PEER BLOG (MIMI'S BLOG):
Sunday, November 20, 2011
Currently, we are reading/watching the novels "The Kite Runner," and "A Thousand Splendid Suns". Both films talk about the relationships between children and their parents. "The Kite Runner" discusses the relationship between fathers and sons and "A Thousand Spledid Suns" talks about the relationships between mothers and daugthers. All the while, both novels also intergrate the culture of Afghanistan and the government during this time. I think it is interesting that we have been reading stories that give us insight into how other cultures work and live and it really has given me a new understanding of these cultures. "The Kite Runner" focuses on a young boy named Amir, and his relationship with his father and with his childhood friend Hassan. Amir is a timid boy, who can be seen as weak and delicate, like the way that one might describe a young girl. His father hates this because his father is a strong business man and wants his son to follow in his footsteps and be a strong-willed, competive young man. However, whenever Amir finds himself in a situtation like older boys coming up to him and threatening him or picking on him he remains quiet and doesn't stick up for himself doesn't try to fight the boys or scare them off. In contrast, Hassan always has Amir's back, and is always protecting the both of them and sticking up for Amir in these situations. For example after him and Amir won the kite race, Hassan when to go catch the kite as a souvoneir for Amir. A group of older boys corner him and attack him in a corner and threaten him in order to try to get him to hand over the kite, but he refuses out of loyalty to Amir. Consequentially, The olders boys rape young Hassan, which impacts him harshly, but he never says a word about it to Amir. However, Amir witnessed the whole thing but acted like he never did and from that day on he started treating Hassan like an enemy. Up until this point I had thought they were friends.
MY RESPONSE:
I agree, the insight into different cultures has truly made me appreciate other people's cultures in addition to my own. The father/son and mother/daughter relationships are a great way for the audience to adapt and better understand the books because it is most likely easier for them to relate. The courageous Hassan is seen, as almost "better" than Amir, whereas according to the culture it should be the opposite since Hassan is a Hazara. Overall, this unequal spectrum illustrates to the audience that it does not matter what position one is in society, because we mostly all have the same capabilities to be who we want to be and do what we want to do. The horrific situation of Hassan and the older boys was terrible and thus drastically changed their friendship. The hatred Amir depicted on Hassan seemed like guilt that he was never able to express to anyone. This is one of my favorite books because it truly comes full circle and gives Amir another chance "to be good again."
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