The Kite Runner - Foundations of World Literature Honors - Period 4
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Tuesday's Question...
Why do you think Amir
constantly tests Hassan's loyalty?
24 comments:
Amir wants Hassan to be disloyal so that it would make Amir feel less guilty about just watching Hassan get raped instead of helping Hassan.
I agree with anthony. Amir wants Hassan to be disloyal so that he doesn't feel like the only person who did something wrong. He wants to be even with Hassan.
By being a bystander, Amir was disloyal to Hassan. If Hassan is disloyal to Amir, then the two of them would be even.
I think Amir is constantly testing Hassan's loyalty because maybe he wishes Hassan weren't such a perfect kid. Maybe he wishes that Hassan would make a mistake once in a while, and be a imperfect child, just as Amir. Amir is constantly testing Hassan because he's hoping one day he'll slip, and say/do something wrong. Amir knows that Hassan is a great person and friend, nevertheless, Amir is probably just tired of Baba treating them the same way. Amir wants his own personal time and attention with Baba; he does not want to be treated the same as a Hazara. Even though it seems as though Amir is a good friend, showing how he loves Hassan to death, maybe deep down, he doesn't want Hassan to get the same kind of attention. Like Amir had thought on page 34, "What does he know that Hazara? How dare he criticize you!" Amir probably wants to feel a bit superior to Hassan.
Amir constantly tests Hassan's loyalty because he wants Hassan to feel the guilt he does. Amir feels terrible about how he watched Hassan be humialted so in return Amir beleives if Hassan becomes disloyal it will become even and he won't feel as guilty.Amir realizes though that Hassan would never become that type of person and this causes Amir to feel even more gulity because it shows what a great person Hassan is.
Hassan has always been loyal to him and has never done anything wrong. Amir feels guilty about what he did to Hassan. To make himself feel better he wants Hassan to do something wrong and he wants Hassan to do it to him. This way he wont feel as bad and he will feel like they are even. Amir thinks it will relieve some of the guilt that he has been feeling. Also, he wants Hassan to feel bad for being disloyal to him.
I agree with anthony. Amir tests Hassan's loyalty to cause himself to feel less guilty. Amir knows that he should have helped his friend, instead of just watching as a bystander and ignoring the situation. If Hassan was finally disloyal, they might both feel equally bad, and Amir could get over the horrible feeling of guilt. He even goes to the length of throwing pomegranates at Hassan to get him to fight back. Even in this case, Hassan is too loyal to give Amir the reaction that he wants.
Even before Hassan was raped, Amir was always unfairly harassing/testing him. This is most likely because Baba always showed more affection toward Hassan than Amir. Amir probably developed some kind of inferiority complex that made him need to constantly prove to himself who was the master and the servant. (between Amir and Hassan)
I agree with both Anothony and Jasmyn. If Hassan shows that he is disloyal, then it would probably make Amir feel better about himself and wouldn't make him feel so guilty about being a bystander during Hassan's rape. However, no matter how hard Amir tries to provoke Hassan, he is truly loyal to Amir, which makes Amir feel even worse and proves to readers that Hassan is honestly a good person.
I agree with all of you, especially with Cynthia. Amir tested Hassan's loyalty even before the rape incident. Amir knew he could always count on Hassan to take the blame for him, and Amir took advantage of that. For instance, when they used to play with the mirrors and shot walnuts at their neighbor’s dog, Amir and Hassan both knew it was wrong, but Amir didn’t care because he knew Hassan would just take the blame for their irresponsibility. However, I think that ever since the rape happened, Amir tested Hassan even more, trying to trick Hassan into being disloyal. Amir wants Hassan to be even with him.
I think that Amir is always testing Hassan's loyalty because he wants to make sure that Hassan stays the person that he is. It could also have to do with jealousy because maybe he wants Hassan to think that Amir is the smarter one. He could also want to feel less guilty about watching Hassan get raped. I also agree with Alex!! Right on!
you're all doing great! Alex, your insight is awesome! keep it going!
i think that amir tests hassan's loyalty for a sense of conformt. while he cannot rely on his own father's constant love he likes to be reassured that he has someone who will always be there for him and never let him down. i also agree with alex; amir is sometimes hoping hassan will respond improperly and show a sign of inferiority.
Amir constantly tests Hassan’s loyalty because he feels as if Amir should be better than him. After all, Hassan is Amir’s servant, and he is a Hazara, while Amir is a Pashtun and he is the son of one of the wealthiest men in neighborhood. In order to make himself feel less guilty after what he did as a bystander during the scene of the rape, he wanted to make someone else seem even guiltier in comparison to him.He wanted to feel as if there are people that are worse than him. Amir feels that Hassan is always favored in the eyes of his father, Baba, and Amir simply wishes that he could somehow earn the love of Baba like Hassan. To Amir, Hassan is perfect, and Amir feels that he should be better than his servant, the Hazara.
I feel that Amir is constantly testing Hassan's loyalty because he feels that Hassan is too perefect and always does the right thing. He always understands his place in society as a Hazara and obeys his duties promptly. Amir also wishes that Hassan wasn't as perfect as he is because Baba is always very proud of Hassan for him not being Baba's son compared to how Baba treats Amir for Amir being his son. Baba even treats Hassan better than Amir at times and often does not treat Amir like a son. Amir wants Hasssan to make a mistake and have a fault. This is because Amir is much less to than perfect and Hassan always makes up the qualities that Amir lacks. This is why I feel that Amir is alway's testing Hassan's loyalty; because he wants to prove Hassan to be less perfect and have faults so that Amir can become better than Hassan for once.
Anthony, in response to your comment. I'd like to respectfully disagree. I think Amir more likely is doing it in order to see if Hassan really knows the truth about Amir's real feelings towards him. I believe that Amir recognizes that he sometimes feels anger, aggression, disappointment, rage, fury, and envy towards Hassan because he can somehow win Amir's father over while he can't. Therefore, if Hassan knows about this or can tell by Amir's recent behavior, than he won't be as loyal and faithful.
I believe that Amir tests Hassans loyalty because he wants them to be on the same level. Amir wants Hassan to be disloyal so that he can feel better about himself since he didnt say or do anything about Hassan's rape. In order to get to the same level and for Amir to feel un-guilty, he wants Hassan to be disloyal. Although, another reason Amir tests his loyalty is becuase Hassan is the perfect child and Baba recognizes that and even sometimes gives Hassan more attension than his own son Amir. As an attempt to see if Hassan messes up he tests his loyalty so maybe if he does slip Baba won't pay to much attension toward him and Amir will get all of it. There are many reasons why Amir could be testing him, but each reason just makes Amir look even worse.
tennisguy...i would like to say i respectively disagree with you. He was not trying to do that, he was trying to prove hassan was imperfect like alex had said and to get rid of his guilt if hassan rebels
Amir constantly tests Hassan's loyalty because he wants to find a reason to feel less guilty Hassan for what he didn't do for Hassan.
i agree with tennis guy (millman?). But I think that he tests his loyalty to find closure. If Hassan breaks his loyalty and gives Amir what he deserves, then it shows that Hassan knows, and in a sense is forgiving him because, he is accepting the fact that Amir did nothing, and treats him thus. This is exactly what Amir wants, forgiveness and closure
I agree with Michelle. If Amir constantly tests Hassan's loyalty, then he is just looking for a flaw so that Amir can feel better about himself and his decisions. Amir doesn't like feeling guilty.
I think Amir keeps testing Hassan's loyalty because he is jealous of Hassan in the way that Baba treats him. I think Amir is looking for Hassan to finally do something wrong so that it is kind of equal for Amir watching Hassan get beaten, and acting as a bystander.
I think that if Hassan is disloyal then Amir will fell better about himself and stop feeling guilty about being a bystander during Hassan's rape. I also agree with jenna that he wants Hassan to feel the guilt he does.
Amir looks at Hassan as being pretty much flawless. When Amir witnessed him getting raped, he felt extremely guilty. By having Hassan do something unloyal, Amir would feel better about not helping Hassan.
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