Hassan, the Kite Runner
At the end of chapter 7, Amir witnesses the attack and rape of Hassan after Hassan has run down the final kite of the tournament for Amir. Why doesn't Amir step in or help? What is he thinking as he witnesses this? What would you have done if you were in Amir's shoes? Discuss your reaction to this scene and your opinion of Amir's actions.
Amir does not help Hassan because he thinks that if he does he will not get the blue kite that he cut down. The reason he wants the kite so bad is that Amir thinks if he gets it, Baba will ultimatly have more respect him. Watching Hassan get raped affects Amir very much. Amir says that he looks like the lamb that is sacrificed as a muslim tradition today. If I were in Amirs shoes i would have definatly stepped in. If he is truly your friend then he should've sacrificed for him. His father would have been proud of him for standing for what is right. He should have realized this. his father wants him to be more of man. I think that Amir's actions are absolutley absurd. His reasoning for not stepping in makes no sense.
ReplyDeleteAmir doesn't step in or help Hassan because he is afraid of Assef and knows that he will most likely do the same to him if he steps in but I do believe that Amir also is not near as loyal of a friend to Hassan as Hassan is to him. When Amir was witnessing it happen he was thinking it was sicking but he must of thought it was very scary to because if he stepped in it would happen to him to. If I was in Amir's shoes I probably would of tried to yell at them and say that I was going to tell the whole town how they were sick perverts.
ReplyDeleteAmir doesnt help or step in because he is scared of what Assef and his friends might do to him and also thinks he won't get the kite that he cut down. If he doesn't get the kite back, Amir wouldn't be able to prove himself to Baba and gain respect for Amir. Amir gets scared watching and feels bad, but doesn't step in because he is a coward and is selfish. I fi was in Amir's shoes I would have definitely stepped in to help. If you are a true friend you would stand up for you're friends but amir didn't. Amir acted like a coward because Hassan sacrificed for Amir. I think Amir's actions were an act of cowardness and didn't get why he didn't step in and fight for Hassan, a kid that was like a brother to him. I was disapointed in Amir's actions.
ReplyDeleteAmir is only 12 years old when he witnesses this. He thinks that getting the kite at all costs will be the best thing for him because it will make his father proud. He doesn't know how to react when he sees Hassan getting raped. He knows the right thing to do would be to try and stop this from happening and fight for Hassan. Amir, instead, is scared and freezes up as he witnesses such a horrible event. As this is happening, Amir knows he is being a coward so he tries to get rid of the thought by thinking of other things and trying to tell himself that he needs the kite and that Hassan is only a Hazara after all. He thinks these things in attempt to take away the tremendous amount of guilt he is feeling. If I were in Amir's shoes I would no doubt fight for anyone, let alone my friend, that is getting raped. I was disgusted by this scene in the book, it made me want to throw up honestly. I was mad that Amir acted cowardly and didn't attempt to help Hassan. It makes everything even worse that Amir pushes Hassan away after he let him get raped. Amir knows he made a huge mistake, and instead of trying to make it better with Hassan he tries to forget and avoid the situation.
ReplyDeleteAmir doesn't help Hassan because he is afraid that Assef will hurt him. beat him up. Amir witnesses the event occurring in the ally, watching Hassan getting raped. He notices the face expression of Hassan, looking like the lamb that is sacrificed on the Muslim traditional day. Amir is affected by the rape of Hassan. He fears that when Hassan talks to him again, he wont be able to look him in the eyes because he fears he will see the devotion Hassan has for him. If I were in Amir's shoes, I would stand up against Assef and his two disciples and start fighting them for the bullying that Hassan has suffered. I would not care if I got beat bad, at least I would know that my friend will not be harmed anymore. At that point I would know that I would go home and prove to Baba that I had stood up for Hassan, and maybe be proud of that for sure.
ReplyDeleteI feel Amir doesn't help Hassan because he is far too shocked by the incident. As someone more mature like the people in this class, we would find a way to assist the victim, whether that be reporting it, or getting help, or helping them. In this situation, it is very difficult to go about assisting Hassan, because he is seen as a "lower class citizen". Even if you were to try to help him, you'd be questioned as to why you are, etc. The only real way I could see to help him, is to state that he is your servant, and thus your responsibility, and take him away. However, to do that would require Assef to be reasonable, and that, he is not. Amir, if he did try to help, would probably have to dissuade the other two guys from helping Assef, which, they didn't seem to keen to do anyway and then take on Assef or at the least distract him so Hassan can recover and then help Amir fight Assef. Amir, being only 12 years old, is extremely shocked by the situation and for a while, stands there "paralyzed". I'm sure anyone in the class would have a similar reaction *at least* at first, as witnessing something like that at such a young age is awful and stunning. If I were in Amir's shoes, I probably would've been shocked, but instead of fighting them, would have tried to get help and then fight them to better my odds.
ReplyDeleteI believe Amir doesn't help because that is just the way he is, he is not a fighter he is more of a pacifist. He is frozen with fear and trying to think of things to blot out this terrible act that is unfolding in front of him. If I were in Amir's shoes I do not think I would do anything different. In my own opinion I was mortified to even think that a twelve year old could have seen this is just terrible just like this book.
ReplyDeleteAmir doesn't step in to help Hassan because he was scared on what will happen to him. Amir was being selfish and was thinking about what would happen to him only. As Amir was witnessing this, he was trying to stop thinking about it and got his mind to go into his dreams and memories. Honestly if I was in Amir's shoes, I feel like I would have at least said or yelled something because then hopefully Assef would have gotten embarrassed and stopped doing everything he did. My reaction was surprised, I thought he was going to do something about it because Hassan is like a brother to him and he was so loyal. In my opinion, I don't like Amir's decision on running away from the situation.
ReplyDeleteAmir doesn't step in and help Hassan because he is scared of Assef and his friends, he is a coward he rarely does anything for Hassan which makes him really selfish. But one of the main reasons is because of his dad, he wants to have his dad to himself, which also goes back to him being selfish. when he's witnessing this he is thinking about if he should step in and do something and also how loyal Hassan is to him. But nothing makes Amir step in because in the end he just runs away. If I was in his shoes I think and I hope I would step in and do something to stop it. I know being in those kinds of situations are hard but I would never want to watch someone go through it. I definitely would have told someone about it, because i would want the raspiest to have to pay for their consequences. If I was watching someone I care and love getting hurt like that i would most definitely do something to stop it and protect them.
ReplyDeleteAmir does not step in and help Hassan because he is a coward and he is scared of what would happen to him if he tried to do something. He cares more about himself then Hassan and he only cares about the kite getting back to his father. When he saw this happen he was thinking about how loyal Hassan is to him and that if Hassan saw this happening to him that he would step in and help no matter what. He is also thinking about how selfish he is. If I was in Amir's shoes I would of figured out a way to help Hassan because this should never happen to anyone and Hassan did nothing to deserve to get raped. I think this a very awful scene and this would of been awful to witness. I think that Amir should of acted on his thoughts and when he realized it was wrong he should of done something instead of running away.
ReplyDeleteAmir doesn't step in to help Hassan because he is scared that Assef will do the same to him. The reason why he wants the kite so bad is to make his father proud. Amir knows he needs to step in but he is just frozen because of what he is seeing. Amir says if this was happening to Amir, Hassan would step in because he is so loyal. But in the end Amir decided to run away and not help. If I was in Amir's position I would have step in, especially if it was my friend getting raped. As I was reading this, I got so mad at Amir for not stepping in, because he even knew he did the wrong thing. He also knew how Hassan would have step in for him. I also was disgusted by what Assef did to Hassan. Amir in the end knows he made a huge mistake, and instead of trying to fix it with Hassan, he makes this worse by causing trouble for Hassan.
ReplyDeleteAmir was to scared to stand up to Assef and his friends. Amir was being a cowardd when he could have been helping his friend/ servant. When Amir is witnessing what is going on he feels like a coward, he is upset because this happening to his best friend, and he doesn't know whether or not to step in and help. Amir feels like a coward because he is not stepping in to help Hassan and he just keeps watching and hearing all these things happen. If I were Amir I probably would have stepped in and tried to help my friend. I would want to help my friend because i would feel like it was my fault that it happened if i didn't. My reaction to this scene is amazed and angry. I am amazed because Amir didn't help Hassan and Hassan does everything for Amir. I more angry than i am amazed. I am more angry because I feel that Amir should have helped Hassan because Hassan would stand up and do anything for Amir.
ReplyDeleteI think Amir was too frightened to step in on what was going on. He was shocked that Assef could even think or do that do Hassan. Amir has an inner battle of should he stay and watch or should he go and get help for Hassan while he is watching the rape take place. In the end, he just stands there and does nothing.
ReplyDeleteIf I was Amir, I would have stepped in to help my friend. It would be a hard decision to make because I realize that by stepping in and trying to help, I might also get bullied, raped, or beat up. I would need to have a plan in place, like throwing something at Assef or causing a distraction. As a friend, it would be important to help my friend home and talk to him if he needed help.
My opinion of Amir's actions are that I think he is a coward. He just stood there and watched his friend get raped, and that is opposite of what a hero would do. As a whole, this scene was very detailed and hard to read.
When Hassan is being raped by Aseff Amir does not step in or help because he is afraid. Amir is afraid of what Aseff would try to do to him if he tried to help Hassan. There would also be a chance Amir would not get the blue kite if he tried to help Hassan, so he just watches. While watching this Amir is terrified, in the book he says he feels paralyzed and even catches himself biting down on his hand so hard it bleeds. If I were to be in Amiers shoes I would have stepped in to help Hassan because Hassan has always been loyal and would do anything for Amir, so why wouldn't Amir do the same for Hassan. I was surprised when Amir chose to run away instead of help Hassan. Even if Amir didn't get the kite his dad would have been way prouder of Amir if he stood up for Hassan.
ReplyDeleteAmir doesn’t step in to help Hassan because he’s afraid of getting hurt by Assef. He also didn’t step in because he knows he’s not brave enough to defend Hassan. If he did step in he knew that in the end he wouldn’t end up with the kite he needs for Baba to be proud of him. While witnessing what was happening to Hassan, Amir has a lot of thoughts going on in his mind. He tries to remember different memories during that time to distract him from watching. If I was in Amir’s shoes I would most definitely stepped in to try and save Hassan. I would accept whatever would happen to me, but at least I would help Hassan either run away or prevent from him being sexually abused. My reaction was shocked, I would have thought that Amir would have stepped in and at least stop what Assef was going to do to Hassan. Hassan being so loyal to Amir, I thought Amir would show some loyalty back to Hassan.
ReplyDeleteone of the reasons that amir doesn't step in to help hassan is because he is afraid of what assef might do to him, and while he is watching hassan get attacked he is asking him self what would hassan do if amir was the one getting attacked and why he shouldn't jump in and help and defend his friend like hassan has done for him many times before. if i was in amir's shoes i would jump in and help hassan get away. my opinion of amir's actions are that he is very selfish and only cares about himself and making baba proud of him and he is not a very good friend to hassan.
ReplyDeleteAmir does not step in because he is a coward. He was afraid of getting hurt and afraid of Assef. He decided to run instead. As he is witnessing this, he’s trying to escape the situation mentally. Flashbacks that cause him guilt come to his mind while Hassan is being raped. As he was witnessing this, Amir was thinking about the celebration in which the lamb was being sacrificed in his back yard. He also compared the look of the lam to that of Hassan’s as he was being raped. If I were in Amir’s shoes, I would have definitely done something about the situation. Even if I were afraid of being physically hurt, I would have done something to cause them to get distracted, giving Hassan an opportunity to run out of the alley since he was a fast runner. Doing something such as throwing a rock or simply yelling, would get their attention on me and allow Hassan to escape the corner in which he was trapped. While reading this scene, I was very upset. I could not understand how Amir could be so inconsiderate and let Hassan go through such a thing and decide to not do anything about it after everything they have been through. I do not think Amir did the right thing. His actions were poor and caused Hassan great pain.
ReplyDeleteAmir does not step in to help Hassan because he was scared of what was going to happen to him. He maybe thought that the same thing was going to him. He was afraid of getting hurt. While he is witnessing what is happening to Amir, he is thinking about two memories and a dream. One memory is about how Hassan and Amir both fed from the same breast, he says that they say that those who’ve fed from the same breast, there is a brotherhood. The second memory is about when Amir and Hassan went to a fortune-teller. Hassan gets his hand read but when it’s Amir’s turn he withdraws. The dream is of Amir he is lost in a snowstorm, then a hand is given to him. When he reaches out for it and grabs it the storm is gone and they are in a field of green grass, the sky filled with kites. If I was Amir, I would have gone to go get help and if help was to faraway and there was no time for that then I would have stepped in no matter what. I was mad and sad what Hassan was going through and that Amir didn’t do anything to help him.
ReplyDeleteAmir didn't help Hassan because he may have thought that he was going to do the same to him if he stepped up. I also think that he sits and watches this because he knows that if he doesn't get the kite his father will be upset and that the only way for Baba's happens is through that kite. If I was Amir i would have done anything that i could have to stopped it. My gut instinct would have been to just beat him up until Hassan and Amir could have gotten away. My reactions to Amir's actions is that I think that he is a coward. I think you should do anything that you can do to help them if they are your true friend. I think that Amir could have done something to help out Hassan out, he could have ran off somewhere and got someone. It personally made me made that he didn't help him.
ReplyDeleteAmir does not go to help Hassan because he knows that if he does, Assef will do the same thing to him, which is rape. Amir is afraid of Assef because of this. I think that Amir was being really selfish, Hassan is so much more loyal than Amir. As this is happening he is thinking what the whole town would think if he helped him and they found out that they were raped... Amir should have helped Hassan. I would have gone to help him and not care what the whole town would think. This event now changes Hassan and his life forever in the most negative way. If Amir stepped in to save him, this would be changed.
ReplyDeleteAmir chooses not to help Hassan because he was scared of what Assef would do to him and that he would end up losing the kite. He thinks that letting Hassan get raped is worth keeping the blue kite and "winning" Baba's love. If I were in Amir's shoes and I thought my friend was being attacked there's no way that I would just stand back and let it happen. I don't think anyone else's love is worth letting my friend's life get ruined. When I was reading I kept waiting for the part where Amir would save Hassan or something would happen to keep the assault from happening. I completely disagree with Amir's decision and I think he is extremely selfish for what he let happen. I had a headache at the end of chapter seven because It stressed me out to think about something so horrible.
ReplyDeleteAmir doesn't step in because he is afraid what will happen to him if he steps in for a Hazara. He also fears what will happen to him because he is afraid of Assef and what Assef might do to him. As he witnesses this Hassan is trying to convince himself to step in and help Hassan. He wants to step in and help because he knows Hassan would, but he can't get himself to do it. I would like to think I would've stepped in, but I think I might of done what Hassan did. It's easy to tell yourself you're going to be the hero, but when it comes the time doubt begins to fill your mind. Amir should've stepped in, but he is not a terrible person that he thinks he is. He needs to stop blaming himself for something that he didn't do.
ReplyDeleteAmir doesn't step in to help Hassan because he was 12 year old that was mortified at what he was seeing. When he witnessed what was going on, he was scared. Because of this shocking incident that he saw, he already wanted to flee the scene. Then, he thought to himself "Maybe Hassan was the price I had to pay, the lamb I had to slay, to win Baba." Combined with his fear of Assef and this greedy thought of winning his father's love, he decided to stay out of it and let his "brother" be raped by a bully. If I was Amir witnessing the rape of somebody I thought of as my "brother", there is absolutely no way I couldn't step in. Rape is something that ruins people's whole lives, and I wouldn't wish it upon anyone, nor allow it to happen if I witnessed it, even amongst my worst enemy.
ReplyDeleteWell Amir really didn't want to help Hassan in the first place do to that he didn't want to get beaten up by Assef. Well if Hassan was my boy or friend I'd hop right in there and help him cause it really wouldn't be a challenge for me against Assef and his goons, honestly if i showed up they would all probably run. But if they didn't run I'd get to have some fun, Assef would be missing left and right with his punches and then when he tired himself out after about three minutes I would rip his body a couple of time then finish with a beautiful uppercut and then turn kick one goon in the head and finish the other one off with a amazing spinning elbow then that would be that. I dont think this scene was needed but its whatever and i was overall bewildered by this scene because of the few events that happened in it.
ReplyDeleteAmir doesn't step in and help his friend Hassan because Amir is a coward and rarely helps Hassan. Amir is also scared of what Assef and his friends would do to him. So he took the easy way out and ran even though he knew how bad they were hurting Hassan. While witnessing this, Amir is thinking about how selfish he is towards Hassan and how loyal Hassan is to him. Hassan would do anything to protect Amir but when they are in this situation where Hassan is the one needing the help, Amir is selfish and doesn't even try stopping Assef and his friends. If I was in Amir's shoes, I would definitely help Hassan because Hassan did nothing wrong to deserve what was being done to him. I was very confused about how Amir could just stand and watch his friend being raped and not even do anything to help him. Amir should have definitely reacted differently in this scene so he could save Hassan.
ReplyDeleteOutwardly Amir does not step in to help Hassan because if he does, he could be hurt and he is scared. This is the reason Amir wants to think he didn’t help, but there is an underlying piece of Hassan that may be more prevalent and the catalyst for Amir’s guilt. Amir wants the kite at any cost for his father’s love and approval. Amir knows he can’t get the kite otherwise and Amir believes in that moment that he must sacrifice Hassan for what he thinks is the greater good. In Amir’s position I would like to think I would step in for Hassan, however I can’t shake the feeling that I don’t really know what I would do. I think culture plays a major role that I cannot comprehend living in. I believe that some people think they would be the hero in the situation but actually acting on it is a different story. Being in a situation like this at thirteen would be paralysing for most I think. I don’t believe Amir is in the wrong for not stepping in. Honestly I don’t think many would if they were in the same society and culture. I believe he is in the wrong though, for his reasoning concerning his father's approval and not addressing it with Hassan later. He could have helped him and Hassan would have been grateful. Hassan isn’t the type to hold grudges and I think he would have understood were Amir to have explained and been there for him.
ReplyDeleteAmir actions in this chapter should've been different then the one he has token. Yes he was scare of Assef and what he would do to him, but that doesn't give him a reason to be a coward and run away from the fact that his best friend is getting raped. The things that Amir is thinking of is that lady who fed him and Hassan from the same breast also the people who fed from the same breast are likely to have a brotherhood between each other. If I was in Amir shoes I would step in and defend Hassan from Assef. My reaction to this part was sickness and awful, I wish I was able to jump in and help Hassan out.
ReplyDeleteAmir does not step into the situation because he is afraid that he, in the end, would not get the blue kite that he cut down. He wants this because he thinks Baba would be more proud in him if he got the kite, instead of getting beaten up and not getting the kite. While he's witnessing this he keeps having back flashes and keeps thinking about how Hassan has always been loyal, and like a brother to him but he has not in any way. If i were in the same situation as Amir at the time, I believe i would have attempted to stop what was happening, even if it means losing the kite and potentially being beaten. This scene as a whole was a very different scene than i excepted to happen. I thought that Amir, in his actions, is a coward. He sat and watched as someone who is very close, very loyal to him, gets attacked and raped.
ReplyDeleteAmir doesn't step in because he is having conflict within his social class. At this moment in time, Amir knows how to truly please his father. If he wanted to gain his father’s respect he would've stepped in which makes me believe that there is something else in the way of his thoughts. I think Amir seriously considers Assef’s beliefs regarding the extermination of the Hazara population just to be closer with Baba. If I were in Amir’s shoes I would’ve stepped in, not only to please my father but to stand up for a friend who has been there for me throughout my life.
ReplyDeleteAmir is scared of what will happen to him if he steps in. He is thinking of a dream and in a way escaping reality. He then runs away in hopes of Hassan not seeing him so he can pretend he was never there but Hassan does see him. It is easy for people to say that they would step in and help in that situation but I do not truly know what I would do. Knowing how loyal of a friend and how loving Hassan was I'd like to say that I would help a loyal friend no matter the situation. I think Amir should have gone and seeked helped but i was not in his shoes and do not fully understand the relationship between Amirs people and Hassans. Maybe he thought no one would help because of his ethnicity but no matter the reason I do believe he could have tried to help in any way possible.
ReplyDeleteThere were a couple reasons as to why Amir didn't step up. The first was the fact the he knew he would have to deal with the wrath of those three when he tries to distract them or fight back. He believes that they would do they same to him that they did to Hassan. The second reason I believe that Amir didn't do anything was because he was traumatized by what he saw. I could not imagine watching something like that happen to one of my friends. Amir is in complete shock when he watches Hassan get raped, which is understandable. To be honest, if I was in Amir's shoes I would've done something to distract the boys or try to stop them. I know my friends would do the same for me, so I would too. I understand that Amir was in shock by what he saw, but I believe he still should've done something.
ReplyDeleteI believe the reason Amir didn't want to step in and help Hassan is because he didn't want the same thing to happen to him. He didn't want to get punished for helping out a Hazzara. Amir also thinks that if he stepped in he wouldn't get the kite and Assef, the bully, would take it. Since he wouldn't get the kite he thought he wouldn't make Baba, his father, happy. If I was in Amir's shoes, I would help Hassan even if it meant giving up something you really wanted. Hassan has always been a good friend to Amir but, Amir hasn't always been that good of a friend to Hassan. Amir's actions make him seem selfish in the novel. He only cared about himself and getting that kite to make his father proud of him.
ReplyDeleteAmir doesn’t step in and help because he is scared. He is scared that Assef and his friends will do the same things as Hassan. That they will take the kite away and do things to him. While he is witnessing what is happening to Hassan, he is thinking about how Hassan has been with him all the time. How he would stand up for him, but he was to scared to do the same thing what Hassan does for him. Amir had the opportunity to help him and like how Hassan has all the years he has being with him,but he just left. I was shocked when reading this scene. It was something I would have never of thought that would happen. Also how said before that Amir just didn’t do anything. That mad me really mad because Hassan has done many things for Amir. That was a time where Amir could have done one single thing for Hassan. He should have helped him. If I was in Amir’s shoes I would have said something and stepped in. Would have helped Hassan because then Hassan would see that Amir cares about him. From that Hassan would have fought with Amir to get Assef and his friends away. That could of made it clear to Assef to not bother them again.
ReplyDeleteAmir doesn't step in to help because he is scared and doesn't know what to do. Amir is afraid that Assef and his friends will do the same thing to Hassan in which taking the kite away and doing bad things to him. As Amir is witnessing the attack and rape of Hassan helps the final kite of the tournament for he has been thinking about all the time that Hassan has been with him. Amir had the opportunity to help Hassan but instead he just left. While I was reading this I was in utter shock that Amir had just left and didn't do anything for everything that Hassan has done for him. This was that point that Amir could've at least done something to help Hassan, he should've stayed and not just left not doing anything. If I were in Amir's shoes I would have done something to help instead of leaving without saying or doing anything. Helping Hassan would've showed that Amir truly does care for him.
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