Chapter 23 Flashcards
What dream does Amir have while in hospital?
that Baba is wrestling a bear; the dream changes and Baba merges with Amir
Rahim Khan’s letter explains to Amir why Baba was so cold with him, why was this?
this was because Baba was torn as he could not have Hassan as his son. For this reason, he took his frustrations out on Amir, the socially legitimate half, who represented the riches he had inherited and the “sin-with-impunity” (exemption from punishment or freedom)that came with them. He saw Amir as a physical manifestation of his guilt.
After finding out that the Caldwells Rahim Khan spoke of never existed, where did they travel?
to Islamabad
Why is Amir’s dream significant?
as it is an indiction that Amir finally feels like a son to his father, one that he would be proud of and it also marks his own personal perception of himself
The injury to Amir’s lip is like a harelip, an obvious parallel to Hassan; what have critics said about this?
that it is unnecessary and heavy handed
Why does Rahim Khan say that Baba built the orphanage and gave money to the poor?
in order to redeem himself for not being a father to Hassan
In Amir’s dream, he hears Assef say what?
“We’re the same, you and I. You nursed him, but you’re my twin”
In allowing Assef to rape Hassan, how was Amir complicit?
he was complicit in the domination of the powerless and the powerful
Why is it important that Amir is given a scar that resembles a harelip?
this is because Hassan’s cleft lip acted as a kind of mark of his low position in society and in having a physical resemblance to Hassan, Amir has been able to revive his memory as a brother.
Through Amir and his sacrifice for Hassan, what does Hosseini subtly suggest?
that if Afghanistan is to atone for its own guilty history of violence and discrimination, it must redeem itself through a similar stand and a similar sacrifice
