Notesale: Turn your study into money

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Kite Runner: Chapter 9
Element

Notes

Plot summary This chapter begins with Amir opening his 13th birthday presents
and tossing them on a pile in his corner
...
The only one he doesn’t
discard is the notebook from Rahim Khan, which he reflects on
...
Amir then plants envelopes of
cash and his new watch underneath Hassan’s mattress
...
Either way, Ali and Hassan feel that they have to leave
despite Baba begging them to stay, so they leave for Hazarajat
...


Themes and
features

People have bought Amir envelopes of cash, a polaroid camera,
an elaborate electric train set and other expensive gifts perhaps
to impress and pay back Baba
...
Amir feels that he doesn’t
deserve this generosity and calls it ​“blood money”, ​implying that
the gifts are tainted by his own guilt surrounding Hassan’s rape
...

Ali gifts Amir the Shahnameh, which is ​“not inexpensive”
according to Amir, and contains the boys’ favourite story of
Sohrab and Rostam
...
Tragically, neither Ali nor Hassan would have been able
to read the book, humbling Amir
...
Ali also remarks
ironically that ​“it’s modest ​[the gift] ​and not worthy of you”,
highlighting again the cultural divides and Amir’s guilt
...
​Amir also recognises that their relationship can never be
the same, reinforcing his cowardice and betrayal
...
Perhaps he also recognises that
his lower status means that he couldn’t restore his reputation
...
Amir may have
wanted the story of Hassan’s rape to emerge as it would mean a
weight off his shoulders, but Hassan is to loyal and ​“rescues him
once again”
...
This hints at the idea that
Baba couldn’t bear to lose Hassan - his son - and Ali - who has
been in his family and like a brother for over 40 years
...
Ali gives
Amir a ​“cold, unforgiving look” ​and Amir knows that Hassan has
told him everything - this is the real reason why they must leave
...
F
​ or
Baba to beg them to stay is quite unusual, implying that he feels
desperate and his “stiff upper lip” tactic doesn’t work any more
...
Ali and Hassan were also always cheerful,
but the rare summer rainstorm suggests that a deep depression
has fallen over the house
...
This
also creates an unpleasant turning point in the novel, when
brotherhood, friendship, childhood and even happiness die
...

Whilst Baba cries and chases after Hassan and Ali’s car, Amir
feels glad that he doesn’t have to face them
...
The final
paragraph is steeped in regret and signals the tragic end of an
era
...

Context

Narrative style:
Motif: watch/money under the mattress repeated on later in the
novel when Amir stays at a poor family's home in Afghanistan
when he goes in search of Sohrab
...

Symbolism of Amir as the monster returns
...

Pathetic fallacy: Baba's tears when Ali/Hassan leave reflected by
the weather - summer rain is rare in Kabul - like Baba's tears
...

Context/cultural:
'Blood money' religious connotations linked to Judas (30 pieces of
silver) - tainted because of how it was gained
...

Afghan
vocabulary

Shahnameh​ = the Book of Kings
...




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