Saturday, April 5, 2008
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14 comments:
I find Amir really frustrating to be truly honest. Hes too jelous and selfish. It bothers me how hes always trying to leave Hassan out so that he can have Baba all to himself. Hassan doesn't really have the best life so its not fair that Amir acts the way he does. I realize that it would have been really scary and difficult to step in when Hassan was getting raped, but at the same time Hassan wouldn't have thought twice about stepping in If it were Amir. It bothered me when Amir asked Baba if he had ever thought about getting other servants. Hassan is supposed to be his "friend"! And then Amir goes and frames Hassan! Hassan admitted to what he didn't do and Amir just sat there cowardly. After all these things happened I was actually really angry and didn't want to read the book anymore. I'm sure Amir is a good person and so far I like him now that hes in America, but in the last little while of Afghanistan he was really starting to annoy me.
I have to agree with Kar on this. Amir sometimes comes across as a little brat. He complains about his father not showing him the attention he "deserves" or he moans about how Hassan is better at stuff than he is. Maybe if he quit complaining and just enjoyed everthing like Hassan did, he wouldn't have this problem. Hassan is a servant, so he is going to enjoy everything he has and every chance he gets. Amir is in a better position that Hassan, but who's the better person?
I have problems with Amir. He is very difficult that he only see's black and white. Hassan has done a lot for him and he treats him with some class but other times but no respect or dignity. I agree with kar
What everyone is forgetting is that Amir is a young boy.
I am aware that he is of an age where he should understand what respect is, and put his knowledge of this into action. But what he craves the most is attention from his father, which he is not recieving, so it is obvious that it is going to bother him when his father can give it to Hassan with ease.
Don't get me wrong, I dont think his actions are justified. But we all have to keep in mind that they have a different culture and a different way of handling things like jealousy, than we do.
He is only young, he really has no idea who to be yet, and learning to deal with things like jealousy comes with time and experience. His lack of respect is dissapointing and un-neccesary, but common among kids of his age.
Everyone is selfish, even if they don't realize it. And Amir is in an INCREDIBLY difficult situation. I have to say, I could not watch a friend get raped and do nothing, but everyone deals with fear in their own way, and he is still suffering very severe consequences.
I think we need to give Amir time. He may yet surprise us.
At some points during the story I get really frustrated with Amir, but as i said in another post, I can see why is does some of the things that he does. Im not saying by anymeans that i agree with his actions but hes a young boy who is trying to figure out how the world works and takes the easy way out of things. I can honestly say that I have done that before, and im pretty sure most of you have, probably (hopefully) not to the same extent as Amir, but you know what im saying.
Amir is a very interesting, and well thought out character. Although I don't believe his actions are not morally correct, I believe, that under the circumstances, they would be socially accepted by the vast majority. The fact that Amir has turned on his friend Hassan may not be understandable by us as North Americans, but to those who have lived in the class system, having one racial group of more importance than another, would most likely understand and agree with the way in which Amir has been treating Hassan.
As a young boy, it would have been, understandably, difficult for Amir to step in during the rape of Hassan, and would have been just as difficult for him - again in the social class setting - for him to tell an adult, as this would ruin his reputation as a Pashtun, making him appear as an honorary Hazara. This would have then made it very difficult for him to live his life, being accepted by those around him
I really agree with Desiterata, we are forgetting how young Amir is. I can't say that at the begining of the book Amir is my favourite character, because of the fact that he does act bratish, and selfish, but I do think that maturity would affect his personality and how he makes descisions. I don't think his actions are justified though when he did nothing to help Hassan, but I think he should have realised, that due to his social status and who his father was, Assef may have gone easier on him, or let them both off the hook( or as close to off the hook as would be possible for Assef). So I think that by walking away, Amir was being cowardly. Finally, I do think he will change over the course of the novel, because he is a good person, and even by reading the first chapter, where he is in his thirties we can see how much guilt he has carried around with him all those years.
I agree a lot with desiderata and stoney. Amir is young, and he's still learning about the world.
Furthermore, we're reading Amir's thoughts and not entirely his actions. Everyone is guilty of thinking things that aren't exactly nice. This doesn't excuse Amir from acting on them and treating Hassan terribly, however. But you can see Amir's regret and how his conscience is constantly plaguing him, which is what separates someone like him from a character like Assef. There is a lot of decency in Amir; he's simply a huge coward.
Amir has been a frustrating, strong character in the book. Every stupid thing he did, all the stuff to Hassan, has made me so angry at him. All of it is so annoying, and if you have read far enough, there is such a perspective change to the way he treated Hassan. Like Kar said he is just too selfish.
I agree with the most part of Amir being a frustrating character but I don't see him as being too bad. I feel bad for Hassan because Amir let him down and it's so sad that Amir lied about Hassan stealing from him just so he leaves. I also felt kind of sorry for Amir because Baba didn't give him the attention he should have gotten as a growing child that doesn't have a mother. Baba should typically be proud of Amir for any decisions he makes such as being a writer. I find it sort of immature that Amir still dislikes how his dad mentioned Hassan, wishing he'd be there to share the new car experience with them.
As I am not an only child I can see where Amir is comming from in respects to his dad. He is only a kid and will make some mistakes, but i have to agree with kar. he is infuriating and a coward.
Amir is a very realistic character. His attributes are human, and whether we admit it or not, many of us would have had the exact same reaction as he did. He was a child, for pete's sake! And some of you, calling him a coward and a brat? HE WAS 12 YEARS OLD. Many of us wouldn't have even known what Assef was DOING at that age, let alone have the courage to go up against someone better armed, older and stronger than us. And what's more, Assef had his friends with him! Also, I agree with Adam M: in a country where the caste system applies, the instinct to help someone is different depending on their caste. Amir may have had a connection with Hassan, but he himself never called him a friend, at least not when he was young.
Adding to what Winnifred said, it's true that a lot of children wouldn't know what Assef was even doing in the first place. Should any twelve year old have to be exposed to that?
Like Kar I find him frustrating as well. He is so emotionally wrapped up in obtaining his father's love that he sacrifices a friendship. He never is happy with himself. He blames everything that goes wrong on himself and he is unable to let go of anything. He didn't even have the courage to stand up for Hassan when Hassan stood up for him. When Amir feels guilty he never makes it right instead he makes it worse. He never can face his own problems. In the end he comes to terms with his expriences and regrets but still he really irritates me.
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