Kite Runner

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Recommended: American and afghan culture differ significantly introduction

Chapter Eleven 1. Baba was offended because he was forced to show his ID. In Afghanistan nobody asked him for ID, everybody knew Baba, but in America nobody knows him. Baba is offended because he has lost the respect and th recognition he once held in Kabul. 2. Baba finally convinced Mrs. Dobbins—the eligibility officer—to take back the food stamps. Baba finds the food stamps an insult to his pride; he has a strict code of honor and pride, accepting help breaks his principles. So Baba walked out of the welfare office “like a man cured of a tumor” in relief that no “Afghan would see him buying food with charity money.” 3. For Baba, America was not pleasant. No longer was he a powerful and respected man that he was in Afghanistan. In America, he works menial jobs. He feels second class and impotent. For Baba there is no trust and honour in America. Baba, even in cultural shock from moving to America, maintained his core personality. He was still a honor bound man that put great value toward his pride 4. “Damned” is a suitable verb because even in America, Amir is engulfed in his guilt toward his against Hassan. Amir is unable to escape his past; he is “damned” with guilt for the rest of his life. 5. Amir cries when he sees the ocean because it awaken a rush of emotion within him; he is reminded of Hassan and how they used to dream of “[walking] on a strip of seaweed-strewn beach, [sinking their] feet in the sand.” The Pacific Ocean brought out a surge of guilt within Amir. 6. In Kabul, Baba is disappointed in Amir because he’s not becoming the young man Baba thinks he should. Instead Amir is off reading poetry and writing stories, a hobby Baba disapproves. In America, Baba’s view about Amir’s interest in literature changes ... ... middle of paper ... ...s Amir’s guilt is still potent, even when he’s on a journey to redemption. He is still disturbed by his guilt: he cannot sleep until he sets matters right. Chapter Fifteen 1. What Rahim Khan means is that the influence of the Taliban is bringing the worst within the people of Afghanistan. 2. Amir says ‘there is only what you do and what you don’t do.’ This statement suggests that Amir is finally creating a way path for himself in the world; he is starting to build his own identity and principles just like Baba. 3. Amir has learned to take responsibility and stand up for himself—possibly due to Soraya’s influence. Even though Amir’s personality has grown a great deal throughout the book, his guilt toward his actions is still a significant influence in his life. Moving to America has helped Amir to find his place in the world and somewhat deal with his past.

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