The Kite Runner Betrayal Quotes Analysis. And with that came this realization: that Rahim Khan had summoned me here to atone not just for my sins but for Babas too. Why does Hassan lie about stealing Amirs watch? Spoken Dealt with' (page 144) - Human nature, courage, choices, lies and secrets & values and morals. Amir & Baba in The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini | Relationship & Analysis, Assef in The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini | Quotes & Analysis. I would definitely recommend Study.com to my colleagues. Amir believes that in this moment, he has won salvation and redemption, for his fathers respect and his mothers death he believes he caused. Rostam mortally wounds his valiant nemesis, Sohrab, in battle, only to discover that Sohrab is his long-lost son. I thought about Hassans dream, the one about us swimming in the lake. He knew about Assef, the kite, the money, the watch with the lightning bolt hands. Had you married? Get Annual Plans at a discount when you buy 2 or more! You'll also receive an email with the link. He understands that the only way to convince Amir to go back to Afghanistan is through painful reminders of the past, demonstrated through telling Amir that there is a way to be good again, and by questioning Amirs courage, accusing Amir of being a man who cant stand up to anything (Hosseini 2, 233). Enrolling in a course lets you earn progress by passing quizzes and exams. While Hassan faces the unspeakable to loyally return the kite to Amir, Amir considers Hassan an expendable Hazara that may be sacrificed for Amir's relationship with his father. After Baba betrayed Ali by sleeping with his wife, Hassan was born. Sadly, he talks about sacrificing his best friend. Throughout the book, The Kite Runner, author Khaled Hosseini portrays the theme of betrayal in various ways through the actions of Amir, Baba, and Assef. He says, ''Congratulations,I was praying for you the whole time.'' Later the same day, Amir does nothing as Hassan is raped by. As I drove, I wondered why I was different. And this is what I want you to understand, that good, real good, was born out of your father's remorse. Although Amir never considers him to be his friend, Hassan proves to be a flawless servant to his half-brother, even after Amir betrays him. '', Create an account to start this course today. During these times, there is a lot of betrayal between Amir and Baba, but also between Hassan and Amir. Being betrayed by an individual will induce the feelings of being . PLAY. An error occurred trying to load this video. JavaScript seems to be disabled in your browser. Amir, to some extent, takes the blame for Hassan's death. he said, his smile fading. In The Kite Runner, does Ali know that Hassan is not his son? That's a promise.'. This quote from Amir shows how desperate he is for Sohrab to accept him and his promise to take him to America. You have a visa to go to America, to live with me and my wife. "When you tell a lie, you steal someone's right to the truth. By engaging in such immoral acts, Baba has cheated Ali, Sanaubar, and also himself. He is a living, talking, breathing testament of Baba's deception, which continues throughout Baba's life as he never admits to Amir or Hassan that he is Hassan's father. His Adam's apple rose and fell as he swallowed I thought I saw him nod. Kerry has been a teacher and an administrator for more than twenty years. In The Kite Runner Amir blatantly betrays his dear friend Hassan , Hassan is scarred by being betrayed . Kite Runner Betrayal Quotes. Rahim Khan closed his eyes. One of the symbols of betrayal is the last kite of the kite fighting contest. In this way, Amir is totally and tragically wrong in saying he's "[g]lad this would all be over with soon. With a few exceptions, people simultaneously embody evil and good in their life; Hosseini demonstrates this with Amir, who is convinced that he himself is evil, and spends most of the book struggling to redeem himself so he can finally realize he is not wicked after all. May 1, 2023, SNPLUSROCKS20 Amirthe main character/narrator of Hossieni's novel The Kite Runnerfaces many conflicts including two encounters with the local bully, Assef, and many internal conflicts including his feelings of inadequacy in the eyes of his father, Baba. Common examples of betrayal include adultery, mutiny, and stealing from a trusting friend. Wed love to have you back! His voice was breaking, tears pooling in his eyes. Quotes Chapters 16-17 He told me that Ali and his cousinwho had owned the househad been killed by a land mine two years before, just outside of Bamiyan. Like Hassan did for him, Amir now has to prove himself worthy and loyal to Sohrab in order for them to have a trusting relationship. [Amir:] "It would only be for a little while." Dealt with. On the other hand, Baba and Amir would not do anything for Ali and Hassan. You'll be billed after your free trial ends. Why did Baba lie about Hassan being his son? In The Kite Runner the novel begins with flashbacks. Subscribe now. Or I could run. "Hassan!". It divides into three main sections of the main character Amirs life. Psychological Research & Experimental Design, All Teacher Certification Test Prep Courses, The Kite Runner Cultural & Historical Context. One of the themes, Personally, I couldnt see the tragedy in Rostams fate. In this lesson, we will examine some symbols of betrayal from Khaled Hosseini's ''The Kite Runner. Learn. [Sohrab:] "You promised you'd never put me in one of those places, Amir agha," he said. The Best Quotes (With Page Numbers) "I loved him because he was my friend, but also because he was a good man, maybe even a great man. Kite strings are strung with broken glass, which cut competing kites loose, thus cutting them from the competition. By sleeping with Alis wife, Baba betrays Ali, a man with whom he had been raised, as well as his two sons because he never reveals the truth to them about Hassan's parentage. Do you blame Amir absolutely for Hassan and Ali's departure? Author Khaled Hosseini writes about how one action can change your future, and the journey through seeking redemption. Shook his head. There was a monster in the lake I was that monster. Behind me, Baba was apologizing to the other passengers. And with that came this realization: that Rahim Khan had summoned me here to atone not just for my sins but for Baba's too. Hosseini has Amir betray Hassan or at least be cruel to Hassan in all sorts of small ways. What Does the Kite Represent in The Kite Runner? Even after Amir and Baba arrive in America, Amir doesn't confess his misdeeds. to start your free trial of SparkNotes Plus. In the wintertime, Hassan took his son kite running. Maybe Hassan [is] the price [he] ha [s] to pay, the lamb he ha [s] to slay to win Baba. A land mine. Sometimes tears pooled in Hassan's eyes as I read him this passage, and I always wondered whom he wept for, the grief-stricken Rostam who tears his clothes and covers his head with ashes, or the dying Sohrab who only longed for his father's love? All rights reserved. The novel The Kite Runner is a story about an Afghan named Amir who experiences and causes betrayals between friends and family. Khaled Hosseinis novel, The Kite Runner, captures the events in Afghanistan from 1963 to 2001, through the eyes of Amir, a maturing Afghan boy who strives for goodness despite the evils plaguing the world around him. LitCharts Teacher Editions. Does Amir betray yet another person? He inserts his own stories into the tales he reads to Hassan. The plot covers many betrayals and offers the possibility of redemption though redemption is not achieved easily. (Chapter 18). The way the content is organized, LitCharts assigns a color and icon to each theme in, Compare and contrast themes from other texts to this theme, The ThemeTracker below shows where, and to what degree, the theme of Betrayal appears in each chapter of. Psychological Research & Experimental Design, All Teacher Certification Test Prep Courses, The Kite Runner Cultural & Historical Context, Quotes About Gender Inequality & Roles in The Kite Runner, The Kite Runner: Quotes About the Taliban, 12th Grade English: Homeschool Curriculum, AP English Literature: Homeschool Curriculum, NYSTCE English Language Arts (003): Practice and Study Guide, Comprehensive English: Overview & Practice, CLEP American Literature: Study Guide & Test Prep Course, 10th Grade English: Homework Help Resource, Relationship Between Amir & Hassan in The Kite Runner, Soraya in The Kite Runner: Description & Character Analysis, Sanaubar in The Kite Runner: Analysis, Redemption & Quotes, Relationship Between Amir & Baba in The Kite Runner, Religion in The Kite Runner: Influence & Quotes, Sohrab in The Kite Runner: Analysis & Character Traits, Hassan in The Kite Runner: Description & Character Analysis, The Kite Runner Title: Meaning & Significance, Working Scholars Bringing Tuition-Free College to the Community. When Amir witnesses Assef raping Hassan because Hassan will not hand over Amir's winning kite, Amir is faced with a choice. Khaled Hosseini, The Kite Runner 1244 likes Like "Not a word passes between us, not because we have nothing to say, but because we don't have to say anything" Khaled Hosseini, The Kite Runner 1205 likes Like "People say that eyes are windows to the soul." Khaled Hosseini, The Kite Runner tags: inspirational , life , metaphor 1032 likes Like Critical Essays Themes in The Kite Runner. He is now constantly miserable, carrying the weight of this betrayal. To unlock this lesson you must be a Study.com Member. It triggers a spark in the readers mind of what it could be without telling exactly what Amir is talking about. In the book, the Kite runner by Khaled Hosseini betrayal is a very important theme and affects Amir's life greatly. The novel The Kite Runner is a story about an Afghan named Amir who experiences and causes betrayals between friends and family. 2023 Shmoop University Inc | All Rights Reserved | Privacy | Legal. It was a shameful situation. Khaled Hosseini uses past events to show how they can affect a character in both a negative and positive way. And this is what I want you to understand, that good, real good, was born out of your fathers remorse. Get unlimited access to over 88,000 lessons. Amir and Hassan were each others best friends and they grew together like brothers, though they didnt know at the time. Amir then worsens the betrayal by driving Ali and Hassan from the household. I could wade into this river, let my sins drown to the bottom, let the waters carry me someplace far. ', While Hassan is willing to sacrifice his safety and self-respect to bring Amir his kite, Amir marginalizes Hassan as a disposable Hazara. Match. from Swarthmore College M.B.A. from New York University. Amir once believed that winning the kite tournament would relieve him of his guilt over his mothers death and make him worthy in his fathers eyes, but his betrayal of Hassan has made that impossible. Her secret was out. Amir attempts to redeem himself through Hassans son, Sohrab, by saving him and giving him a better life. Baba would never, ever forgive me. The idea of redemption becomes a lesson for Amir when he is a witness to the tragic sexual assault of his childhood friend, Hassan. To add to the betrayal, when Hassan returns with the kite after being raped, Amir's first thought is to check to make sure the kite isn't damaged. Conversely, Baba also betrays his sons. . The store will not work correctly in the case when cookies are disabled. I flinched, like Id been slapped Then I understood: This was Hassans final sacrifice for me And that led to another understanding: Hassan knew. This leads to his lack of action when he witnesses Hassans rape. succeed. With open arms. Assef Abuses him instead and Amir just hides in the corner and then runs away instead of helping Hassan.I ran because i was a coward (Hosseini)(pg82). Something warm was running down my wrist. However, he learns later that Hassan knew that Amir had left him there to be raped as a boy. Amir tries to rectify this years later when he returns to the Middle East to save Sohrab. During majority of the novel, Amir attempts to deal with his guilt by avoiding it. The novel, The Kite Runner, written by Khaled Hosseini, is a story about betrayal, forgiveness, and redemption that revolves around that two main characters, Amir and Hassan. Baba would dismiss them, there would be some pain, but life would move on. Hassan had come to a hard time in his life, and nobody should ever have to go through it. I went downstairs, crossed the yard, and entered Ali and Hassan's living quarters by the loquat tree. You'll be able to access your notes and highlights, make requests, and get updates on new titles. I promise., Instant downloads of all 1725 LitChart PDFs For the best experience on our site, be sure to turn on Javascript in your browser. Betrayal is described by World Book Online as a . for a customized plan. Baba works in a gas station. After hearing Amir's story, Hassan asks, "Why did the man kill his wife? Discover how betrayal drives Khaled Hosseini's narrative, with quotes detailing Amir's not-so-secret first betrayal of his childhood friend and the road to betrayal becoming second nature. He knew I had betrayed him and yet he was rescuing me once again. Because the truth of it was, I always felt like Baba hated me a little. But I can take you with me. Headed for the door. Why he only plays with you when no one else is around? It was a cool, gray morning, and Baba was squatting next to me, digging the soil and planting the bulbs I handed to him. Betrayal In The Kite Runner "The Kite Runner" introduces the reader to a world full of betrayal that makes Amir become a bad person who only thinks for himself. He continues to say this several times throughout the novel, reinforcing his commitment. Hosseini exemplifies this in the treatment of Hassan by Pashtuns: They chased him mocked him called him flat-nosed (9). (one code per order). His regret for not interfering when it happened and hiding his misguided choice infect his mind even in his adult life six years later when he moves to America. Amir feels as though he broke the sacred bond they had and he decided to make it right by finding Sohrab. | 2 Create your account. But before you sacrifice yourself for him, think about this: Would he do the same for you? Renew your subscription to regain access to all of our exclusive, ad-free study tools. Let's examine some of the symbols, or representations, of betrayal from this novel. The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini is a historical fiction novel set mostly in Kabul, Afghanistan and Fremont, California. Please wait while we process your payment. The first time that Amir betrays Hassan is when he chooses not to help Hassan because he wanted to show his father that he had captured the kite in the competition. eNotes Editorial, 21 May 2021, https://www.enotes.com/homework-help/what-are-some-quotes-or-examples-of-betrayal-328045. As a member, you'll also get unlimited access to over 88,000 For I sought to turn thee unto love, and I implored of thee thy name, for I thought to behold in thee the tokens recounted of my mother. Amir. Someplace with no ghosts, no memories, and no sins. Write. The free trial period is the first 7 days of your subscription. I ran because I was a coward. Hassan's favorite book by far was the Shahnamah, the tenth-century epic of ancient Persian heroes. For the best experience on our site, be sure to turn on Javascript in your browser. He'd been in there all morning, making phone calls. taken advantage of, deceived, humiliated, despised, cheated, or stabbed in the back (Krystal Kuehn). Why does Amir want Hassan to leave Babas household? Perhaps because of his guilt, Amir never tells Hassan he saw what happened in the alley. copyright 2003-2023 Study.com. In The Kite Runner, by Khaled Hosseini, the Soviet Union and the Taliban invade Afghanistan which results in Amir and Baba's migration to America. Because the past claws its way out. | 2 Notice Amir never tells Baba what happened to Hassan, or how he brought about Ali and Hassan's departure. I promise." - Amir (4) Betrayal and Redemption - Amir's betrayal causes a lifetime of redemption (5) 'Nothing was free in this world. I believe that the way Hosseini wrote these sentences shows how Amir is having to pay an emotional price for his actions in the past. The answer floated to my conscious mind before I could thwart it: He was just a Hazara, wasnt he? Betrayal becomes a cyclical action that results in devastating events. For most of the novel, Amir attempts to deal with his guilt by avoiding it. (including. Khaled Hosseini uses this quote to impute that certain cycles exist in, The intricate relationship between Hassan and Amir in The Kite Runner allows the reader to understand the conflicts between two socially and culturally divided friends. Never mind that to me, the face of Afghanistan is that of a boy with a thin-boned frame a boy with Chinese doll face perpetually lit by a harelipped smile. If he'd said no, Baba would have believed him because we all knew Hassan never lied. Looking back now, I realize I have been peeking into that deserted alley for the last twenty-six years. Kite runners chase the loose kites, until the last fallen kite is declared the winner. He knew I had betrayed him and yet he was rescuing me once again, maybe for the last time. The most significant example of betrayal in The Kite Runner is Amir's abandoning of Hassan to be brutally attacked and raped by Assef, the local bully. There are many different views about the concept of betrayal. Hassan has been cornered by Assef, who is sexually assaulting him; Amir has an opportunity to rescue Hassan, but he doesn't. 9 chapters | : He cannot tell him he is sorry anymore. Gravity. If you don't see it, please check your spam folder. Betrayal is an event that can easily twist the plot in many ways , it also affects the protagonists behavior after. [Sohrab:] "No," he said. Avoiding past acts of betrayal leaves remorse for Amir, Baba, and even Sanaubar. The central betrayal comes when Amir watches and does nothing as Hassan, who has always stood up for Amir in the past, gets raped by Assef. By traveling to Kabul, he is putting his life in danger. Accessed 2 May 2023. Who are the experts?Our certified Educators are real professors, teachers, and scholars who use their academic expertise to tackle your toughest questions. I stopped watching, turned away from the alley. There were not nearly as many kite tournaments as in the old daysno one felt safe outside for too longbut there were still a few scattered tournaments. The little one was wearing the watch it dangled around his twiggy wrist. At this moment, Amir realizes that he is not just atoning for his sins, but his fathers too. In reality, Baba is the biological father of Hassan. By entering your email address you agree to receive emails from SparkNotes and verify that you are over the age of 13. The novel then details his years with Baba in Fremont, California; and, finally, Amir's return to Kabul. When we discover how the winter of 1975 in Kabul makes Amir Jan struggle throughout life. Notice how Hosseini prepares us for Amir's major betrayal of Hassan. First Amir betrays Hassan by watching and doing nothing when Hassan is abused by Assef"I ran because i was a coward"(pg82)."But before you sacrifice yourself for him think . Terms in this set (18) The chill between Baba and me thawed a little. lessons in math, English, science, history, and more. Then I turned and ran. I feel like its a lifeline. These words, first spoken by Rahim Khan to Amir over the phone, echo in Amirs mind. One final opportunity to decide who I was going to be. Struggling with distance learning? . Amir, even as a middle-aged man, is still haunted by what he hadnt done for Hassan all those years ago. Anything is the response he receives. He cupped his hands around his mouth. On one level, Baba celebrates Amir's athleticism and courage in the kite tournament. Through his final remarks, Rahim is further emphasized as the moral center of the, In his childhood in Kabul Amir comes off as heartless person. Cut the opponents. BETRAYAL IN THE KITE RUNNER Amir . The first example weighs on Amir throughout his life. 110 lessons Amir is constantly trying to please his father and live up to his expectations, which leads to Amir betraying Hassan several times. Purchasing Discount, Discount Code Isaac's theory on betrayal, shows that betrayal is linked to guilt. I lifted Hassan's mattress and planted my new watch and a handful of Afghani bills under it. His abandonment of Hassan weighs on Amir throughout his life. He liked all of the chapters, the shahs of old, Feridoun, Zal, and Rudabeh. Use up and down arrows to review and enter to select. Start your 48-hour free trial to get access to more than 30,000 additional guides and more than 350,000 Homework Help questions answered by our experts. As Amir transitions into adulthood, Rahims role in the friendship shifts into someone who must push Amir to do what is best. Betrayal Warfare. I feel like its a lifeline. He moved, Hosseini uses parallel structure and class differences to exemplify the similarity in these relationships. May 2, 2023, SNPLUSROCKS20 People become influenced, unknowingly, by their surroundings, which affects friendships, livelihood, and sometimes results in betrayal. The free trial period is the first 7 days of your subscription. Amir leaves Hassan in the alleyway. This is why Amir crouches in fear every time he hears Hassans name being mentioned. (19.113), To undo his actions or pardon himself Amir gives Wahid's sons a watch. He knew I had betrayed him and yet he was rescuing me once again, maybe for the last time. flashcard sets. You couldnt trust anyone in Kabul anymore for a fee or under threat, people told on each other, neighbor on neighbor, child on parent, brother on brother, servant on master, friend on friend. Youve successfully purchased a group discount. Hassan demonstrates the themes of second chances and forgiveness through his actions of kindness. Maybe so. Most individuals choose their actions based on the situation and what the best possible outcome is for themselves. In the end, I was a Pashtun and he was a Hazara, I was Sunni and he was Shia, and nothing was ever going to change that. | The main conflict of betrayal in the Kite Runner deals with the protagonist, Amir betraying his best friend, Hassan. Understand The Kite Runner through its characters' eyes as Shmoop breaks down The Kite Runner's important quotes, with page numbers and analysis. Later in the book, Amir learns that Baba also betrayed his own best friend and servant Ali, Hassans father by fathering a child (Hassan) with Alis wife Sanaubar. in English and Nutrition. This situation emphasizes the idea of circularity because Ali devotes his whole life to serve Baba, with Hassan later showing a similar level of dedication towards Amir. She holds an MFA in Creative writing and a B.A.S. The curious thing was, I never thought of Hassan and me as friends either Never mind that we spent entire winters flying kites, running kites. He inserts his own stories into the tales he reads to Hassan. eNotes.com will help you with any book or any question. Sanaubar in The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini | Who is Sanaubar? On the one hand, Amir sees, for the first time, the similarities between himself and his father. His letter, which explains why they keep Amir in the dark illustrates the pain Baba faces as a man torn between two halves, a parent who [loves Amir and Hassan] both, but [cannot] love Hassan the way he [longs] to (Saraswat 8) (Hosseini 316). Although Ali is a Hazara and Baba is a Pashtun, Baba and Ali are raised like brothers after Baba's father adopts the orphan at 5 years old. $18.74/subscription + tax, Save 25% Spell. All other trademarks and copyrights are the property of their respective owners. Amir never wanted to return to Kabul, since he has a safe and quiet life in America with a wife, secure job, and a home. Thanks for creating a SparkNotes account! I envied her. for a group? When Hassan returns, 'He had the blue kite in his hands; that was the first thing I saw. I wanted to be able to breathe again. We're sorry, SparkNotes Plus isn't available in your country. After all, didn't all fathers in their secret hearts harbor a desire to kill their sons? The answer floated to my conscious mind before I could thwart it: He was just a Hazara, wasn't he? I was afraid of getting hurt. I knew all about regret." (180) 603 Words 3 Pages Good Essays A Way To Be Good Again Analysis Receiving redemption is a difficult task. This happens often in literature , friends or family betray the protagonist ; when betrayal occurs it normally shapes the protagonists beliefs for the rest of the story. SparkNotes PLUS As it turned out, Baba and I were more alike than Id ever known. We had both betrayed the people who would have given their lives for us. Betrayal also has an emotional effect on individuals. This theme was most important to the novel because the conflict in the book is intertwined with this theme, following the life of a man haunted by regrets. There are several The Kite Runner quotes that illustrate those themes: "I became what . There is a way to be good again, Rahim Khan had said on the phone just before hanging up. In the book the Kite Runner there are many examples of betrayal and here are two of them. He had always known. The foremost goal of Hosseini describing Hassans transformation from an ingenuous child to an individual warped by humanitys imposed malevolence is to accentuate the characters loss of innocence. Sometimes Amir is a jerk. Back More . Now I was the one under the microscope, the one who had to prove my worthiness. Hassan was raped by Assef and his men. In the morning, Jalaluddin would probably think wed gone out for a stroll or a drive. Amir could and should have intervened, but chose not to because he was jealous of Hassan due to the attention and affection lavished on him by Baba, Amir's father. "Baba, have you ever thought about get ting new servants?" Latest answer posted April 22, 2020 at 1:00:49 PM. Youve successfully purchased a group discount. Would you?" I said through lips that didn't feel like my own. Flashcards. . I loved him in that moment, loved him more than I'd ever loved anyone, and I wanted to tell them all that I was the snake in the grass, the monster in the lake.'. Members will be prompted to log in or create an account to redeem their group membership. Not only that, but he's also cheated Amir, his own flesh and blood, by depriving him of a role model, someone he can look up to. Sometimes it can end up there. Dont have an account? But his favorite story, and mine, was "Rostam and Sohrab," the tale of the great warrior Rostam and his fleet-footed horse, Rakhsh. Amir's betrayal of Hassan brings him closer to Baba in ways he couldn't have predicted. The first time period this novel explores is Amirs childhood in Kabul with his friend and servant Hassan, Hassans dad Ali, and Amirs father, Baba. He was still just as good. Amirs decision not to act also underscores the ethnic tensions between the Pashtuns and Hazaras, as Assef remarks coldly, its only a Hazara.. Did you know you can highlight text to take a note? He doesnt have any other paths of redemption. This quote is essential to Amir whom struggles with the guilt of the self-centered choices he makes at the beginning of the novel. Amir and Hassan are best friends. Below you will find the important quotes in The Kite Runner related to the theme of Betrayal. Stricken with grief, Rostam hears his son's dying words: If thou art indeed my father, then hast thou stained thy sword in the life-blood of thy son. Explanation: The quote puts emphasis on the idea that Amir is a very jealous towards Hassan. In the book the kite runner Amir betrays Hassan when he watches Hassan being abused by Assef. My students love how organized the handouts are and enjoy tracking the themes as a class., Requesting a new guide requires a free LitCharts account. Plus, get practice tests, quizzes, and personalized coaching to help you One of the evils that follow Amir throughout his life is Assef, a childhood bully who grows to be an adult Talib and murderer. At this point in the novel, Amir is beginning to become consumed by guilt over what he did to Hassan. You can view our. He is this because he has done evil stuff in his life. He withholds any opportunity they might have had to connect as true brothers. We had both sinned and betrayed. Test. Copyright 2023 IPL.org All rights reserved. "It was only a smile, nothing more. America was a river, roaring along, unmindful of the past. As if car sickness was a crime. The last quote is on page 23. Because the past claws its way out. At this pivotal moment in the book, the central theme of betrayal and redemption emerges. Your subscription will continue automatically once the free trial period is over. Baba compounded this betrayal by never revealing to Hassan or to Amir that he is really Hassans father and that the two boys are half-brothers. (9.21-22). Amir commits several betrayals, all of which involve Hassan or his family. Except now, he was the ant and I was holding the magnifying glass. theft." Now he knows he wasn't the only one walking around with a ton of bricks (a.k.a. Educators go through a rigorous application process, and every answer they submit is reviewed by our in-house editorial team. Amir thinks of all the reasons he ran.