There are lots of examples in this chapter of how Amir's character is strengthening, for example he copes with 'the car-sickness'-something he never previously managed, even when he was 18. Also he is becoming less of a push-over, as when Farid 'snickered' Amir presses him for a reason why; 'No, I want to know. Why do you do that?'. When Amir was a child he never stood up for himself-or others-but he is beginning to now. Another positive change in character is that he's becoming more honest- 'There had been enough lies already'. The final lines of the chapter show the beginning of Amir's redemption. Planting 'a fistful of crumpled money under a mattress' mirrors the way Amir set Hassan up, in a way that shows an improvement in Amir's character. This first act of redemption mirrors his last act of sin.
I'm going to be totally honest, I copy-and-pasted most of this from my blog of the lesson, because I only read this question after I'd done the normal blog :)
Amir's car sickness has always been with him, as has his guilt for Hassan (well nearly always). The beginning of the chapter starts with Amir's 'car sickness' which shows he is still the same weak Amir that left Afghanistan all those years ago. As Alice said, Amir manages to conquer his weakness as even though the car sickness is still there, he tries to ignore it, 'i feel better. i lied'. For the first time in years Amir connects himself to Afghanistan again, he says, 'as an Afghan', reconnecting himself to the country he's going to. This could show that Amir is reconnecting himself with his sins and is going to redeem himself. Amir is redeeming himself by trying to get control over his weakness, knowing he 'had to leave as soon as possible'to make sure he goes through with going to find Sohrab. The repitition of the word 'afraid' shows he is afraid of his weakness getting him and still the insecure, self-criticising boy he always was. Just in case we think Amir is beginning to redeem himself and be free of guilt, Hosseini describes a nightmare Amir has about him shooting Hassan. As Alice said, in the last lines of the chapter Amir does a good thing by planting 'a fistful of crumpled money under a mattress', this echoes the watch Amir put under Hassan's mattress and the reason Hassan had to leave. This kind gesture could be the first step towards Amir's redemption...
Personally, although I still like Amir generally throughout the whole book, I wouldn't go as far as saying he's 'good' in this chapter. As of yet, he hasn't done anything to benefit others or will change someone else's lives. I agree that the reader see's a different side of Amir in this chapter, and linking in with Alice's point, Amirs' character begins to strengthen, but perhaps for different reasons.
Amir's car sickness is definately a weakness, and possibly symbolising his other weaknesses. Some people might think that Amir recognising his weakness makes him stronger, but Amir is still afraid of it, ironically, and knows that he still can't conquer it, so he has to leave before he changes his mind. Does that make him a good person?
I think there are definitally positive factors about Amir in this chapter, for example he's very gracious towards that family that let him stay. I also agree with Gracey, when she said Amir is trying to redeem himself, but in this chapter he is only saying he's going to change, and as this wonderful cliché demonstrates - actions speak louder than words.
I dont think Amir's bad, but hasn't done anything to prove himself as of yet in my opinion. And putting the money under the bed? Is that because he is genuinely thank full for the family looking after him, or because he feels guilty to eating the children's food and trying to make himself feel better? In my opinion, it's the latter one, and I think the future chapters will determine Amir's character more obviously...
I agree with Alice when she says that Amir's character is strengthening, like when he doesn't immediately start to feel sorry for himself when Farid insults his character by telling him exactly what he thinks his childhood in Afghanistan was like, which forces Farid to rethink his opinions when he eventually finds out why Amir is back in Afghanistan. I don't think that Amir is completely good in chapter 19, although he is close, after all, he has gone back to Afghanistan to try and make up for what happened to Hassan by finding Sohrab, and he has already made up for part of what he did to Hassan by putting the money under the mattress to help Farid and his family, to make up for when he put the watch and money under Hassan's mattress to get rid of him.
Personally, I think that we should give Amir a break. As we discussed last lesson, he was only 10 years old when he witnessed what happened to Hassan, and if we were put into those shoes, I believe that we'd run. In chapter 19, Amir is trying to heal his guilt and find redemption from what has been haunting him all his life. As Hattie has posted, Amir begins his road to redemption by stuffing money under the matress he slept on while visiting Farid's family (The money stuffed under the mattress mirrors that what he did when he was trying to frame Hassan and Ali) and he gives away his watch to the children. However, is this a kind act? He did rob them of a meal in their starving condition, so is giving them the watch redemption, or is it a way to repay the debt? (I have just read above and I have seen Fiona has made a similar comment)
Also, at the beginning of the chapter, we see Amir overcoming his weakness by lying to Farid about his 'mothers remedy' for car sickness. This shows the Afghan in him, as they believe pride and honour are the most important things. This allows the reader to feel some admiration to Amir, as he has matured and has a realisation that the world is a rough place. Baba is no longer there to overshadow and protect his view on the world.
I believe that Amir is strengthening in Chapter 19 because of the coping of the car sickness, like Alice and co have said. However it is still there so he hasn't fully recovered. Another way Hosseini shows this is when Amir sticks up for himself when he is with Farid and demands an answer from him, 'No, i want to know. Why do you do that?'
I agree with what Grace said about how the repetition of the word 'afraid' to show that he is scared to become who he was. However i also think that the words 'i was afraid' can mean that he is getting control of this weakness but is still afraid of it getting the better of him. Showing he is both strong and weak.
I think that the last sentence shows the start of change for Amir. He 'planted a fistful of crumpled money under a mattress' which mirrors his actions back in Chapter 9 when he 'planted my new watch' under Hassan's mattress. It could be his first steps to redemption, or it could be to make himself feel less guilty about what he had done many years ago to Hassan and Ali.
Amir, Amir, Amir. Stop beating yourself up so much. To be fair you were only 10 when you witnessed Hassan's rape. What was a 10 year old meant to do eh? In chapter 19 Amir goes back to Kabul to fix the guilt in the back of his mind that is trying to crawl it's way out and destroy him. I think Fi's point was good about the car sickness representing weakness. Also Grace's point about the repetition of being 'afraid' representing how he doesnt want to be weak, he is 'afraid' of getting weak. I don't think Amir is a bad person, he was just very young when he witnessd Hassan's rape and he shouldn't give himself so much grief. I think it is good that he goes to Kabul to fix it. It shows his strengthening as a person, As a MAN!!
There are lots of examples in this chapter of how Amir's character is strengthening, for example he copes with 'the car-sickness'-something he never previously managed, even when he was 18. Also he is becoming less of a push-over, as when Farid 'snickered' Amir presses him for a reason why; 'No, I want to know. Why do you do that?'. When Amir was a child he never stood up for himself-or others-but he is beginning to now. Another positive change in character is that he's becoming more honest- 'There had been enough lies already'. The final lines of the chapter show the beginning of Amir's redemption. Planting 'a fistful of crumpled money under a mattress' mirrors the way Amir set Hassan up, in a way that shows an improvement in Amir's character. This first act of redemption mirrors his last act of sin.
ReplyDeleteI'm going to be totally honest, I copy-and-pasted most of this from my blog of the lesson, because I only read this question after I'd done the normal blog :)
Amir's car sickness has always been with him, as has his guilt for Hassan (well nearly always). The beginning of the chapter starts with Amir's 'car sickness' which shows he is still the same weak Amir that left Afghanistan all those years ago. As Alice said, Amir manages to conquer his weakness as even though the car sickness is still there, he tries to ignore it, 'i feel better. i lied'. For the first time in years Amir connects himself to Afghanistan again, he says, 'as an Afghan', reconnecting himself to the country he's going to. This could show that Amir is reconnecting himself with his sins and is going to redeem himself. Amir is redeeming himself by trying to get control over his weakness, knowing he 'had to leave as soon as possible'to make sure he goes through with going to find Sohrab. The repitition of the word 'afraid' shows he is afraid of his weakness getting him and still the insecure, self-criticising boy he always was. Just in case we think Amir is beginning to redeem himself and be free of guilt, Hosseini describes a nightmare Amir has about him shooting Hassan. As Alice said, in the last lines of the chapter Amir does a good thing by planting 'a fistful of crumpled money under a mattress', this echoes the watch Amir put under Hassan's mattress and the reason Hassan had to leave. This kind gesture could be the first step towards Amir's redemption...
ReplyDeletePersonally, although I still like Amir generally throughout the whole book, I wouldn't go as far as saying he's 'good' in this chapter. As of yet, he hasn't done anything to benefit others or will change someone else's lives. I agree that the reader see's a different side of Amir in this chapter, and linking in with Alice's point, Amirs' character begins to strengthen, but perhaps for different reasons.
ReplyDeleteAmir's car sickness is definately a weakness, and possibly symbolising his other weaknesses. Some people might think that Amir recognising his weakness makes him stronger, but Amir is still afraid of it, ironically, and knows that he still can't conquer it, so he has to leave before he changes his mind. Does that make him a good person?
I think there are definitally positive factors about Amir in this chapter, for example he's very gracious towards that family that let him stay. I also agree with Gracey, when she said Amir is trying to redeem himself, but in this chapter he is only saying he's going to change, and as this wonderful cliché demonstrates - actions speak louder than words.
I dont think Amir's bad, but hasn't done anything to prove himself as of yet in my opinion. And putting the money under the bed? Is that because he is genuinely thank full for the family looking after him, or because he feels guilty to eating the children's food and trying to make himself feel better? In my opinion, it's the latter one, and I think the future chapters will determine Amir's character more obviously...
I agree with Alice when she says that Amir's character is strengthening, like when he doesn't immediately start to feel sorry for himself when Farid insults his character by telling him exactly what he thinks his childhood in Afghanistan was like, which forces Farid to rethink his opinions when he eventually finds out why Amir is back in Afghanistan. I don't think that Amir is completely good in chapter 19, although he is close, after all, he has gone back to Afghanistan to try and make up for what happened to Hassan by finding Sohrab, and he has already made up for part of what he did to Hassan by putting the money under the mattress to help Farid and his family, to make up for when he put the watch and money under Hassan's mattress to get rid of him.
ReplyDeletePersonally, I think that we should give Amir a break. As we discussed last lesson, he was only 10 years old when he witnessed what happened to Hassan, and if we were put into those shoes, I believe that we'd run. In chapter 19, Amir is trying to heal his guilt and find redemption from what has been haunting him all his life. As Hattie has posted, Amir begins his road to redemption by stuffing money under the matress he slept on while visiting Farid's family (The money stuffed under the mattress mirrors that what he did when he was trying to frame Hassan and Ali) and he gives away his watch to the children. However, is this a kind act? He did rob them of a meal in their starving condition, so is giving them the watch redemption, or is it a way to repay the debt? (I have just read above and I have seen Fiona has made a similar comment)
ReplyDeleteAlso, at the beginning of the chapter, we see Amir overcoming his weakness by lying to Farid about his 'mothers remedy' for car sickness. This shows the Afghan in him, as they believe pride and honour are the most important things. This allows the reader to feel some admiration to Amir, as he has matured and has a realisation that the world is a rough place. Baba is no longer there to overshadow and protect his view on the world.
My vote; Amir's good!
I believe that Amir is strengthening in Chapter 19 because of the coping of the car sickness, like Alice and co have said. However it is still there so he hasn't fully recovered. Another way Hosseini shows this is when Amir sticks up for himself when he is with Farid and demands an answer from him, 'No, i want to know. Why do you do that?'
ReplyDeleteI agree with what Grace said about how the repetition of the word 'afraid' to show that he is scared to become who he was. However i also think that the words 'i was afraid' can mean that he is getting control of this weakness but is still afraid of it getting the better of him. Showing he is both strong and weak.
I think that the last sentence shows the start of change for Amir. He 'planted a fistful of crumpled money under a mattress' which mirrors his actions back in Chapter 9 when he 'planted my new watch' under Hassan's mattress. It could be his first steps to redemption, or it could be to make himself feel less guilty about what he had done many years ago to Hassan and Ali.
Amir, Amir, Amir. Stop beating yourself up so much. To be fair you were only 10 when you witnessed Hassan's rape. What was a 10 year old meant to do eh? In chapter 19 Amir goes back to Kabul to fix the guilt in the back of his mind that is trying to crawl it's way out and destroy him. I think Fi's point was good about the car sickness representing weakness. Also Grace's point about the repetition of being 'afraid' representing how he doesnt want to be weak, he is 'afraid' of getting weak. I don't think Amir is a bad person, he was just very young when he witnessd Hassan's rape and he shouldn't give himself so much grief. I think it is good that he goes to Kabul to fix it. It shows his strengthening as a person, As a MAN!!
ReplyDelete