Redemption- Theme Question: Antonio, Isaac, Todd, Robert

[Devyn Orozco]

Why did Amir believe that the only way he could be redeemed for his sins was to be punished himself? Provide evidence - Think about when he wanted Hassan to throw pomegranates back at him, and also when he was beaten by Assef.

[Katherine Z]

In a way, Amir knew very well how guilty he was because he not only treated Hassan as just as a Hazara, but even is seen thinking of him as "just a Hazara". This is easily recognized in the moments in which Assef states that Hassan would eat dirt for him and Amir is left knowing that he would never do the same for Hassan, but that he could actually ask him too if he needed to be amused. Time and time again he wanted Hassan to defend himself because Amir had never defended Hassan, in all aspects, not just the rape. Because of this, Amir knew that he would've been hurt by his defense, but needed it more than anything to be relieved of his guilt of neglecting an innocent boy for quite literally all of his life. He spent his entire life running from what he had done with absolute;y no one recognizng it, not himself and not Hassan. This is why he tells his wife everything and is willingly beat to defend Sohrab, because defending his son could allow Amir for once in his life defend even something that Hassan loved. 

[David Ayers]

Amir felt the guilt for letting Hassan get raped, he also felt guild for how he treated him after words, but the main sin he felt he should have been punished for was lying to Hassan. Amir's belief was that there was only on sin(he gained this through Baba's view of sins) and when he and Hassan made a promise to each other that they would always sand up for each other and in this moment Amir knew he was lying to Hassan and he knew Hassan was telling the truth and truly believed that Amir would do the same for him. And Hassan would defend Amir but Amir never kept his promise. This sin was the sin that started the rest of what Amir felt guilty for. Amir felt ever since that day in the ally that he needed to be punished for what he did, he tried to make Hassan angry enough to do it, but he never did. Amir must have felt that it was the only way for him to truly find redemption was to be confronted and face his sin.

[Miraya Mathews]

All through his life, Amir had felt a certain power over Hassan because of his status and Hassan's lack of education. He would make small digs at Hassan such as reading Hassan different stories than what he claimed or telling him the wrong meaning of a word, and would compensate for his transgressions by doing something good for Hassan that was equal in value to what he did that was wrong, such as take Hassan to the pomegranate tree and tell him stories or include Hassan in whatever he was doing. When Amir witnessed Hassan's rape and didn't do anything about it, in his mind the only thing that was equal was to be hurt just as badly, if not worse, than the assault Hassan received. When Amir took Hassan to the pomegranate tree he wanted Hassan to physically hurt him by throwing pomegranates just as he had hurt Hassan by not doing anything to help him. When Hassan wouldn't do it Amir was forced to endure the guilt he had for 20+ years. When Assef gave Amir the beating it felt like the wrongdoing that Amir lived with was finally being made right.