is going to take them the rest of the way to Peshawar. Amir (and some of
the other refugees) crawl around on the ground, weakened by the fumes. Kamal isn't breathing. His father is
stunned. He somehow gets a hold of Karim's gun and shoots himself in the head.
The chapter ends with Amir dry-heaving on the side of the road.
CHAPTER 10:
March 1981
The chapter opens with Baba and Amir crammed into the back of an old Russian truck. They're with other refugees
on their way to Pakistan. Afghanistan has gotten too dangerous. Neighbors have turned against each other, and
everyone seems to be a spy for the Russians.
Amir starts to feel sick and someone asks Karim, the driver, to pull over. He does eventually and Amir gets out. A
MiG (a Russian fighter jet – haven't you seen Top Gun?) flies overhead.
They pull up to a checkpoint. The Russian soldier manning it seems a little drunk. He tells Karim he'll let the truck
pass if he gets to spend some special alone time with one of the women in the truck.
Baba is outraged. Amir grabs Baba's leg, but to no avail. Baba gets up and tells the Russian to shove it. The soldier
takes out his gun out of his holster. (Nail-biting tension.) The gun goes off, but no one gets hit. A superior officer
shows up and gives the soldier a very mild scolding. They make it through the checkpoint.
Cut to Jalalabad. They arrive at a one-story house, and Karim tells everyone the bad news: No truck to Peshawar.
Baba goes crazy and grabs Karim by the throat and almost strangles him. He would have, in fact, if it weren't for the
pleas of a young woman.
In the basement of the house, more refugees have been waiting for weeks. Among them are Kamal and his father. In
an odd twist of events, it turns out Kamal's mother caught a stray bullet in Kabul. Kamal was also raped in Kabul.
Because there's no truck to take them to Peshawar, Karim comes up with an alternative. His cousin owns a fuel
truck, which would work just fine. The refugees pile into the belly of the fuel truck. Almost immediately, Amir's eyes
and nose start to burn. Fumes! Baba tells Amir: "Think of something good" (10.73). He pictures himself and Hassan in
a field. They're flying a kite.
The fuel truck makes it to Pakistan. A bus is going to take them the rest of the way to Peshawar. Amir (and some of
the other refugees) crawl around on the ground, weakened by the fumes. Kamal isn't breathing. His father is
stunned. He somehow gets a hold of Karim's gun and shoots himself in the head.
The chapter ends with Amir dry-heaving on the side of the road.
CODEY CARTLEDGE: THE KITE RUNNER: ENGLISH: TRUDI:
CHAPTER 11:
Fremont, California. 1980s
Baba and Amir have moved to America. Certainly, it's an improvement over war-torn Afghanistan, but it's also not
smooth sailing.
Walking in Lake Elizabeth Park, Baba enlightens Amir with his politics: there are only a few "real men" in
international politics. America, Britain, and Israel. (Baba seems to love directness in international affairs.) Baba also
loves Ronald Reagan – which makes sense. Reagan called the Soviet Union – who invaded Afghanistan – "the Evil
Empire," Reagan also had that American cowboy bravado Amir and Baba worshipped from afar for years in
Afghanistan.
However, Baba isn't adjusting well to America. He turns his neighborhood convenience store upside down because
they won't take his check without ID. (In Baba's defense, he's shopped there for two years.) Amir gets him out of the
store, but there's a lot of yelling about honor and such.
Amir reveals that Baba works at a gas station. He works a twelve-hour shift six days a week. This image sums it up:
"Baba's face drawn and pale under the bright fluorescent lights" (11.28).
For a while, Baba and Amir were on welfare. The day Baba gets a job, he goes to the welfare office and returns his
food stamps.
Amir graduates from high school. Baba is actually really proud of Amir; unlike the attention Amir got for winning the
kite-fighting tournament, this affection seems long-lasting.
They go out and celebrate. Baba drinks lots of beer, says some disparaging things about Russians, and buys everyone
drinks.
He has Amir drive to end of their block where a gift waits for Amir. It's a Ford Gran Torino. There's some crying,
widespread happiness, and a hand-squeeze. Baba says: "I wish Hassan had been with us today" (11.44). Amir feels
profoundly guilty.
Amir is going to enroll in junior college the next fall. He and Baba discuss majors the morning after graduation. Amir
says he's going to major in Creative Writing. Baba isn't too happy.
Amir drives his Ford Gran Torino around a lot. He feels "free" or something. America, for the most part, has allowed
Amir to escape his past.
Baba sells his car. He buys a '71 Volkswagen bus. They start buying up stuff at yard sales and going to the San Jose
flea market.
At the flea market, Baba introduces Amir to General Taheri who worked for the Ministry of Defense in Kabul. There's
an exchange between His Lordship Taheri and Amir about writing. The General wonders if Amir will write about
Afghanistan or economics or some other important topic. Nope. Amir is going to write fiction.
Some lovely lady brings the General a cup of coffee. It's his daughter, Soraya. Amir is smitten.
On the way home from the flea market, Amir realizes he knows the name "Taheri" from some rumors he heard.
Baba isn't one to gossip, but Amir presses him and he says: "All I've heard is that there was a man once and
things...didn't go well" (11.101). Apparently, because of this incident, no one has approached Soraya as a suitor since
then.
Did we say Amir is smitten?
CHAPTER 11:
Fremont, California. 1980s
Baba and Amir have moved to America. Certainly, it's an improvement over war-torn Afghanistan, but it's also not
smooth sailing.
Walking in Lake Elizabeth Park, Baba enlightens Amir with his politics: there are only a few "real men" in
international politics. America, Britain, and Israel. (Baba seems to love directness in international affairs.) Baba also
loves Ronald Reagan – which makes sense. Reagan called the Soviet Union – who invaded Afghanistan – "the Evil
Empire," Reagan also had that American cowboy bravado Amir and Baba worshipped from afar for years in
Afghanistan.
However, Baba isn't adjusting well to America. He turns his neighborhood convenience store upside down because
they won't take his check without ID. (In Baba's defense, he's shopped there for two years.) Amir gets him out of the
store, but there's a lot of yelling about honor and such.
Amir reveals that Baba works at a gas station. He works a twelve-hour shift six days a week. This image sums it up:
"Baba's face drawn and pale under the bright fluorescent lights" (11.28).
For a while, Baba and Amir were on welfare. The day Baba gets a job, he goes to the welfare office and returns his
food stamps.
Amir graduates from high school. Baba is actually really proud of Amir; unlike the attention Amir got for winning the
kite-fighting tournament, this affection seems long-lasting.
They go out and celebrate. Baba drinks lots of beer, says some disparaging things about Russians, and buys everyone
drinks.
He has Amir drive to end of their block where a gift waits for Amir. It's a Ford Gran Torino. There's some crying,
widespread happiness, and a hand-squeeze. Baba says: "I wish Hassan had been with us today" (11.44). Amir feels
profoundly guilty.
Amir is going to enroll in junior college the next fall. He and Baba discuss majors the morning after graduation. Amir
says he's going to major in Creative Writing. Baba isn't too happy.
Amir drives his Ford Gran Torino around a lot. He feels "free" or something. America, for the most part, has allowed
Amir to escape his past.
Baba sells his car. He buys a '71 Volkswagen bus. They start buying up stuff at yard sales and going to the San Jose
flea market.
At the flea market, Baba introduces Amir to General Taheri who worked for the Ministry of Defense in Kabul. There's
an exchange between His Lordship Taheri and Amir about writing. The General wonders if Amir will write about
Afghanistan or economics or some other important topic. Nope. Amir is going to write fiction.
Some lovely lady brings the General a cup of coffee. It's his daughter, Soraya. Amir is smitten.
On the way home from the flea market, Amir realizes he knows the name "Taheri" from some rumors he heard.
Baba isn't one to gossip, but Amir presses him and he says: "All I've heard is that there was a man once and
things...didn't go well" (11.101). Apparently, because of this incident, no one has approached Soraya as a suitor since
then.
Did we say Amir is smitten?
CODEY CARTLEDGE: THE KITE RUNNER: ENGLISH: TRUDI:
CHAPTER 12:
Amir remembers long nights in Afghanistan (specifically the first night of winter or yelda) when he stayed up late
with Hassan. Currently he stays up late thinking of Soraya. Or, as Amir calls her, "My Swap Meet Princess. “Amir
often goes over to the Taheri's table at the flea market to steal glances at Soraya. This is turning into a full-fledged
obsession. Or, as some would call it, a romance.
One day at the flea market, Amir asks Baba if he wants a Coke. Baba knows what's up: Amir is going over to talk to
Soraya. He gives Amir a little speech about nang and namoos (honour and pride). Amir says he won't embarrass
anyone. Amir goes over to chat up the lovely lady. He probably stays a little too long by Afghan standards. But it's
going so well! Soraya even asks about Amir's writing and he promises to bring her a story sometime. Just when
things are getting a little steamy (according to Afghan standards a conversation this long is apparently risqué),
Soraya's mother walks up. She asks Amir to stay; he politely refuses.
Amir keeps thinking about Soraya. And going over to the Taheri booth at the flea market.
One fine flea market Saturday, Amir and Soraya are talking at the Taheri booth. Soraya tells Amir how she wants to
become a teacher. She also tells Amir a story about how she taught one of the Taheri family servants to read. Now
she wants to be a teacher.
The conversation is going well. Amir reaches into his pocket and hands her one of his stories (just as he promised).
Just then, the General shows up. He gives Amir a little talking-to and takes the story from Soraya. He puts it in the
garbage and reminds Amir – quite subtly for a military man – that Amir should check himself before he wrecks
himself. Later that very week, Baba gets a cold. It seems harmless, but then Amir catches Baba hacking up blood. Not
a good sign. They go to a county hospital since Baba doesn't have health insurance. The doctor finds a spot on Baba's
lung, and sends Baba to a pulmonary clinic. Amir prays. At first, they meet with a Russian pulmonologist. Baba isn't
happy since, well, Russia did a lot of bad things to Afghanistan. Actually, the doctor was born in Michigan, but that's
not enough for Baba. They switch doctors. The new doctor gives Baba his prognosis. The cancer will be fatal. Baba
doesn't want Amir to tell anyone about his illness.
For a while, Baba does well. He still goes to the flea market. But he slowly wears down. He calls in sick to the gas
station one day. By Halloween, Baba no longer gets out of the car to bargain at the yard sales. By Thanksgiving, he
can't make it past noon. By Christmas, Amir is driving the van on his own. Baba loses weight. The Sunday after New
Year's Day, Baba has a seizure and collapses at the flea market. The doctor at the hospital goes over Baba's CAT
scans with Amir. It doesn't look good. The cancer has spread into Baba's brain. The doctor recommends steroids,
anti-seizure medication, and palliative radiation.
General Taheri, Khanum Taheri, and Soraya visit Baba and Amir at the hospital. Two days later, the hospital
discharges Baba. A radiation specialist tries to talk Baba into getting radiation treatment, but he refuses.
Baba is resting on the couch. Amir asks Baba to visit General Taheri and formally request Soraya's hand in marriage.
He does this not only because he loves Soraya, but also because his father is dying. Amir knows the marriage will
please his father. Baba calls the General and sets up a meeting for the next day.
Amir drops Baba off at the Taheri's home. Amir goes back home to wait for Baba to call. The phone rings about an
hour after Amir dropped Baba off. The General has accepted.
However, Soraya needs to talk to Amir. Soraya wants Amir to know about her past before they proceed any further.
Here's the story: Soraya was living in Virginia with another man after having run away from home. Lots of gossip.
Soon enough, the General shows up. He takes Soraya home, where she discovers her little romp has caused Khanum
Taheri to have a stroke, paralyzing the right side of her face. End of story.
Amir still wants to marry Soraya. Remember, he's got his own checkered past. If Amir called the wedding off, it'd be
the pot calling the kettle black. No, it'd be worse than that.
The chapter ends with Amir's regrets. He wishes he could be as open as her and tell her about Hassan and Ali. He
opens his mouth but doesn't say anything.
CHAPTER 12:
Amir remembers long nights in Afghanistan (specifically the first night of winter or yelda) when he stayed up late
with Hassan. Currently he stays up late thinking of Soraya. Or, as Amir calls her, "My Swap Meet Princess. “Amir
often goes over to the Taheri's table at the flea market to steal glances at Soraya. This is turning into a full-fledged
obsession. Or, as some would call it, a romance.
One day at the flea market, Amir asks Baba if he wants a Coke. Baba knows what's up: Amir is going over to talk to
Soraya. He gives Amir a little speech about nang and namoos (honour and pride). Amir says he won't embarrass
anyone. Amir goes over to chat up the lovely lady. He probably stays a little too long by Afghan standards. But it's
going so well! Soraya even asks about Amir's writing and he promises to bring her a story sometime. Just when
things are getting a little steamy (according to Afghan standards a conversation this long is apparently risqué),
Soraya's mother walks up. She asks Amir to stay; he politely refuses.
Amir keeps thinking about Soraya. And going over to the Taheri booth at the flea market.
One fine flea market Saturday, Amir and Soraya are talking at the Taheri booth. Soraya tells Amir how she wants to
become a teacher. She also tells Amir a story about how she taught one of the Taheri family servants to read. Now
she wants to be a teacher.
The conversation is going well. Amir reaches into his pocket and hands her one of his stories (just as he promised).
Just then, the General shows up. He gives Amir a little talking-to and takes the story from Soraya. He puts it in the
garbage and reminds Amir – quite subtly for a military man – that Amir should check himself before he wrecks
himself. Later that very week, Baba gets a cold. It seems harmless, but then Amir catches Baba hacking up blood. Not
a good sign. They go to a county hospital since Baba doesn't have health insurance. The doctor finds a spot on Baba's
lung, and sends Baba to a pulmonary clinic. Amir prays. At first, they meet with a Russian pulmonologist. Baba isn't
happy since, well, Russia did a lot of bad things to Afghanistan. Actually, the doctor was born in Michigan, but that's
not enough for Baba. They switch doctors. The new doctor gives Baba his prognosis. The cancer will be fatal. Baba
doesn't want Amir to tell anyone about his illness.
For a while, Baba does well. He still goes to the flea market. But he slowly wears down. He calls in sick to the gas
station one day. By Halloween, Baba no longer gets out of the car to bargain at the yard sales. By Thanksgiving, he
can't make it past noon. By Christmas, Amir is driving the van on his own. Baba loses weight. The Sunday after New
Year's Day, Baba has a seizure and collapses at the flea market. The doctor at the hospital goes over Baba's CAT
scans with Amir. It doesn't look good. The cancer has spread into Baba's brain. The doctor recommends steroids,
anti-seizure medication, and palliative radiation.
General Taheri, Khanum Taheri, and Soraya visit Baba and Amir at the hospital. Two days later, the hospital
discharges Baba. A radiation specialist tries to talk Baba into getting radiation treatment, but he refuses.
Baba is resting on the couch. Amir asks Baba to visit General Taheri and formally request Soraya's hand in marriage.
He does this not only because he loves Soraya, but also because his father is dying. Amir knows the marriage will
please his father. Baba calls the General and sets up a meeting for the next day.
Amir drops Baba off at the Taheri's home. Amir goes back home to wait for Baba to call. The phone rings about an
hour after Amir dropped Baba off. The General has accepted.
However, Soraya needs to talk to Amir. Soraya wants Amir to know about her past before they proceed any further.
Here's the story: Soraya was living in Virginia with another man after having run away from home. Lots of gossip.
Soon enough, the General shows up. He takes Soraya home, where she discovers her little romp has caused Khanum
Taheri to have a stroke, paralyzing the right side of her face. End of story.
Amir still wants to marry Soraya. Remember, he's got his own checkered past. If Amir called the wedding off, it'd be
the pot calling the kettle black. No, it'd be worse than that.
The chapter ends with Amir's regrets. He wishes he could be as open as her and tell her about Hassan and Ali. He
opens his mouth but doesn't say anything.
CODEY CARTLEDGE: THE KITE RUNNER: ENGLISH: TRUDI:
CHAPTER 13:
The chapter opens with lafz, or the ceremony for "giving word." Baba and Amir are at the Taheri's house to formally
ask the General to accept Amir into their family.Khanum Taheri leads Baba and Amir through a living room packed
with two dozen guests. (As tradition requires, Soraya is not there.) Baba requests that the General accept Amir as a
son-in-law. He does, which results in applause and general good cheer.
Soraya and Amir forgo the Shirini-khori, or "Eating of the Sweets" ceremony. (It's an engagement party followed by
an engagement period of a few months.) Baba probably won't live that long.
Baba spends almost his whole life savings on Amir's wedding. $35,000.
Soraya and Amir have their nika, or "swearing" ceremony. (Basically, the ceremony part of an American wedding.)
Amir thinks of Hassan: "I remember wondering if Hassan too had married. And if so, whose face he had seen in the
mirror under the veil? Whose henna-painted hands had he held?" (13.30).
Amir sleeps with Soraya for the first time. We have to giggle at this sentence: "That night, I discovered the
tenderness of a woman" (13.31).
Soraya and Amir move in with Baba since he's very sick. One day, Amir comes home from the pharmacy with some
of Baba's medication and finds Soraya reading to Baba. She's reading him Amir's stories. Amir can't take it and leaves
the room crying. Baba finally supports Amir's writing.
About a month after the wedding, Baba dies in his sleep.
The funeral is held at a mosque in Hayward. At the gravesite, the mullah and another mourner argue over which ayat
of the Koran to recite.
Since he's married to Soraya now, Amir learns a few things about the Taheris: about once a month, the General has
blinding migraine headaches; Khanum Taheri at one point was a famous singer in Kabul but quit when she married
the General; Khanum Taheri loves Johnny Carson; Khanum Taheri also loves to talk about her medical ailments. Amir
listens.
At her uncle's wedding, two middle-aged women upset Soraya. They more or less call Soraya un-virtuous a.k.a. a
slut. Soraya tells Amir more about her time in Virginia: the night the General came for her, he had a gun with him.
Two bullets in the chamber: one for himself and one for Soraya's boyfriend (if Soraya didn't go with him). Thankfully,
she did. The General handed her a pair of scissors to cut off all her hair. She obliged him.
So, Amir and Soraya are married now. Since Baba has died, they move into a one-bedroom apartment. Amir enrolls
at San Jose State and declares English as his major; Soraya enrolls a year later and declares Education. General Taheri
isn't happy with Soraya's major – he wanted her to be a lawyer or politician.
Amir finishes his first novel. (It's "a father-son story set in Kabul" – sound familiar?) He sends query letters out to a
dozen agencies and gets a request for the manuscript. Amir sends them the manuscript and, wonder of wonders, an
agent agrees to represent him. In about the time it takes to squeeze a pomegranate, Amir is a published novelist.
A lot of other things are going on while Amir becomes a successful writer. The Soviets withdraw from Afghanistan;
civil war breaks out in Afghanistan; the cold war ends; the Berlin Wall comes down; Tiananmen Square happens. And
Amir and Soraya start trying to have a kid.Amir and Soraya, however, can't get pregnant. They go see a doctor; Amir
passes his tests, but Soraya doesn't. She has something called "Unexplained Infertility," which apparently isn't
uncommon.
The young lovers tell the General and Khanum Taheri. Soraya relates some advice: "The doctor said we could adopt"
(13.139). The General isn't sure about adoption – he starts talking about "blood" and "family" etc. In the end, Amir
and Soraya don't want to adopt either.
The chapter ends with Amir and Soraya buying a house in Bernal Heights.
CHAPTER 13:
The chapter opens with lafz, or the ceremony for "giving word." Baba and Amir are at the Taheri's house to formally
ask the General to accept Amir into their family.Khanum Taheri leads Baba and Amir through a living room packed
with two dozen guests. (As tradition requires, Soraya is not there.) Baba requests that the General accept Amir as a
son-in-law. He does, which results in applause and general good cheer.
Soraya and Amir forgo the Shirini-khori, or "Eating of the Sweets" ceremony. (It's an engagement party followed by
an engagement period of a few months.) Baba probably won't live that long.
Baba spends almost his whole life savings on Amir's wedding. $35,000.
Soraya and Amir have their nika, or "swearing" ceremony. (Basically, the ceremony part of an American wedding.)
Amir thinks of Hassan: "I remember wondering if Hassan too had married. And if so, whose face he had seen in the
mirror under the veil? Whose henna-painted hands had he held?" (13.30).
Amir sleeps with Soraya for the first time. We have to giggle at this sentence: "That night, I discovered the
tenderness of a woman" (13.31).
Soraya and Amir move in with Baba since he's very sick. One day, Amir comes home from the pharmacy with some
of Baba's medication and finds Soraya reading to Baba. She's reading him Amir's stories. Amir can't take it and leaves
the room crying. Baba finally supports Amir's writing.
About a month after the wedding, Baba dies in his sleep.
The funeral is held at a mosque in Hayward. At the gravesite, the mullah and another mourner argue over which ayat
of the Koran to recite.
Since he's married to Soraya now, Amir learns a few things about the Taheris: about once a month, the General has
blinding migraine headaches; Khanum Taheri at one point was a famous singer in Kabul but quit when she married
the General; Khanum Taheri loves Johnny Carson; Khanum Taheri also loves to talk about her medical ailments. Amir
listens.
At her uncle's wedding, two middle-aged women upset Soraya. They more or less call Soraya un-virtuous a.k.a. a
slut. Soraya tells Amir more about her time in Virginia: the night the General came for her, he had a gun with him.
Two bullets in the chamber: one for himself and one for Soraya's boyfriend (if Soraya didn't go with him). Thankfully,
she did. The General handed her a pair of scissors to cut off all her hair. She obliged him.
So, Amir and Soraya are married now. Since Baba has died, they move into a one-bedroom apartment. Amir enrolls
at San Jose State and declares English as his major; Soraya enrolls a year later and declares Education. General Taheri
isn't happy with Soraya's major – he wanted her to be a lawyer or politician.
Amir finishes his first novel. (It's "a father-son story set in Kabul" – sound familiar?) He sends query letters out to a
dozen agencies and gets a request for the manuscript. Amir sends them the manuscript and, wonder of wonders, an
agent agrees to represent him. In about the time it takes to squeeze a pomegranate, Amir is a published novelist.
A lot of other things are going on while Amir becomes a successful writer. The Soviets withdraw from Afghanistan;
civil war breaks out in Afghanistan; the cold war ends; the Berlin Wall comes down; Tiananmen Square happens. And
Amir and Soraya start trying to have a kid.Amir and Soraya, however, can't get pregnant. They go see a doctor; Amir
passes his tests, but Soraya doesn't. She has something called "Unexplained Infertility," which apparently isn't
uncommon.
The young lovers tell the General and Khanum Taheri. Soraya relates some advice: "The doctor said we could adopt"
(13.139). The General isn't sure about adoption – he starts talking about "blood" and "family" etc. In the end, Amir
and Soraya don't want to adopt either.
The chapter ends with Amir and Soraya buying a house in Bernal Heights.
CODEY CARTLEDGE: THE KITE RUNNER: ENGLISH: TRUDI:
CHAPTER 14:
June 2001
The chapter opens with Amir lowering the telephone. He's just gotten a mysterious call from Rahim Khan ,who is
sick. Rahim Khan asks Amir to come back to Afghanistan: "Come. There is a way to be good again" (14.19).
Amir takes a walk and sees a pair of red kites. Dun-dun-dun.
Amir decides to go to Afghanistan to see Rahim Khan. He's still has trouble sleeping, but after he finally falls asleep
he dreams of Hassan: "the hem of his green chapan [a long cloak] dragging behind him, snow crunching under his
black boots [...]" (14.25).
The chapter ends with Amir on a flight to Afghanistan.
CHAPTER 14:
June 2001
The chapter opens with Amir lowering the telephone. He's just gotten a mysterious call from Rahim Khan ,who is
sick. Rahim Khan asks Amir to come back to Afghanistan: "Come. There is a way to be good again" (14.19).
Amir takes a walk and sees a pair of red kites. Dun-dun-dun.
Amir decides to go to Afghanistan to see Rahim Khan. He's still has trouble sleeping, but after he finally falls asleep
he dreams of Hassan: "the hem of his green chapan [a long cloak] dragging behind him, snow crunching under his
black boots [...]" (14.25).
The chapter ends with Amir on a flight to Afghanistan.
CODEY CARTLEDGE: THE KITE RUNNER: ENGLISH: TRUDI:
CHAPTER 15:
Amir lands in Peshawar. The city reminds him of Kabul – the taxi driver tells Amir that many of his fellow Afghans
have ended up in a section of the city called "Afghan Town." The driver drops Amir off at Rahim Khan's building.
Rahim Khan doesn't look so good.
For the rest of the chapter, Amir and Rahim Khan talk about Afghanistan, the past, and Amir's life in America. Here's
what they cover: Amir's marriage to Soraya Taheri, Baba, and Amir's education and writing.
The conversation turns to the Taliban and Afghanistan. It sounds like Kabul turned into a war zone between 1992
and 1996 and so when the Taliban took over, the people welcomed them. Rahim Khan tells this Taliban story: in
1998, a Taliban official smacked Rahim Khan in the forehead for cheering too loudly at a soccer match.
Amir learns Rahim Khan is dying. (But most readers will have figured this out already.)
Rahim Khan brings up Hassan. He tells Amir: "I brought you here because I am going to ask something of you. [...].
But before I do, I want to tell you about Hassan" (15.54).
CHAPTER 15:
Amir lands in Peshawar. The city reminds him of Kabul – the taxi driver tells Amir that many of his fellow Afghans
have ended up in a section of the city called "Afghan Town." The driver drops Amir off at Rahim Khan's building.
Rahim Khan doesn't look so good.
For the rest of the chapter, Amir and Rahim Khan talk about Afghanistan, the past, and Amir's life in America. Here's
what they cover: Amir's marriage to Soraya Taheri, Baba, and Amir's education and writing.
The conversation turns to the Taliban and Afghanistan. It sounds like Kabul turned into a war zone between 1992
and 1996 and so when the Taliban took over, the people welcomed them. Rahim Khan tells this Taliban story: in
1998, a Taliban official smacked Rahim Khan in the forehead for cheering too loudly at a soccer match.
Amir learns Rahim Khan is dying. (But most readers will have figured this out already.)
Rahim Khan brings up Hassan. He tells Amir: "I brought you here because I am going to ask something of you. [...].
But before I do, I want to tell you about Hassan" (15.54).
CODEY CARTLEDGE: THE KITE RUNNER: ENGLISH: TRUDI:
CHAPTER 16:
This chapter is in the voice of Rahim Khan.
Rahim Khan lives in Baba's house after Amir and Baba flee to America. He's lonely and, because he's getting old, is
having trouble keeping up the house. Rahim Khan goes to Hazarajat (the central region of Afghanistan and home to
the Hazara ethnic group) to find Hassan.
Rahim Khan finds Hassan in Bamiyan, one of the provinces of Hazarajat.
Rahim Khan finds out Hassan has married. His wife, Farzana, is pregnant.
When Rahim Khan asks about Ali, Hassan looks down. Ali walked into a land mine two years ago.
Finally, Rahim Khan asks Hassan to come back to Kabul with him to care for Baba's house. Hassan asks about Amir
and learns about Baba's death.
The next day, Hassan and Farzana agree to come back to Kabul with Rahim Khan.
Even though there's plenty of room in the main house, Hassan and Farzana take up residence in the old servants'
quarters.
Farzana gives birth to a stillborn girl, but soon Farzana gets pregnant again.
Sanaubar, Hassan's mother who ditched him and Ali years ago, suddenly shows up at the gate. She's a wreck – weak,
covered in sores, and slashed by a knife. Hassan & co. nurse her back to health.
Sanaubar delivers Hassan's child. Farzana, and Hassan name the child after Sohrab, Hassan's favorite character in the
Shahnamah. (Remember? It's the book Amir used to read to Hassan all the time.)
Sanaubar dies in her sleep. The fighting in Kabul intensifies.
Hassan sounds like a terrific father. He teaches his son Sohrab how to shoot a slingshot, how to read and write, and
how to run a kite.
The chapter ends ominously: the Taliban has banned kite fighting and, in two years, they will massacre the Hazaras
in Mazar-i-Sharif.
CHAPTER 16:
This chapter is in the voice of Rahim Khan.
Rahim Khan lives in Baba's house after Amir and Baba flee to America. He's lonely and, because he's getting old, is
having trouble keeping up the house. Rahim Khan goes to Hazarajat (the central region of Afghanistan and home to
the Hazara ethnic group) to find Hassan.
Rahim Khan finds Hassan in Bamiyan, one of the provinces of Hazarajat.
Rahim Khan finds out Hassan has married. His wife, Farzana, is pregnant.
When Rahim Khan asks about Ali, Hassan looks down. Ali walked into a land mine two years ago.
Finally, Rahim Khan asks Hassan to come back to Kabul with him to care for Baba's house. Hassan asks about Amir
and learns about Baba's death.
The next day, Hassan and Farzana agree to come back to Kabul with Rahim Khan.
Even though there's plenty of room in the main house, Hassan and Farzana take up residence in the old servants'
quarters.
Farzana gives birth to a stillborn girl, but soon Farzana gets pregnant again.
Sanaubar, Hassan's mother who ditched him and Ali years ago, suddenly shows up at the gate. She's a wreck – weak,
covered in sores, and slashed by a knife. Hassan & co. nurse her back to health.
Sanaubar delivers Hassan's child. Farzana, and Hassan name the child after Sohrab, Hassan's favorite character in the
Shahnamah. (Remember? It's the book Amir used to read to Hassan all the time.)
Sanaubar dies in her sleep. The fighting in Kabul intensifies.
Hassan sounds like a terrific father. He teaches his son Sohrab how to shoot a slingshot, how to read and write, and
how to run a kite.
The chapter ends ominously: the Taliban has banned kite fighting and, in two years, they will massacre the Hazaras
in Mazar-i-Sharif.
CODEY CARTLEDGE: THE KITE RUNNER: ENGLISH: TRUDI:
CHAPTER 17:
Rahim Khan gives Amir an envelope. Inside are letters from Hassan and a Polaroid photograph of Hassan and Sohrab.
Here's what the letters say:
Letter 1: Hassan hopes his letter will someday reach Amir in America and that Amir will write back. Hassan still thinks
about Amir and tells Farzana and Sohrab all about Amir.
Letter 2: Kabul has changed. The Taliban have imposed strict rule: even Farzana is punished in the market for
speaking too loudly. He brags about Sohrab – how good he is with a slingshot, how he likes the Shahnamah, etc.
Letter 3: Rahim Khan is very sick and will travel to Pakistan to see some doctors. Hassan has had a few violent
nightmares but also dreams that Rahim Khan will get well, Sohrab will "grow up to be a good person, a free person
[...]," and peace will come to Kabul. He hopes Amir will visit.
All in all, the letters are very warm – Hassan doesn't hold any grudges against Amir.
Rahim Khan delivers the bad news to Amir. A month after he arrived in Peshawar, a neighbor called and told him
Talib officials executed Hassan and Farzana. Even though people in the neighborhood supported Hassan's story, the
Talibs didn't believe Rahim Khan left the house in his care. Sohrab is in an orphanage in Kabul.
Now, Rahim Khan reveals the reason he asked Amir to come to Afghanistan: he wants Amir to rescue Sohrab from
the orphanage. There are some people in Peshawar who will adopt him.
At first, Amir doesn't want any part of Rahim Khan's scheme. Rahim Khan gives him three reasons. First, Khan is a
dying man and he wants Amir to do this for him. Second, Baba once thought Amir couldn't stand up for himself –
now, Amir can prove him wrong. Third, Hassan was actually Amir's half-brother.
Of course, the last reason really changes things. Apparently, Ali was sterile, and Baba fathered Hassan with
Sanaubar.
The chapter ends with Amir storming out of Rahim Khan's apartment.
CHAPTER 17:
Rahim Khan gives Amir an envelope. Inside are letters from Hassan and a Polaroid photograph of Hassan and Sohrab.
Here's what the letters say:
Letter 1: Hassan hopes his letter will someday reach Amir in America and that Amir will write back. Hassan still thinks
about Amir and tells Farzana and Sohrab all about Amir.
Letter 2: Kabul has changed. The Taliban have imposed strict rule: even Farzana is punished in the market for
speaking too loudly. He brags about Sohrab – how good he is with a slingshot, how he likes the Shahnamah, etc.
Letter 3: Rahim Khan is very sick and will travel to Pakistan to see some doctors. Hassan has had a few violent
nightmares but also dreams that Rahim Khan will get well, Sohrab will "grow up to be a good person, a free person
[...]," and peace will come to Kabul. He hopes Amir will visit.
All in all, the letters are very warm – Hassan doesn't hold any grudges against Amir.
Rahim Khan delivers the bad news to Amir. A month after he arrived in Peshawar, a neighbor called and told him
Talib officials executed Hassan and Farzana. Even though people in the neighborhood supported Hassan's story, the
Talibs didn't believe Rahim Khan left the house in his care. Sohrab is in an orphanage in Kabul.
Now, Rahim Khan reveals the reason he asked Amir to come to Afghanistan: he wants Amir to rescue Sohrab from
the orphanage. There are some people in Peshawar who will adopt him.
At first, Amir doesn't want any part of Rahim Khan's scheme. Rahim Khan gives him three reasons. First, Khan is a
dying man and he wants Amir to do this for him. Second, Baba once thought Amir couldn't stand up for himself –
now, Amir can prove him wrong. Third, Hassan was actually Amir's half-brother.
Of course, the last reason really changes things. Apparently, Ali was sterile, and Baba fathered Hassan with
Sanaubar.
The chapter ends with Amir storming out of Rahim Khan's apartment.
CODEY CARTLEDGE: THE KITE RUNNER: ENGLISH: TRUDI:
CHAPTER 18:
We pick up right where Chapter 17 ended: Amir has just left Rahim Khan's and is storming the streets, angry about
Baba's lies and betrayal.
Amir orders some tea in a teahouse. He starts to go over all the signs he didn't understand as a boy, but which are
abundantly clear now.
Amir remembers Dr. Kumar fixing Hassan's harelip and how Baba never missed Hassan's birthday.
Amir also remembers how violently Baba reacted when Amir suggested they get new servants. And how Baba wept
when Hassan and Ali left.
Amir considers Baba's principles: "There is only one sin. And that sin is theft [...]" (18.5). Baba stole Ali's honor and
stole Hassan's identity and Amir's brother. But Amir also sees how similar he and Baba are: both betrayed "the
people who would have given their lives for us" (18.7).
Amir wonders if Ali and Hassan would have survived if he hadn't driven them out of the house. Amir begins to
understand how, by saving Sohrab, he might atone for both Baba's sins and his own. Rahim Khan's phrase "There is a
way to be good again" starts to make sense to Amir.
Amir gives up. He'll travel to Kabul and find Sohrab.
CHAPTER 18:
We pick up right where Chapter 17 ended: Amir has just left Rahim Khan's and is storming the streets, angry about
Baba's lies and betrayal.
Amir orders some tea in a teahouse. He starts to go over all the signs he didn't understand as a boy, but which are
abundantly clear now.
Amir remembers Dr. Kumar fixing Hassan's harelip and how Baba never missed Hassan's birthday.
Amir also remembers how violently Baba reacted when Amir suggested they get new servants. And how Baba wept
when Hassan and Ali left.
Amir considers Baba's principles: "There is only one sin. And that sin is theft [...]" (18.5). Baba stole Ali's honor and
stole Hassan's identity and Amir's brother. But Amir also sees how similar he and Baba are: both betrayed "the
people who would have given their lives for us" (18.7).
Amir wonders if Ali and Hassan would have survived if he hadn't driven them out of the house. Amir begins to
understand how, by saving Sohrab, he might atone for both Baba's sins and his own. Rahim Khan's phrase "There is a
way to be good again" starts to make sense to Amir.
Amir gives up. He'll travel to Kabul and find Sohrab.
CODEY CARTLEDGE: THE KITE RUNNER: ENGLISH: TRUDI:
CHAPTER 19:
The chapter opens with Amir carsick again. Amir is in a car with Farid, his driver, on his way to Kabul to find Sohrab.
Amir tries Farid's home remedy for motion sickness: a lemon. It doesn't really work, but there's some class tension
between Amir and Farid. Amir can't really refuse the lemon without seeming like a snob.
They make it through the checkpoint at the border. They've made it to Afghanistan. Amir sees a burned-out Soviet
tank. More tension between Farid and Amir since Amir fled to America and didn't experience the upheaval of the
1980s and 1990s. Farid pulls over and Amir gets sick.
They stay the night in Jalalabad with Farid's brother, Wahid. There are three young ragamuffins running around who
belong to Wahid and his wife. Wahid asks what Amir does in America – Amir says he's a writer. Wahid asks if Amir
writes about Afghanistan. Amir gives a summary of some dreadful novel he wrote and says, in response to the
Afghanistan question, that he's not "[...] quite that kind of writer" (19.56). Cue uncomfortable moment. Wahid
handles it gracefully.
Wahid's wife serves everyone tea. Farid accuses Amir of returning to Afghanistan to sell his land and make money.
Wahid isn't having any of it. He tells Farid to get some manners. What does all this tell us? Farid has some issues with
wealthy people; Amir feels like an outsider; and Wahid is a good host.
With some prodding, Amir tells them why he's really in Afghanistan: to rescue a Hazara boy named Sohrab. Farid is
ashamed of himself.
They eat. Amir notices that Wahid's kids seem to be staring at his wristwatch. He gives it to them but they lose
interest in it very quickly. Farid says he'll help Amir find Sohrab. Everyone retires to bed.
Amir has a dream about Hassan (at least we think it's a dream – it could be some sort of late-night daydream since
Amir has trouble sleeping). In the dream, Amir sees soldiers around Hassan at Baba's house; they execute him. Amir
catches a glimpse of one of the soldier's faces: it's Amir.
Amir walks outside. He feels a pang of nostalgia for Afghanistan. He also realizes Wahid's kids weren't staring at his
watch at dinner – they were staring at his food.
Farid and Amir skedaddle. But before they leave, Amir leaves a wad of cash underneath a mattress in Wahid's house.
CHAPTER 19:
The chapter opens with Amir carsick again. Amir is in a car with Farid, his driver, on his way to Kabul to find Sohrab.
Amir tries Farid's home remedy for motion sickness: a lemon. It doesn't really work, but there's some class tension
between Amir and Farid. Amir can't really refuse the lemon without seeming like a snob.
They make it through the checkpoint at the border. They've made it to Afghanistan. Amir sees a burned-out Soviet
tank. More tension between Farid and Amir since Amir fled to America and didn't experience the upheaval of the
1980s and 1990s. Farid pulls over and Amir gets sick.
They stay the night in Jalalabad with Farid's brother, Wahid. There are three young ragamuffins running around who
belong to Wahid and his wife. Wahid asks what Amir does in America – Amir says he's a writer. Wahid asks if Amir
writes about Afghanistan. Amir gives a summary of some dreadful novel he wrote and says, in response to the
Afghanistan question, that he's not "[...] quite that kind of writer" (19.56). Cue uncomfortable moment. Wahid
handles it gracefully.
Wahid's wife serves everyone tea. Farid accuses Amir of returning to Afghanistan to sell his land and make money.
Wahid isn't having any of it. He tells Farid to get some manners. What does all this tell us? Farid has some issues with
wealthy people; Amir feels like an outsider; and Wahid is a good host.
With some prodding, Amir tells them why he's really in Afghanistan: to rescue a Hazara boy named Sohrab. Farid is
ashamed of himself.
They eat. Amir notices that Wahid's kids seem to be staring at his wristwatch. He gives it to them but they lose
interest in it very quickly. Farid says he'll help Amir find Sohrab. Everyone retires to bed.
Amir has a dream about Hassan (at least we think it's a dream – it could be some sort of late-night daydream since
Amir has trouble sleeping). In the dream, Amir sees soldiers around Hassan at Baba's house; they execute him. Amir
catches a glimpse of one of the soldier's faces: it's Amir.
Amir walks outside. He feels a pang of nostalgia for Afghanistan. He also realizes Wahid's kids weren't staring at his
watch at dinner – they were staring at his food.
Farid and Amir skedaddle. But before they leave, Amir leaves a wad of cash underneath a mattress in Wahid's house.
CODEY CARTLEDGE: THE KITE RUNNER: ENGLISH: TRUDI:
CHAPTER 20:
Amir and Farid drive from Jalalabad to Kabul – there are "grim reminders" of the wars everywhere, like burned tanks
(20.2).
Farid has become "chattier" with Amir ever since he learned the reason for Amir's trip. They enter Kabul.
Kabul isn't quite the same, to put it mildly. Shopping districts have been leveled, there are beggars everywhere, and
the tree-lined boulevards no longer have any trees. The smell of diesel generators – the city's electricity is unreliable
– burns Amir's eyes.
A Toyota truck filled with Taliban militia drives past. Amir stares at them and Farid chastises him.
Amir talks to a beggar. In the unlikeliest of coincidences, the beggar used to teach with Amir's mother at the
university. Amir gets a few details about his mother, whom, if you remember, died giving birth to Amir. She sounds
nice.
Amir and Farid pull up to the orphanage where they hope to find Sohrab. It's a mess: splintered walls, boarded
windows, cratered streets, etc. The director comes out to meet them.
When they show the director the photo of Sohrab, he barely looks at it and says: "I am sorry. I have never seen him"
(20.71). Suspicious. After explaining they're not with the Taliban, that they're trying to take the child to an American
couple, and that Amir is the boy's half-uncle, the director lets them in.
Amir also mentions that Sohrab is good with a slingshot. Could this be important for later events in the novel?
It's not much better inside. Some of the steel-frame beds don't even have mattresses. The director complains about
a lack of funding from the Taliban. The sad thing is, he says, these kids probably have it better than the kids on the
street. The director also says they may have arrived too late to save Sohrab.
The director tells Amir and Farid that a Talib official comes by the orphanage occasionally to buy children. Since the
director doesn't have any money to run the place, he takes the money.
Farid gets crazy angry and starts choking the director. Amir has to convince Farid not to kill the director.
The director, does, however, give our heroes some very useful information: the Talib official who buys the kids will
be at Ghazi Stadium the next day.
CHAPTER 20:
Amir and Farid drive from Jalalabad to Kabul – there are "grim reminders" of the wars everywhere, like burned tanks
(20.2).
Farid has become "chattier" with Amir ever since he learned the reason for Amir's trip. They enter Kabul.
Kabul isn't quite the same, to put it mildly. Shopping districts have been leveled, there are beggars everywhere, and
the tree-lined boulevards no longer have any trees. The smell of diesel generators – the city's electricity is unreliable
– burns Amir's eyes.
A Toyota truck filled with Taliban militia drives past. Amir stares at them and Farid chastises him.
Amir talks to a beggar. In the unlikeliest of coincidences, the beggar used to teach with Amir's mother at the
university. Amir gets a few details about his mother, whom, if you remember, died giving birth to Amir. She sounds
nice.
Amir and Farid pull up to the orphanage where they hope to find Sohrab. It's a mess: splintered walls, boarded
windows, cratered streets, etc. The director comes out to meet them.
When they show the director the photo of Sohrab, he barely looks at it and says: "I am sorry. I have never seen him"
(20.71). Suspicious. After explaining they're not with the Taliban, that they're trying to take the child to an American
couple, and that Amir is the boy's half-uncle, the director lets them in.
Amir also mentions that Sohrab is good with a slingshot. Could this be important for later events in the novel?
It's not much better inside. Some of the steel-frame beds don't even have mattresses. The director complains about
a lack of funding from the Taliban. The sad thing is, he says, these kids probably have it better than the kids on the
street. The director also says they may have arrived too late to save Sohrab.
The director tells Amir and Farid that a Talib official comes by the orphanage occasionally to buy children. Since the
director doesn't have any money to run the place, he takes the money.
Farid gets crazy angry and starts choking the director. Amir has to convince Farid not to kill the director.
The director, does, however, give our heroes some very useful information: the Talib official who buys the kids will
be at Ghazi Stadium the next day.
CODEY CARTLEDGE: THE KITE RUNNER: ENGLISH: TRUDI:
CHAPTER 21:
Amir and Farid drive toward the Wazir Akbar Khan district, where Baba's house is. They see a dead body hanging
near a restaurant Amir and Baba used to frequent. Also, someone selling his prosthetic leg.
Once they get into the Wazir Akbar, though, it's not so bad. Mostly because the people behind the Taliban – the
"real brains of the government" as Farid says – live here (21.12).
Amir interrupts the narrative with a memory: he's back in his childhood days with Hassan and they find a turtle
behind the sweetbriar bushes. They paint its shell red and march around with their "fire-breathing monstrosity,"
calling themselves great explorers (21.15).
Amir keeps poking around his old house. There's a jeep in the driveway where Baba used to park his black Mustang.
The Wall of Ailing Corn is still there. Farid starts honking the horn because Amir is dilly-dallying on memory lane.
There's a little exchange between Amir and Farid about forgetting the past. Farid says it makes it easier "to go on" if
you just forget the past; the new Amir, who arrived somewhere around Chapter 14, wants to remember the past.
Amir asks for ten more minutes. He walks up to the hill with the pomegranate tree. (We at Shmoop are getting
choked up. Is it possible to feel nostalgic about a fictional place?) The tree has wilted, but Amir finds his and Hassan's
inscription: "Amir and Hassan. The Sultans of Kabul" (21.38). Farid honks again.
Amir and Farid get a hotel room in Pashtunistan Square. It's a real dive, but still costs Amir $75. No hot water, a
cracked toilet, a bloodstain, and a worn mattress. Amir and Farid eat some kabobs and tell Mullah Nasruddin jokes.
Farid falls asleep.
The next day, they go to Ghazi Stadium. A street urchin tries to sell Amir some "sexy pictures" (21.67). The stadium
field is now just a dirt patch instead of lush grass. It's a sorry soccer match: the players have to wear sweatpants
because of the Taliban's decency laws. Talib officials roam the aisles with whips looking for any fans who cheer too
loudly. But the real show happens at half-time.
Three red pickups drive onto the field. Here's our cast of characters: the Talib cleric the orphanage director
described, two blindfolded adulterers, and some Talib guards. The cleric gives a scary sermon about sin and
punishing the sinner in "a manner befitting his sin" (21.79). The two adulterers have been placed in two holes in the
ground. The cleric starts to stone them. Every so often, a Talib man with a stethoscope checks the heartbeat of the
adulterers. Once the adulterers have been killed, the Talib guards load them up in a truck and fill the holes. The
soccer game resumes.
Amir arranges a meeting with the cleric for later that afternoon.
CHAPTER 21:
Amir and Farid drive toward the Wazir Akbar Khan district, where Baba's house is. They see a dead body hanging
near a restaurant Amir and Baba used to frequent. Also, someone selling his prosthetic leg.
Once they get into the Wazir Akbar, though, it's not so bad. Mostly because the people behind the Taliban – the
"real brains of the government" as Farid says – live here (21.12).
Amir interrupts the narrative with a memory: he's back in his childhood days with Hassan and they find a turtle
behind the sweetbriar bushes. They paint its shell red and march around with their "fire-breathing monstrosity,"
calling themselves great explorers (21.15).
Amir keeps poking around his old house. There's a jeep in the driveway where Baba used to park his black Mustang.
The Wall of Ailing Corn is still there. Farid starts honking the horn because Amir is dilly-dallying on memory lane.
There's a little exchange between Amir and Farid about forgetting the past. Farid says it makes it easier "to go on" if
you just forget the past; the new Amir, who arrived somewhere around Chapter 14, wants to remember the past.
Amir asks for ten more minutes. He walks up to the hill with the pomegranate tree. (We at Shmoop are getting
choked up. Is it possible to feel nostalgic about a fictional place?) The tree has wilted, but Amir finds his and Hassan's
inscription: "Amir and Hassan. The Sultans of Kabul" (21.38). Farid honks again.
Amir and Farid get a hotel room in Pashtunistan Square. It's a real dive, but still costs Amir $75. No hot water, a
cracked toilet, a bloodstain, and a worn mattress. Amir and Farid eat some kabobs and tell Mullah Nasruddin jokes.
Farid falls asleep.
The next day, they go to Ghazi Stadium. A street urchin tries to sell Amir some "sexy pictures" (21.67). The stadium
field is now just a dirt patch instead of lush grass. It's a sorry soccer match: the players have to wear sweatpants
because of the Taliban's decency laws. Talib officials roam the aisles with whips looking for any fans who cheer too
loudly. But the real show happens at half-time.
Three red pickups drive onto the field. Here's our cast of characters: the Talib cleric the orphanage director
described, two blindfolded adulterers, and some Talib guards. The cleric gives a scary sermon about sin and
punishing the sinner in "a manner befitting his sin" (21.79). The two adulterers have been placed in two holes in the
ground. The cleric starts to stone them. Every so often, a Talib man with a stethoscope checks the heartbeat of the
adulterers. Once the adulterers have been killed, the Talib guards load them up in a truck and fill the holes. The
soccer game resumes.
Amir arranges a meeting with the cleric for later that afternoon.
CODEY CARTLEDGE: THE KITE RUNNER: ENGLISH: TRUDI:
CHAPTER 22:
Farid pulls up to the cleric's house in Wazir Akbar Khan, Amir's old neighborhood. Farid says he's going to wait in the
car. We guess you just have to do some things on your own.
Armed guards frisk Amir at the door. They show Amir into a sitting room where he waits nervously. (He wonders if
he's not being true to his cowardice. Basically, he's doing some mental gymnastics to justify bailing on Sohrab.)
The cleric walks in. He has on a gold wristwatch, John Lennon sunglasses, and a white robe. He also smokes. Amir
spots track marks (from drug use) on his arms. His robe is still stained from the stoning earlier that day. This guy is
about as despicable as you can get.
The cleric talks about the "real show" of August 1998 when the Taliban massacred Hazaras in Mazar-i-Sharif. Then
the cleric shares how "liberating" it was to kill all the Hazaras. If you hadn't already guessed it, this guy is a
psychopath.
Amir tells him he's here for the boy. After threatening to have Amir shot for leaving his watan (homeland) in a time
of war, the cleric has the boy brought in.
It's Sohrab all right. But he's got bells on his ankles. The guard is carrying a boom box. This is getting weird.
One of the guards turns on the boom box and Sohrab starts to dance. The guards and the cleric cheer and jeer, etc.
Once the song ends, the cleric calls Sohrab over and strokes his back. This guy is a pedophile, too.
Suddenly the Talib cleric asks Amir what happened to "old Babalu" (the mean neighborhood nickname for Ali). He
says something about never forgetting a face. It's Assef.
Amir offers to pay Assef for Sohrab. Too bad. Assef is already rich. But he does tell Amir how he joined the Taliban:
some Parchami soldiers (part of the socialist part who supported Soviet rule in Afghanistan) arrested Assef and his
father. At the jail, a commandant would beat one of the prisoners every night. On the night he picked Assef, Assef
has been trying to pass kidney stones for three days. So when the commandant kicked Assef in the ribs, he said
something like "God is great." The commandant kicked him harder and harder but Assef just laughed. The
commandant threw Assef back in his cell. Assef gives Amir the moral of the story: God is on Assef's side and he's
alive for a reason.
Amir asks if Assef's purpose in life is to rape children. There's a brief exchange between Assef and Amir about ethnic
cleansing. This guy Assef is a real jerk. It's hard to describe how evil he is.
Unexpectedly, Assef tells Amir he can have Sohrab. "What's the catch?" you may ask. Well, Amir has to fight Assef.
(Assef still holds a grudge against Amir from the time Hassan pulled a slingshot on him. Assef said he'd get both
Hassan and Amir – so now he wants to fight Amir.)
The guards leave the room at Assef's request. Assef takes out his famous brass knuckles.
Hosseini shifts – momentarily – to a scene in a hospital. Don't get scared: now we know Amir will survive.
We're back at Assef's house. Assef actually turns on the music before beginning the beat the daylights out of Amir.
There's a lot of bleeding, shattering, breaking, ripping, and slamming. All done to Amir. However, Amir starts
laughing at some point. He actually feels at peace for the first time since 1975 – the winter he abandoned Hassan in
the alleyway.
Suddenly, Sohrab tells everyone to stop. Our fighters look up. Sohrab has placed a brass ball from the table in his
slingshot. (It sounds hefty and substantial.) After some useless commands to Sohrab, Assef gets his due. Sohrab lets
fly and the brass ball smashes into Assef's left eye. This is the same eye Hassan threatened to blacken all those years
ago. Like father, like son – or something.
Sohrab and Amir peace out. They hop in Farid's car and they're off.
CHAPTER 22:
Farid pulls up to the cleric's house in Wazir Akbar Khan, Amir's old neighborhood. Farid says he's going to wait in the
car. We guess you just have to do some things on your own.
Armed guards frisk Amir at the door. They show Amir into a sitting room where he waits nervously. (He wonders if
he's not being true to his cowardice. Basically, he's doing some mental gymnastics to justify bailing on Sohrab.)
The cleric walks in. He has on a gold wristwatch, John Lennon sunglasses, and a white robe. He also smokes. Amir
spots track marks (from drug use) on his arms. His robe is still stained from the stoning earlier that day. This guy is
about as despicable as you can get.
The cleric talks about the "real show" of August 1998 when the Taliban massacred Hazaras in Mazar-i-Sharif. Then
the cleric shares how "liberating" it was to kill all the Hazaras. If you hadn't already guessed it, this guy is a
psychopath.
Amir tells him he's here for the boy. After threatening to have Amir shot for leaving his watan (homeland) in a time
of war, the cleric has the boy brought in.
It's Sohrab all right. But he's got bells on his ankles. The guard is carrying a boom box. This is getting weird.
One of the guards turns on the boom box and Sohrab starts to dance. The guards and the cleric cheer and jeer, etc.
Once the song ends, the cleric calls Sohrab over and strokes his back. This guy is a pedophile, too.
Suddenly the Talib cleric asks Amir what happened to "old Babalu" (the mean neighborhood nickname for Ali). He
says something about never forgetting a face. It's Assef.
Amir offers to pay Assef for Sohrab. Too bad. Assef is already rich. But he does tell Amir how he joined the Taliban:
some Parchami soldiers (part of the socialist part who supported Soviet rule in Afghanistan) arrested Assef and his
father. At the jail, a commandant would beat one of the prisoners every night. On the night he picked Assef, Assef
has been trying to pass kidney stones for three days. So when the commandant kicked Assef in the ribs, he said
something like "God is great." The commandant kicked him harder and harder but Assef just laughed. The
commandant threw Assef back in his cell. Assef gives Amir the moral of the story: God is on Assef's side and he's
alive for a reason.
Amir asks if Assef's purpose in life is to rape children. There's a brief exchange between Assef and Amir about ethnic
cleansing. This guy Assef is a real jerk. It's hard to describe how evil he is.
Unexpectedly, Assef tells Amir he can have Sohrab. "What's the catch?" you may ask. Well, Amir has to fight Assef.
(Assef still holds a grudge against Amir from the time Hassan pulled a slingshot on him. Assef said he'd get both
Hassan and Amir – so now he wants to fight Amir.)
The guards leave the room at Assef's request. Assef takes out his famous brass knuckles.
Hosseini shifts – momentarily – to a scene in a hospital. Don't get scared: now we know Amir will survive.
We're back at Assef's house. Assef actually turns on the music before beginning the beat the daylights out of Amir.
There's a lot of bleeding, shattering, breaking, ripping, and slamming. All done to Amir. However, Amir starts
laughing at some point. He actually feels at peace for the first time since 1975 – the winter he abandoned Hassan in
the alleyway.
Suddenly, Sohrab tells everyone to stop. Our fighters look up. Sohrab has placed a brass ball from the table in his
slingshot. (It sounds hefty and substantial.) After some useless commands to Sohrab, Assef gets his due. Sohrab lets
fly and the brass ball smashes into Assef's left eye. This is the same eye Hassan threatened to blacken all those years
ago. Like father, like son – or something.
Sohrab and Amir peace out. They hop in Farid's car and they're off.
CODEY CARTLEDGE: THE KITE RUNNER: ENGLISH: TRUDI:
CHAPTER 23:
Amir is in the hospital. He's coming in and out of consciousness. He remembers riding in a car with a boy (Sohrab)
and someone who's driving way too fast (Farid). Beeps, the faces of his nurse and doctor, Farid, and memories of
Soraya.
Amir even imagines he's in the Sulaiman Mountains with Baba. Baba seems to be wrestling a bear. It's a nasty fight.
Amir realizes that he is actually wrestling the bear. He is Baba. He wakes up and sees Sohrab and Farid. Blacks out
again.
Amir is awake long enough to add names to some faces and figure out what's going on. His doctor's name is Armand.
He's in a hospital in Peshawar. Assef broke a few of Amir's ribs, punctured a lung, split his upper lip in two (there's a
nod to Hassan's harelip), and more. Amir can't even open his mouth. But he's going to be OK.
Farid and Sohrab visit Amir. Amir formally meets Sohrab – the showdown at Assef's didn't really allow time for
chitchat. Farid tells Amir that Rahim Khan has left him a letter.
Here's the important stuff from Rahim Khan's letter: Rahim Khan says Hassan told him a few days after the alleyway
incident what happened. So Rahim Khan knew about the rape all along. He also says he's ashamed he and Baba
didn't tell Amir that Hassan was his half-brother – that they lied for so many years.
Rahim Khan opens up a little about Baba, too: how much Baba loved Amir, how hard Baba was on Amir, how Baba
couldn't love Hassan openly. Finally, Rahim Khan tells Amir he's left him some money in a bank in Peshawar.
Amir gets a much-needed morphine injection.
Amir takes a look at his face in a mirror the nurse hands him. He looks terrible. He and Farid agree that the sooner
they get out of Afghanistan, the better. Farid goes off to look for Thomas and Betty Caldwell, the American couple in
Peshawar who are supposed to adopt Sohrab.
Amir and Sohrab play a card game called panjpar. Sohrab tells Amir that his father, Hassan, said Amir was "the best
friend he ever had" (23.97).
A nurse's assistant helps Amir walk around. Amir and Sohrab play panjpar the whole next day. That night Amir
dreams Assef is standing in the doorway to his hospital room. Assef says something to the effect that Amir is really
his twin, not Hassan's, even though Hassan and Amir nursed from the same breast. Go away, Assef.
Amir decides to leave the hospital. It seems kind of rash, but he's probably got to get out of Afghanistan. He's going
to drop Sohrab off at the Caldwell orphanage and ditch this country. One problem: Farid informs Amir the Caldwells
don't exist.
Amir and Farid get Rahim Khan's money from the bank. They decide Sohrab should go to Islamabad, Pakistan with
Amir.
Amir sleeps most of the way to Islamabad. Amir dreams a lot. He only remembers bits and pieces of the dreams,
which seem more, actually, like memories: Baba marinating lamb; making love with Soraya; a trip to the strawberry
fields in Jalalabad with Baba and Hassan; the blood dripping from Hassan's pants after the rape.
CHAPTER 23:
Amir is in the hospital. He's coming in and out of consciousness. He remembers riding in a car with a boy (Sohrab)
and someone who's driving way too fast (Farid). Beeps, the faces of his nurse and doctor, Farid, and memories of
Soraya.
Amir even imagines he's in the Sulaiman Mountains with Baba. Baba seems to be wrestling a bear. It's a nasty fight.
Amir realizes that he is actually wrestling the bear. He is Baba. He wakes up and sees Sohrab and Farid. Blacks out
again.
Amir is awake long enough to add names to some faces and figure out what's going on. His doctor's name is Armand.
He's in a hospital in Peshawar. Assef broke a few of Amir's ribs, punctured a lung, split his upper lip in two (there's a
nod to Hassan's harelip), and more. Amir can't even open his mouth. But he's going to be OK.
Farid and Sohrab visit Amir. Amir formally meets Sohrab – the showdown at Assef's didn't really allow time for
chitchat. Farid tells Amir that Rahim Khan has left him a letter.
Here's the important stuff from Rahim Khan's letter: Rahim Khan says Hassan told him a few days after the alleyway
incident what happened. So Rahim Khan knew about the rape all along. He also says he's ashamed he and Baba
didn't tell Amir that Hassan was his half-brother – that they lied for so many years.
Rahim Khan opens up a little about Baba, too: how much Baba loved Amir, how hard Baba was on Amir, how Baba
couldn't love Hassan openly. Finally, Rahim Khan tells Amir he's left him some money in a bank in Peshawar.
Amir gets a much-needed morphine injection.
Amir takes a look at his face in a mirror the nurse hands him. He looks terrible. He and Farid agree that the sooner
they get out of Afghanistan, the better. Farid goes off to look for Thomas and Betty Caldwell, the American couple in
Peshawar who are supposed to adopt Sohrab.
Amir and Sohrab play a card game called panjpar. Sohrab tells Amir that his father, Hassan, said Amir was "the best
friend he ever had" (23.97).
A nurse's assistant helps Amir walk around. Amir and Sohrab play panjpar the whole next day. That night Amir
dreams Assef is standing in the doorway to his hospital room. Assef says something to the effect that Amir is really
his twin, not Hassan's, even though Hassan and Amir nursed from the same breast. Go away, Assef.
Amir decides to leave the hospital. It seems kind of rash, but he's probably got to get out of Afghanistan. He's going
to drop Sohrab off at the Caldwell orphanage and ditch this country. One problem: Farid informs Amir the Caldwells
don't exist.
Amir and Farid get Rahim Khan's money from the bank. They decide Sohrab should go to Islamabad, Pakistan with
Amir.
Amir sleeps most of the way to Islamabad. Amir dreams a lot. He only remembers bits and pieces of the dreams,
which seem more, actually, like memories: Baba marinating lamb; making love with Soraya; a trip to the strawberry
fields in Jalalabad with Baba and Hassan; the blood dripping from Hassan's pants after the rape.
CODEY CARTLEDGE: THE KITE RUNNER: ENGLISH: TRUDI:
CHAPTER 24:
The chapter opens in Islamabad. Amir says it's "the city Kabul could have become someday" (24.1) with tree-lined
boulevards and modern architecture.
Amir, Farid, and Sohrab get a hotel room (it's much nicer than the dump in Kabul – no bloodstains, clean towels,
etc.).
Farid tells Amir he wants to go home and see his children. Amir tries to get Farid to at least stay the night, but no
luck. Amir gives Farid an envelope with two thousand dollars in it – for his troubles. Farid is shocked. This is a
substantial gift. Farid leaves.
Sohrab has fallen asleep. Amir decides to take some of the pain medication Dr. Armand (the MD from the Peshawar
hospital) gave him. He zonks out.
When Amir wakes up, it's dark and Sohrab is gone. Oh flip.
Amir limps down to the front desk and asks the manager if he's seen Sohrab. No luck. Amir imagines Sohrab locked
in a car trunk, dead in a ditch – you know, the usual parental worries. (Actually, he's probably worried the Taliban
swiped Sohrab.)
The manager and Amir figure out Sohrab must have wandered over to the Shah Faisal Mosque, which impressed
Sohrab when they drove past it. After annoying the hotel manager just enough, Amir gets the manager to drive him
to the mosque.
Amir finds Sohrab at the mosque. He's sitting on an island of grass in the parking lot. The hotel manager drops Amir
off and heads back to the hotel. Amir sits down next to Sohrab and they have a little heart to heart.
Sohrab talks about mosques for a little bit. He asks Amir about Amir's parents. The two talk about being orphans and
missing their parents. Sohrab is beginning to forget his parents' faces. Amir gives Sohrab the Polaroid photo of
Hassan and Sohrab.
The heart to heart continues. Sohrab asks Amir if God will put him in hell "for what I did to that man [Assef]" (24.75).
Amir tells him of course not, and gives Sohrab a vague history of his and Hassan's dealings with Assef. Sohrab cries
for a little bit. He feels "dirty" because Assef sexually abused him. In fact, Sohrab doesn't even want his father and
mother to see him, because he feels so sinful. Amir comforts him.
Then Amir asks The Big Question: "Would you like to come live in America with me and my wife?" (24.94). Sohrab
doesn't answer.
For a week, neither Amir nor Sohrab mention Amir's offer. They go sightseeing, play cards, etc. At a scenic spot in the
city, the two have a picnic. Sohrab points out a hawk and asks Amir if there are hawks in San Francisco. Amir doesn't
really know – but the important thing is that Sohrab acknowledged Amir's offer to come live with him America.
While picnicking, Amir blurts out that Hassan was his brother. Sohrab is surprised: Hassan never said he had a
brother. Amir explains. At first, Sohrab doesn't understand why people would "hide it from Father and you" (24.112).
Sohrab catches on pretty quickly: Hassan was a Hazara. Neither mention that Baba betrayed Sohrab's grandfather.
Later that afternoon, back at the hotel, Sohrab and Amir watch TV and talk about San Francisco. While they talk
about America, two clerics on TV discuss whether or not a Muslim will go to hell for wearing baggy pants.
Sohrab asks about the weather in San Francisco and the Golden Gate Bridge. Sohrab is scared to move to the US –
what if Soraya and Amir get tired of him? What if they put him back in an orphanage? Amir promises that will never
happen. Sohrab agrees to go to America with Amir.
That evening, Amir finally calls Soraya. It's been a month since he's talked to her. He tells her everything – about
Sohrab, Hassan, and his past. He says he wants them to adopt Sohrab. Soraya agrees to it.
CHAPTER 24:
The chapter opens in Islamabad. Amir says it's "the city Kabul could have become someday" (24.1) with tree-lined
boulevards and modern architecture.
Amir, Farid, and Sohrab get a hotel room (it's much nicer than the dump in Kabul – no bloodstains, clean towels,
etc.).
Farid tells Amir he wants to go home and see his children. Amir tries to get Farid to at least stay the night, but no
luck. Amir gives Farid an envelope with two thousand dollars in it – for his troubles. Farid is shocked. This is a
substantial gift. Farid leaves.
Sohrab has fallen asleep. Amir decides to take some of the pain medication Dr. Armand (the MD from the Peshawar
hospital) gave him. He zonks out.
When Amir wakes up, it's dark and Sohrab is gone. Oh flip.
Amir limps down to the front desk and asks the manager if he's seen Sohrab. No luck. Amir imagines Sohrab locked
in a car trunk, dead in a ditch – you know, the usual parental worries. (Actually, he's probably worried the Taliban
swiped Sohrab.)
The manager and Amir figure out Sohrab must have wandered over to the Shah Faisal Mosque, which impressed
Sohrab when they drove past it. After annoying the hotel manager just enough, Amir gets the manager to drive him
to the mosque.
Amir finds Sohrab at the mosque. He's sitting on an island of grass in the parking lot. The hotel manager drops Amir
off and heads back to the hotel. Amir sits down next to Sohrab and they have a little heart to heart.
Sohrab talks about mosques for a little bit. He asks Amir about Amir's parents. The two talk about being orphans and
missing their parents. Sohrab is beginning to forget his parents' faces. Amir gives Sohrab the Polaroid photo of
Hassan and Sohrab.
The heart to heart continues. Sohrab asks Amir if God will put him in hell "for what I did to that man [Assef]" (24.75).
Amir tells him of course not, and gives Sohrab a vague history of his and Hassan's dealings with Assef. Sohrab cries
for a little bit. He feels "dirty" because Assef sexually abused him. In fact, Sohrab doesn't even want his father and
mother to see him, because he feels so sinful. Amir comforts him.
Then Amir asks The Big Question: "Would you like to come live in America with me and my wife?" (24.94). Sohrab
doesn't answer.
For a week, neither Amir nor Sohrab mention Amir's offer. They go sightseeing, play cards, etc. At a scenic spot in the
city, the two have a picnic. Sohrab points out a hawk and asks Amir if there are hawks in San Francisco. Amir doesn't
really know – but the important thing is that Sohrab acknowledged Amir's offer to come live with him America.
While picnicking, Amir blurts out that Hassan was his brother. Sohrab is surprised: Hassan never said he had a
brother. Amir explains. At first, Sohrab doesn't understand why people would "hide it from Father and you" (24.112).
Sohrab catches on pretty quickly: Hassan was a Hazara. Neither mention that Baba betrayed Sohrab's grandfather.
Later that afternoon, back at the hotel, Sohrab and Amir watch TV and talk about San Francisco. While they talk
about America, two clerics on TV discuss whether or not a Muslim will go to hell for wearing baggy pants.
Sohrab asks about the weather in San Francisco and the Golden Gate Bridge. Sohrab is scared to move to the US –
what if Soraya and Amir get tired of him? What if they put him back in an orphanage? Amir promises that will never
happen. Sohrab agrees to go to America with Amir.
That evening, Amir finally calls Soraya. It's been a month since he's talked to her. He tells her everything – about
Sohrab, Hassan, and his past. He says he wants them to adopt Sohrab. Soraya agrees to it.
CODEY CARTLEDGE: THE KITE RUNNER: ENGLISH: TRUDI:
Amir and Sohrab go to the American Embassy. Amir needs to look into the logistics of adopting Sohrab. While Sohrab
sips some lemonade in the lobby, Amir talks with an official there named Raymond Andrews. The news isn't good:
chances are the adoption won't go through. Amir doesn't have any way to prove Sohrab's parents are dead and
neither does he have any proof he's Sohrab's half-uncle. Raymond Andrews says Amir should just give up. However,
as Amir leaves, he hands Amir the business card of an immigration lawyer.
On the way out of the embassy, Amir caustically remarks to the secretary: "Your boss could use some manners"
(24.251). The secretary informs Amir that Mr. Andrews hasn't been the same since his daughter committed suicide.
Ouch.
Back at the hotel, Sohrab takes a bath and Amir calls Soraya. Soraya says she called Kaka Sharif, her cousin, who has
connections with immigration services. Sohrab has been strangely quiet ever since Amir met with Raymond Andrews
– it's as if he senses possible abandonment. Sohrab finishes with his bath and falls asleep in bed. Amir takes a bath
and shaves with a straight razor.
Amir meets with Omar Faisal, the immigration lawyer Raymond Andrews recommended. He drives out to Amir's
hotel and they talk in English with Sohrab in the room.
Sohrab's adoption presents lots of problems: first, it's always hard to adopt in a disaster; second, usually the US
Immigration and Naturalization Services (INS) doesn't like to send a child away from his home country; third, Islamic
law doesn't recognize adoption; and fourth, no adoption agency is going to send someone to Afghanistan.
Basically, what it comes down to is this: Amir doesn't have any papers to prove he's Sohrab's half-uncle and the only
chance Amir has of adopting Sohrab is to put him back in an orphanage. Then an adoption agency could OK Amir and
Soraya as parents. Of course, the real catch is that Amir has just promised he won't ever put Sohrab back in an
orphanage.
Amir has to break the news to Sohrab, which isn't going to be easy. He tells Sohrab that Mr. Faisal says there is way
to get Sohrab to America, but it may take a while. And that he may have to put Sohrab in an orphanage for a little bit
in the course of this process. Sohrab doesn't take the last part well at all. There's some sobbing and trembling.
Sohrab falls asleep. So does Amir.
The phone wakes up Amir. It's Soraya. The bathroom light is on and Amir figures Sohrab must be taking a bath.
Soraya tells Amir that Kaka Sharif has found a way for them to adopt Sohrab. (Why did Amir tell Sohrab they would
have to put him in an orphanage? Didn't the Kaka Sharif connection seem promising to him earlier?)
Anyway, this is good news. Amir knocks on the bathroom door to tell Sohrab, but there's no answer. Amir opens the
door. Sohrab has slit his wrists with the straight razor.
Amir and Sohrab go to the American Embassy. Amir needs to look into the logistics of adopting Sohrab. While Sohrab
sips some lemonade in the lobby, Amir talks with an official there named Raymond Andrews. The news isn't good:
chances are the adoption won't go through. Amir doesn't have any way to prove Sohrab's parents are dead and
neither does he have any proof he's Sohrab's half-uncle. Raymond Andrews says Amir should just give up. However,
as Amir leaves, he hands Amir the business card of an immigration lawyer.
On the way out of the embassy, Amir caustically remarks to the secretary: "Your boss could use some manners"
(24.251). The secretary informs Amir that Mr. Andrews hasn't been the same since his daughter committed suicide.
Ouch.
Back at the hotel, Sohrab takes a bath and Amir calls Soraya. Soraya says she called Kaka Sharif, her cousin, who has
connections with immigration services. Sohrab has been strangely quiet ever since Amir met with Raymond Andrews
– it's as if he senses possible abandonment. Sohrab finishes with his bath and falls asleep in bed. Amir takes a bath
and shaves with a straight razor.
Amir meets with Omar Faisal, the immigration lawyer Raymond Andrews recommended. He drives out to Amir's
hotel and they talk in English with Sohrab in the room.
Sohrab's adoption presents lots of problems: first, it's always hard to adopt in a disaster; second, usually the US
Immigration and Naturalization Services (INS) doesn't like to send a child away from his home country; third, Islamic
law doesn't recognize adoption; and fourth, no adoption agency is going to send someone to Afghanistan.
Basically, what it comes down to is this: Amir doesn't have any papers to prove he's Sohrab's half-uncle and the only
chance Amir has of adopting Sohrab is to put him back in an orphanage. Then an adoption agency could OK Amir and
Soraya as parents. Of course, the real catch is that Amir has just promised he won't ever put Sohrab back in an
orphanage.
Amir has to break the news to Sohrab, which isn't going to be easy. He tells Sohrab that Mr. Faisal says there is way
to get Sohrab to America, but it may take a while. And that he may have to put Sohrab in an orphanage for a little bit
in the course of this process. Sohrab doesn't take the last part well at all. There's some sobbing and trembling.
Sohrab falls asleep. So does Amir.
The phone wakes up Amir. It's Soraya. The bathroom light is on and Amir figures Sohrab must be taking a bath.
Soraya tells Amir that Kaka Sharif has found a way for them to adopt Sohrab. (Why did Amir tell Sohrab they would
have to put him in an orphanage? Didn't the Kaka Sharif connection seem promising to him earlier?)
Anyway, this is good news. Amir knocks on the bathroom door to tell Sohrab, but there's no answer. Amir opens the
door. Sohrab has slit his wrists with the straight razor.
CODEY CARTLEDGE: THE KITE RUNNER: ENGLISH: TRUDI:
CHAPTER 25:
Amir is at the hospital. Orderlies wheel Sohrab into the emergency ward – Amir has to stay in the waiting room. He's
beside himself with shock and panic.
Amir grabs some linens from a supply closet. He asks the nurse which way is west, but she doesn't understand his
question. A policeman nearby points. Amir kneels down and prays to Allah, promising he'll fast and pray and make a
pilgrimage if only God will save Sohrab. (Amir also asks forgiveness.)
Late at night, Amir falls asleep in the waiting room. No word yet on Sohrab. Amir hopes this is all a dream.
Dr. Nawaz wakes up Amir. Sohrab is alive. The doctors had to give him several blood transfers, but Sohrab made it –
he wouldn't have if he weren't young and strong.
Dr. Nawaz takes Amir to see Sohrab in the ICU. Amir falls asleep again. The nurse takes him to a nearby lounge
where he can get some rest. It's morning. He dozes off and has a dream where Dr. Nawaz turns into Raymond
Andrews.
Amir keeps watch over Sohrab during the day and wanders around the hospital at night. The doctors move Sohrab
out of the ICU, which is a good sign. Amir goes back to the hotel and tosses and turns all night. As expected, the
hotel manager kicks Amir out of the hotel in the morning – suicide attempts are bad for business. Amir understands.
He leaves for the hospital.
Amir stops at a Persian bookstore.
Amir arrives at the hospital. Sohrab is in his new room, though he's on suicide watch. Amir tries talking to Sohrab but
without much success. He even tries reading the Shahnamah which he bought at the Persian bookstore. That doesn't
work either.
Sohrab says he's "tired of everything" (25.47). He wishes Amir had left him in the bathtub. Or that he had his old life
back – Rahim Khan, Hassan, Farzana, and Sanaubar.
Amir tells Sohrab he can't give him his old life back, but that he can take Sohrab to America now – that's what he
wanted to tell Sohrab when he knocked on the bathroom door.
Amir asks for Sohrab's forgiveness and tells Sohrab he'll never go back on a promise ever again. Sohrab doesn't
respond. As Sohrab drifts off to sleep again, he says, "I am so khasta [tired]" (25.60).
Sohrab never really accepts Amir's offer take him to America. But he doesn't decline it either. And there's nowhere
else for Sohrab to go, so Amir takes Sohrab with him to America.
One night, back in his and Soraya's home in Fremont, California, Amir can't sleep. He wanders into the room they've
given to Sohrab. Amir picks up the photograph of Hassan and Sohrab, which Sohrab has put under his pillow. Amir
realizes that he's forgiven Baba for loving Hassan.
The next night, Amir and Soraya have the General and Khanum Taheri over for dinner. Amir tells the General about
the state of Kabul and Afghanistan.
The General asks about Sohrab – why did Amir bring a Hazara boy back? Khanum Taheri and Soraya try to intervene,
but Amir stands up for himself and tells the General very bluntly that Sohrab is his nephew. He tells the General
about Baba and Sanaubar and Hassan. And gives the General a little piece of advice: "You will never again refer to
him as 'Hazara boy' in my presence. He has a name and its Sohrab" (25.98). Boo-yah.
So, all this time, ever since the hospital in Islamabad, Sohrab hasn't said a word. He's been completely silent. It's hard
on Soraya, who thought up all sorts of activities for her adopted son. But Sohrab sleeps and is silent.
CHAPTER 25:
Amir is at the hospital. Orderlies wheel Sohrab into the emergency ward – Amir has to stay in the waiting room. He's
beside himself with shock and panic.
Amir grabs some linens from a supply closet. He asks the nurse which way is west, but she doesn't understand his
question. A policeman nearby points. Amir kneels down and prays to Allah, promising he'll fast and pray and make a
pilgrimage if only God will save Sohrab. (Amir also asks forgiveness.)
Late at night, Amir falls asleep in the waiting room. No word yet on Sohrab. Amir hopes this is all a dream.
Dr. Nawaz wakes up Amir. Sohrab is alive. The doctors had to give him several blood transfers, but Sohrab made it –
he wouldn't have if he weren't young and strong.
Dr. Nawaz takes Amir to see Sohrab in the ICU. Amir falls asleep again. The nurse takes him to a nearby lounge
where he can get some rest. It's morning. He dozes off and has a dream where Dr. Nawaz turns into Raymond
Andrews.
Amir keeps watch over Sohrab during the day and wanders around the hospital at night. The doctors move Sohrab
out of the ICU, which is a good sign. Amir goes back to the hotel and tosses and turns all night. As expected, the
hotel manager kicks Amir out of the hotel in the morning – suicide attempts are bad for business. Amir understands.
He leaves for the hospital.
Amir stops at a Persian bookstore.
Amir arrives at the hospital. Sohrab is in his new room, though he's on suicide watch. Amir tries talking to Sohrab but
without much success. He even tries reading the Shahnamah which he bought at the Persian bookstore. That doesn't
work either.
Sohrab says he's "tired of everything" (25.47). He wishes Amir had left him in the bathtub. Or that he had his old life
back – Rahim Khan, Hassan, Farzana, and Sanaubar.
Amir tells Sohrab he can't give him his old life back, but that he can take Sohrab to America now – that's what he
wanted to tell Sohrab when he knocked on the bathroom door.
Amir asks for Sohrab's forgiveness and tells Sohrab he'll never go back on a promise ever again. Sohrab doesn't
respond. As Sohrab drifts off to sleep again, he says, "I am so khasta [tired]" (25.60).
Sohrab never really accepts Amir's offer take him to America. But he doesn't decline it either. And there's nowhere
else for Sohrab to go, so Amir takes Sohrab with him to America.
One night, back in his and Soraya's home in Fremont, California, Amir can't sleep. He wanders into the room they've
given to Sohrab. Amir picks up the photograph of Hassan and Sohrab, which Sohrab has put under his pillow. Amir
realizes that he's forgiven Baba for loving Hassan.
The next night, Amir and Soraya have the General and Khanum Taheri over for dinner. Amir tells the General about
the state of Kabul and Afghanistan.
The General asks about Sohrab – why did Amir bring a Hazara boy back? Khanum Taheri and Soraya try to intervene,
but Amir stands up for himself and tells the General very bluntly that Sohrab is his nephew. He tells the General
about Baba and Sanaubar and Hassan. And gives the General a little piece of advice: "You will never again refer to
him as 'Hazara boy' in my presence. He has a name and its Sohrab" (25.98). Boo-yah.
So, all this time, ever since the hospital in Islamabad, Sohrab hasn't said a word. He's been completely silent. It's hard
on Soraya, who thought up all sorts of activities for her adopted son. But Sohrab sleeps and is silent.
CODEY CARTLEDGE: THE KITE RUNNER: ENGLISH: TRUDI:
September 11th happens. Amir arrived back in the States with Sohrab in August, so about a month passes before the
Towers fall. Suddenly, everyone is talking about Afghanistan and the cities of Amir's childhood. The US Army invades
Afghanistan.
Soraya and Amir get involved in charity work for a hospital on the Afghan-Pakistani border.
Sohrab is still silent.
Shift to March of 2002. Khanum Taheri, Amir, Soraya, and Sohrab all go to Lake Elizabeth Park to celebrate the
Afghan New Year. It's raining. People are cooking traditional dishes, playing Ahmad Zahir songs, and telling Mullah
Nasruddin jokes. Sohrab wanders around and Amir informs us no one really comments on Sohrab's muteness
anymore – Sohrab has just become a part of "the background" (25.117).
In the afternoon, the rain stops. Someone fires up a barbecue and grills kabobs; someone puts on some new music
Amir hasn't heard. And, most, importantly, people are flying kites.
Amir buys a kite. He walks over to Sohrab and shows him the kite. He tells Sohrab about the old days when Hassan
was the best kite runner in all of Kabul.
Amir asks Sohrab if he wants to help him fly the kite. No answer. So Amir takes off running and the wind lifts his kite
into the air. Amir notices Sohrab is standing right beside him.
Although Sohrab doesn't answer when Amir asks if he wants to hold the string, Sohrab does take the string in his
hands. It's a big moment.
A green kite starts closing in. (Don't forget the fighting part of Afghan kite flying!) Sohrab hands the string to Amir
and Amir, very confidently, says he going to teach the green kite a lesson.
While Sohrab holds the spool, Amir does Hassan's "old lift-and-dive" trick. Amir is transported back to Kabul –
Hassan, crows, mulberries, sawdust, and Ali dragging his foot. Amir cuts the green kite!
The people watching applaud. Sohrab smiles. And when Amir asks Sohrab if he wants Amir to run the green kite for
him, Amir thinks he sees Sohrab nod.
Before he takes off, Amir says to Sohrab, just like Hassan said all those years ago in Kabul, "For you, a thousand times
over" (25.164)
September 11th happens. Amir arrived back in the States with Sohrab in August, so about a month passes before the
Towers fall. Suddenly, everyone is talking about Afghanistan and the cities of Amir's childhood. The US Army invades
Afghanistan.
Soraya and Amir get involved in charity work for a hospital on the Afghan-Pakistani border.
Sohrab is still silent.
Shift to March of 2002. Khanum Taheri, Amir, Soraya, and Sohrab all go to Lake Elizabeth Park to celebrate the
Afghan New Year. It's raining. People are cooking traditional dishes, playing Ahmad Zahir songs, and telling Mullah
Nasruddin jokes. Sohrab wanders around and Amir informs us no one really comments on Sohrab's muteness
anymore – Sohrab has just become a part of "the background" (25.117).
In the afternoon, the rain stops. Someone fires up a barbecue and grills kabobs; someone puts on some new music
Amir hasn't heard. And, most, importantly, people are flying kites.
Amir buys a kite. He walks over to Sohrab and shows him the kite. He tells Sohrab about the old days when Hassan
was the best kite runner in all of Kabul.
Amir asks Sohrab if he wants to help him fly the kite. No answer. So Amir takes off running and the wind lifts his kite
into the air. Amir notices Sohrab is standing right beside him.
Although Sohrab doesn't answer when Amir asks if he wants to hold the string, Sohrab does take the string in his
hands. It's a big moment.
A green kite starts closing in. (Don't forget the fighting part of Afghan kite flying!) Sohrab hands the string to Amir
and Amir, very confidently, says he going to teach the green kite a lesson.
While Sohrab holds the spool, Amir does Hassan's "old lift-and-dive" trick. Amir is transported back to Kabul –
Hassan, crows, mulberries, sawdust, and Ali dragging his foot. Amir cuts the green kite!
The people watching applaud. Sohrab smiles. And when Amir asks Sohrab if he wants Amir to run the green kite for
him, Amir thinks he sees Sohrab nod.
Before he takes off, Amir says to Sohrab, just like Hassan said all those years ago in Kabul, "For you, a thousand times
over" (25.164)
Categories
GeneralDownload
Download Slideshow Get the original presentation fileQuick Actions
Statistics
- Views 2,765
- Slides 28
- Favorites 2
- Age 2484 days
Related Slideshows
22
Pray For The Peace Of Jerusalem and You Will Prosper
RodolfoMoralesMarcuc
30 views
26
Don_t_Waste_Your_Life_God.....powerpoint
chalobrido8
32 views
31
VILLASUR_FACTORS_TO_CONSIDER_IN_PLATING_SALAD_10-13.pdf
JaiJai148317
30 views
14
Fertility awareness methods for women in the society
Isaiah47
29 views
35
Chapter 5 Arithmetic Functions Computer Organisation and Architecture
RitikSharma297999
26 views
5
syakira bhasa inggris (1) (1).pptx.......
ourcommunity56
28 views