Tuesday, January 16, 2007
Staying with Farid
On Amir's trip back to Afghanistan, he stays at the home of his driver, Farid. Upon leaving he remarks: "Earlier that morning, when I was certain no one was looking, I did something I had done twenty-six years earlier: I planted a fistful of crumpled money under the mattress." Why is this moment so important in Amir's journey?
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19 comments:
I loved this part of the book! I thought that last paragraph of that chapter was so significant because it shows a turning point in Amir's life: before, he had done it out of cruelty and selfishness, and now, he had done it out of care and appreciation. His actions in that point of the novel show the readers that people can still change no matter what they have done wrong in their lives. "There's a way to be good again."
I agree with what “Mcdgansta” said, Amir wanted to get rid of Hassan by making his father think that Hassan stole from him and now he’s the one that is trying to help out Farid in stuffing the money under mattress. At that point Amir is starting to be good again like Rahim Khan said he could.
I think that the main reason Amir placed the money under the mattress was so he could cover up what he had done twenty-six years ago. He placed a watch and money under Hassan's pillow so that he could get rid of Hassan and Ali by blaming them for steeling the watch and money. Placing this money under the mattress made Amir feel better about himself because he knew that he was helping someone this time; not ruining their life. This is one thing Amir does to improve himself and change the person he was when he was a kid.
I would have to agree with the everyone on this one. This part in the book was very significant. I think Ms. Gangsta said it best......that before Amir did it before out of guilt, cruelty, and selfishness, but now it was out of appreciation, care and selflessness. It was one of the episodes in his life that was significant to his change. It was one of the ways that he started to be 'good' again.
AMir placed the money out of the shear goodness of his heart. He saw the family living in shambles barely able to feed themselves, and in the case of a guest they were unable to. I think Amir gave them the money to help. Also I think that he did it as a secret this way they are unable to refuse it, as I think they would have because it's my understanding that Afgani people are very proud. I think it was a very noble thing to do giving them the money.
Oops, I didn't answer the question. This was important to the story because it showed Amir was not as cold as it seemed through some of his previous actions.
I agree with "mcdgangsta"
I thought this part of the book was amazing. To me it seemed that Amir had finnaly forgave himself for what he had done 26 years earlier....this time he was doing the right thing by helping Farid; instead of the wrong thing, trying to get Hassan to leave. I think this shows that Amir has changed and that he is slowly but surely lifting the weight of his guilt off his shoulders.
I agree with the thoughts of everyone. I also just wanted to say that it was like Amir was stepping into adulthood, or stepping into Hassans footsteps, because Hassan would have done anything to help anybody. I just thought it was awesome that Amir stepped out of his comfort zone, to become a better man.
This part of the book showed that he was in Afghanist5an for the right reasons and he had finally realized it. It also just showed that he really wanted to attone for his past actions. I think this is one of the few and far between good parts of the book.
This is so important to Amir’s journey because he was making peace for setting up Hassan years ago; by putting his birthday money underneath Hassan’s pillow and claiming that it was stolen. This time when Amir left a handful of crumpled money underneath a pillow for Farid’s family it was for a good cause and the good of his heart. He gave the money to somebody that needed it more than him. Especially when he realized that the children weren’t observing his watch, but the food that Amir was eating the night before. The children went foodless because of him and Amir paid back his duty.
I agree with "mcdgangsta"
I thought this part of the book was one of the parts that actually impacted me! I'd love his change in mind and soul! I also agree with mcNugget. I think through this act out kindness Amir grew as a person and matured as a man! He is not some selfish kid, he is a thoughtful, pensive, man and is able to try to make up for his past mistakes.
This part of the book made me smile so much. I really liked the way Khaled Hosseini tied this part into the book. The first time Amir had shoved money under a mattress, it was out of greed, jealousy and pure immaturity. This time he did it out of generosity and gratefulness. He didn’t put the money under the mattress to get credit for doing a good thing or to get rid of guilt. He just realized what people less fortunate than him went through.
Like "Mcdgangsta" I loved this part of the book. I love when authors throw in these full cirlce turn arounds on thier characters. This part of the book is very significant because Amir does this as an act of kindness and unselfishness. This part of the book shows how Amir has changed and how he believes in helping out his fellow Afghans. This part of the book signifies a moment in the evolution of Amir's character and how he went from a selfish, uncaring, frieghtened boy 26 years ago, to a caring, mature, and unselfish adult.
I believe that this is Amir's way of making things right after doing so much wrong the first time around.
By the first act of deception, Amir sinned against his own brother and his father never knew the truth.
This kind gesture shows the changed person that Amir has become even after all the things that have happened. I believe at this point Amir knows that what he is about to do is dangerous and needs to redeem himself for all the wrongdoing that he has done.
Also, the children of the family probably effected his views on the world. Seeing what starving children go through can really take a toll on the heart.
It was important for Amir to put the money under the mattress because he knew this time he did it for the right reasons. The last time he put money under someone’s mattress, he made two of the most important people in his life leave and made their lives worse then the already were. This time the money would be used to help Farid feed his family.
The first time Amir did that, he did it for his own selfish reasons. The second time around when he put the money under the matress he helped the people in need. He was not selfish at all during this part. I really started to like Amir for the first time during the novel when he did this great deed. I felt like the reader needed this to know that Amir is a good person deep down.
I agree that this part of the novel has somewhat of a strong significance and did re-emerge the past at the proper moment, but it somehow didn't have a major impact on me. It is difficult to understand why, but I believe that it has something to do with the reasoning that many men would have done the exact same thing that Amir had done. This lessened the importance of the good deed, because it was somewhat expected.
When Amir first planted money it was to get rid of Hassan. That forever changed his life.
The second time, he planted money to help someone else. He did it for the good of everyone, not just to help himself out of an uncomfortable situation.
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