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Kite Runner: Chapter 13
Element

Notes

Plot summary

Amir and Baba arrive at the Taheris’ house for ​lafz ​- a “giving
word” or blessings ceremony in which General Taheri and Baba
consent to Soraya and Amir’s engagement
...
​Before the ​awroussi ​(wedding) came Amir and
Soraya’s ​nika ​(swearing ceremony) where they signed
certificates and said oaths
...
After using Amir’s advance to
fund fertility drugs and investigations, the doctor gives the couple
a diagnosis of ​“unexplained infertility” ​and suggests adoption
(which General Taheri strongly opposes on the basis of Afghan
bloodlines)
...


Themes and
features

A variety of cultural traditions are imposed on Amir and Soraya’s
engagement party, including the fact that Soraya was not
present
...
There are ritualistic aspects to the ceremony, such as
the playing of traditional Afghan music and the way in which
Baba and Amir welcome all of their two dozen guests
...
When Soraya herself
enters, her eyes are ​“downcast” ​and her and Amir agree to forgo
the ​“shirini-khori” ​(period of engagement for a few months) in
order to ensure that Baba will see his son welcomed into the
Taheri family
...

Baba’s pride and the power of patriarchy are seen in how he
spends $35,000 on the wedding and paid for everything
...
This
also keeps with Baba’s high status and his generosity,
suggesting that he wants it to be remembered
...
Before
the wedding, the swearing ceremony occurs in which Soraya and
Amir wear green - ​“the colour of Islam and new beginnings” ​- this

suggests that Amir is once again trying to escape his past,
although Afghanistan’s culture continues to follow him around
...
Later on, the Afghan wedding
song is played, reminding the reader of the incident with the
truck and Russian soldier, who hums the tune
...
There is also a lot of
sensory language with the descriptions of food (e
...
​“colourful
platters of chopan kabob”​) and dancing, which goes on until
dawn
...
This presents
her as the ideal nurturing maternal figure - something which Amir
never had
...
Soraya and Baba have a close relationship
and even conspire to read Amir’s stories
...
This reinforces the Afghan
respect for elders and expectation for women to care for their
family
...

Baba’s funeral is a massive affair, although it solely consists of
men
...
​As Amir greets the mourners, they mention
Baba’s generosity and say how he lent them money or found him
jobs
...

Amir learns a lot about the Taheris in the months following the
rushed wedding
...
Whilst the
General experiences blinding migraines and takes
antidepressants, Jamila is a hypochondriac who is afraid that
every little pain is a stroke and is desperate for attention and a
purpose - hence why she loves Amir, as he gives her the time of
day
...
He is also controlling, as part of their marriage deal was
that Jamila would never sing in public again (despite being a
famous singer in Afghanistan)
...
He also forces her to cut off all her hair - a
symbol of beauty and femininity which prevents Soraya from
leaving the house for weeks
...
This presents him as a man frozen in time and
unwilling to better himself
...

General Taheri buys Amir a ​“brand new IBM typewriter” ​as a
housewarming present, suggesting that Amir is now expected to
support his family whereas Soraya is expected to be a
subservient housewife
...
The General accepts
this
...
General Taheri scoffs
that ​“anyone can teach” ​and wants to be able to boast about his
daughter’s wealthy career and status
...

Amir’s publishing success in 1989 is juxtaposed with problems
conceiving
...
The General is proud of him,
but his patriarchal beliefs are shown again as he doesn’t believe
in women drinking alcohol (so Amir and Soraya have a bottle of
wine at home, instead)
...
Amir becomes a
“minor celebrity” ​in the Afghan community and embarks on a
“five-city book tour”
...
​Dr Rosen reinforces beliefs that women
are complex and mysterious beings, as Soraya has to undergo
multiple invasive procedures, a round of IVF and courses of
fertility drugs before adoption is raised as an option
...
General Taheri agrees and
says that ​“blood is a powerful thing, bachem, never forget that”,
showing the importance of bloodlines
...
Amir
can feel the ​“emptiness in Soraya’s womb” a
​ nd he believes that
it is a punishment for him
...

Context

Afghanistan engagement/ wedding/customs – clear rituals and
defined gender roles
...
Juxtaposition between prosperous USA and war-torn
Afghanistan
...

Chila​ = wedding ring
...

Alahoo​ = God
...




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