II. Amir’s Betrayal in the Juvenile Period
A. Amir’s Betrayal
Love and treachery, betrayal and redemption, and the hero Amir’s growth go hand in hand. In this chapter, the author will analyze the key events that promote the development of the story.
1. Evading to Help Hassan
1975 Winter Kite Competition is the last time I saw Amir Hassan Kite Runner. That kite fighting became a turning point in their friendship. In Amir’s efforts and the help of Hassan, who has been insisting to the last kite cut off the last one until the blue kite. For The Kite Runner, the last one kite is the supreme honor. To honor Amir Hassan chase. He took his smile disappeared Hassan style corner. “For you a thousand times over,” is his motto of friendship. Unfortunately, he was stopped by Assef who was always looking for opportunities to revenge. Assef said he could let Hassan go as long as he gives up the blue kite. Hassan refused the deal, because he knows what the kite means for Amir. Hassan was determined to protect the only kite even at the expense of his dignity. Amir hid at the end of the alley, heard every word they said. But he just looked at the back wall, trembling, hesitating. Eventually, Assef humiliated Hassan.
Amir chooses to escape. His selfishness and cowardice led to his betrayal. Hassan and his betrayal to his own cause great harm. His guilt was tortured day and night. He is afraid of Hassan’s sincere eyes, afraid to hear the voice of Hassan. So he locked himself in his room to avoid meeting Hassan.
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2. Plotting against Hassan
What makes Amir in dismay is that Hassan has been trying to restore everything between them. In order to end the embarrassment, Amir committed another error — plotting against Hassan, which led to his final moral depravity. He put the oil in cash and watches two envelopes stuffed under Hassan’s mattress, and then claiming that the watch is lost. Amir did so because he remembered the conversation between him and his father. “When you kill a man, you steal a life. You steal his wife’s right to a husband; rob his children of a father. When you tell a lie, you steal someone’s right to the truth. When you cheat, you steal the right to fairness. There is no act more wretched than steaing”.10
During the conversation, the father expressed her strong hatred for theft. In order to save Amir Hassan lying admits theft. Because Hassan knew that if he denied his master will never forgive Amir ’detractors. Ali knows the pain experienced by his son, decided to never leave the house to protect Hassan. This decision caused great grief to his father, because they grew up together, he used to live in the home of Ali. Selfishness and guilt, Amir ended his friendship with Hassan, Ali’s father and get along. Hassan’s departure not only did not let Amir was pleased, but intensified his sense of guilt. In his lifetime, he will be subject to the torment of conscience.
B. Cause of Amir’s Betrayal
The reason of Amir’s betrayal is complex. In the following, the author will analyze it from three aspects.
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1. Rivalry for Parental Love
Amir’s father, a prestigious and successful businessman in Kabul, on behalf of all merit, a person can be found: courage, generosity, wisdom, gentleness, justice, goodness and so on. Not to mention a good look at him, a strong body, and tall stature. He was a miracle in Kabul. He has fought against a bear with bare hands, married a beautiful and well-educated lady who had blue blood, from nothing to start his own business, and eventually became one of the richest people in Kabul. What’s more, Amir’s father is a favorite charity is poor children who built the orphanage. All of his good deeds make him a perfect person. No wonder he is the Almighty God’s eye on Amir. Amir much worshiped his father was beyond anyone’s imagination.
However, Baba has never been a doting father to his son never showed any mercy to Amir. Curiously, for Hassan, we saw an exception. He found that the son of the servant of the poor, so far, it triggers jealousy go to Amir’s love. Baba seemed to face his son is a eccentric father. He is sternly indifference Amir. He showed no interest in Amir’s novel, when Amir asked him to read it. He hated Amir’s character, because he believes that Amir did not put his qualities: his son is weak, weak, easily betray his friends. At this time, Hassan always stepped in and protects Amir from harm. Amir is safe, but Hassan defeated and wounded. When his father asked is how Amir Hassan scratches on the face. To get rid of the responsibility, Amir Hassan lied to his father fell, and he has nothing to do with Hasan’s injuries. But Amir’s father knows what happened. So broadleaf Amir Baba the impression that his son did not like him. He even doubts whether Amir is his son or not. Amir believes this is why Baba hates reason of his existence.
Amir’s father Baba makes a perfect reflection of who represents the authority of God in the Bible. He is the main focus of Amir. To please his father, Amir betrays Hassan, to recover his father’s love, Amir had Hassan expelled
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from the house.
2. Racial Prejudice
According to Kou Yaoqing from Shanxi Normal University, ethnic differences are strongest when other significant differences, such as religious, ideological, economic, geographic, and linguistic differences, reinforce distinctions between one ethnic group and another.11
In Amir’s view, in the eyes of the Afghan people Pashtuns are the best. But Hazaras are completely different. Hazaras are mainly live in central Afghanistan Persian-speaking ethnic group. Most of them are Shiite Muslims.
Hassan is a Hazara boy, of course, subject to racial discrimination. When faced discrimination from the Pashtun, like his father Hassan silently endured. In the novel, does not directly show the reaction Hasan made of such discrimination, but the reader can feel the hurt inside Hassan.
On one occasion, Amir and Hassan went through a meadow where soldiers insult Hassan’s mother. Nobody can tolerate others make fun of his mother. Hasan tears because of extreme grief. At the time, Amir comforted his friends. As a child, he can feel his tears Hassan heartbreak. Amir did not like any of the people who laugh at Hassan, but he is the very person who can make Hassan heart broken, either intentionally or unintentionally.
Amir are subject to the influence of some other Pashtun discriminate against Hasan. He certainly Hassan will forgive any fault of his; Hassan would do whatever he wanted to do for him. This relationship led to unequal Amir Hassan later framed. Meanwhile, the official Pashtun Hazara heat your discrimination led to this unequal relationship between the two. In short, Amir’s betrayal to Hassan, racial discrimination in Afghanistan is one of the major causes.
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3. Influence of Islamic Belief in Allah Almighty in Worship
Another important reason is the Influence of Islamic Belief in Allah Almighty in Worship on Amir and Hassan.
Amir and Hassan supported Muslims must abide by stringent canons. Because Amir from the superior race, Hassan and Amir granted that he is the ruler of the two men, while Hassan is that no matter how stringent the rules are.
In Amir’s eyes, Pashtuns is the Allah in the world. Everyone must follow the will of Allah, including the Hazara boy Hassan. In his concept, Hazara boy certainly should have been complied with his wishes. Because the Islamic faith is concerned, obedience is the truth. That is why Amir sure that even Hassan know their betrayal of him, and still, and willing to obey him. Perhaps the two of them seems to Amir’s betrayal is just a test.
Meanwhile, as a servant, innocent and loyal Hassan regarded Amir his Allah. In large part, it’s Hassan who put Amir into a dictator. Obey this sub-Hassan is very important that he regarded the Amir Allah; Amir he should do anything, even against his own wishes thing. In the eyes of Hassan, Amir is a Pashtun boy noble knowledge. He has a gentle appearance, social status. Hassan believes Amir has what he does not have, that’s everything, and he is the symbol of Almighty. Amir is the world, and he must be completely obedient to him. No matter what Amir did, Hassan always believes him. When Amir betrayed him, he felt sad. But he can only choose to leave. Amir framed to make him understand, Amir never want to see him again. He chose to follow his Allah again and leave.
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