Address the following quotes from Chapters 1-12 from The Kite Runner. Choose ONE of the two following quotes. Write a DETAILED response, answering each component of the prompt. I would recommend 8-11 sentences for FULL credit.
Tomorrow, you will be responsible for responding to at least ONE of your peers' comments.
Prompt #1:
"There is a way to be good again." (2)
-What are the underlying assumptions?
-What did Amir do?
-What should he do? Do you agree?
-What would make him good again? Who decides?
-Is Amir following the teachings of Pashtunwali? Is Rahim Khan?
Prompt #2:
"And I'll tell you this, Amir jan: In the end, the world always wins. That's just the way with things." (99)
-Does this conflict with Rahim Khan's earlier statements?
-What does the world winning look like?
-What is the role of free will for the characters?
-Is Amir following the teachings of Pashtunwali? Is Rahim Khan?
Prompt #2
ReplyDeleteYes, because if the world wins in the end how are you ever suppose to try. It conflits because how can you try to change your path if your path is set in stone. According to the world. The world winning looks like you being miserable. In the end you were pressured to do things you later regret. The role of free will is them searching for freedom. To be like they were back in Afghanistan. Yes and no, he has potential to do right but he is kind of a coward. He has always been cushioned. Rahim Khan follows some of the teachings. His number one trait is how loyal he is to Amir and Baba since they are basically his family.
Prompt # 2
ReplyDeleteThat even thought there are hard times you will always win. Yes because he feels that he has to be there for Amir. A winning world looks like everybody getting a long and not fighting. That they should be able to have there one believes not having someone else tell them what they can and can't believe. Yes. Amir is following the Pashtunwali because he is very strong in what he believes. Rahim Khan is some what following the Pashtunwali.
"There is a way to be good again." This means that Amir can find a way to forgive himself. Amir knows that he was wrong to not stick up for Hassan. He knows that if he did not treat him right. I think that Rahim Khan is trying to say that Amir needs to come home and make things right so he can forgive himself. Amir was told by Rahim to go back home to visit Rahim Khan because he is very sick. I think that he should go back to his homeland and make things right again. I think that Amir will make things right again if he finds Hassan and ask for forgiveness. I also think that Amir is now starting to follow the Pashtunwali. He is going home to visit a friend in a time of need. This shows heritage and brotherhood in Amir. He may not have all of the traits of the Pashtunwali right now, but he is starting to slowly gain each one.
ReplyDeleteJt, I agree with you. Amir can find a way to forgive himself and he knows it was wrong to not try to help Hassan, he thought that if he did try to help something would happen to him too. I agree that he needs to go back to his homeland and try to make things right, and I think that's what he tries to do when he goes back to visit Rahim Kahn. Rahim Kahn needs him to care for him as he is very sick, and he shows loyalty by going back to care for him. He also needs to apologize to Hassan for not helping him while Hassan was getting raped.
DeletePrompt #1
ReplyDelete"There is a way to be good again." Even if you have forgotten your ways you can always turn around. Rahim Khan knows that Amir still feels guilty about what happened to Hassan. He should go visit Rahim Khan for the last few days that he has to live. I feel like if he went to find Hassan and actually talked to him one to one or if he found Assef and told him that Hassan was his friend. He, Amir is the only one who can decide if he is good again. Amir lacks a lot of the pashtunwali. He has bad faith-doesn't remember his prayers, bad friendship, lacks trust-Hassan trusted him and he just let him get raped. And for family he is trying to find love with Baba. Rahim Khan has family and honor. He treats Amir as his own son. He even told Amir a story about his past that was a very difficult thing for him.
Prompt # 1
ReplyDeleteThere are many way to be good, but it might take awhile. Amir wasn't a good friend and he wants to change that. He should try getting Hassan back as his friend because right now he is just a slave to Amir. He should do something really nice to Hassan and Ali because he lied and was untrustworthy. I agree that he should do something about it. He decides if he wants to be friend was Hassan again. Amir is not following because he only thinks about himself. Rahim Khan is because he is a loving and trustworthy guy.
I Completely agree with the first half of your statement. Amir should absolutely try to do something for Hassan and Ali although now it wouldn't do much good. Hassan would rather him go and try and save someone else like his nephew Sohrab by doing this it should suffice for Hassan. And start him back toward the right path and the Pashtunwali.
DeletePrompt 2: Yes. Everything around him is just a lot for them, it's different from where they came from and what they are used to. The role of free will is that the characters should be able to do what they want in america and be free to make their own decisions. They have a right to live how they want to. People should not be able to control the way that others live. Most of the time they are following the teaching of Pashtunwali and other times they don't. They are following the role of friendship, and they still communicate with one another.
ReplyDeleteRileigh, I agree with everything you said here. I agree that it's different from where they came from and it's what they are use it. I agree that free will is that you make your own decisions. Also that free is being able to do what you want in America. Yes, people should not be able to control the way others want to live.I agree with you when you said that they some times they follow the Pastunwali and other times they don't. I fully agree with everything you said.
DeletePrompt #1: The underlying assumptions why Amir gets told this is because he does not stand up. He just sits there and let bad things happen to others and does not do anything about it. He just watched and ran away, He could have done something but he chose not to. I think that Amir should face what he did and finally stand up and admit that there was a lot more that he could have done but he didn't. I think that he could be good again he is just going to have to prove that he can. He is going to have to find the opportunity to not run away from it but to stand up to it. Amir needs to come to terms with what he did and face it. He can find a way to be good again. It will not change anything that happened but at least Amir can talk about it and face what had happened.
ReplyDeleteI agree! Amir definitely could have done something, but he chose the cowards way out and just stood by. Although it wouldn't fix everything, I also agree that he should admit his actions, instead of hiding in the shadows of the past. I also believe he could redeem himself, if an opportunity arises. Being able to face your demons is very important in life, when Amir can rise above and do that, then I believe he will be good again.
DeletePrompt #2:
ReplyDelete"And I'll tell you this, Amir Jan: in the end, the world always wins. That's just the way with things."
In this quote, Rahim Khan is kind of contradicting himself because in an earlier quote he states that, "There is a way to be good again." But, in the later quote he states that you can only win in this world when you do things the way other people want, at least that's my understanding. When asked, 'What does the world winning look like?', my opinion is that it looks like destruction, loss, violence, and hatred. So basically a summary of Afghanistan. If people would refrain from being peer-pressured into doing/thinking things, the world would be a better place. But, the people of this world are corrupt and act the way Assef and the Taliban do. Look at the world and its history. Hitler, war, constant problems, money hungry, and selfish. That basically sums everything up and if that is the sum up then we are all letting the world win. The role of free will. Amir is always wondering what to think and what to do and how everybody else thinks and what his father, Baba, would like him to be like. I feel as if this STRONGLY takes away his free will. He just wants to please everybody else but in the end he just hurts them all. For example, if he hadn't been confused on how to treat Hassan he probably would have stuck up for him more often and had stepped in when the rape was happening. But instead he was having an argument in his own head on whether or not he loved him as a brother, or if he was just a servant. I feel as if Amir is not following the teachings of Pashtunwali. I feel this way because, he lacks in a lot of the morals. Rahim Khan on the other hand is, for the most part, following the teachings.
Sierrah, I agree with your statement completely. You make many interesting points that I fully agree with and I enjoy how you have translated the quote into how you see it. The way you put it is much more understanding and it makes more sense to me than the way it was previously stated. I also feel that it has taken away his free will.
DeletePrompt #1
ReplyDelete1.Well when we all first heard the the words to Amir from Rahim kahn we all wondered you know what does this mean. I know when i had first heard this i immediately thought he left his family for America. or that something had tragic had happened. And as the story unfolds we realize that something definitely has happened.
2. He let a young man that was always faithful to him, a boy that always served him loyally, and wouldn't harm a hair on his head get sexually assaulted and knew he could stop it but didn't do a thing to stop it
3. I believe there is still time to right his wrongs. he should return and face them.. do what he can to fix what he did the pashtunwali lists things one cannot do but it doesn't say he cant be put back on the list. yes i completely agree.
4. to go back and save his nephew sohrab, sense he failed Hassan. this will redeem him but you know through his actions the first time with Hassan and Ali making them leave it is possible that he in fact saved them by making them leave they could have gotten far enough away that the Taliban missed them. They could be alive.
5. now after this towards the end of the book he is getting back on track. as is Rahim Kahn.
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ReplyDeletePrompt #1
ReplyDeleteThe underlying assumptions are Amir and what he didn't do when he saw Hassan being raped by a group of people. Amir could have stopped what was happening but he didn't. He instead watched and than just walked away like he didn't see anything. I think Amir should at least say sorry to Hassan for not stepping in. Or Amir should start standing up for people when he see's something wrong. I think the only person that can really decided if he can be good again is himself. He's the only one that has to live with the guilt so he should be the only one who can decide if he is good again. I don't think Amir is really following Pashtunwali teachings because he doesn't believe in god, brotherhood, doesn't help others and Amir doesn't have any moral code. Rahim Khan is in somewhat following the Pashtunwali teachings because he does believe in family and brotherhood.
Nicole,
DeleteI agree with everything you said. I agree that Amir could have stopped Assef from raping Hassan but he chose not to because he did not want anything to happen to him. I agree that Amir should apologize to Hassan for not stepping in to stop Assef from raping him. I think that if he had Hassan's forgiveness then he would be able to forgive himself for not doing anything that night. I agree with you that Amir really does not follow the Pashtunwali.
Prompt #1
ReplyDeleteAt the beginning of the book when we read the words "There's a way to be good again," we all had the feeling that something bad happened and as we read on we figured out that what we thought was true. We all thought in the beginning that Amir and Hassan were really close friends but as we got deeper we realized that Hassan doesn't mean as much to Amir as we thought. Amir never stands up for Hassan. He remains quiet or hides around a corner while he so called friend is abused verbally, mentally, and physically. To be good again, I believe that Amir will have to go back to Kabul, find Hassan, and straighten things out. He needs to apologize and make amends with his life back home. As of now, I do not believe Amir is following the Pashtunwali morals. For Rahim Kahn, I believe he is because he is pushing Amir and getting him to overcome his past.
Molly, I agree with you. Everyone was wondering what Amir did wrong. I think that by Amir not doing anything when Hassan was getting raped, that showed that Amir didn't consider Hassan a friend, unlike Hassan felt about Amir. I also think that Amir should go back to Kabul and make amends with Hassan.
DeletePrompt #2
ReplyDelete"And I'll tell you this, Amir jan: In the end, the world always wins. That's just the way with things." I do think they conflict because you can always be good but it won't matter, the world will come out on top. It will always be there. The world winning is that it just survives everything, it will always stand in the end. Every person has there own free will to do what they want, it always has, and always will be that way. What we do with our lives is our choice and nobody and no thing makes those choices for us. Amir wants to do what is right by the Pashtunwali, but he also wants to make his own style of life. Rahim Khan always has and always will follow the Pashtunwali.
I strongly agree with you Ryan. I think you are right about it doesn't matter what you do the world will come out on top. The world will always end up on top in the end and I think this is true. Everyone has there own free will but i think they are going to do that anyway. I agree with you because you have the same ideas about it as me.
DeletePrompt #1
ReplyDelete1. It means that Amir can find a way to forgive himself.
2. Amir did not try to help Hassan when he got raped, he just stood there and watched in fear.
3. He should have helped Hassan and tried to stop everything.
4. Admitting to Hassan that he was there but didn't help him, maybe he would be forgiven by Hassan.
5. I think that Amir is starting to follow the teaching of the Pashtunwali because he goes home to care for a friend when he is needed.
Jacob I agree with you that there is a way Amir can redeem himself. I also agree with that Amir didn't do anything during the rape process. Amir should of saved is friend but he didn't. For Amir to be good again he owes Hassan an apology so they can get their friendship back together where it needs to be.
DeleteWe are assuming that Amir wants to make things better. I agree that Amir wants to find a way to get rid of the guilt. When he goes back he will try to find Hassan and apologize. I also agree that this will help him because the qualities in the Pashtunwali are good to follow.
DeletePrompt #2
ReplyDeleteYes, it does conflict from his other statements. The winning world looks miserable and terrible. You always end up doing things you don't want to but have to do in order to live. You have to commit sacrifices that you don't want to commit. The role of free will is when you can live the way you want to live. You can do whatever you want without getting in trouble. Rahim Kahn and Amir somewhat follow the teachings of Pashtunwali. There are some they don't follow and there are some they do follow. Depends what it is.
Abby, I agree with your statement completely. The winning world is a challenge, and does seem very miserable. When you came up with the role of free will, the way you stated it is correct people should be able to live how they want and not have to be controlled by others. I also agree with you stating that Amir and Rahim Khan do follow the Pashtunwali and then sometimes they do not. Depending on what it is.
DeletePrompt #1-
ReplyDelete1) The underlying assumption that I got from the quote was that somewhere in the book Amir really messed up, but there is a way for him to redeem himself.
2)Amir witnessed and stood by while Hassan got raped.
3) Amir should reach out to Hassan. Try to find him and confess everything. He needs to apologize and try to make up for it.
4) Trying to seek redemption from Hassan is all he can do. In their religion, God would be the decision maker.
5) Up to this point in the book, Amir has hardly if at all followed the Pashtunwali. It seems so far that Rahim Khan has followed it in every way he could.
Bailee, I completely agree with all of your answers to your questions. I can tell you put a lot of thought into them, and that you fully understand the things that have happened, and your opinions are very similar to mine.
DeletePrompt #2
ReplyDeleteYes, because if the world is already set and is giving your path, how in the world are you supposed to change it? It is also just another thing to be miserable about. Yes this is a conflict for Rahim Kahn because his path is already set for the future.The world winning looks like being miserable out of your mind due to all of the peer pressure that kids get into then later regret in their lives. The goal of the characters is obviously searching for freedom in the United States just like Afghanistan. Amir has the chance to do what's right but yet again he is a coward from some of the incidents in the book. Rahim Kahn on the other hand does follow some of the teachings. He is loyal and respectful to Amir and Baba since they are practically his family to him. They have been there for him through thick and thin.
I agree with you. I think that the world does have a path for you. But, I think that sometimes you come to a Y in the road. You can either chose one path or the other. One way might lead you to a bad spot in life, and the other might lead you to greatness. I think that Amir is going down the right path and meeting up with Rahim and finding out about Hassan. Amir is starting to forgive himself for what has happened and he can continue his life.
DeletePrompt#2
ReplyDeleteYes because you cant win all the time you must fail to succeed.
World winning looks like, the goods and the bad's that will reflect in your future.
Role of free will is trying to be free of someone or something.
Is Amir following the teachings of Pashtunwali? no
Is Rahim Khan? yes
Cole I strongly agree with you about that you cannot always win, then if you all ways win you would not be able to fail and then succeed a can. I also agree that what you are staying is that the things that you do will affect your future. Also many people think they can just do what they want when they want.
DeletePrompt #1
ReplyDeleteThe underling assumptions are when Amir did not stop Hassan from being raped by Assef. Amir just stood there and watched Hassan being raped he did not do anything to stop it. I believe Amir should go to Hassan and apologize for not doing anything when Hassan was being raped. I think that he is the only one who can decide if he is good again. I think that if he had Hassan’s forgiveness and told someone what he saw then he would be able to forgive himself for what he did. Amir is not really following the teachings of the Pashtunwali he does not know prayers very well and he does not really follow any of the other rules. Amir does not have faith, unity, or hospitality. Rahim Khan follows the Pashtunwali more then Amir does. He believes in his family family and brotherhood.
I agree with everything you said. Amir can be good again if he tries. I agree that only Amir can be the one who can decide if he can be good again. I also agree that Amir should go talk to Hassan and apologize for not stopping what was happening. Amir doesn't really follow the Pashtunwali teachings because he doesn't have any moral codes, doesn't help others and he doesn't believe in god. Rahim Khan does follow Pashtunwali more than Amir. Rahim does believe in brotherhood and family.
DeleteKara, I completely agree with everything you said. Amir didn't do anything when Hassan was getting raped. I also agree that Amir should go to Hassan and talk with him and apologize for not doing anything. Amir can be good again if he really tried and having Hassan's forgiveness again will help. Amir does not follow the Pashtunwali teachings at all. Rahim Khan on the other hand does follow the Pashtunwali.
DeletePrompt #1.
ReplyDelete"There is a way to be good again." Amir knows what he did was wrong. He seen what was happening to Hassan and he did nothing to stop it. Now he has to live with that guilt of not doing anything. I feel that Amir should go see Hassan and sit with him and talk. I think If Amir wanted, he could be good again. He just has to prove himself to others. Amir lacks faith and trust. Trust is something Amir has to earn back from Hassan.
Prompt #2
ReplyDeleteYes, this conflicts with what Rahim Kahn says earlier. Earlier he was telling him he could do what he wanted. Now he's telling him that the world always wins. To me, this means that everybody is against you and they always win. It seems like Rahim is trying to put Amir down. Though, when Amir and Baba to America Amir finds his free will to become what he wants to be, a writer. Rahim Kahn always had faith in Amir and seemed to know that's what he wanted. Rahim Kahn Is forced to move when the Taliban comes to Kabul and doesn't have much free will because he grows sick. Amir doesn't follow the code but Rahin Kahn is better but he still doesn't follow all the codes.
Tim, I agree that it does conflict with what Rahim Khan said earlier. It seems like Rahim Khan wants to help Amir with all he can, but he does seem to be putting him down and the same time. It was always Amir's dream to come to America, the land of opportunity. Amir does not follow the code because he wants to do his own thing.
DeletePrompt #2
ReplyDeleteYes i think it conflicts with his earlier statements. Because he was telling him earlier he could do anything but that's not true. Now hes telling him the world always wins. When the world is winning it doesn't seem like your getting anywhere. There trying to escape bad memories on there own free will, so they can be what they want to be. No, Amir doesn't at all and Rahim isn't any better.
I agree with you Brody. I feel this way because you feel the same way.
DeletePrompt #1
ReplyDeleteAmir didn't do anything while Hassan was getting raped. Rahim Khan called Amir saying that he should come back to Pakistan. I believe Amir should go to Pakistan and apologize to Hassan for not doing anything while he was getting raped. In my opinion Amir should go and apologize so Amir and Hassan can get there friendship back together. For Amir to be good again he needs to apologize and it is up to Amir himself if he gets good again. I believe Amir is not following the Pashtunwali and Rahim Khan is following it because he wants Amir to do the right thing.
Prompt #1: I agree with what you are saying for the most part, but I feel as if "I'm sorry" will not even come close to mending this friendship. Amir needs to do a whole lot more to make up for his weakness as well as his cowardliness. You are most definitely right about Amir not following the Pashtunwali. As for Rahim Khan, he is very true to the Pashtunwali as far as I'm concerned. If Amir hadn't waited so long to apologize he could probably make things better for him and Hassan's friendship. I'm sure that Hassan would forgive him right away, but Amir has to forgive himself before he should even apologize for one. Also, Hassan will never forget that Amir did nothing to help him, and that he pushed him away afterwards too when Hassan probably really needed Amir. Rude.
DeleteSpencer i agree with you. Amir didn't do anything at all when Hassan was getting raped. And he should go and apologize to Hassan. And if he does apologize they should try to be friends again but its going to be very hard.
DeleteI agree with you Spencer. Amir should have done something instead of watching Hassan get raped. That was a big wrongdoing on his part. He put his friendship in jeopardy. He has to do something huge to make it up to him, to redeem himself. Amir is not following the Pashtunwali, whereas Rahim Khan is following it.
DeleteI agree completely with you Spencer. Amir could have done something instead of just standing their watching what was happening to Hassan. And amir should at least make some sort of attempt to make up with Hassan even tho their friendship will never be the same again.
DeleteI agree with you Spencer that Amir should grow a pair and stick up for his family and friends cause Hassan is the only true friend Amir has. Also Amir should have either ran for help or tried to stop Hassan from getting raped instead of watching. Amir should grow up and say sorry to Hassan and treat him with more respect no matter what anyone says or does.
DeleteAmir did a wrongdoing and got into a whole, but Rahim Khan is saying that he can redeem himself. As a child, Amir did lots of wrongs to Hassan and his father. Amir somehow needs to search for redemption. He needs to do the things that he knows are right. He could gain back his fathers "approval" if he finds a way to be good again. No amir is not following the teachings of the Pashtunwali. Rahim Khan is following the teachings of the Pashtunwali.
ReplyDeleteI agree with you Alex Meyer. Amir does do a lot of wrong things to Hassan such as watching him get raped and he just wants attention from his father Baba. He does in some way need to forgive himself and start acting like a role model around Hassan and Baba. For Rahim Khan, he doesn't have much of a family except for Amir and Baba. He does follow Pashtunwali.
DeleteJT, I agree with you. I also think Amir should find a way to be a good friend to Hassan again. Amir need to do something really nice to be Hassan and Ali friend again. I also agree that Amir is starting to follow the Pashtunwali.
ReplyDeleteJosie:
ReplyDeleteI agree completely that people can change. I also think though that they will be treated with caution. I hope he does find Hassan and gets to tell him how he feels. Rahim Khan has been like the father that Amir would have liked to have, supportive. I agree that they both are flawed when it comes to Pashtunwali code. It doesn't necessarily mean that they are bad people just flawed Pashtuns.
Nicole, I agree with you completely. Your statements are remarkable! I feel like we share the same thoughts. I also said in my response that he should at least apologize to Hassan. AND I also said that he is the only one that can decide if he is good again! Holy moly! It's crazy how much our opinion is the same.
ReplyDeleteprompt 2
ReplyDelete"And I'll tell you this, Amir jan: In the end, the world always wins. That's just the way with things." By saying this he is conflicting with his earlier statement, saying " there is a way to be good again." If theres no way that the world doesnt always win then there is no way to be good again. The world winning looks like Hassan being killed for no good reason and his wife also being killed. Society being okay with these things going on in the world means the world is winning. The people have no free will in Afghanistan. If they do one thing wrong they are killed. Amir is not. He is not a true pashtun. Rahim Khan is acting like a true pashtun.
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ReplyDeletePrompt #1
ReplyDelete"There is a way to be good again." Amir watched Hassan get raped, and did nothing about it. Rahim Khan knows what has happened, and he is trying to tell Amir that he doesn't have to live with this guilt. Amir didn't try to stop what was happening with Hassan in that alley, instead, he just sat there and watched. He should sit down and talk to Hassan and tell him what he say and why he didn't try to stop it. I agree that Amir should tell Hassan the truth, he wouldn't have to live with the guilt anymore. No he isn't following the Pashtunwali. Rahim Khan is following the pashtunwali.
prompt #1
ReplyDeleteThe underlying assumptions are that Amir did something to make him not good, he needs to find away to redeem himself. Hassan was being raped, Amir just stood there and watched. Amir did nothing to stop it. Amir should go to Kabul and make up with Hassan and try and fix the past mistakes he has made.I do agree, he needs to make amends with the past or he will be very upset in the future. Who decides? He basically has to decide whether or not he has redeemed himself. No Amir is not following the Pashtunwali, he doesn't have many of the qualities a true Pashtun should have, like Hassan does. Rahim follows it pretty well, he has many of the qualities a Pashtun should hold.