Compare And Contrast Taheri And Baba
Dru Barnes
Ms. Rudd
English 5th
2 February 2016
Kite Runner Stations
1. How has Baba changed over course of novel? Chart the stages of his character development
Afghan Baba vs. America Baba vs. Sick and Dying Baba
At the beginning of the book Afghan Baba is given nicknames to compliment his physical stature and overall intimidating presence over all other men. He however with his strength also values morals with honor or pride. He is selfless at moments and stands up for what is right. He has a strong financial and social standing. In contrast when Baba reaches America after his long journey he loses both his social and economic status. Also Baba seems more humanized to the reader through the narrator’s eyes as he slowly gains a more steady relationship of respect with Amir as he grows into an adult. However as Baba gains more respect for Amir over time he is diagnosed with cancer. This also tests his views on his social standing as he instead refuses treatment and being given food stamps. He always has an aspect of honor and pride in his mind.
2.compare and contrast 2 fathers in the novel Baba General Taheri
Venn diagram similar / different
Personality/ relationships …show more content…
Both fathers in the novel, Baba and General Taheri, share similar characteristics in their relationships and personality traits. Both Baba and General Taheri are very focused on maintaining an honorable social status. How others view them in the public is a high priority for both of them. Their pride is all they can hold onto in some of the difficult situations in the novel. Neither of these fathers have a perfect health record in this novel as they also have to battle their low moments of weakness. Baba is diagnosed with cancer after him and Amir travel to America, which challenges his choices on treatment and finances. Baba keeps his grudge against any Russians as he is angry how his doctor was a Russian. This hits them mentally along with physically as their pride is damaged. Both have the same views on jobs based on the educational field as they view them negatively. Baba was seen as selfish before he became more humanized after the move to America, and General Taheri is still seen as selfish which disappoints his wife and daughter. This is a difference in how Baba becomes more humanized in the reader’s eyes after they move to America, but General Taheri remains selfish and seeks respect. They both have relationships with their children and they think of their future’s highly. They expect their children to be successful in life to continue the family’s status.
3. How do the ever-changing politics of Afghanistan affect each of the key characters in novel Baba/Amir, Ali/Hassan, General Taheri/Khanum/Soraya?
Politics has affected every character and their relationships with their family, society, economics, and their homeland. Amir has come to terms with the social and political unrest of his old home after traveling to America. The Russians that took over his homeland had forced him and his family out of the country to seek new relations in America. Here he had acquired education and a new culture with language and new love. He frequently relives the bad memories from his home like the incident with Hassan in the alley. He feels his past mistakes are washed away in America with the new chance for a future. His relationship with his father is improved as they lose their social and economic status so they become closer on their relationship. They gain each other’s respect and fight for their new lives. Hassan and Ali had actually gained opportunities from the Russian invasion as the Hazaras gain power shortly before the Taliban reclaim the land. After this the Hazaras are destroyed and killed. General Taheri and his family were affected by politics in the same ways as Baba as Taheri has his pride and honor in mind as he faces weakness. The unrest of the land with political or economic problems affects them also.
4. Culture Shock
Afghan immigrants that travel to America have the choice and ability to go against the temptation to absorb into Western culture. They can choose to maintain their past and relished traditions of their first culture or they can become a part of the society linked with their new and live along with the Westernized people. Some Afghan people see that them living in the new land of America means that they should abide and live along with their community and embrace their differences in behavior and experience some culture shock. On the other hand some Afghan people see it as their duty and passed on tradition to live on through their culture and respect their ancestral roots and behaviors. Baba and Amir have been living California for about 2 years and is still adjusting to the culture shock. An example of this is in the passage where Baba pushes a magazine stand after the cashier asks him for his ID to cash a check. Baba could not believe the lack of trust in the culture.
5. Weddings
Comparing and contrasting Afghan and Western courting, engagement, and wedding customs they are mostly similar as Afghan traditions have Western versions. Khastegari means that the man or the father of the man will go to ask the father of the woman for her hand in marriage. This is the same as in a Western version as a sign of respect. Lafz in Afghan tradition is the same as asking the family to marry the bride in Western culture as a sign of respect for her and her family. Another part of these words contains the proposal, engagement, and similarity in celebration or honeymoon. Western culture and Afghan culture share the same celebratory and respectful traditions in the process of weddings as we have the some of the same social and moral beliefs.
6. Soraya tells Amir that he is different than any other Afghan guy she met because most of the Afghan men would not ask to marry her. This is because of all the rumors spread about Soraya. Soraya revealed in the novel that she is not a virgin any longer and that is the reason why most guys did not want to marry her. In America the tradition of virginity is viewed heavily in some religions but not entirely as strong as in Afghanistan. The reason is that females are still expected to be the woman in the house behind the man. This is a basis in most social hierarchies. The social tradition behind virginity seems to be a strong mark on her reputation. It is acceptable for a man to go out and have pre-marital sex but for a girl, it ruins her reputation for marriage. Both women in the novel, Soraya and Sanaubar, both had reputations in society that were negatively looked upon. The consequences of their lower social outlook were not specifically shown but their lives among society must have been especially different than say Amir’s.
7. How has Amir relationship with his father changed from child to adult? How is it the same? TEXT evidence
“And what will you do while you wait to get good and get discovered? How will you earn money? If you marry, how will you support your khanum?” (134)As a child Amir strived to outshine Hassan in competition for Baba’s respect. He would try to be like his father, but they seemed o be polar opposites and it was no easy task to create an adult out of Amir. It changed after Amir won his kite completion and his father’s respect for him increased. However the major turning point for their relationship was when they moved to America and Amir began to grow up. Without any social or economic status in society Amir and Baba became closer and gained more of each other’s respect. However Baba still holds his pride in his mind and expects the best from Amir.
8. “Come there is a way to be good again” (192)
“For you, a thousand times over” (194)
How do these fit as thematic statements for the whole novel?
In the first quote Amir is processing a moral choice he has to overcome in order to but his mental unrest behind him.
He has to find the way to earn forgiveness for himself and gain back some of his respect as a human being. He has too choose whether to continue being a coward like he was in the alley or stand up and take responsibility for his betrayal. In the second quote Hassan gives another example of hiss undying loyalty towards Amir and their relationship as more of brothers than master and servant. Amir does not give the same amount of respect or trust to Hassan even though Amir repeatedly betrays Hassan and breaks their relationship. He lives in his adult life reliving his mistakes towards Amir in his old homeland and had wished he wasn’t such a coward and stood beside Hassan as he did for
him.
Ms. Rudd
English 5th
2 February 2016
Kite Runner Stations
1. How has Baba changed over course of novel? Chart the stages of his character development
Afghan Baba vs. America Baba vs. Sick and Dying Baba
At the beginning of the book Afghan Baba is given nicknames to compliment his physical stature and overall intimidating presence over all other men. He however with his strength also values morals with honor or pride. He is selfless at moments and stands up for what is right. He has a strong financial and social standing. In contrast when Baba reaches America after his long journey he loses both his social and economic status. Also Baba seems more humanized to the reader through the narrator’s eyes as he slowly gains a more steady relationship of respect with Amir as he grows into an adult. However as Baba gains more respect for Amir over time he is diagnosed with cancer. This also tests his views on his social standing as he instead refuses treatment and being given food stamps. He always has an aspect of honor and pride in his mind.
2.compare and contrast 2 fathers in the novel Baba General Taheri
Venn diagram similar / different
Personality/ relationships …show more content…
Both fathers in the novel, Baba and General Taheri, share similar characteristics in their relationships and personality traits. Both Baba and General Taheri are very focused on maintaining an honorable social status. How others view them in the public is a high priority for both of them. Their pride is all they can hold onto in some of the difficult situations in the novel. Neither of these fathers have a perfect health record in this novel as they also have to battle their low moments of weakness. Baba is diagnosed with cancer after him and Amir travel to America, which challenges his choices on treatment and finances. Baba keeps his grudge against any Russians as he is angry how his doctor was a Russian. This hits them mentally along with physically as their pride is damaged. Both have the same views on jobs based on the educational field as they view them negatively. Baba was seen as selfish before he became more humanized after the move to America, and General Taheri is still seen as selfish which disappoints his wife and daughter. This is a difference in how Baba becomes more humanized in the reader’s eyes after they move to America, but General Taheri remains selfish and seeks respect. They both have relationships with their children and they think of their future’s highly. They expect their children to be successful in life to continue the family’s status.
3. How do the ever-changing politics of Afghanistan affect each of the key characters in novel Baba/Amir, Ali/Hassan, General Taheri/Khanum/Soraya?
Politics has affected every character and their relationships with their family, society, economics, and their homeland. Amir has come to terms with the social and political unrest of his old home after traveling to America. The Russians that took over his homeland had forced him and his family out of the country to seek new relations in America. Here he had acquired education and a new culture with language and new love. He frequently relives the bad memories from his home like the incident with Hassan in the alley. He feels his past mistakes are washed away in America with the new chance for a future. His relationship with his father is improved as they lose their social and economic status so they become closer on their relationship. They gain each other’s respect and fight for their new lives. Hassan and Ali had actually gained opportunities from the Russian invasion as the Hazaras gain power shortly before the Taliban reclaim the land. After this the Hazaras are destroyed and killed. General Taheri and his family were affected by politics in the same ways as Baba as Taheri has his pride and honor in mind as he faces weakness. The unrest of the land with political or economic problems affects them also.
4. Culture Shock
Afghan immigrants that travel to America have the choice and ability to go against the temptation to absorb into Western culture. They can choose to maintain their past and relished traditions of their first culture or they can become a part of the society linked with their new and live along with the Westernized people. Some Afghan people see that them living in the new land of America means that they should abide and live along with their community and embrace their differences in behavior and experience some culture shock. On the other hand some Afghan people see it as their duty and passed on tradition to live on through their culture and respect their ancestral roots and behaviors. Baba and Amir have been living California for about 2 years and is still adjusting to the culture shock. An example of this is in the passage where Baba pushes a magazine stand after the cashier asks him for his ID to cash a check. Baba could not believe the lack of trust in the culture.
5. Weddings
Comparing and contrasting Afghan and Western courting, engagement, and wedding customs they are mostly similar as Afghan traditions have Western versions. Khastegari means that the man or the father of the man will go to ask the father of the woman for her hand in marriage. This is the same as in a Western version as a sign of respect. Lafz in Afghan tradition is the same as asking the family to marry the bride in Western culture as a sign of respect for her and her family. Another part of these words contains the proposal, engagement, and similarity in celebration or honeymoon. Western culture and Afghan culture share the same celebratory and respectful traditions in the process of weddings as we have the some of the same social and moral beliefs.
6. Soraya tells Amir that he is different than any other Afghan guy she met because most of the Afghan men would not ask to marry her. This is because of all the rumors spread about Soraya. Soraya revealed in the novel that she is not a virgin any longer and that is the reason why most guys did not want to marry her. In America the tradition of virginity is viewed heavily in some religions but not entirely as strong as in Afghanistan. The reason is that females are still expected to be the woman in the house behind the man. This is a basis in most social hierarchies. The social tradition behind virginity seems to be a strong mark on her reputation. It is acceptable for a man to go out and have pre-marital sex but for a girl, it ruins her reputation for marriage. Both women in the novel, Soraya and Sanaubar, both had reputations in society that were negatively looked upon. The consequences of their lower social outlook were not specifically shown but their lives among society must have been especially different than say Amir’s.
7. How has Amir relationship with his father changed from child to adult? How is it the same? TEXT evidence
“And what will you do while you wait to get good and get discovered? How will you earn money? If you marry, how will you support your khanum?” (134)As a child Amir strived to outshine Hassan in competition for Baba’s respect. He would try to be like his father, but they seemed o be polar opposites and it was no easy task to create an adult out of Amir. It changed after Amir won his kite completion and his father’s respect for him increased. However the major turning point for their relationship was when they moved to America and Amir began to grow up. Without any social or economic status in society Amir and Baba became closer and gained more of each other’s respect. However Baba still holds his pride in his mind and expects the best from Amir.
8. “Come there is a way to be good again” (192)
“For you, a thousand times over” (194)
How do these fit as thematic statements for the whole novel?
In the first quote Amir is processing a moral choice he has to overcome in order to but his mental unrest behind him.
He has to find the way to earn forgiveness for himself and gain back some of his respect as a human being. He has too choose whether to continue being a coward like he was in the alley or stand up and take responsibility for his betrayal. In the second quote Hassan gives another example of hiss undying loyalty towards Amir and their relationship as more of brothers than master and servant. Amir does not give the same amount of respect or trust to Hassan even though Amir repeatedly betrays Hassan and breaks their relationship. He lives in his adult life reliving his mistakes towards Amir in his old homeland and had wished he wasn’t such a coward and stood beside Hassan as he did for
him.