The Kite Runner Rhetorical Analysis
Summer Reading: The Kite Runner
Betrayal
“I had one last chance to make a decision. One final opportunity to decide who I was going to be. I could step into that alley, stand up for Hassan, the way he’d stood up for me all those times in the past, and accept whatever would happen to me. Or I could run. In the end I ran.” (Pg. 77)
This quote was an example of betrayal because Amir left Hassan by himself in the alley. He didn’t stick up for him like Hassan has done many times for him. He could’ve stopped them but instead he just stood there, watched for a while and then ran away. Amir could’ve walked into that alley and stopped everything although he might’ve got hurt, but what about all those times that Hassan has stood up for him? He pretended that he hadn’t seen the rape, but he was terrified that Hassan would know or worse, would show him devotion despite knowing. Hassan himself didn’t say anything about what had happened, even though he was bleeding through his pants. Amir was not willing to sacrifice anything for Hassan. Amir’s …show more content…
selfishness takes him to forcing Hassan and Ali out of the house rather than the loss of Baba’s pride in him. Amir will always carry this guilt in his conscious.
“Baba came right out and asked.
“Did you steal that money? Did you steal Amir’s watch, Hassan?” Hassan’s reply was a single word, delivered in a thin, raspy voice: “Yes.” (Pg. 105)
Hassan decides to take blame over something he didn’t do so he could protect Amir’s lie. Amir’s plan was to blame Hassan for stealing his watch so then Baba could kick them out. Once Hassan says he did take it, Baba forgives him for what he really hadn’t done. Amir’s guilt is what led him to having to lie to Baba so he could get rid of Hassan. Amir thought that once they left he wouldn’t have to worry about what he had seen in the past. He wouldn’t have to carry this guilt he had anymore.
“He turned to me. A few sweat beads rolled from his bald scalp. "Would I ever lie to you, Amir agha?" Suddenly I decided to toy with him a little. “I don’t know. Would you?” “I’d sooner eat dirt,” he said with a look of indignation. “Really? You’d do that?” (Pg.
54)
Amir is asking Hassan if he would eat dirt if he asked him to and Hassan said that if he asked him to, he would. This shows how much Hassan would do for Amir. Amir probably wouldn’t do the same for him, and this shows how cruel Amir can be with Hassan. He doesn’t defend Hassan from the neighborhood boys and almost blurts out that Hassan is only his servant and not a friend.
Betrayal
“I had one last chance to make a decision. One final opportunity to decide who I was going to be. I could step into that alley, stand up for Hassan, the way he’d stood up for me all those times in the past, and accept whatever would happen to me. Or I could run. In the end I ran.” (Pg. 77)
This quote was an example of betrayal because Amir left Hassan by himself in the alley. He didn’t stick up for him like Hassan has done many times for him. He could’ve stopped them but instead he just stood there, watched for a while and then ran away. Amir could’ve walked into that alley and stopped everything although he might’ve got hurt, but what about all those times that Hassan has stood up for him? He pretended that he hadn’t seen the rape, but he was terrified that Hassan would know or worse, would show him devotion despite knowing. Hassan himself didn’t say anything about what had happened, even though he was bleeding through his pants. Amir was not willing to sacrifice anything for Hassan. Amir’s …show more content…
selfishness takes him to forcing Hassan and Ali out of the house rather than the loss of Baba’s pride in him. Amir will always carry this guilt in his conscious.
“Baba came right out and asked.
“Did you steal that money? Did you steal Amir’s watch, Hassan?” Hassan’s reply was a single word, delivered in a thin, raspy voice: “Yes.” (Pg. 105)
Hassan decides to take blame over something he didn’t do so he could protect Amir’s lie. Amir’s plan was to blame Hassan for stealing his watch so then Baba could kick them out. Once Hassan says he did take it, Baba forgives him for what he really hadn’t done. Amir’s guilt is what led him to having to lie to Baba so he could get rid of Hassan. Amir thought that once they left he wouldn’t have to worry about what he had seen in the past. He wouldn’t have to carry this guilt he had anymore.
“He turned to me. A few sweat beads rolled from his bald scalp. "Would I ever lie to you, Amir agha?" Suddenly I decided to toy with him a little. “I don’t know. Would you?” “I’d sooner eat dirt,” he said with a look of indignation. “Really? You’d do that?” (Pg.
54)
Amir is asking Hassan if he would eat dirt if he asked him to and Hassan said that if he asked him to, he would. This shows how much Hassan would do for Amir. Amir probably wouldn’t do the same for him, and this shows how cruel Amir can be with Hassan. He doesn’t defend Hassan from the neighborhood boys and almost blurts out that Hassan is only his servant and not a friend.