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Kite Runner: Chapter 12
Element

Notes

Plot summary

This chapter begins with Amir’s description of the Afghan
tradition of ​yelda
...
Jamila - Soraya’s mother arrives with a bag of fruit for Amir
...
The next week,
Amir and Soraya meet again at the flea market and she tells him
how her passion for teaching started
...
We find out that Baba
has Oat Cell Carcinoma (lung cancer) but he refuses treatment,
deteriorates and suffers a seizure at the flea market
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The General agrees and Amir and
Soraya celebrate on the phone before she tells him her secret
...


Themes and
features

Amir uses lyrical language to describe Soraya’s appearance,
which he studies intently
...
​This suggests that he has fallen deeply for her, with the
simile of her hair being ​“like a velvet curtain” ​suggesting Soraya
uses her soft hair to hide from shame and prying eyes
...
A
​ lthough Soraya is an independent woman with
aspirations, Amir knows that she is merely an object in the
transaction of marriage - she will go from living in her family
home to living with her husband
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honour and pride”
...
This highlights the importance of
respect and other people’s opinions
...

Amir remarks that he feels ​“the collective eyes of the flea market
Afghans shift to us”, ​but recognises that this personal question
may further endanger the Taheri’s honour
...
​Her

generosity shows how desperate she is for Soraya to find love
and happiness
...
This once again shows how women were
controlled by their reputations and men
...
Soraya’s belief in
the power of education for equality also makes her appear
forward-thinking, but teaching also gives her a sense of joy and
satisfaction
...
​This suggests that
there is a divide in power dynamics between Soraya and Amir,
which potentially reflects the differences in traditional male and
female thinking
...
g
...

General Taheri is very cold towards Amir, throwing the story he
wrote for Soraya in the bin
...
It also implies that being a writer isn’t a legitimate
job and Amir’s work is worthless
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This angers the General, as he
remarks that everyone in the flea market is a storyteller
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In contrast, Baba
recklessly doesn’t even insist on getting health insurance and
calmly asks if he has got cancer
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Whilst Amir bargains down the time for
the CAT scan from 3 weeks to 1 week, ​“Baba lost it” ​when he
realised Dr Schneider was a Russian
...
It is also seen in Baba’s
refusal to be treated by the ​“roussi”, ​although he approves of the
Iranian doctor
...
When Amir challenges him, he
snaps ​“don’t you challenge me in public, Amir
...
”
Baba doesn’t want anyone to know of his terminal illness and still
goes to the flea markets every week
...
Baba’s public
seizure at the flea market is very poignant as he loses his dignity
by wetting himself and foaming at the mouth
...
All of you” s​ howing that maybe he’s
chosen the faster (more painful) way out to avoid hassling others
and becoming a burden - he has never relied on anyone and will
not even when he is old and unwell
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A sense of companionship and
camaraderie is felt between father and son, which is rare
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Soraya’s
precarious status makes General Taheri’s decision even more
important
...

Amir envies Soraya for her honesty, as he has been carrying
around his own secrets for many years
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​Amir almost tells her
how she betrayed Hassan, but doesn’t - he is once again shown
up as a coward and Soraya is a better person than him for her
bravery
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It
covers 120 acres in Silicon Valley California
...
(link to
Amir’s mother)
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Patriarchal Afghan traditions regarding marriage proposals
...
Also the double standards regarding purity of
men/women and sex before marriage in Afghan culture
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We get the sense that Amir longs for Sundays, when he
finally gets to see Soraya
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Juxtaposition of Baba’s physical ill health with his mental
determination and stoic pride
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Khoda hafez​ = goodbye - ‘God safe’
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Mojarad ​= single young man
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Bachem ​= my child
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