Amir remembers the times when he used to stay up late with Hassan on the first night of winter, and compares it to now, where he stays up late thinking of Soraya. There is some use of pathetic fallacy here, as he is comparing his feelings to nature, but also to time spent with is childhood best friend Hassan. Amir finds excuses to steal a glance at Soraya at the market, and puts up with small talk from Taheri just to see Soraya's face. When Amir asks Baba is he wants a Coke, Baba realises what Amir is up to. He gives Amir a small speech about "nang" and "namoos", which means honour and pride, as Baba's reputation is very high, and does not want any shame brought on his name. This is a cultural thing, as Amir also must not spent too much time talking to Soraya. He does over do it a little by Afghan standards though, but Soraya does not seem to mind. She is wearing a "white ankle length summer dress", which shows that she is being modest, and wearing the correct clothes by Afghan standards. The white also symbolises purity and innocence, which may come into her character. He dares to speak to her, and says it felt like everyone stopped and stared at him, making a bold move on an Afghan girl. She lets him, and soon enough her mother comes along, greets Amir, and seems to think he is very polite, offering for him to come back and speak to them whenever he likes.
Amir takes up this offer, and soon enough the conversations start to flow, and Soraya brings up a story about when she was younger, but needs some coaxing into it by Amir, as she is a little embarrassed. She tells him how she used to teach a woman called Ziba (a woman who used to work around her house) how to read and write. Soraya explains it was such a proud feeling when she had taught her, like she had made a positive difference to Ziba, and this brings back to memories of how Amir had used literature to ridicule Hassan. He completely contrast Soraya's actions, and this story has been used to show how the guilt still is in Amir, and how cruel he had been to him.
Amir notices that Baba has a bit of cold, which turns into a nasty cough that persisted. Amir spots some "bloodstained phlegm" in the toilet. The red again is used as a symbol for the danger, as it was used in Hassan's rape scene. When Amir eventually persuades Baba to go to the hospital, they notice a spot on his right lung. Baba casually questions cancer, and the doctor says this may be possible. This shows Baba's bravery, as he doesn't even flinch, like he suspected it, or is ready for whatever is coming his way. Amir on the other hand, does not understand how he is meant to live with a "suspicious" spot on his father's lung for 2 weeks whilst they get some more results. Even though he isn't the one being affected by it, he is still more panicked than Baba. He uses his religion as a possible source of hope, and it states that Amir "recited half-forgotten verses of the Koran", showing that he hasn't really been paying attention to his religion, and only calls upon it in times of need.
Amir finds it difficult to get a suitable doctor for Baba, as the first doctor he does not approve of, as his name sounds Russian, even though it clearly states that he was American, born in Michigan. The second doctor is approved of though, as he is Iranian. Baba is then diagnosed with lung cancer.
Pathetic fallacy is used when they come out of the hospital, soon after the diagnosis. It is raining, and it seems quite deliberately put at this time, as Amir states that "it was a few weeks late.". This shows the gloomy, melancholic atmosphere, and how Amir is feeling now Baba has been diagnosed, and how he has also said that he does not want any chemotherapy. Amir is horrified that he will no even try the chemo, saying "I wish you'd give the chemo a chance Baba". Baba is disgusted that Amir would test his opinion and choices, and Amir suddenly blurts out "What about me?". Even though Baba has been the one diagnosed, and is the one that would go through with the treatment, Amir still finds a reason for Baba to have to have sympathy for him. This seems very selfish on Amir's behalf, seeing as the chemotherapy is only palliative in Baba's case. Baba is completely the opposite when it comes to sympathy though, and orders Amir not to let anyone find out, as he does not want to be treated any differently now that he has been diagnosed.
Amir explains how worse Baba is getting, again through pathic fallacy, as he is comparing his moods to the different seasons. For autumn, this is the older age stage, where time is moving on, and he compares this to Baba, saying that Baba waited behind the wheel, whilst he got out and bargained for junk. When winter came, Baba stayed in, and winter symbolises the end of life.
After an episode at the flea market, Baba is put into hospital for two days, and thinks that he is being a burden on everyone who is coming to visit him. At home, when Amir hugs him, he said that "his shoulder blade felt like a bird's wing under my fingers", so it's as if Baba is now Amir's responsibility to look after, like he is that vulnerable, being such a small creature even compared to a finger. Baba tells him to ask the General Taheri for his daughters hand in marriage. The general accepts, and Amir is over joyed. Soraya immediately calls him, herself also being extremely happy, but says that there should be no secrets between them, and decides to tell Amir about how she had been a very rebellious young woman, and had not been around when her mother had a stroke, due to being with an Afghan man. She says she feels terrible about it, and expects Amir to too, as running away from her family was a very disrespectful thing to do. Sh feels that this may put Amir off of her, and it may bother him strongly, which it does not. This shows that when Amir leaves her to visit Rahim Khan in a few chapters time, he really has strong trust with her, as she has already left her family once, and may be suspected to do it to Amir.
Amir envies Soraya for having the courage to come out with her story. He then says he opened his mouth and almost came out with the story about Hassan. "Almost", like the time he had almost said something about the rape to Hassan, like he had almost come out about what he had seen to Ali and Baba. But he didn't, he was not brave enough to, and he seems to feel the guilt for not even telling Soraya.
No comments:
Post a Comment