Group Question- Miraya, Sarah, Lance

[Miraya Mathews]

What judgement would you make about the beating Amir received from Assef and how it contributes to his own personal redemption and the differences seen in the way he treats Sohrab after the beating?

Note: EnJanae' is in our group.

[Katherine Z]

Really the only judgements that can be made is that Amir has finally for once defended something or someone of Hassan's after the entirety of his life. Sohrab is truly the only piece of Hassan that Amir can cling onto with the selfish intent of relieving his own guilt. Sohrab's treatment comes differently the moment Amir decides to finally care for Hassan or something of his. Though he feels relieved of his secrets when making his confessions to Soroya, Amir's greatest moment of catharcism is very clearly when he stands against Amir and is beaten down as he should have been twenty six years ago. 

[David Ayers]

I'm not sure you can draw a conclusion about Amir's actions toward Sohrab after the encounter with Assef because there isn't much interaction between the two until after that encounter. That being said there does seem to be a change in Amir's actions before and after the encounter with Assef. Before the beating Amir is terrified of Assef but pushing forward because he wanted to bring Sohrab to the American family, but after the beating Amir was no longer afraid of Assef and he wanted adopt Sohrab not just bring him to another family. The actual beating is significant because its the moment where his past and present conflicts collide. In this moment Amir is confronting his past and his failures with Hassan and Assef while also fighting for Sohrab. This confrontation becomes cathartic for Amir because he is able to receive the beating he felt he deserved for all of his failures. When Sohrab hits Assef in the eye this moment gets juxtaposed with Amir being defended by Hassan in a similar manner, not only that but it becomes the justice Assef deserves for taunting Hassan before the rape. I believe this is the reason Amir truly and selflessly wants to save Sohrab.

[Enjanae Taylor]

I agree, Sohrab was the only link left Amir had to Hassan, so taking care of him was the only redemption he could have for not taking care of Hassan. Getting the beating from Assef allowed him to get a sort of physical punishment, releasing what was left of the past. So afterwards, he's fully able to focus on what's best for Sohrab.

[Miraya Mathews]

I completely agree. The moment when Amir and Assef confront each other as adult is, as you said, when Amir's "past and present conflicts collide". It really brings to light how Amir got a taste of being defended by Sohrab in the moment when he was completely ready to defend Amir, just like his father, regardless of the consequences. It gave Amir an opportunity to defend Sohrab against Assef just as he should've done, or should've been willing to do, for Hassan. 

[lillian Morales]

Amir receiving this beating too is a way for him to have his moment of cleansing after all the things he did to Hassan. Amir had tried to get Hassan to stand up and fight back in the time after he was raped so Amir could feel better about what he did, but now in getting beat to save Sohrab, Hassan child, Amir gets his beating and pain that he felt like he deserved.